Ultrastructural changes induced by leaves of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in the testis of albino rats.

The present work was designed to study the effect of Azadirachta indica (Neem) powder on rat testis using the electron microscope. Male albino rats received 100 mg each A. indica leaf powder orally (by gavage). On alternate days, a second group of rats received 0.125 mg testosterone dipropionate intramuscularly. A third group received both A. indica leaf powder by gavage and testosterone dipropionate intramuscularly. Suitable controls were maintained. After autopsy, ultrastructural analysis of the testis revealed that animals treated with testosterone dipropionate showed well-developed Sertoli cells and germ cells with well-developed cytoplasmic organelles. By contrast, in A. indica-treated rats, intracellular spaces and vacuolization were observed in Sertoli cells; whereas in Leydig cells, cytoplasmic inclusions appeared diminished, and the configuration of granular endoplasmic reticulum appeared as a single unbranched tubule. In late spermatids, defects were observed in the mitochondrial sheath. The ultrastructural changes seen in the A. indica-treated group provide a clue that A. indica leaves might affect spermatogenesis through antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic properties.

Female infanticide: selections from the records of the government of the North-Western Provinces, Second Series, Volume VIII, Allahabad, 1871.

PIP: In India, one example of gender discrimination is female infanticide or the consistent elimination of girl children aged 1-3 years in communities such as the Kallars of Tamil Nadu and the Rajputs of northern India. This paper examines the 19th century documents containing official discussions and debates on the subject of female infanticide, specifically the letters consisting of selections from the records of the Judicial Infanticide Department (set up by the government of the North-western provinces of India). The letters highlight issues that are still of importance, although the rhetoric of rule was clearly very different as were the ideological underpinnings of the colonial drive against female infanticide. Overall, these extracts suggest that then, as now, it was difficult to expose those suspected of female infanticide since the silence and complexity surrounding the act, together with the lack of trustworthy witnesses, made it extremely difficult for the colonial state to eliminate the practice. More concretely, Article 1 on Female Infanticide in the northwestern province of India reports the prevalence of the crime of female infanticide in the Bustee district, particularly among the Rajpoot families. Issues relating to the search for statistical evidence on the crime and the response of the police force are also described. Evidences suggest that the crime seems as rampant as before and the common police force is incompetent to cope with it.^ieng

Changes in epididymal structure and function of albino rat treated with Azadirachta indica leaves.

The histological and biochemical changes in the caput and cauda epididymis of albino rat treated with 20, 40 and 60 mg dry powder of the leaves of A. indica per day for 24 days are reported. In the treated rats, the height of the epithelium and the diameter of the nucleus in both the regions were reduced. The lumen of the caput was packed with lymphocytes. Biochemically, a decrease in the protein content and acid phosphatase activity and an increase in the alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were observed in both the regions. The effect was dose dependent. Further, serum testosterone concentration in the higher dose treated animals decreased significantly. The results suggest a possible antiandrogenic property of the leaves of A. indica.