Neem oil--a fertility controlling agent in rhesus monkey.

Neem oil, an oil extracted from the seeds of Azadirachta indica has been found to act as a good spermicidal agent. Pre and post coital application of the oil intravaginally prevented pregnancy in rhesus monkey.

Antifertility activity of volatile fraction of neem oil.

NIM-76, the odorous and volatile fraction of neem oil, was investigated for its antifertility activity in vivo in rats, rabbits and rhesus monkeys. The drug is effective when applied before coitus but not so when applied during post-coital stages. It, therefore, appears to act mainly by its spermicidal effect. No alteration in the estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) values was observed after the application of the drug in monkeys.

Contraceptive efficacy of Depot Provera jet-injected into the cervix.

Depot-medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) was jet deposited into the uterus/cervix of rats, rabbits and rhesus monkeys with the help of a modified jet injection apparatus. Since the drug was delivered under pressure, it was distributed deep into the muscular layers around the place of deposition. After one deposition the drug acted as an effective contraceptive for a period of three months. The merits of this delivery technique are discussed.

Volatile fraction of neem oil as a spermicide.

The volatile, odorous fraction of neem oil coded as NIM-76 obtained by steam distillation was investigated for in vitro spermicidal activity. The data showed that the minimum concentration which inhibited spermatozoal motility was 0.25 mg/ml for rat and 25 mg/ml for human spermatozoa. The effect of the drug on spermatozoal motility was found to be dose-dependent. The activity of this drug was not altered in the presence of vaginal or cervical mucus. Intra-vaginal application of NIM-76 in rabbits showed no irritation to the vaginal mucosa.

Effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on male reproductive system during exposure to hypoxia.

Two groups of male rats were exposed to simulated altitudes of 6060 m and 7576 m for 6 h/day for 7 days (intermittent exposure). In two additional groups of animals exposed to the same altitude, 100 mg of ascorbic acid (AA) was fed daily for 5 days prior to the exposure period and also during the exposure period. Rats that did not receive AA showed loss of body weight and weight of reproductive organs after exposure. Sex organs showed atrophy on histological examination and there was a deterioration in spermatozoal quality. There was an increase in alkaline and acid phosphatase, and decrease in protein, sialic acid and glyceryl phosphorylcholine content in various reproductive tissues after exposure. All the above changes in histology and biochemical composition could be partially prevented by AA supplementation. AA supplementation can therefore protect the male reproductive system from deleterious effects of hypoxia. The probable mechanism of action of AA is discussed.

Mechanism of antifertility action of neem oil.

PIP: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the antifertility effect of the antiestrogenic substance neem oil, extracted from the seeds of Azadirachta indica, acts directly on the uterus or through absorption from the vaginal epithelium into the general circulation. In 4 groups of rats the left uterine horn was ligated 2 days after coitus. Rats in group A were used as controls. In group B 25 mcl neem oil was administered intravaginally on days 2-4 with the animals in head down position for 3 minutes to ensure that the neem oil was uniformly distributed in the vagina. In group C the neem oil was administered on days 4-6, and in group D on days 7-9, i.e., after implantation. The ligatures were removed on day 12, and no viable implantation sites were found in either horn. The study showed that the neem oil exerts its effect on the endometrium through absorption into the general circulation from the vaginal epithelium. The antiestrogenic quality of neem oil explains its anti-implantation effect. But the postimplantation effect, which caused implanted fetuses to be either resorbed or expelled, may be due to direct toxicity, to a fall in progesterone level, or to interference with the uterine utilization of progesterone.^ieng

Hormone profiles at high altitude in man.

Altitude induced alterations in circulatory levels of PRL, LH, FSH and testosterone were studied in seven eugonadal men at sea level (SL), during their stay at high altitude (HA, 3500 m) and a week after return to SL. The mean plasma PRL level at SL was 5.83 +/- 1.7 SE ng/ml. On day one and seven of arrival at HA, the PRL values of 7.81 +/- 1.81 and 9.21 +/- 1.64 ng/ml respectively were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) than the initial SL values. However, on day 18 of stay at HA, PRL levels were significantly increased (p less than 0.01) to 17.68 +/- 1.82 ng/ml and returned to initial SL values within seven days of return to SL. A significant decrease (p less than 0.01) in LH and testosterone was observed on seventh day of stay at HA and the decreased levels were maintained till day 18 of observations. Plasma testosterone returned to the initial SL values within a week of return to SL, whereas LH levels remained significantly lower (p less than 0.01). The FSH levels did not show any significant change during their stay at HA or after return to SL. These observations suggest that exposure to altitude is associated with hyperprolactenemia and an impaired pituitary gonadal function. The decreased levels of LH and testosterone at HA could either be due to hypoxic stress per se or secondary to altitude induced hyperprolactenemia.

Copper iontophoresis in male contraception.

Copper was deposited by iontophoresis into vasa deferentia of animals, using 1 m. amp. current for 30-90 sec. in rat and 3 m. amp. current for 60 sec. in rabbits. The method was effective for a period of 9 months as a contraceptive. The effect of the metal was localised at the site of deposition and there was no effect on other reproductive organs. The mating behaviour and testosterone levels did not change. The utility of the technique in male contraception is discussed.

PIP: Results are presented of a study in which copper was deposited by iontophoresis into the vasa deferentia of 28 adult albino rats weighing over 300 gms and 14 rabbits weighing over 1.8 kg, to test the contraceptive effect. 7 rats were used as control, and 7 each were subjected to copper ionized for 30, 60, and 90 sec with a current of 1 m amp. 7 rabbits were controls and 7 were subjected to copper ionized for 60 sec with a current of 3 m amp. The animals were mated with fertile females between 20-30 days, 55-60 days, and 85-90 days after ionization. Rats were electro-ejaculated between 145-150 days after ionization and their spermatozoa tested for percent of live and dead counts. Further tests were done on termination of the study after 9 months. After ionization, there was no significant change in mean weight of the testicles, epididymis, or seminal vesicles in rabbits or rats but there was a significant reduction in vasal weight in rats. Spermatozoa sampled from the distal end of the vas deferens had a motility of 14% in the 30 sec group of rats, 9% in the 60 sec group, and 4% in the 90 sec group. 45% of spermatozoa beyond the ionization site were alive in the 30 sec group, 9% in the 60 sec group, and 7% in the 90 sec group. Spermatozoa from the same site survived for 10 minutes at 37 degrees Celsius in the 30 sec and 3 minutes in the 60 and 90 sec groups, compared to nearly 30 minutes for samples from the proximal end. In the rabbits, sperm motility was reduced to 8% below the point of ionization, only 8% of spermatozoa were alive, and at 37 degrees Celsius they survived for an average of 7 minutes. Mating experiments in ionized rats showed dead decapitated spermatozoa during successive matings up to 3 months and only a few living sperm in the semen after 5 months. Mating behaivor was not affected. The effect of the copper was localized at thesite of deposition. Copper iontophoresis appears to be a promising method for male contraception.

Androgenic control of epididymal function in rhesus monkey and rabbit.

The effects of castration and testosterone replacement therapy on the histology and biochemical composition (RNA, DNA, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, hyaluronidase, sialic acid, glycogen, phospholipids, and glycerylphosphorylcholine [GPC]) of the epididymis of the rabbit and rhesus monkey were investigated. Castration produced marked ponderal, histologic, and biochemical changes in the epididymis. In the androgen-deficient state the tubular diameter and epithelial cell height were reduced and there was an increase in interbular stroma. The levels of RNA, DNA, phospholipids, and GPC were also reduced in castrated animals. Testosterone treatment restored the histologic features and the levels of various biochemical constituents to a great extent but not to the intact control level. The importance of endocrine and exocrine factors of the testis in relation to epididymal function is discussed.