Bee Venom Causes Oxidative Stress, Biochemical and Histopathological Changes in the Kidney of Mice.

Accidents with venomous bees are a serious worldwide health concern. Since the kidney has been reported as the main venom-target organ, the present study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo nephrotoxic effect of Algerian bee venom (ABV) (Apis mellifera intermissa) collected in the middle east of Algeria. A preliminary study was performed on ABV to identify the ABV using SDS-PAGE analysis and to determine the in vivo intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) using the Probit analysis test. In vivo nephrotoxic effect was assessed through the determination of physiological and kidney biochemical markers in mice intraperitoneally injected with ABV at doses of 0.76 (D1); 1.14 (D2) and 2.29 mg/kg body weight (bwt) (D3), corresponding respectively to LD50/15, LD50/10, and LD50/5 (i.p. LD50=11.48 mg/kg bwt) for seven consecutive days. Results revealed a marked decrease in body weight gain and food intake, and an increase in absolute and relative kidney weights in ABV D2 and D3 treated mice compared with controls. Furthermore, ABV D2 and D3 resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid. ABV-induced oxidative stress was evidenced by a significant increase in kidney MDA level, and a significant depletion in kidney GSH level, and catalase activity. Meanwhile, no marked changes in the above-mentioned parameters were noticed in ABV D1. Accordingly, the adverse nephrotoxic effect of ABV was proved by the dose-dependent kidney histological changes. In summary, the results of the present study evidence that ABV at doses of 1.14 (D2) and 2.28 mg/kg body weight (bwt) can cause marked changes in kidney biochemical and major antioxidant markers, and histological architecture.

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and its constituent quercetin can suppress ovarian cell functions and their response to FSH.

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis Brum. f) can directly influence female reproduction, but whether rooibos can influence the response of ovarian cells to FSH and whether the rooibos effects are due to the presence of quercetin remain unknown. We compared the influence of rooibos extract and quercetin (both at 10 µg/ml-1) on porcine ovarian granulosa cells cultured with and without FSH (0, 1, 10 or 100 ng/ml-1). The expression of intracellular proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1) and apoptosis (bax, caspase 3) markers in the cells was detected by immunocytochemistry. The release of progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E) were evaluated with ELISAs. Administration of both rooibos and quercetin reduced the accumulation of proliferation markers and promoted the accumulation of apoptosis markers and the release of T and E. Rooibos stimulated, but quercetin inhibited, P output. Administration of FSH increased the accumulation of proliferation markers, decreased the accumulation of apoptosis markers, promoted the release of P and T, and had a biphasic effect on E output. The addition of both rooibos and quercetin mitigated or prevented the main effects of FSH. The present observations suggest a direct influence of both rooibos and quercetin on basic ovarian functions - proliferation, apoptosis, steroidogenesis and response to FSH. The similarity in the major effects of rooibos and its constituent quercetin indicates that quercetin could be the molecule responsible for the main rooibos effects on the ovary. The potential anti-reproductive effects of rooibos and rooibos constituent quercetin, should be taken into account in animal and human nutrition.

Potential protective effect of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris, L.) against xylene toxicity on bovine ovarian cell functions.

The action of the medicinal plant Tribulus terrestris (TT) on bovine ovarian cell functions, as well as the protective potential of TT against xylene (X) action, remain unknown. The aim of the present in vitro study was to elucidate the influence of TT, X and their combination on basic bovine ovarian cell functions. For this purpose, we examined the effect of TT (at doses of 0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL), X (at 20 ?g/mL) and the combination of TT + X (at these doses) on proliferation, apoptosis and hormone release by cultured bovine ovarian granulosa cells. Markers of proliferation (accumulation of PCNA), apoptosis (accumulation of Bax) and the release of hormones (progesterone, testosterone and insulin-like growth factor I, IGF-I) were analyzed by quantitative immunocytochemistry and RIA, respectively. TT addition was able to stimulate proliferation and testosterone release and inhibit apoptosis and progesterone output. The addition of X alone stimulated proliferation, apoptosis and IGF-I release and inhibited progesterone and testosterone release by ovarian cells. TT was able to modify X effects: it prevented the antiproliferative effect of X, induced the proapoptotic action of X, and promoted X action on progesterone but not testosterone or IGF-I release. Taken together, our observations represent the first demonstration that TT can be a promoter of ovarian cell functions (a stimulator of proliferation and a suppressor of apoptosis) and a regulator of ovarian steroidogenesis. X can increase ovarian cell proliferation and IGF-I release and inhibit ovarian steroidogenesis. These effects could explain its anti-reproductive and cancer actions. The ability of TT to modify X action on proliferation and apoptosis indicates that TT might be a natural protector against some ovarian cell disorders associated with X action on proliferation and apoptosis, but it can also promote its adverse effects on progesterone release.

Sex differences in regional specialisation across the placental surface.

There may be regional specialisation in structure and function across the placental surface. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the length and the breadth of the placental surface at birth were highly correlated, but the breadth was more closely associated with the size of the baby. To replicate this we studied 321 pregnant Saudi women in the town of Baish. We measured the size of the newborn babies and their placentas. The association of the length and breadth of the placental surface on the baby's body size differed in boys and girls. Among boys the breadth had a stronger association with all birth measurements except crown-heel length. This was similar to the findings in Riyadh. Placental surface length was related to crown-heel length. For each centimetre in surface length, crown-heel length increased by 0.27 cm (95% CI 0.09-0.44, p = 0.004). Among girls placental surface breadth was related to crown-heel length, whereas surface length was related to birth weight, head and thigh circumferences. For each centimetre in surface breadth, crown-heel length increased by 0.33 cm (0.13-0.53, p = 0.001). We conclude that, within Saudi Arabia, there are both geographical and sex differences in regional specialisation across the placental surface. In the adverse circumstances of Baish, linked to the mothers' short stature, boys were smaller at birth than girls. Boys may have compensated for under-nutrition by increasing the depth of spiral artery invasion rather than by recruiting additional spiral arteries. Girls may have had more effective regional specialisation across the placental surface.