Dichlorvos Induced Oxidative and Neuronal Responses in Rats: Mitigative Efficacy of Nigella sativa (Black Cumin).

Poisoning from Organophosphates (OPs), especially Dichlorvos (DDVP) has become endemic due to theincreasing use in house hold and agricultural pests control, with most marked effects in the nervous system. However, it isevidenced that natural antioxidants are efficacious against OPs toxicity. Thus, this study investigated the possible antidotalefficacy of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) in Dichlovos (DDVP) induced oxidative and neuronal damages in Wistar rats. DDVPwas administered at sub-chronic daily dosage of 8.8 mg/kg.bw for 7 days and a post-administration of NSO at 1 ml/kg.bwfor the subsequent 7 days. The rats were euthanized on the 15thday, blood sample collected via cardiac puncture, centrifugedand the plasma used for biochemical analysis of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GSH) and totalreactive oxygen species (ROS), while the frontal, occipital and cerebellar cortices and the medulla were removed for histomorphological examinations. The results showed significant (P≤0.05) decrease in plasma TAC and GSH, while a significant(P≤0.05) increase in ROS was recorded, and some vacuolation around the neurons especially in the frontal and cerebellarcortices following DDVP exposure. However, post treatment with NSO was observed to be efficacious in the recovery ofthe oxidative activities and the neuro-architectural integrities. Thus, it can be concluded that the antioxidant capacity of NSOcould be efficacious against OPs induced oxidative damages, especially in dichlorvos accidents.

Naringenin attenuates highly active antiretroviral therapy-induced sperm DNA fragmentations and testicular toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has evolved over the years, leading to a boost in the quality of life in people living with HIV and AIDS. However, growing evidence has shown that highly active antiretroviral therapy has deleterious effects on the testes and the overall reproductive capacity. Therefore, this study is to determine the adjuvant potential of Naringenin on highly active antiretroviral therapy-induced perturbations in fertility of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups viz - Control; H: 30 mg/kg of highly active antiretroviral therapy (EFV, 600 mg + FTC, 200 mg + TDF, 300 mg); N40: Naringenin, 40 mg/kg; N80: Naringenin, 80 mg/kg; HN40: highly active antiretroviral therapy + Naringenin, 40 mg/kg; HN80: highly active antiretroviral therapy + Naringenin, 80 mg/kg. The rats were euthanized after 4 weeks. Results showed that there was a significant decrease in sperm count (p < 0.001), spermatozoa with normal morphology (p < 0.001) and progressive sperm motility (p < 0.05) of H compared to the control and the HN groups. Likewise, fragmentations increased (p < 0.05) in tail lengths of sperm DNA in H compared to control. HN40 and HN80 decreased tail lengths compared to H (p < 0.001). There was also a decrease in %tail DNA and tail moment in HN40 (p < 0.001) compared to H. Luteinizing hormone significantly increased (p < 0.05) in HN40, HN80, and N40 (p < 0.001) but decreased in H (p < 0.05) compared to control. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules also decreased (p < 0.05) in H compared to control, N80, and HN40. Likewise, the area of the seminiferous tubules in group H decreased (p < 0.05) compared to N80 and HN80. The seminiferous tubules epithelium increased (p < 0.05) in N40 and HN40 compared to H. This study establishes that highly active antiretroviral therapy has deleterious effects on the testicular microanatomy, sperm parameters, and sperm DNA of Sprague-Dawley rats, which may impair fertility but Naringenin is a potential complimentary adjuvant.