Effect of toxic drug on liver function

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ivermectin on liver function of rats [Ivermectin is used as antiparasitic drug in agricultural and domestic animals.] In this study sixty adult male albino rats [150 +/- 10g] raised in a farm of General Organization of Serum and Vaccine [Helwan farm] were used. They were classified into 3 groups: Control [group I], Subacute Oral toxicity [Group H], and Subchronic Oral Toxicity [Group III]. Blood samples and Tissue samples of liver were collected. Serum aspartate amino transferase [AST] alanine amino transferase [ALT], gamma_glutamyl transferase [GGT] and alkaline phosphatase were determined. Hepatic malondiadehyde [MDA], glutathione [GSH], glutathione -5-transferease [GST] and uridine diphosphate glutamyl transferase [UDPGT] were determined. The following results were recorded: Serum AST, ALT, ALP and GGT activities were found to be significantly increased in group II and III compared with control and Alkaline phosphatase increase in group II compared to control. There was significant increase of MDA and decrease of GSH in group II and III compared with control group. Also, Ivermectin induced a significant inhibition of GST in group II and III compared with control group. However, Ivermectin caused a significant increase of UDPGT activity only in group II compared with control group. In addition, a non significant change between group II and III as observed with respect to UDPGT activity. In conclusion the present study reported that Ivermectin pesticide may have a harmful effects on liver. Further research will be done in future to investigate this hypothesis

Efficacy of certain amino acids in intervention of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the therapeutic role of some amino acids in the management of osteoporosis in ovariectomized [OVX] rats. This study was conducted on 56 adult female rats which were divided into 7 groups as follows: Gp.[1] OVX rats orally administered with [1 ml/rat/day] saline as vehicle; Gp.[2] OVX rats orally administered with L-lysine [1.26g/kg/b.wt.]; Gp.[3] OVX rats orally administered with L-arginine [500mg/kglb.wt.]; Gp.[4] OVX rats orally administered with L-glutamine [3.2g/kg/b.wt.]; Gp.[5] OVX rats orally administered with taurine [50mg/kglb.wt.] and Gp.[6] OVX rats orally administered with a combination of the four amino acids dissolved in saline. In addition, gonad-intact [control group] orally administered with 1 ml saline/rat/day was involved in the present study. The treatment was started after 3 months of ovariectomy and continued for other 3 months. Serum calcium [Ca], phosphours [P], parathyroid hormone [PTH], osteocalcin [OC], insuline like growth factor-1 [IGF-1], transforming growth factor-beta [TGF-beta] levels and bone alkaline phosphatase [BAP] activity were determined. Significant decrease in serum Ca, P levels and bone ALP activity as well as in serum OC, IGF-1 and TGF-beta levels were ovariectomy-induced, while it caused significant increase in serum PTH level when compared to their corresponding values in gonad-intact control rats. Treatment of OVX rats with L-lysine or L-arginine produced non-significant increase in serum Ca and P levels and the treatment with L-glutamine or taurine induced significant increase in serum Ca and P levels. Treatment with either one of the selected amino acids resulted in significant decrease in serum PTH level while these amino acids produced significant increase in serum osteocalcin level and BAP activity. Treatment of OVX rats with L-lysine induced non-significant increase in serum IGF-1 and TGF-beta, while the combination of L-arginine with either L-glutamine or taurine produced significant increase in serum IGF-1 and TGF-beta. Treatment of OVX rats with a combination of the selected amino acids resulted in significant increase in the all studied biochemical parameters except serum PTH level which showed significant decrease as compared to their corresponding values in OVX rats. Each of the selected amino acids or their combination significantly modulates markers of bone turnover in OVX rats. These results indicated the usefulness of these amino acids in the treatment of primary osteoporosis

Neurotoxicity risk of repeated exposure to inhalants: potential role of melatonin and vitamin B as neuron protectors

The main objective of the current study was to elucidate the neurotoxic effects induced by repeated exposure to gasoline, perchloroethylene or toluene on male rats. The study was extended to evaluate the interventive role of melatonin, folic acid and vitamin B12 against the neurodegenerative insult produced by inhalants abuse. Ten experimental groups were assigned as follows: group [1] control group; group[2] The rats were exposed to gasoline vapors [3200 ppm] for quarter an hour / day; group [3] The rats were exposed to gasoline vapors then treated with melatonin [10 mg / kg b. wt]; group [4] The rats were exposed to gasoline vapors then treated with folic acid [200 mg / kg b. wt] and vitamin B12 [o.o4 mg / kg b.wt]; group [5] The rats were exposed to perchloroethylene vapors [800 ppm] for quarter an hour/day; group [6] The rats were exposed to perchloroethylene vapors then treated with melatonin; group [7] The rats were exposed to perchloroethylene vapors then treated with folic acid and vitamin B12; group [8]. The rats were exposed to toluene vapors [1000 ppm] for quater an hour / day; group [9] The rats were exposed to toluene vapors then treated with melatonin and group [10] The rats were exposed to toluene vapors then treated with folic acid and vitamin B12. The experiment was extended for 45 days. Brain lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, serotonin, dopamine, and GABA were measured. In addition, plasma total testosterone and DHEA-S were determined. Histopathological investigation of the brain tissue was also carried out. The results demonstrated that inhalation of gasoline, perchloroethylene, or toluene causes elevation of brain lipid peroxidation, GABA and plasma DHEA-S levels. However, these inhalants induced depletion of brain reduced glutathione, serotonin, dopamine as well as plasma total testosterone levels. Histopathological alterations in the brain of the rats exposed to inhalants were also observed. On the other hand, marked improvement was detected on treatment of the exposed rats with either melatonin or folic acid and vitamin B12. Melatonin supplementation exerted a better modulatory effect on the most of the measured parameters in rats exposed to gasoline than rats exposed to gasoline and treated with folic acid and vitamin B12. Rats exposed to perchloroethylene or toluene then treated with folic acid and vitamin B12 revealed more pronounced improvement in the most of biochemical parameters than that detected by melatonin treatment. Histopathological investigation of the brain revealed that the treatment of rats exposed to gasoline with melatonin produced more pronounced modulatory effect than that in case of treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12 as indicated by the appearance of healthy neurons and astrocytes. However, treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12 to rats exposed to perchloroethylene showed more curative effect than that in case of treatment with melatonin as indicated by observing the neurons more or less like control. Also, the treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12 to rats exposed to toluene showed better effect than that in case of treatment with melatonin as indicated by the appearance of the neurons as much as control, except of few neurons that appeared with some degree of degeneration. The current results clearly indicated the serious effect of inhalants on the central nervous system of rats. Treatment with melatonin or vitamin B was found to have a modulatory action against inhalant neurotoxicity

Increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis during testosterone administration in rabbits

The effects of non-physician prescribed, self-obtained and self- administered exogenous androgenic steroid testosterone on serum total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C, LDL-C], triacylglycerols, glucose [fasting and after 2 hr of an oral glucose load], insulin, total testosterone and gonadotropic hormones were evaluated in rabbits. Testosterone propionate [TP] was administered to male rabbits at a dose level of 25 mg intramuscular body wt/week for 6 weeks. A statistically significant increase [P < 0.05] in serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylgycerols, LDL-C, insulin, total testosterone, glucose [after 2 hr.], body wt., as well as a significant decrease in HDL-C and gonadortopic hormones [FSH, LH] were observed in drug treated animals than in control group. These results suggest that [TP] administration at a massive dose has an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis