ABSTRACT
Feeding 50% ethanolic extract of A. aspera to male rats resulted in reduced sperm counts, weight of epididymis, serum level of testosterone and testicular activity of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, while motility of the sperm and activity of the HMG CoA reductase were not affected. Cholesterol level in the testis, incorporation of labelled acetate into cholesterol, 17-ketosteroids in urine and hepatic and fecal bile acids were increased. The results suggest that ethanolic extract of A. aspera caused reproductive toxicity in male rats and the action may be by suppressing the synthesis of androgen.
Subject(s)
17-Ketosteroids/metabolism , 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/metabolism , Achyranthes , Animals , Cholesterol/metabolism , Diet , Epididymis/drug effects , Ethanol/pharmacology , Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases/metabolism , Infertility, Male , Liver/metabolism , Male , Organ Size/drug effects , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Seminal Vesicles/chemistry , Solvents/pharmacology , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility/drug effects , Testis/chemistry , Testosterone/bloodABSTRACT
Adreno cortical function was carried out in 43 cases of leprosy. These cases were further divided into tuberculoid, borderline, lepromatous and Lepra reaction. Serum and urinary electrolyte, urinary 17-Ketosteroid and 17-Ketogenic steroid and plasma cortisol levels were measured to assess the adrenocortical status in these different forms of leprosy. It was observed that these parameters were within normal limit in tuberculoid leprosy except low value of urinary 17-Ketogenic steroid. The borderline and Lepromatous leprosy cases revealed low values of urinary sodium, potassium and 17-Ketogenic steroid and high level of serum potassium. However, the cases of lepra reaction revealed low value of serum and urinary sodium and potassium, urinary 17-Ketogenic steroid. The basal plasma cortisol level was high in this group but it was statistically insignificant.