Sperm motility inhibitory effect of the benzene chromatographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya in langur monkey, Presbytis entellus entellus / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess the contraceptive efficacy of the benzene chromatographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya in langur monkeys.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The test substance was given p.o. to five monkeys at 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 360 days. Control animals (n=3) received olive oil as vehicle. Sperm parameters as per World Health Organization standards, sperm functional tests, morphology of testis and epididymis, haematology, clinical biochemistry, serum testosterone and libido were evaluated. Following completion of 360 days treatment the animals were withdrawn from the treatment and the recovery pattern was assessed by semen analysis and sperm functional tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total inhibition of sperm motility was observed following 60 days of treatment that continued until 360 days study period. Sperm count, percent viability and percent normal spermatozoa showed a drastic decline following 30 days of treatment. Sperm morphology showed predominant mid piece abnormalities. Sperm functional tests scored in sterile range. Histology and ultrastructure of testis revealed vacuolization in the Sertoli cells and germ cells. Loss of cytoplasmic organelles was evident in spermatocytes and round spermatids. Histology and ultrastructure of epididymis of treated animals were comparable to those of control animals. Hematological and serum clinical parameters and testosterone levels fluctuated within the control range throughout the study period. Recovery was evident following 60-120 days of treatment withdrawal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that the benzene chromatographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya shows contraceptive efficacy without adverse toxicity, mediated through inhibition of sperm motility.</p>

Establishment of asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infection in Indian langurs (Presbytis entellus) through intradermal route.

Indian langurs, which were previously reported to be highly susceptible, were infected intradermally using variable numbers of promastigotes along with different doses, 1/2 pair, 5 pairs and 10 pairs respectively of salivary gland lysate (SGL). Although, all the monkeys developed mild infection and remained subclinically infected throughout the observation period, which later resolved, none of them could develop the classical disease. No marked antigen specific antibody or lymphoproliferative response was noticed throughout the experimental period. However, a late IFN-gamma response (by day 90 pi.) was demonstrated in monkeys infected with 2 x 10(6) promastigotes +10 pairs SGL. It seems that a single intradermal dose of promastigotes with or without SGLs had a vaccines like effect. Perhaps, multiple frequent inoculations, as happens in the natural situation, may be necessary for the development of full-blown disease.

The use of non-human primates as animal models for the study of hepatitis viruses

Hepatitis viruses belong to different families and have in common a striking hepatotropsin and restrictions for propagation in cell culture. The transmissibility of hepatitis is in great part limited to non-human primates. Enterically transmitted hepatitis viruses (hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus) can induce hepatitis in a number of OLD World and New Worls monkey species, while the host range of non-human primates susceptible to hepatitis viruses transmitted by the parenteral route (hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis delta virus) is restricted to few species of Old World monkeys, especially the chimpanzee. Experimental studies on non-human primates have provided an invaluable source of information regarding the biology and pathogenesis of these viruses, and represent a still indispensable tool for vaccine and drug testing.

Parallel pathways in the retina of old and new world primates

Old-world simians are all trichromats, but in most new-world primates there is a polymorphism; males are dichromats but most females are trichromats. In the old world simian, luminance and red-green chromatic channels defined by psychophysical experiments have as a basis parasol ganglion cells of the magnocellular (MC) pathway and midget ganglion cells of the parvocellular (PC) pathway respectively. Small bistratified ganglion cells provide a basis for a blue-yellow chromatic channel, which should probably be considered a separate entity. In both dichromatic and trichromatic new-world animals, the MC pathway and the small bistratified, blue-yellow system seem anatomically and physiologically similar to those in their old-world relatives. The midget ganglion cells of the parvocellular pathway in trichromats are anatomically and physiologically similar to the old-world pattern. In dichromatic animals, they are anatomically similar and physiologically resemble those of trichromatic animals, except for the lack of chromatic opponency. We conclude that these three systems may form a basic pattern for the visual pathway of primates. However, the results from dichromats indicate that the evolution of trichromacy may be found to be more complex than presently supposed.

Filogenia de los piojos (Insecta: Anoplura) de los monos del Viejo Mundo (Catarrhini) / Phylogeny of lice (Insecta: Anoplura) of the Old World Monkey (Catarrhina)

The genera Pediculus and Pthirus were studied cladistically, although the genus Pedicinus was also taken into account. Morphological characters from the literature, and some established through direct study were analyzed. Using five methods of cladistic analysis, one most parsimonious tree with a c.i.=0.84 and a length of 38 was obtained ((Pedicinus)+(Paenipediculus+(Parapediculus+(Pediculus humanus capitis+Pediculus humanus humanus). A novelty of this study is the inclusion of the subgenus

Ivermectin and diethylcarbamazine trials in leaf monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) infected with Wuchereria kalimantani.

Clinical trials of Ivermectin in single oral doses of 200, 400, and 1,000 mg/kg body weight or in multiple doses of 200 mg/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days were performed in leaf monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) infected with Wuchereria kalimantani. Optimal microfilaricidal effect occurred at 200 mg/kg body weight. The drug was less effective than diethylcarbamazine in this animal model for human filariasis but had no adverse effects.

Hematological changes in subperiodic Brugia malayi infection of the leaf-monkey, Presbytis cristata.

Hematological changes were monitored in the leaf-monkey, Presbytis cristata, infected experimentally with 200 subperiodic Brugia malayi infective larvae. Prepatent periods were 54-86 days and peak microfilarial geometric mean counts (GMCs) were 1324 per ml blood. Total leukocyte and differential counts were measured at pre-infection, and then at weakly intervals before and during patency. Blood eosinophil level increased to about thrice the initial level at 3 weeks post-infection and this was maintained for the next 13 weeks before it started to rise again, increasing to more than 5 times the initial level at 20 weeks post-infection. The observed pattern of eosinophilia is probably related to the level of microfilaremia and the destruction of microfilariae in the spleen. There was no significant change in the total leukocyte counts during the period of observation.

Effect of vasectomy on biochemical constituents of the blood in langur monkey--a 2 1/2 years follow up.

Bilaterally vasectomized langur monkeys were compared with age matched sham operated controls for biochemical constituents of the blood following 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 years of surgery. No appreciable changes were observed in blood glucose and blood urea and serum total protein, total lipid, phospholipid, total cholesterol, sialic acid, electrolytes (chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper and zinc) and enzymes (LDH, alkaline phosphatase SGOT and SGPT) suggesting that long-term vasectomy does not cause adverse effects on general body metabolism including atherosclerosis.