Concurrent Lead and Noise Exposure Effects on Testicular Tissue of Rat: An Experimental Study.

Objective: Environmental stressors such as physical and chemical factors can have a destructive testicular function. The present study aimed to determine the effect of concomitant exposure to lead and noise on testicular tissue in male rats. Materials and methods : Twenty male Wistar rats (250-300 g, 12-13wk) were divided into four groups (n=5/each): 1) Control group, 2) Lead group treated with 4 mg/kg lead acetate by gavage for 30 days, 3) Noise group exposed to 4 kHz octave band at 105 dBA for eight hrs./ day for 30 days, and 4) the exposed group to lead plus noise concurrently. The testes' weight was measured, and testes abnormalities were assessed after staining with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Results: The results showed that the weight of testes in experimental groups was significantly decreased compared with the control group (p<0.0001). Also indicated edema, degeneration and necrotic cell debris in the lumen, congestion and atrophy of seminiferous tubule in rat testes tissue due to sub-acute exposure to lead and noise. Conclusion: Exposure to 105 dB and lead can cause damage to the seminiferous tubules, intubation edema, and testicular weight loss compared to control. We also found that simultaneous exposure to noise and lead could have more detrimental effects on testicular histology and weight than others.

Protective effect of inulin on methotrexate- induced liver toxicity in mice.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an effectively used drug in the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases but, its use is related with hepatotoxicity. Inulin with antioxidant properties has hepatoprotective effects. In this research, we assessed inulin effects on MTX-induced liver toxicity. 48 male mice were randomly assigned into 6 equal groups. Mice were Pre-treatment with inulin (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) for 9 consecutive days, orally) and MTX (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was received on the 7th, to 9th day. Blood and liver were collected to assess liver functional test in serum samples and Stress oxidative biomarkers, pathological changes, the expressions levels of apoptotic factors, such as, Bcl-2, caspase -3 and miR-122 in the mice liver. The results indicated that MTX administration induced marked liver damage and serums factors of all of the mice. Furthermore, there was a decrease in the Bcl2 and an increase in the caspase-3 activity and miR-122 expression compared to the control group. Instead, inulin Pre-treatment clearly improved these variations induced by MTX. Finally, our results revealed the new evidence that the hepatoprotective effects of inulin might be mediated via the modulations of apoptotic and oxidative stress factors.