Ellisras Longitudinal Study 2017: association of hypertension with increasing levels of adiposity in 10- to 14-year-old boys and girls in the Eastern Cape (ELS 31).

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies suggest a strong relationship between obesity and hypertension. This study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension in 10- to 14-year-old boys and girls in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and to determine the association between blood pressure parameters and selected measures of adiposity. METHODS: A cross-sectional, school-based study of 540 10- to14-year-old children from seven schools in the Eastern Cape Province was carried out. Anthropometry and blood pressure parameters were determined. RESULTS: All measures of adiposity and blood pressure were significantly higher in the girls (p < 0.05). The prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension was over 20 and 12%, respectively. Systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were associated (r > 0.27; p < 0.05) with increasing levels of adiposity. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of weight-control strategies for the prevention of hypertension in these adolescents and later on in life.

Effects of treatment with Hypoxis hemerocallidea extract on sexual behaviour and reproductive parameters in male rats.

Hypoxis hemerocallidea is used in traditional medicine in South Africa, for the treatment of male reproductive ailments and various chronic illnesses. Despite chronic use, its effects on male reproductive system are unknown. Male Wistar rats were treated orally daily for 28 (n = 18) and 56 days (n = 18). Treatment groups (n = 6/group) per treatment period were as follows: untreated control, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg 70% ethanolic extract of H. hemerocallidea. Sexual behaviour observations were performed on days 17 and 42 of the study. Sperm, biochemical and testicular histopathological studies were carried out. Arousal and libido and serum testosterone increased after 56 days of treatment. There was an increase in epididymal sperm count at both treatment doses, with the 300 mg/kg dose showing a higher sperm count (p < .05) compared to the 150 mg/kg treatment group. The higher 300 mg/kg dose also showed an increase (p < .05) in sperm motility after 56 days of treatment. Histology showed an increase in germinal layer thickness, consistent with the observed increase in sperm count. Testicular oxidative status improved after 56 days of treatment. Results suggest that chronic treatment with H. hemerocallidea may improve male sexual function and fertility parameters and may protect testes from oxidative damage.

Dose- and time-dependent effects of Garcinia kola seed extract on sexual behaviour and reproductive parameters in male Wistar rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a crude extract of Garcinia kola on male sexual function after subchronic and chronic treatment periods at different sublethal doses. Adult male Wistar rats were treated orally with 100, 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) of a 70% ethanolic extract of G. kola daily for 56 days. Sexual behaviour studies were performed on days 28 and 50. At termination on day 56, organ weights, sperm count, reproductive hormone levels and testicular histology were assessed. Subchronic and chronic treatment of normal male rats with G. kola extract resulted in overall increase in components of libido, erection and ejaculation in treated rats - with lower doses being more efficient than the higher dose. There was a slight reduction in some components of sexual behaviour with prolonged time of treatment. G. kola treatment at all doses resulted in increased testicular weights, increased sperm count with no change in motility and increased serum testosterone levels with no change in gonadotropin levels. Gross testicular histology was not affected by treatment. We conclude that G. kola seed extract possesses potent aphrodisiac activity in male albino rats with resultant increase in sperm count and testosterone levels.

Antifertility effects of Oldenlandia affinis in male rats - a preliminary study.

Antifertility effects of an aqueous leaf extract of Oldenlandia affinis on male rats were investigated. The extract was administered intraperitoneally in sexually mature male rats at a dose of 24 mg/rat (n=8) for a total of eight injections over a 4 week period. There was a decrease in testis weights but all other accessory sex organs and vital organ weights were not affected by treatment with O. affinis extract. Testis histology revealed fewer spermatozoa or azoospermic seminiferous tubules in treated animals compared to controls with no change in neither tubule thickness nor Sertoli cell structure. O. affinis treatment caused a 17% decrease in sperm motility but there was no change in cauda epididymal sperm counts. However, serum testosterone levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the experimental group (602.4 ± 57 ng/dL) compared to controls (808.9 ± 55 ng/dL). These preliminary results show that the aqueous leaf extract of O. affinis suppresses fertility parameters in male rats.

Fertility in rats immunized with steroid-free bovine follicular fluid.

Inhibin is a gonadal hormone that inhibits the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary gland. The objective of this study was to determine whether active immunization of male and female rats against inhibin rich, steroid-free bovine follicular fluid would increase inhibin antibody titre, onset of female puberty, pregnancy rate, litter size, testis weights, testosterone concentration and serum FSH. Immunization of rats with steroid free bovine follicular fluid stimulated production of anti-inhibin antibodies that immunoneutralized endogenous inhibins and increased levels of circulating FSH in immunized males. Inhibin immunoneutralization resulted in early vaginal opening in immunized females compared with controls and pregnancy rates were increased when immunized female rats were mated with immunized males. However, serum testosterone, testis weights and potential litter size remained unchanged. We conclude that methods to immunoneutralize inhibin may have merit as therapeutic procedures to enhance reproductive performance in domestic animals.

Effects of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces training programme on body composition and reproductive hormones in male army recruits.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a four month endurance training programme on body composition and reproductive hormone levels. DESIGN: PRE and POST training comparative study. SETTING: Zimbabwe Military Academy, Gweru, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: 77 male recruit volunteers participating in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces cadet training programme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percent body fat, fat free mass, body mass index, total serum testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) compared using the paired t-test. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in all parameters measured after four months of endurance training. Decreases in body composition parameters were 54% in percent body fat, 6% in fat free mass, and 13% in body mass index. There was a dramatic 58% drop in testosterone, 60% drop in LH and 15% drop in FSH after four months of endurance training. CONCLUSIONS: The Zimbabwe Defence Forces cadet training programme, an endurance training programme induces a state of negative energy balance in trainees. This results in a decrease in % body fat and body mass index due to utilisation of fat stores as a source of energy and a decrease in fat free mass due to gluconeogenic utilisation of muscle protein as energy source for muscle activity. There is impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis function as evidenced by the state of hypogonadal-hypogonadism (low testosterone, LH and FSH). This may be attributed to: 1. gonadotrophin releasing hormone pattern generator malfunction due to the stress of intense physical activity and 2. withdrawal of energy expenditure from reproductive machinery as a way of conserving energy for more vital processes in the prevailing state of energy starvation.