ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In this study, the impact of Finasteride was assessed on the expression of four biomarkers of the spermatogenesis process, namely Dazl, Tsga10, Sycp3, and Prm2 using the Real-Time PCR technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental protocol was carried out on male NMRI mice for 35 days in which three animal groups received three different doses of Finasteride (1, 5, and 20 mg/body weight). RESULTS: The results showed that the expression levels of both Dazl and Prm2 genes were significantly decreased only at a dose of 20 mg/body weight, but at doses of 5 and 20 mg/body weight, the expression levels of Sycp3 and Tsga10 genes were significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that Finasteride, at a dose of 5 mg/body weight or higher, may have adverse effects on male spermatogenesis and fertility.
Subject(s)
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Cell Cycle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Cytoskeletal Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , DNA-Binding Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Finasteride/pharmacology , Protamines/antagonists & inhibitors , RNA-Binding Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Spermatogenesis/drug effects , Animals , Biomarkers/analysis , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Male , Mice , Protamines/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Spermatogenesis/geneticsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Betanin is a betacyanin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities whose effects were investigated in a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. MAIN METHODS: Ninety-six male naval medical research institute (NMRI) mice were divided into eight groups (n = 12) including normal control, high fat diet (HFD), Sham, and positive control treated with trans-chalcone. Three experimental groups were treated with 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg betanin, and a betanin protective group was also defined. RESULTS: Four weeks of HFD treatment resulted in steatohepatitis with associated fibrosis. Significant increase was observed in serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glucose, insulin, leptin, liver enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), furthermore insulin resistance and (sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c) SREBP-1c were detected. Levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), adiponectin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and PPAR-α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α) considerably decreased. Treatment by betanin, particularly the 20 mg/kg dosage, attenuated these changes. CONCLUSION: Betanin is a potential treating agent of steatohepatitis and works through up-regulation of PPAR-α, down-regulation of SREBP-1c, modification of adipokine levels and modulation of lipid profile.
Subject(s)
Betacyanins/pharmacology , Liver Cirrhosis , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease , PPAR alpha/metabolism , Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1/metabolism , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Diet, High-Fat , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism , Liver Cirrhosis/prevention & control , Male , Mice , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/prevention & control , Protective Agents/pharmacology , Treatment Outcome , Up-Regulation/drug effectsABSTRACT
Macroporous magnesium silicide monoliths were successfully prepared by a two-step synthesis procedure. The reaction of gaseous magnesium vapor with macro-/mesoporous silicon, which was generated from hierarchically organized meso-/macroporous silica by a magnesiothermic reduction reaction, resulted in monolithic magnesium silicide with a cellular, open macroporous structure. By adjusting the reaction conditions, such as experimental set-up, temperature and time, challenges namely loss of porosity or phase purity of Mg2Si were addressed and monolithic magnesium silicide with a cellular network builtup was obtained.
