Potential protective effect of L-Arginine on cyclosporine A induced osteopenia in adult albino rats

This study aimed to assess the possible toxic effect of cyclosporine A [CsA] on bone and the potential protective effect of L-arginine on CsA-induced osteopenia. The study was conducted on 120 adult male albino rats divided into eight equal groups: Group I [negative control], group II [distilled water], group III [corn oil], group IV [L-arginine, low dose], group V [L-arginine, high dose], group VI [CsA], group VII [L-arginine, low dose + CsA] and group VIII [L- arginine, high dose + CsA]. The duration of the study was six weeks, then the level of urinary deoxypyridinoline [Dpd] and N- terminal telopeptide [NTx] [markers of bone resorption], serum calcium, osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase [BSALP] [markers of bone formation] were measured. Also, bone mineral density [BMD] of spine using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA] was measured. The results showed that CsA had an osteopenic effect and L-arginine provoked a significant protective effect

Experimental evaluation of the protective role of vitamin C, zinc and their combination against dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane [DDT] toxicity on the thyroid gland and the testis

This study divided 100 adult male albino rats into ten groups, each consisted of ten rats. DDT was given in a dose of 12 mg/kg, ascorbic acid [vitamin C] was administered in a dose of 2 gm/kg and zinc was given as 30 mg/kg. The materials were given orally daily for four weeks. The first six groups served as controls. Histopathologically, thyroid gland showed dilated large follicles, flattened epithelium with vacuolation and accumulation of colloid inside and some disrupted follicles. The testis showed a distortion of spermatogenic series with a single layer of flattened cells in some tubules. The administration of vitamin C, zinc or vitamin C + zinc with DDT had a protective effect on DDT induced toxicity on both thyroid gland and testis as shown by the improvement of hormonal assay and histopathological examination

Beneficial effects of methionine on the testicular and hepatic toxicity of thiocarbamate herbicide in adult male albino rats

This study was conducted on 165 adult male albino rats divided into seven groups: Group I included negative control, Group II received distilled water, Group III received corn oil, Group IV [IVa and IVb] received methionine, Group V [Va and Vb] received thiocarbamate, Group VI [VIa and Vib] received methionine 1/2 hour after thiocarbamate and Group VII [VIIa and VIIb] received methionine two hours after thiocarbamate. Groups IVa, Va, VIa and VIIa were sacrificed after 48 hours; while groups I, II, III, IVb, Vb, VIb and VIIb were sacrificed after three weeks. Serum testosterone, estimation of testis weight, liver function tests [AST, ALT, ALP and T. Bil], histochemical and histopathological examination were done. The results showed that thiocarbamate caused testicular and hepatic toxicity and its severity increased by time. Methionine was found to be a promising protective agent against such toxicity through glutathione dependent mechanism. Also, the earlier it was given, the better protection could be offered