Nephrotoxic effect of tetradifon in rats: a biochemical and histomorphometric study.

The effects of subchronic exposure to tetradifon on biochemical related kidney toxicological parameters [creatinine (CRT), urea, and uric acid (UA)] were examined. Oxidative stress in kidney tissue was also assessed by measuring vitamin C (VitC) content and antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)]. Tetradifon was administered orally to 12 rats at a cumulative dose of 24.3 mg/kg for 12 weeks. Twelve additional rats, no treated, have served as control. Control and treated animals were sacrificed after 6 or 12 weeks. For each group, kidneys were examined for morphometric changes. Results showed that tetradifon induced significant increases in CRT and urea, and decrease in UA. Morphometrically, while mean glomerular volume decreased percentage of sclerosed glomeruli increased in treated rats. Index of interstitial fibrosis was significantly higher. Moreover, renal antioxidant enzyme (SOD and GPx) activities and VitC content decreased. We concluded that tetradifon possessed nephrotoxic by promoting kidney morphometric and functional damage and depleting renal antioxidant defense system in rats.

Toxicity assessment of the puffer fish Lagocephalus lagocephalus from the Tunisian coast.

This study was undertaken to assess the risk of poisoning due to consumption of the puffer fish Lagocephalus lagocephalus collected along the Tunisian coast. Wistar rats were daily intraperitoneally injected, for 10 days, with acidic extracts of liver or flesh (muscles + skin) of L. lagocephalus. Control rats received injections of NaCl (0.9%). No mortality and no evident signs of neurotoxicity were recorded in treated rats. Conversely, treatment led to: (1) diarrhoea and body and organ (liver, kidney) weights loss; (2) oxidative stress evidenced by an increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and conversely a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, catalase, GSH-Px) in tissues (blood cells, liver, kidneys); (3) a decrease in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in blood plasma.

[Comparison of male and female thermal, cardiac, and muscular responses induced by a prolonged run undertaken in a hot environment]. / Comparison inter-sexuelle des réponses thermique, cardiaque, et musculaire lors d'une course prolongée en ambiance chaude.

The aim of this study was to compare male and female thermal, cardiac, and muscular responses induced by a prolonged run undertaken in a hot environment. Twelve volunteers participated in this study. The first group consisted of 6 men and the second one consisted of 6 women. After determination of their VO(2)max and maximal aerobic velocity (MAV), each athlete completed a 40-min run at 65% MAV in a hot and dry environment (temperature 31-33 degrees C, relative humidity 30%). Immediately before and after the run, each subject performed two different vertical jumps, i.e., a squat jump (SJ) and a counter-movement jump (CMJ) on a force platform. Force, velocity, power, and jump height were measured during each jump. The completion of the run was associated with a significant loss (p < 0.001) of body mass (BM) and significant increases (p < 0.001) in heart rate, tympanic temperature, and lactate concentration ([La]). Muscle power was significantly improved (+9%, p < 0.05) during the SJ only in the women. A significant enhancement of this parameter was also demonstrated during the CMJ in both groups (men: +10%, p < 0.05; women: +8%, p < 0.01). Surprisingly, a comparison of thermal, cardiac, and muscular responses did not reveal any significant differences between the sexes. Moderate dehydration (-2.0 to -2.3% of BM) and a rise in core temperature (above 39.2 degrees C) induced by the 40-min run led to an improvement of muscular strength in both men and women. However, the results of this study did not reveal any significant between-sex differences in thermal, cardiac, and muscular responses after exercising in the heat.