ABSTRACT
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a small molecular weight endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that is used in the production of plastics with deleterious effects on various body systems while gallic acid (GA) is a known antioxidant capable of ameliorating EDC-induced perturbations. In this study, adult male rats (180 ± 5 g) were divided into four groups of eight rats each: Group A (Control rats): 0.2 ml of corn oil; Group B (GA-treated rats): 20 mg/kg/day GA (dissolved in distilled water); Group C (BPA-treated rats): 10 mg/kg/day BPA suspended in 0.2 ml corn oil; Group D (BPA + GA-treated rats): BPA (10 mg/kg/day) with a concomitant GA (20 mg/kg/day). All treatments were orally administered for 14 days. BPA induced significant decrease in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure while causing a significant (p < 0.05) increase in heart rate in the rats. It significantly (p < 0.05) raised both renal and cardiac reactive oxygen species and depleted the antioxidant system. There were also significant (p < 0.05) increases in serum myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, urea and creatinine in the BPA-treated rats. Lesions of the heart and kidney including inflammation, vascular congestion and erosion of epithelial cells were also observed in the BPA-treated rats. However, the concomitant treatment with GA ameliorated all the BPA-induced alterations of the cardio-renal system. Hence, low dose of GA serves a protective function against BPA-induced toxicity of the heart and kidney.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Benzhydryl Compounds/toxicity , Gallic Acid/pharmacology , Phenols/toxicity , Protective Agents/pharmacology , Administration, Oral , Animals , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Endocrine Disruptors/toxicity , Epithelial Cells/drug effects , Epithelial Cells/pathology , Heart/drug effects , Heart Rate/drug effects , Kidney/drug effects , Kidney/pathology , Male , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolismABSTRACT
This study reports the structure, ultrastructure, morphometry and distribution patterns of the two estrogen receptors in the vesicular glands of the male greater cane rat. Samples of vesicular glands from 15 sexually mature male greater cane rats raised in captivity were routinely processed for histological, ultrastructural and morphometric analysis, while immunohistochemistry was also carried out using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against estrogen receptors.The vesicular gland in the greater cane rat is a paired transparent elongated branched tube that presents a characteristic Y-shaped outline. The tube is made up of three histological layers: mucosa, muscularis and adventitia with the mucosa thrown into branching and anastomosing folds that form cavities and recesses within it. Though the epithelium is lined by principal and scarce basal cells, the principal cells are, however, of two types - light and dense based on their electron density and cytoplasmic characteristics. A prominent ultrastructural feature of the light principal cells is the presence of abundant mitochondria surrounded by well-developed cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum that have dilated edges and small vesicular extensions. The epithelial cells exhibited different patterns of expressions of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalfa) and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). The findings highlight the peculiarities in the structure, ultrastructure and distribution of the estrogen receptors of the vesicular gland of greater cane rat
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Subject(s)
Humans , Seminal Vesicles/ultrastructure , Receptors, Estrogen/ultrastructure , Rats/anatomy & histology , Sexual MaturationABSTRACT
Biometrical and histometrical observations were carried out on the testis and epididymis of twenty five adult African sideneck turtles (Pelusios castaneus) with a view to providing basic data that could be relevant in the comparative regional anatomy of the male reproductive organs of sea and freshwater turtles. The mean body weight of the turtles used in this work was 547 ± 41.4 g. The mean relative testicular and epididymal weights of the turtles were of 0.163% and 0.122%, respectively.The testis is sheathed by a capsule organised into two layers, the outer tunica vaginalis and the inner tunica albuginea. The highly convoluted seminiferous tubules of the testicular tissue had basement membranes lined with germ cells arranged in successive layers representing different stages of cell division. The epididymis had spermatozoa within its lumen, with about 5 to 8 ductuli efferentes found within its lamina propria. The epithelia of the epididymis and ductuli efferentes were lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules relative to those of the lumen and germinal epithelium of the testis, as well as the epididymal ductal diameter, luminal diameter and epithelial height of the P. castaneus, were all similar to those previously reported in turtles and other reptiles. This work provides baseline data on the gross and microanatomy of the testis and epididymis of P. castaneus, and is expected to be useful in the comparative regional anatomy of sea and freshwater turtles
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Subject(s)
Animals , Turtles/anatomy & histology , Testis/anatomy & histology , Epididymis/anatomy & histology , Biometry/methods , Marine FaunaABSTRACT
Gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves were determined in twenty sexually matured domesticated African greater cane rats. Mean (+/-SD) sperm numbers in testes and epididymides were 150.40+/-12.93x10(9) and 259.33+/-13.68x10(9), respectively. The mean epididymal distribution of spermatozoa was found as follows: 67.53+/-12.43x10(9) in caput, 89.10+/-13.20x10(9) in corpus, and 102.70 +/-13.71x10(9) in cauda. This study provides baseline data essential for effective selection of male cane rats for breeding purposes.
Subject(s)
Murinae/physiology , Spermatozoa/physiology , Animals , Breeding/methods , Ejaculation/physiology , Epididymis/physiology , Male , Nigeria , Reproduction/physiology , Semen/physiology , Sperm Count , Testis/physiologyABSTRACT
The report of the occurrence of additional renal arteries in domestic animals is rare in the literature. We report a case of an additional renal artery in the left kidney found in a Red Sokoto goat cadaver. The additional renal artery originated from the abdominal aorta 3.80 cm cranial to the origin of the main renal artery. The additional renal artery was relatively long, being 6.30 cm from its origin to the cranial pole region of the kidney where it supplied the kidney. This to the best of our knowledge is the first report in the literature indexed in the Medline of an additional renal artery in a goat.
Subject(s)
Goats/abnormalities , Kidney/blood supply , Renal Artery/abnormalities , Animals , Aorta/abnormalities , Aorta/physiology , Dissection/methods , Functional Laterality/physiology , Goats/physiology , Kidney/physiology , Male , Nigeria , Renal Artery/physiology , Renal Circulation/physiologyABSTRACT
The gross anatomy and histomorphometry of the kidney were studied in the adult domesticated African great cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) also known as the grasscutter. The average weight and age of the cane rats used in the study were 1.93 ±0.42 kg and 18.80 ±1.39 months respectively. The mean weights of the left and right kidneys were 3.46 ±0.19g and 3.57 ±0.22g respectively, being significantly different (p<0.05). The relative kidney weight (left and right) was 0.36%. The mean length of the right kidney was also more than that of the left, being 3.44 ± 0.10 cm and 3.19 ±0.10 cm respectively, with a significant difference (p<0.05). The mean widths of the left and right kidneys were 2.12 ±0.09 cm and 2.05 ±0.67 cm respectively. The mean thicknesses of the left and right kidneys were 1.13 ±0.05 cm and 1.14 ± 0.05 cm respectively. The mean capsular, cortical and medullary thicknesses were 12.50 ± 0.02 ?m, 0.26 ±0.03 cm and 0.85 ±0.03 cm respectively. The relative medullary thickness, an index of the length of the loop of Henle, was 4.7. The findings of this work provide baseline data that could be relevant in understanding the regional anatomy of the urinary system and the anatomical adaptation for water conservation in the animal (AU)
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Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Organ Size , Kidney/anatomy & histology , Kidney Medulla/anatomy & histology , Rats/anatomy & histology , Kidney Concentrating Ability/physiologyABSTRACT
Biometrical investigations were carried out on 23 biometrical parameters of the testes and epididymis of the domesticated adult African great cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), also known as the grasscutter. The average weight and age of the cane rats used in the study were 1.93 ± 0.42 kg and 18.80 ± 1.39 months respectively, with an average testicular size of 18.75 x 11.33mm. The average weights of the right and left testes were 1.18 ± 0.17g and 1.13 0.16g respectively, with a significant difference (p< 0.05). The average weights of the right and left epididymis were 0.32 g ad 0.30 g respectively, with no significant difference (p<0.05). There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.8214) between the age of the rats and the weight of the testes and epididymis. The average percentage body weights for the testes and epididymis were 0.12% and 0.03% respectively. Unlike testicular parameters, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the right and left epididymal parameters. The results showed that the testes and epididymis of the cane rat are relatively smaller than those of comparable rodents. This work provides baseline data on the biometry of the testes and epididymis of the African great cane rats, thereby making available data useful in comparative regional anatomy and reproductive biology (AU)
No disponible