Exogenous oxytocin impairs caudal epididymal sperm characteristics in sprague-dawley rats

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide hormone that is released from posterior pituitary gland and has been shown to increase cervical contractions, modulates sperm production, transport and ejaculation. Objectives: This study aimed at determining the effect of exogenous oxytocin on caudal epididymal sperm characteristics in Sprague-Dawley rats. Method: Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 180-300 g were randomly distributed into 4 groups A, B, C and D of 10 rats each. Group A served as the control group while groups B to D were the treated groups. Oxytocin was administered intramuscularly to groups B, C and D at the doses of 1 IU/kg/body weight(b.w.), 2 IU/kg/b.w. and 3 IU/kg/b.w. two days of three days interval per week respectively while 0.5ml of 0.9% physiologic saline was administered to group A. The treatment was carried out for a period of 8 weeks. Results: The result showed a significant increase in the mean caudal epididymal sperm volume among the groups that received 2 IU/kg/b.w. and 3 IU/kg/b.w. C and D at 4weeks and 8weeks when compared with control (p<0.05). The caudal epididymal sperm concentration of the treated groups showed a significant decrease compared to the control at 4 and 8weeks (p<0.001). Groups that were administered with 2 IU/kg/b.w. and 3 IU/kg/b.w. oxytocin showed a significant decrease in sperm concentration compared to control and the lowest dose oxytocin treated group (p<0.001) at 8weeks. Conclusion: Chronic intramuscular administration of oxytocin has significant deleterious effect on caudal epididymal sperm concentration

Honey improves healing of circumscribed excision injury to the paniculus adiposus in albino rats

Background: Honey promotes wound healing.Objective: In this study, we described the anatomical perspective of honey on wound healing in male rats. Methods: The twenty-four male rats used were randomly divided equally into treated Experimental (E) and Control (C) groups. Infliction of wound done under anaesthesia; honey was used for wound dressing in E, distilled water firmly held by plaster in C. Monitoring of wound contraction were carried out at the interval of three days till the wound healed. The histology of granulation tissue excised from the wounds of rats was also done.Results: Mean wound contraction (%) of rats in E on days 3, 6, and 9 were: 35.32±5.5; 57.56±0.7 and 82.30±0.9 % compared to 26.50±1.2; 46.69±0.4 and 61.24±1.0 % of rats in C. Honey treated groups showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in percentage of wound contraction in all treatment days. Complete wound closure day was also significantly shorter. On day 3, E showed a more intense infiltration by neutrophils and macrophages as well as features suggestive of edema and necrosis. On day 9, the connective tissues of E revealed markedly increased fibroblasts, less neutrophils, and presence of numerous new capillary blood vessels.Conclusion: The use of honey accelerates the wound healing process