Methyl aspartylphenylalanine, the pons and cerebellum in mice: An evaluation of motor, morphological, biochemical, immunohistochemical and apoptotic effects.

In this study, adult mice were assigned to five groups, and administered vehicle (distilled water), or aspartame (20, 40, 80 and 160mg/kg body weight) for 28days. Behavioural tests to assess motor-balance and gait were conducted on day 28, following which animals were sacrificed. Sections of the cerebellar cortex and pons were processed, for general histology and Bielschwosky's silver staining protocol. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) immunoreactivity were assessed. Antioxidant status and aspartic acid/cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase)-3 levels were also assessed using homogenates of the cerebellum and pons. Body weight-gain decreased significantly following aspartame consumption; while no significant changes in gait and balance were observed. Histological changes suggestive of neuronal injury were observed at 80 and 160mg/kg/day; however, no obvious neuritic plaques were seen. GFAP-reactive astrocytes and NSE-reactive neurons increased at 20, 40 and 80mg/kg, but decreased at 160mg/kg. There was derangement of oxidative status and increased caspase-3 concentration with increasing doses of aspartame; although no significant difference in aspartate level was observed. The study concluded that repeated oral administration of the higher doses of aspartame was associated with morphological alterations suggestive of neuronal injury, and derangement of antioxidant status.

Sex differences in the bony pelvis of the fruit-eating bat, Eidolon helvum.

Investigation into the bony pelvis of the fruit-eating bat, Eidolon helvum, revealed differences in the pelvic dimensions. The pubic joint of the female consists of interpubic ligament that increased in length until puberty. In the juvenile male Eidolon the pubic joint consists of ligament. Ossification of the interpubic ligament in the male is not an adult phenomenon but begins at the juvenile stage. In the adult the distance from the ischial tuberosity to the iliac crest, from the ischial tuberosity to the medial end of the pubis, and the outlet anteroposterior diameter of the pelvis, were significantly higher in the male than in the female. This indicates that the hip bone in the male is longer in both the vertical (height) and transverse (width) measurements than in the female. The dimensions of the adult pelvic inlet and outlet transverse diameters were significantly higher in the female than in the male. This indicates that the female pelvic canal is wider than the male and this is a consequence of the female interpubic ligament.

The os penis of the frugivorous bat, Eidolon helvum (Kerr).

The os penis reported in some species of the mammalian order was observed in the juvenile and adult penes of the friguvorous African bat, Eidolon helvum. The morphology of the os penis in Eidolon helvum differs from that observed in bat species and other mammalian order. In the adult form it is large, disc-shaped and located at the distal segment of the penile organ. The proximal segment of the penis does not contain any bone. In the juvenile bat the os penis is made of two separate bones located longitudinally close to each other at the distal third of the penile tissue. The distal location in both the juvenile and the adult poses a question about the true function of this tissue. The bone may function in Eidolon helvum to support erection of the penis more for micturition than for intromission.

Seasonal variation in the correlation of testicular and epididymal weight-dimensions in the red Sokoto goat and white Yankassa ram.

A correlative study of testicular weight (TW), length (TL), diameter (TD), epididymal weight (EW) and cauda epididymal weight (CEW) in adult red Sokoto goat and white Yankassa ram during the dry and wet seasons in Kano City, Nigeria was undertaken. The data was analyzed by Pearson's product of moment correlation coefficient and the results showed that TW maintained a highly significant correlation with TL, TD, TW and CEW in the ram, and goat during the wet season (p < 0.01), but non-significant correlation with TL and TD during the dry season (p > 0.05). This suggests that there is a seasonal variation in the dimensions of the reproductive organs of the animals and that during the breeding season (wet season) testicular size and weight are intimately correlated. During the wet season, the reproductive performance of these animals may be assessed by measuring their testicular size and will be very useful in animal husbandry.

The anterior dimensions of the pelvis in male and female Nigerians.

A retrospective study on the anteroposterior X-ray films of the pelvis of 40 male, and 31 female Nigerians was undertaken to verify if there was any significant difference in the values of the transverse diameter of the inlet (TID), bicristal diameter (BCD), bituberal diameter (BTD), and subpubic angle (SA) between the male and the female, between the younger age group (21-45 years) and the older age group (46-70 years) in each sex, using the student's t-test. Results showed that TID, BTD and SA each was significantly greater in the female than in the male (P < 0.001). BCD showed no significant difference between the sexes (P > 0.05). SA was significantly greater in the older age group than in the younger age group (P < 0.05) while the other variable showed no significant difference. TID showed significant positive correlation with BCD, and BTD in the female (P < 0.05), and with BCD, BTD, and SA in the male (P < 0.05). The value of SA in female is obtuse but overlaps between acute and obtuse in males. Ninety-three per cent of the female pelvis had subpubic angle above the 111.3 degrees demarking point (DP) but none of the male or female pelvis was marked out by the lower or upper demarking points of BCD, suggesting a relevance of DP of SA in sex discrimination. The mean ratio of TID to BTD was 1.5:1 in the male and 1.2:1 in the female suggesting a gynaecoid tendency in the latter. This study provided data that can be useful for clinical and radiological pelvimetry for use in obstetrical care of Nigerian women, and normal values for Nigerian male and female.

The blood constituents of gossypol-treated, protein-malnourished Wistar rats.

Gossypol was administered in Goya olive oil to low protein-fed (LP, protein-malnourished) and normal protein-fed (NP, control) adult male albino Wistar rats for 4 and 8 weeks at 20 mg/kg body weight/rat/day. At the end of the experiment, the rats were killed and blood was drawn from the rats by cardiac puncture and subjected to hematological and biochemical analyses. The data obtained were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The interaction of the treatments produced significant effects on serum levels of sodium, potassium, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, glutamate oxalate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, amylase and blood platelet count (P < 0.001), and uric acid (P < 0.01). Significant effects were produced on serum phosphate, albumin and blood reticulocyte count (P < 0.05) but not on packed cell volume, red blood cell count, white blood cell (WBC) count and WBC differential counts, hemoglobin concentration, creatinine, creatinine phosphokinase and alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.05). The administration of gossypol reduced the level of transaminases, cholesterol and uric acid in LP and NP rats, increased the levels of triglycerides, amylase, platelet and reticulocyte count in LP rats but decreased them in NP rats. The implications of the findings are discussed.

The effects of gossypol and chloroquine interaction on serum electrolytes of protein-malnourished rats.

Serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), phosphate (Po), and calcium (Ca) were assayed in adult male Wistar rats fed a low protein diet (LP) and a normal protein diet (control, NP) and administered gossypol (GP) and chloroquine (CQ) alone and in combination (GPCQ), for 4 and 8 weeks. Gossypol was administered at 20 mg/kg body wt/rat/day in Goya oil and chloroquine at 5 mg/kg body wt/rat for 3 days/week in distilled water. The data, analyzed by two-way ANOVA, showed that the interaction had significant effects on the serum levels of Na, K and Po (P < 0.001) but not on chloride and calcium (P > 0.05). Serum levels of sodium, potassium and phosphate in LP rats were significantly lower than in NP rats. In LP and NP rats, the levels of Na, K, and Po at 8 weeks were significantly higher than at 4 weeks; and GPCQ treatment produced significantly lower sodium levels in LP and NP rats, lower phosphate in LP rats and higher phosphate in NP-fed rats than GP or CQ administered alone. Potassium level in GPCQ was between levels in Gp- and CQ-treated rats. The administration of gossypol and chloroquine together may not adversely affect serum electrolytes in protein-malnutrition state any more than gossypol or chloroquine administered alone.

Reduced level of serum cholesterol in low protein-fed Wistar rats administered gossypol and chloroquine.

Gossypol and chloroquine were administered in goya oil and distilled water, respectively, to low protein-fed (LP) and normal protein-fed (NP, control) adult male albino Wistar rats for 4 and 8 weeks' duration. Gossypol (GP) and chloroquine (CQ) were administered separately and in combination (GPCQ). At the end of the treatment periods, the rats were anesthetized and blood drawn by cardiac puncture, centrifuged, and sera obtained for assay of total cholesterol and triglycerides levels. The data obtained were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. The results showed that the interaction of GP and CQ in LP and NP-fed rats produced significant effects (P<0.001) on the serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Serum cholesterol level was lower at 8 than at 4 weeks in LP-fed rats but higher at 8 than at 4 weeks in LP fed rats. The administration of GP, CQ, and GPCQ resulted in lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides at 8 than at 4 weeks in LP fed rats but higher serum cholesterol at 4 than at 8 weeks in NP-fed rats. In LP and NP-fed rats, the levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides were generally lower in GCPQ-treated than GP- or CQ-treated rats. The implications of the findings are discussed.

A comparative study of the correlation of weights of the body, testis, and epididymis in the goat, ram, bat and rat.

This study was undertaken to correlate the weights of the body (Bw), testis (Tw), epididymis (Ew), cauda epididymidis (CEw), length (TL), diameter (TD), and area (TLD) of testis in adult Wistar rats, Eidolon helvum (mogachiropteran bat), red Sokoto goats, and white Yankassa rams. The results showed that it was only in the Wistar rats that TL, TD and TLD correlated significantly with TW (p < 0.01). Bw showed no significant correlation with Tw in the mammals. Tw correlated very significantly (p < 0.01) with Ew, and CEw in the rat, goat, and ram but not in the bat. These findings suggest that testicular weight, a measure of daily sperm production, relates with testis length, diameter and area, measures of testicular size, only in Wistar rat but not in the red Sokoto goat, white Yankassa ram, or Eidolon helvum; and that body weight has no relevance in the assessment of the reproductive performance of the males of these mammalian species. It further suggests that in the bat, a flying mammal, testicular weight does not relate to indices of sperm transport (epididymal weight) and storage (cauda epididymal weight) unlike in the terrestrial mammals studied.

Biochemical studies of the effect of gossypol consumption on cholesterol and residual glucose in fed and protein-energy deficient rats.

Some biochemical parameters were investigated on gossypol consumption, and were correlated to the level of cholesterol and residual glucose in rat liver. Two groups of animals were used, one group was fed with normal protein diet and the other set was fed with low protein diet. The results show that gossypol produced no apparent biochemical aberration in the liver of normal protein fed and low protein fed rats. It also had no effect on glucose-6-phosphatase and prostate phosphatase. Gossypol consumption had a significant effect on alcohol dehydrogenase. These results indicate no direct involvement of gossypol in sugar uptake but profound influence on the regulation of cholesterol level in the liver.

An accessory quadriceps femoris muscle in Nigerians.

A pair of accessory quadriceps femoris muscles was found in only one male out of 200 Nigerian cadavers examined. Thus, this unusual muscle was of rare occurrence in Nigerians. Morphologically, the accessory muscle seemed to be a part of the vastus lateralis muscle bilaminated. It arose from the femur and inserted into the patella via the common quadriceps femoris tendon, supplied by the profunda femoris artery, drained into the profunda femoris vein, and was innervated by the femoral nerve. It was suggested that such an accessory quadriceps femoris was worthy of note for anatomists as well as for orthopedic surgeons.

The immobilization of all spermatozoa in vitro by bitter lemon drink and the effect of alkaline pH.

UNLABELLED: This study investigated the effects of increase in temperature and in pH of Coca-Cola, Afri-Cola, Pepsi-Cola and Krest bitter lemon drinks ("soft drinks") produced in Nigeria on the in vitro motility of spermatozoa. Semen was collected from 7 men, average age 28 years, of proven fertility, after 5 days' abstinence from sexual intercourse. The temperature and pH of the drinks were adjusted from 22 degrees C (room) to 37 degrees C, and pH 2.4 (acid) to 7.5 (alkaline), respectively. The mean % motility of spermatozoa in the adjusted and in the unadjusted drinks was compared for significant differences at the 1% level using the student's t-test. The results showed no significant differences in mean % motility in the drinks at 22 degrees C and at 37 degrees C. The mean % motility in all the drinks, except Coca-Cola, was significantly greater at alkaline than at acid pH; for Coca-Cola, motility was significantly greater at acid than alkaline pH. Of the drinks, Krest bitter lemon (unadjusted) immobilized all spermatozoa within 1 minute of addition. CONCLUSION: i) alkalinity decreases the spermicidal action of all drinks except Coca-Cola, and ii) Krest bitter lemon may achieve very high efficacy if used as post-coital douche, especially in the impoverished, densely populated Third World.

PIP: Researchers at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, collected semen samples from 7 healthy men 25-30 years old who had abstained from sex for at least 5 days in order to examine the spermicidal action of 4 soft drinks (Krest bitter lemon, Afri-Cola, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi-Cola), the effect of increased temperature of the drinks on spermicidal action, and the effect of changing the soft drinks from an acid, as it comes from the factory, (ph 2.4) to an alkaline (pH 7.5). Increasing the temperature of the soft drinks from room temperature (22 degrees Celsius) to body temperatures (37 degrees Celsius) did not significantly change the spermicidal action any of the soft drinks. All soft drinks with an acid pH, except Coca-Cola, had a significantly lower percent of sperm motility than those with an alkaline pH (0-42.3% vs. 20-52.1%; p .001). In fact, Krest bitter lemon in its factory form (acid pH) completely immobilized all spermatozoa within 1 minute after the researchers diluted the semen with the soft drink. Alkaline Coca-Cola had a significantly lower percent of sperm motility than did acid Coca-Cola (35.8% vs. 46.5%; p .001). Other than Krest bitter lemon, the significant decreases in sperm motility were not enough to prevent pregnancy. These findings indicated that researchers should test Krest bitter lemon for effectiveness as a postcoital contraceptive. If indeed it proves effective, it has great potential as such a contraceptive among the poor in the densely population developed countries since it is readily available and inexpensive.

Student's attitude and predictor of performance in anatomy.

A survey of the attitude and performance of 158 students, made up of 101 males and 57 females that undertook second year anatomy examination in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria was conducted. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the performance of the male and female students (P > 0.05); that age, performance at the Joint Matriculation Examination (JME), grade point average (GPA) in first year in the University, and performance in practical anatomy dissection had significant positive correlation with performance at second year examination in anatomy (PA2) (P < 0.05). However, Chi-squared test showed that hours spent on private students, JME score, have no significant association with PA2 (P > 0.05), but GPA has significant association with PA2 (P > 0.05). This suggests that GPA in the first year in the University is a predictor of performance in year two anatomy.

The lumbar spinal canal and its anatomical walls in Nigerian children.

A prospective study of the lumbar spinal canal and its anatomical walls was carried out by measuring the radiological characteristics of 68 healthy Nigerian children aged 6 to 11 years (mean 8.5 years). The study showed no features of congenital stenotic lumbar canal in all the children. The interpedicular diameter (IPD) and the vertebral diameter (VD) increased progressively in a cranio-caudal fashion. The pedicular height (PH) increased from L1 to L2 and thereafter decreased from L3 to L5. The pedicular diameter (PD) increased progressively from L1 to L5. The canal-to-body ratio (CBR) was found to approximate to a constant of 0.65. Age does not have significant positive correlation with the IPD, VD, PH, and PD(P greater than 0.05).

The collodiaphyseal angle of the femur in adult Nigerians.

An investigation was conducted on 256 people, consisting of 138 men and 118 women in Ile-Ife, Oyo State, Nigeria, to determine the variation of collodiaphyseal angle (CDA) of the femur with the transverse and vertical diameters of the head of the femur, with the neck, upper shaft diameter and lower shaft diameter of the femur. The effects of sex and geographical location on CDA were also considered. It was observed that the mean CDA of the mean was greater than that of the women. The mean CDA of the right femur is generally greater than of the left femur in each sex. CDA significantly correlates negatively with the diameters of the head of the femur and with the diameters of the shaft, but positively with the neck. CDA exhibited regional variation in the female Nigerian population. Mean CDA of females in Ile-Ife, South-West Nigeria seemed greater than that of females in Calabar, South-East Nigeria. But mean CDA in the males is not different. CDA in Nigerians seemed greater than the CDA reported for the other countries and races. This might be due to different cultural habits of physique exhibited by the different races.

Femoral head diameters in Nigerians.

The transverse (TD) and vertical (VD) diameters of the head of the femur in 256 adult Nigerians in Ile-Ife were measured on the X-ray films of the hips of these subjects. There was no significant difference between the diameters of the left and right femoral heads (P greater than 0.05), but the diameters in the males were significantly larger than in the females (P less than 0.001). The VD and TD reported by Singh et al. [1] in Calabar men, and TD for women were significantly larger than those reported here in Ile-Ife (P less than 0.05), suggesting the existence of regional variation of the head of the femur in Nigerians. The VD and TD reported for Nigerians were larger than those reported for Caucasians, Indians, and Chinese, supporting racial and geographical variation of the head of the femur. Application of identification point differentiated the sex of most of the bones and might be useful in sex discrimination of the femur.