ABSTRACT
Objective: Atrazine [ATZ] as a widely used herbicide is considered as a potent endocrine disrupter which adversely affects reproductive systems in both genders. This study aimed to assess the effects of testosterone [T]- and vitamin E [VitE]- alone and their co-administration on testicular function and sperm parameters after exposure to ATZ in rats
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the rats [n=30] are assigned into the following 5 groups: control-sham group [n=6] receiving corn oil, ATZ group [n=6] receiving 200 mg/kg ATZ alone, ATZ+VitE group [n=6] receiving 150 mg/kg ATZ+VitE, ATZ+T group [n=6] receiving 400 micro g/kg ATZ+T, and ATZ+VitE+T group [n=6] receiving ATZ+VitE+T for 48 consecutive days. Total antioxidant capacity [TAC], total thiol molecules [TTM], and malondialdehyde [MDA] were analyzed. Serum levels of T, luteinizing hormone [LH], and inhibin-B [IN-B] were also determined. Histological examination and sperm analysis were performed. The data were analyzed using Graph-Pad Prism software version 2.01
Results: Co-administration of VitE and T significantly [P<0.05] increased ATZ-decreased TAC and TTM levels and reduced ATZ-increased MDA content. T and VitE significantly [P<0.05] increased serum levels of ATZ-reduced T [1.94 +/- 0.96], IN-B [122.10 +/- 24.33] and LH [0.40 +/- 0.10]. The T+VitE animals showed a reduction in apoptotic cells and an increase in Leydig cells steroidogenesis. Co-administration of T and VitE significantly [P<0.05] reduced the ATZ-induced DNA disintegrity and chromatin de-condensation. VitE and T protected germinal cells RNA and protein contents against ATZ-induced damages
Conclusion: T and VitE in simultaneous form of administration were able to normalize the ATZ-induced derangements through promoting antioxidant capacity and endocrine function
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study the functional, histopathological and immunohistochemical effect of cyclosporine A on sciatic nerve regeneration using allografts in a rat sciatic nerve model
Methods: Thirty male white Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups [n=10], randomly: Normal control group [NC], allograft group [ALLO], CsA treated group [ALLO/ CsA]. In NC group left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In the ALLO group the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and transected proximal to the tibioperoneal bifurcation where a 10 mm segment was excised. The same procedure was performed in the ALLO/ CsA group and the animals were treated with interaperitoneal administration of cyclosporine A. The harvested nerves of the rats of ALLO group were served as allograft for ALLO/ CsA group and vice versa. The NC and ALLO groups received 300 micro L sterile olive oil interaperitoneally once a day for one week and the ALLO/ CsA group received 300 micro L CsA [1mg/kg/day] interaperitoneally once a day for one week
Results: Behavioral, functional, biomechanical and gastrocnemius muscle mass showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/ CsA than in ALLO group [p=0.001]. Histomorphometic and immunohistochemical studies also showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/ CsA than in ALLO group [p=0.034]
Conclusion: Administration of CsA could accelerate functional recovery after nerve allografting in sciatic nerve. It may have clinical implications for the surgical management of patients after nerve transection in emergency conditions
ABSTRACT
The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of phosalone [PLN] as an organophosphate [OP] compound on testicular tissue, hormonal alterations and embryo development in rats. In this experimental study, we divided 18 mature Wistar rats into three groups-control, control-sham and test [n=6 per group]. Animals in the test group received one-fourth the lethal dose [LD50] of PLN [150 mg/kg], orally, once per day for 45 days. DNA laddering and epi-fluorescent analyses were performed to evaluate testicular DNA fragmentation and RNA damage, respectively. Serum levels of testosterone and inhibin-B [IN-B] were evaluated. Testicular levels of total antioxidant capacity [TAC], total thiol molecules [TTM] and glutathione peroxidase [GSH-px] were analyzed. Finally, we estimated sperm parameters and effect of PLN on embryo development. Two-way ANOVA was used for statistical analyses. There was severe DNA fragmentation and RNA damage in testicular tissue of animals that received PLN. PLN remarkably [p<0.05] decreased testicular TAC, TTM and GSH-px levels. Animals that received PLN exhibited significantly [p<0.05] decreased serum levels of testosterone and IN-B. Reduced sperm count, viability, motility, chromatin condensation and elevated sperm DNA damage were observed in the test group rats. PLN resulted in significant [p<0.05] reduction of in vitro fertilizing [IVF] potential and elevated embryonic degeneration. PLN reduced fertilization potential and embryo development were attributed to a cascade of impacts on the testicles and sperm. PLN promoted its impact by elevating DNA and RNA damages via down-regulation of testicular endocrine activity and antioxidant status