Adverse effect of rheumatoid arthritis on male Wistar rat's fertility: protective role of Costus extract.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune complaint. Advanced treatments resort to the traditional herbal therapy. The aim of this study is to assess the protective effect of Costus extract on the fertility of male rats with Freund's adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty male adult Wistar rats (190-200 g) were divided into six groups. They were subdivided into three groups; group I was the control group that received distilled water, and groups II and III received two various doses of Costus extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively) for 60 days. Another three groups were subjected to RA induction via Freund's adjuvant. Rats were injected a dose of 0.1 ml of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) in the planter area of the left hind paw and then subdivided into 3 groups. Group I of RA-induced rats were given distilled water. The other two groups were given orally (200 and 400 mg/kg dosage of extract, respectively) from the 2nd day of RA induction for 60 days. Sex organ relative weight, sperm concentration assay, testicular histopathology and immunohistochemistry of androgen receptors, TNF α, and BAX protein were determined. The results showed that RA caused a significant decrease in the relative weight of sex organs and sperm count, which were relatively improved by doses of Costus (200, 400 mg/kg). RA induction caused testicular degeneration which markedly enhanced with Costus treatment as shown in histopathological sections. RA caused a reduction in %IHC of androgen receptors and increased expression level of both TNF α and BAX protein. Using IHC, it was revealed that RA caused a reduction in the expression level of androgen receptors and an increase in the expression of both TNF α and BAX protein. We can conclude that Costus speciosus had a potentially valuable role in improving fertility disorders caused by RA.

Assessment of changes in the liver of pregnant female rats and their fetuses following monosodium glutamate administration.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common flavor enhancer and stabilizer for ready-made or packaged foods. This research investigated the impact of MSG on the maternal and fetal liver. The present study was carried out on sixteen mature female Albino rats and eight male rats of reproductive age. The control group was dissected on day 20 of gestation. MSG group was administrated MSG daily at a dosage of 1 g/5 mL/kg body weight from day 0 to day 20 of gestation. The liver function and lipid profile of the control and treated mothers were investigated in the blood sera. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities in the liver homogenate of maternal and fetal tissue were assayed, in addition to histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies were done to the liver tissue. The activities of liver functions and lipid profile significantly altered in the treated mothers with MSG. MSG significantly reduced the SOD and reduced GSH activities in addition to the elevated TNF-α and NO in liver tissue of pregnant mothers and their fetuses. Severe histopathological alterations were observed in both maternal and fetal liver tissues of MSG-treated groups. Moreover, histochemical observations showed a reduction of total polysaccharides in the liver of pregnant rats and fetuses. A significant increase in the percentage area of positive immunoreaction for caspase 3 was observed in the liver of treated rats with MSG compared to the liver of the control. The liver of fetuses treated with MSG revealed an alteration like their mother. This study showed that during the gestational period MSG exposure resulted in several biochemical, histological, and histochemical changes in the maternal and fetal liver tissues which emphasize the toxic effect of MSG.

The effect of dietary supplementation with Nigella sativa (black seeds) mediates immunological function in male Wistar rats.

This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of dietary Nigella sativa on the cell-mediated immune response. Eighteen male Wistar rats were divided equally into a control group and treated groups that received black seeds at rates of 30 and 50 g/kg in the diet (Sa30 and Sa50 groups, respectively, for 30 days. The weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and cell-mediated immune response were monitored after the injection of 0.1 mL of 10% phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The intumesce index, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), interleukin-12 (IL-12), gamma interferon (γ-IF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were determined. Histopathological examination and an immunohistochemistry analysis of splenic caspase-3 and CD8 were performed. Nigella sativa significantly improved the weight gain and FCR. Intumesce index of Sa50 group was significantly increased. Nigella sativa significantly increased TAC, CAT, IL-12, γ-IF and TNF-α. A histological examination of PHA-stimulated foot pads showed increased leukocyte infiltration and edema in a dose-dependent pattern. Splenic caspase-3 and CD8 showed significant decreases and increases, respectively, in the Sa30 and Sa50 groups. The results indicate that Nigella sativa seeds exhibit immunostimulatory function through their antioxidant potential, induction of cytokine production, promotion of CD8 expression and reduction of splenic apoptosis.