Assessment of insulin resistance in non-diabetic hypertensives in Eastern India.

To assess prevalence of insulin resistance in non-diabetic hypertensive patients in eastern part of India, a case-control study was undertaken among 112 patients of hypertension without diabetes mellitus or ischaemic heart disease and 76 age and sex matched controls. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference) were done and fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin levels were estimated. Among 112 patients, 50.9% (n = 57) have fasting hyperinsulinaemia, whereas in control population 12% had hyperinsulinemia (p < 0.001). Mean waist circumference was higher in hypertensive patients compared to control. No statistical difference of body mass index between cases and control found. In this study prevalence of fasting hyperinsulinaemia, considered as a surrogate marker for insulin resistance, was 50% in hypertensives. Body mass index was not associated with insulin resistance or hypertension.

Effect of continuous light on spermatogenesis and testicular steroidogenesis in rats: possible involvement of alpha 2u-globulin.

Male rats exposed to continous light for 70 days showed an increased weights of testis, accessory sex organs, serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, testicular 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (1beta-HSD) activity and alpha 2u-globulin, while 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity showed no significant changes. Prolonged light exposure also stimulated sepermatogenesis in rats. These results suggest that alpha 2u-globulin possibly stimutates the male gonad by inducing pituitary gonadotropins in continuous light-exposed rats.

Protection of adrenal and male gonadal functions by androgen in lead-treated rats.

The potential health hazard of the large amounts of Lead that occurs in canned baby food, domestic water from lead-lined tanks and, in printing and petroleum industries. Lead acetate administration at a does of 8 mg/kg body weight for 21 days resulted a significant increase in adrenal steroidogenic enzyme (Delta5-3beta- HSD) and serum levels of corticosterone, while serum levels of testosterone, FSH, LH and testicular spermatogenesis were decreased in albino rats. But lead-treated rats received exogenous testosterone for the last 14 days of lead treatment, showed prevention of adrenocortical hyperactivity by decreasing adrenal Delta5-3beta-HSD activity and serum level of corticosterone. Testosterone administration also increased serum level of testosterone, FSH and LH along with spermatogenesis. The results suggest that testosterone supplementation in lead-treated rats protects adrenocortical activity and testicular spermatogenesis.

Dose-dependent effect of copper chloride on male reproductive function in immature rats.

BACKGROUND: Copper is essential as a trace element for metabolic processes. Exposure to copper in industries develops toxicity among the workers. Previous findings on adverse effects of copper on male reproductive function in adult albino rats led to investigate the effects of this metal on reproductive function of maturing male rats in the present experiment. METHODOLOGY: To study these effects, immature (30 to 35 days old) Wistar strain albino rats weighing about 50-60 g were treated intraperitoneally with copper chloride at doses of 1000, 2000 and 3000 microg/kg body weight/day for 26 days. RESULT: Significant fall in accessory sex organ weight and inhibition of testicular 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity along with degeneration of testicular growing spermatogenic cells and reduction in serum testosterone, FSH and LH level were observed at the doses of 2000 and 3000microg/kg/day. On the other hand, at the dose of 1000 microg/kg/day significant increase in testicular steroidogenic enzyme activity and stimulation of testicular spermatogenesis along with rise in serum testosterone and LH level were observed, though no significant change was observed in serum FSH level. This suggests that copper has got a dose-dependent effect on testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis and serum testosterone and LH level in maturing male rats.

Effects of gold on testicular steroidogenic and gametogenic functions in immature male albino rats.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of gold chloride, a metallic earth salt, on steroidogenic and gametogenic functions of testis in immature rats. Immature rats of Wistar strain, were injected (s.c.) with gold chloride at the dose of 0.3 mg and 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day for 26 days. All the treated animals along with the vehicle-treated controls were sacrificed 24 hours after last injections. Testicular steroidogenic activity was evaluated by measuring the activities of two steroidogenic key enzymes, Delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5-3beta-HSD) and 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-beta HSD). Gametogenic capacity was determined by counting the number of germ cells at stage VII of seminiferous cycle. Plasma levels of testosterone (T) was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Administration of gold chloride at a dose of 0.3 mg/ kg body weight for 26 days led to insignificant changes of testicular Delta5-3beta-HSD,17beta-HSD activities and gametogenesis along with plasma T. In contrast 0.5 mg gold chloride treatment for 26 days caused a significant increase in plasma T (p < 0.001) along with stimulation of testicular Delta5-3beta-HSD activity (p < 0.001) and 17beta-HSD activity (p < 0.001). Gametogenic activity exhibited a significant increase in the number of step 7 spermatids (7Sd) (p < 0.001) at stage VII of seminiferous cycle when compared to control. The results of our experiment suggest that gold chloride treatment might be associated with significant stimulatory effects on testicular activities. Furthermore, since hormonal changes, altered steroidogenic enzymes and gametogenic activities were evident to a specific dose of gold chloride treatment, our data may have some clinical implication on the stimulation of fertility.

Effect of lead on male gonadal activity in albino rats.

Lead poisoning often prevails in children and industrial workers. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of lead acetate on steroidogenic functions of testis, serum levels of gonadotrophins and testosterone in albino rats. Testicular steroidogenic activity was evaluated by measuring the activities of two steroidogenic key enzymes, Delta5-3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5-3beta-HSD) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD). Administration of lead acetate at a dose of 8mg/kg body weight for 14 days lowered the weights of testes and accessory sex organs, and decreased testicular Delta5-3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD activities and serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone but 7 days of lead acetate administration showed no effect on the above parameters. This report is perhaps the first evidence to show that lead exerts some deleterious effects on testicular steroidogenesis indirectly by decreasing serum levels of gonadotropins.

Protection of adrenocortical activity by dietary casein in ether anaesthetized rats.

Adrenal delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta5-3beta-HSD) activity and serum corticosterone level were significantly higher in rats fed with 5% casein or 4% albumin diets after 1 hr of ether anaesthetic stress as compared to the controls, 5% casein and 20% casein (equivalent to 4% albumin) respectively. Ether anaesthesia to 20% casein fed rats caused no change in adrenal delta5-3beta-HSD activity and serum corticosterone level when compared with controls fed 20% casein diet. The results suggest that high milk protein diet may prevent acute stress effects by protecting adrenocortical activity. The present investigation opens up a new area of management of stress.

Effect of atenolol on cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.

Cadmium-induced stress adversely affects testicular activity and causes sympathetic stimulation. To investigate the effect of atenolol, a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker, on testicular androgen synthesis after cadmium treatment, adult Sprague-Dawley strain male rats were given a single sc dose of cadmium chloride 0.45 mg/kg BW. Animals were killed on day 3 after treatment. Adrenal weight, adrenal delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) activity, serum corticosterone, and brain noradrenaline were increased significantly while testicular delta 5-3 beta-HSD and 17 beta-HSD activities, serum testosterone, and accessory sex organs weight were decreased. Oral coadministration of atenolol at a dose of 2.0 mg/kg body weight for 3 days resulted in complete protection of adrenal delta 5-3 beta-HSD, testicular delta 5-3 beta-HSD, and 17 beta-HSD activities, adrenal weight, serum corticosterone, and serum testosterone when compared with cadmium-only group and there were no significant differences in these parameters from the vehicle control values. Simultaneous administration of cadmium and atenolol also protected brain noradrenaline content and reduced the rise of testicular cadmium concentration. All the parameters were similar to control levels in rats treated with atenolol alone. We conclude that atenolol may protect testicular androgen synthesis by inhibiting the action of noradrenaline on testicular Leydig cells and adrenocortical hyperactivity in cadmium-treated rats.

Prevention of adrenocortical hyperactivity by dietary casein in rats exposed to forced swimming stress.

Adrenal weight, adrenal hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and serum corticosterone level were significantly higher in rats fed with 5% casein diet after 7 days of swimming stress (45 min/day) as compared to their controls. All the parameters were similar to their control levels in rats receiving 20% casein diet and exposed to swimming stress. The results suggest that casein can play an important role in preventing adrenocortical hyperactivity in swimming stressed rats.

Effect of casein diet on gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist induced changes in adrenal gonadal functions in male rats.

Adult male rats received daily injections (sc) of gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (0.2 mg/kg(-1) x day(-1)) for 21 days when they were sacrificed on day 22, adrenal weight, adrenal A5-3beta (delta 5-3beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5-3beta-HSD) activity and serum level of corticosterone were increased significantly while testicular 17beta (17beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity and serum level of testosterone and spermatogenesis were decreased in the rats fed on 5% casein diet. GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet, resulted significant decrease in adrenal weight, serum corticosterone and adrenal A5-3beta-HSD activity while testicular 17beta-HSD activity serum testosterone levels and the weights of sex organs were increased with respect to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. But the GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet showed decreased spermatogenesis quantitatively and sperm count appeared similar to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. These results indicate that high casein diet protects adrenocortical activity and stimulates testosterone synthesis without effecting spermatogenic arrest in GnRH antagonist treated rats. It may be concluded that GnRH antagonist in presence of high milk protein diet may be considered to be a suitable antihormone in the development of an ideal male contraceptive.

Influence of adrenal cortex on testicular activity in the toad during the breeding season.

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of adrenals in gonadal activity in the male toad during the breeding season. Exogenous administration of corticosterone or metapyrone for 6 days inhibited adrenal delta5-3beta(delta 5-3 beta) hydroxysteroid (delta5-3beta-HSD) and testicular 17beta (17 beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activities, decreased the serum levels of testosterone and inhibited spermatogenesis. When toads were treated with corticosterone a significant rise of serum corticosterone was noted while metapyrone treatment appeared to decrease serum corticosterone levels. It is concluded that adrenocortical hormone plays an indirect role in testicular activity in toads during the breeding season.

Antitesticular effect of copper chloride in albino rats.

Copper chloride treatment adversely affects testicular activity in albino rats. To investigate its antitesticular effects mature (120 days) Wistar strain albino rats were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with copper chloride at doses of 1000, 2000 and 3000 micrograms/kg body weight/day for 26 days. Significant reduction of testicular and accessory sex organs (seminal vesicle, ventral prostate) weight, along with inhibition of testicular delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activity and reduction in plasma testosterone level, were observed at the doses of 2000 and 3000 micrograms/kg body weight/day. The degree of inhibition in all the parameters were increased with the increase of dosage. But no significant change was observed in the above parameters when the animals were treated with 1000 micrograms/kg body weight/day dose. This suggests that copper produces a suppressive influence on male reproductive activity, mainly on testicular weight and steroidogenesis and accessory sex organ weight in a dose-dependent manner.

ROLE OF ASCORBIC ACID ON TRANSAMINASE ACTIVITIES IN SOME METABOLICALLY ACTIVE TISSUES OF ASPIRIN TREATED RATS.

Aspartate amino transferase (GOT) and alanine amino transferase (GPT) activities were studied in plasma, liver and kidney of aspirin treated and ascorbic acid supplemented groups for a period of seven days. GOT and GPT activities were increased in plasma but decreased significantly in liver and kidney in aspirin treated animals. Ascorbic acid supplemented groups showed no significant change of GOT and GPT in plasma and liver. In case of kidney, GOT activity remained unchange but GPT activity showed significant change in ascorbic acid supplemented group. The results clearly indicate that aspirin is a potent hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic drug but supplementation of ascorbic acid in High doses to rats fed aspirin can restore enzyme activities to the normal level.

Effect of continual light deprivation and alpha-2u-globulin replacement therapy on serum concentration of gonadotropins and testicular activity in rats.

Prolonged darkness caused a fall in testicular 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activity and diminished spermatogenesis, serum levels of gonadotropins, testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin. Administration of alpha 2u-globulin at a dose of 1.5 mg rat-1 per day for 7 days after 68 days of light deprivation, reversed the 17 beta-HSD activity and serum levels of gonadotropins, testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin, while spermatogenesis was restored to normal. The animals kept in prolonged darkness for 68 days and then received saline (7 days in light-dark cycle, 14 L: 10 D), showed no significant changes of testicular activity, serum levels of gonadotropins, testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin, when compared with dark-exposed animals (68 days) receiving rabbit serum (7 days in light-dark cycle, 14 L: 10 D). These results suggest that alpha 2u-globulin plays an important role in testicular function in dark-exposed rats by inducing gonadotropins and testosterone secretion.

Effect of ascorbic acid on in vitro synthesis of testosterone in rat testis.

Effect of ascorbic acid on testicular steroid dehydrogenase activity and testosterone concentration, using in vitro preparation of rat testis, was studied. A significant stimulation of enzyme activity and rise in testosterone content were observed.

Hematologic and body fluid changes during simulated high altitude exposure in naproxen-treated rats.

Arterial blood oxygen saturation, body fluid and hematological parameters were studied in control, naproxen (a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor)-treated control, altitude-exposed, and naproxen-treated altitude-exposed rats after intermittent exposure of 8 h/d for 6 consecutive days to a simulated high altitude of 6,100 m (barometric pressure 349 +/- 3 mmHg). Arterial blood oxygen saturation was reduced in altitude-exposed rats, but increased significantly to near control level in naproxen-treated rats. On the other hand, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in erythrocytes increased in altitude-exposed rats, but naproxen prevented this increase. The red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit ratio were reduced significantly in drug-treated altitude-exposed rats when compared to the altitude-exposed group (without drug). Red cell mass was increased in the altitude-exposed group in comparison with control. Both red cell mass and mean corpuscular volume of altitude-exposed rats were shifted towards the control value when they were treated with naproxen. Drug-treated high altitude-exposure reduced the thiocyanate space, intracellular fluid volume and total body water content compared to drug-treated control rats. On the other hand, thiocyanate space and total body water content were increased significantly in drug-treated control rats in comparison with the control group.

Effects of passive immunization against alpha-2u-globulin and supplementation with alpha-2u-globulin on serum gonadotrophins and testicular activity.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of anti-alpha-2U-globulin on pituitary-gonadal functions in male rats. Adult male rats were given injections of anti-alpha-2u-globulin (1 mg/day) for 14 days, when they were killed 7 days after the last injection, serum levels of gonadotrophins and testosterone measured by radioimmunoassays, were less, testicular delta 3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase (3 beta- and 17 beta-HSD) activities were suppressed, spermatogenesis was inhibited and serum level of alpha-2u-globulin was decreased in anti-alpha-2u-globulin treated rats. Administration of alpha-2u-globulin (1.5 mg/day) for 7 days to anti-alpha-2u-globulin treated rats reversed the 3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD activities and serum levels of gonadotrophins, testosterone and alpha-2u-globulin, while spermatogenesis was restored to normal. The results indicate that changes in testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in rats after passive immunization against alpha-2u-globulin may be due to decrease in availability of endogenous alpha-2u-globulin.

Study on the activities of testes and accessory sex glands after losulazine treatment in rats.

Losulazine hydrochloride, an antihypertensive agent, was administered intraperitoneally to adult male Wistar rats in doses of 1, 2 and 5 mg/kg/day for 1 seminiferous epithelium cycle to determine its effects on testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis and accessory sex gland function. Administration of low doses of losulazine (1 and 2 mg/kg) resulted in a significant elevation of the steriodogenic key enzymes activity along with significant depletion of cholesterol content in testicular tissue. In addition, a significant rise in acid phosphatase activity in testes and prostate, and fructose content in accessory sex glands was also observed after low doses of losulazine. However, treatment with a higher dose of losulazine (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced the activities of testicular steroidogenic enzymes and acid phosphatase, and the content of fructose in accessory sex glands. Quantitative evaluation of the different varieties of germ cells at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and epididymal sperm count in all losulazine-treated rats revealed a persistant prominent detrimental change in spermatogenesis. The results of our present experiment demonstrate an adverse action of losulazine treatment on functional activities of testes and accessory sex glands in adult rats.

Effect of thyroidectomy, and thyroxine and alpha 2u-globulin replacement therapy on testicular steroidogenic and gametogenic activities in rats.

Adult male rats were thyroidectomized and killed after 22 days of treatment. Thyroidectomy lowered the weights of testes and accessory sex organs, decreased the activities of testicular delta 5-3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD), and diminished spermatogenesis, serum levels of testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin. Supplementation with thyroxine at a dose of 5 micrograms/100 g body weight per day for 21 days or supplementation with alpha 2u-globulin at a dose of 1.5 mg/rat per day for 21 days in thyroidectomized animals partially reversed the decrease in HSD activities and serum concentrations of testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin, while spermatogenesis was restored to normal. The weights of testes and accessory sex organs were also reinstated after supplementation with thyroxine or alpha 2u-globulin in thyroidectomized rats in comparison with thyroidectomized animals. It was concluded that alpha 2u-globulin may be an intermediary in the thyroid hormone control of testicular function.

Histochemical study on adrenal delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in cadmium treated toad (Bufo melanostictus).

Effect of a single subcutaneous injection of cadmium chloride at the dose of 0.5 mg/toad on adrenal delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) was observed after 7 days. The activity of delta 5-3 beta-HSD was measured histochemically. The experiments indicate that cadmium chloride resulted in a significant decrease in the activity of adrenal delta 5-3 beta-HSD in toad during breeding season (June-July).