Evaluation of Testicular Function and Structural Changes of Wistar Rats Following Antiretroviral Exposure: Protective Role of Cyperus Esculentus.

Long-term antiretroviral drug toxicity may exacerbate the impact of HAART-Cyperus esculentus (C. esculentus) interactions on testicular function in HIV-infected individuals. This study examined the ability of C. esculentus plants to treat testicular dysfunction, which is thought to be a probable side effect of antiretroviral toxicity. Adult Wistar male rats weighing 90-110 g were divided into six groups and administered the prescribed treatments. In addition to testicular histology and stereological parameters, testosterone levels, follicle-stimulating hormone levels, antioxidant markers, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione levels were also evaluated. The adverse consequences of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) include considerable loss of germ cells, enlargement of the tubular lumen, widening of interstitial gaps, and severe hypocellularity. Compared to the other treatment groups, MDA levels dramatically increased, whereas GSH and antioxidant enzyme (SOD) levels significantly decreased. Testicular architecture was largely conserved after treatment with C. esculentus, with a notable increase in the cellular densities of germinal and interstitial cells and a notable decrease in the tubular lumen. Vacuolation, architectural malformations, and hypoplastic changes were reduced. Significant improvements were also observed in C. esculentus in terms of elevated antioxidant SOD and GSH levels and decreased MDA levels. C. esculentus reduced architectural distortions and testicular dysfunction caused by HAART, and improved testicular morphology. Further exploration of these pathways is required.

Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex Following the Use of Anti-Retroviral Therapy in Adult Wistar Rats: Therapeutic Role of Epigallocatechin Gallate.

The contribution of prefrontal-hippocampal interactions to brain function of people infected with HIV may be aggravated by toxicities due to long-term use of antiretroviral agents. This study was designed to investigate the curative potential of Epigallotatechin gallate (EGCG) in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders as a possible consequence of antiretroviral toxicity. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats, weighing 80~100g, were divided into four groups and treated as follows: control A (distilled water), B (HAART), C (EGCG 2.5mg/kg), D (EGCG 2.5mg/kg) + HAART) Brain histology, immunohistochemistry, and oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH),catalase (CAT)  and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) showed extensive architectural deformation with pyknotic neuronal cells and obliterated neurons in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Expression of inflammasome cells was also evident in this group. MDA levels increased significantly with a significant reduction in the levels of GSH, as well as antioxidant enzyme (SOD and CAT) activities compared to other treatment groups. Treatment with EGCG resulted in partial neuronal restoration of histopathological alterations, and modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. EGCG also showed significant improvements in terms of increased antioxidant levels of SOD, GSH, CAT and a reduced MDA level and well-preserved brain architecture. Epigallocatechin gallate improves brain morphology and function with a reversal of HAART-induced alterations.

Histomorphological study of the effects of aqueous extract of Curcuma longa on highly active antiretroviral therapy-induced testicular toxicity.

This study evaluates the effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and Curcuma longa on testicular histology, stereological parameters, body weight and relative organ weights, seminal fluid, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, the antioxidant marker malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in adult male Wistar rat. Thirty-six adult male Wistar rats were grouped into A: distilled water (control); B: 100 mg/kg C. longa; C: 200 mg/kg C. longa; D: HAART only; E: HAART + 100 mg/kg C. longa; and F: HAART + 200 mg/kg C. longa. The rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks. Results showed a significant increase in abnormal morphology in group D when compared with group A. In group D, progressive sperm motility was significantly decreased compared with group F. The GSH level was significantly increased in group D compared with control group A, group E and group F. Histomorphological studies showed that HAART caused loss of germ cells and widening tubule lumen which were improved and partially restored by C. longa. This study suggests that C. longa improves testicular morphology and ameliorates HAART-induced toxicity. Further studies confirming putative mechanisms are required.

Renal histopathological and biochemical changes following adjuvant intervention of Momordica charantia and antiretroviral therapy in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an important primary cause of end-stage kidney disease. This study explores the mechanisms of the reno-protective effects of Momordica charantia (M. charantia) in diabetic rats following treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen triplavar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=48) were divided into 7 groups (A-G).Treatment groups (B-G) had 7 animals per group and control group (Group A) had 6 animals per group. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) by intraperitoneal injection (STZ 45 mg/kg body weight). The animals were euthanized on the tenth week with kidneys removed for examination and blood obtained via cardiac puncture. RESULTS: Key renal parameters showed no albuminuria, normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and electrolytes in all groups treated with M. charantia. Untreated diabetic (Group B) and HAART treated diabetic (Group C) showed severe albuminuria, a significantly raised BUN and serum creatinine (P<0.05) and gross electrolyte disturbances. Blood glucose levels were consistently and significantly raised in all groups not receiving the adjuvant M. charantia (P<0.05). Levels of oxidative stress enzymes Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase and activities of Reduced Gluthaione (GSH) and Malondiadehyde (MDA) were significantly lower in all groups not receiving M. charantia. Histopathology in untreated diabetic and HAART treated animals showed severe degenerative changes in the glomeruli and inflammatory cellular infiltration while M. charantia treated animals showed an essentially normal glomerular appearance with capillary loops and normal cytoarchitecture. CONCLUSION: M. charantia extract administration improved blood glucose levels, reinstates renal function, reduces body weight loss and restores hyperglycemia.

Testicular microanatomical and hormonal alterations following use of antiretroviral therapy in Sprague Dawley rats: Role of Naringenin.

Human immunodeficiency virus-infected man may require assisted reproductive technology not just for safer conception but also due to subfertility. The study investigated the effect of antiretroviral drugs on the fertility potentials of males and the possible protective role of Naringenin, using Sprague Dawley rats. Thirty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were grouped into-A: Distilled water; B: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART); C: Naringenin 40 mg/kg; D: Naringenin 80 mg/kg, E: HAART + Naringenin 40 mg/kg; F: HAART + Naringenin 80 mg/kg. The rats were euthanised after 10 weeks. Results showed a significant decrease in sperm count in group B when compared to the control and other groups. Spermatozoa with normal morphology also reduced significantly in the B group and progressive sperm motility reduced when compared to the control, D and the F group. The serum testosterone was not significantly different between groups A and B, however the groups C and D displayed significant increase when compared to groups A and B. The serum luteinising hormone was significantly higher in group B when compared to groups A, E and F. Our data suggest that Naringenin improves the male reproductive anatomy and function, therefore, it promises to be a beneficial adjuvant for mitigating HAART testicular and reproductive perturbations.

Nephrotoxicity and highly active antiretroviral therapy: Mitigating action of Momordica charantia.

Momordica charantia (M. charantia) is known for its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the renoprotective effects of M. charantia in rats following treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen triplavar. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 178.1-220.5 g (n = 36) were divided into six groups (A-F) with each group comprising of six (n = 6) rats. The drugs and extract were administered via oral gavage. The therapeutic dose of triplavar was adjusted using the human therapeutic dose equivalent for the rat model. Animals were euthanized on the tenth week with kidneys removed for examination and blood obtained via cardiac puncture. Levels of oxidative stress enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase-CAT, and reduced glutathione-GSH) were significantly lowered in all groups not receiving M. charantia. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were increased resulting in free radical formation via auto-oxidation. Renal parameters showed no albuminuria, normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr) and electrolytes in groups treated with M. charantia. HAART treated (Group B) showed severe albuminuria, a significantly (p < 0.05) raised BUN and SCr and gross electrolyte disturbances. Blood glucose levels were significantly raised in groups not receiving the adjuvant M. charantia (p < 0.05). Histopathology in HAART treated animals showed glomerular capillary abnormalities and cellular infiltrations while M. charantia treated animals showed an essentially normal glomerular appearance with capillary loops and normal cytoarchitecture. In conclusion M. charantia extract administration improved blood glucose levels, restored renal histology, reinstate renal function, reduce body weight loss and restores hyperglycemia.

Sex determination using humeral dimensions in a sample from KwaZulu-Natal: an osteometric study.

The morphological characteristics of the humeral bone has been investigated in recent times with studies showing varying degrees of sexual dimorphism. Osteologists and forensic scientists have shown that sex determination methods based on skeletal measurements are population specific, and these population-specific variations are present in many body dimensions. The present study aims to establish sex identification using osteometric standards for the humerus in a contemporary KwaZulu-Natal population. A total of 11 parameters were measured in a sample of n=211 humeri (males, 113; females, 98) from the osteological collection in the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. The difference in means for nearly all variables were found to be significantly higher in males compared to females (P<0.01) with the most effective single parameter for predicting sex being the vertical head diameter having an accuracy of 82.5%. Stepwise discriminant analysis increased the overall accuracy rate to 87.7% when all measurements were jointly applied. We conclude that the humerus is an important bone which can be reliably used for sex determination based on standard metric methods despite minor tribal or ancestral differences amongst an otherwise homogenous population.