The ameliorative potentials of aqueous leaf extract of Amaranthus hybridus on monosodium glutamate-induced testicular damage in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: Amaranthus hybridus (AH) is a food plant commonly eaten in our country known as a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorative potentials of aqueous extract of A. hybridus on Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) -induced testicular toxicity in adult Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats weighing 160-180 g were divided into four groups. Group A served as control; rats in Group B were given 300 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of aqueous leaf extract of AH; rats in Group C were given 4 mg/g (BW) of 40% MSG; and rats in Group D were given 4 mg/g (BW) of 40% MSG and 300 mg/kg (BW) of extract orally for 6 weeks. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in body weight and a significant reduction in testis weight, testis volume, and testis/body weight ratio in the group given only MSG when compared with controls. Histologically, rats in Groups A and B had normal testicular architecture, while the rats given MSG only showed a significant derangement in testicular histoarchitecture and impaired sperm parameters when compared with controls and the rats given AH. However, these derangements were alleviated in the MSG+AH group when compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous leaf extract of AH ameliorated the testicular derangement resulting from MSG administration.

Aqueous extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit peels influence copulatory behavior and maintain testicular integrity in sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley rats: Pro-fertility evaluation and histomorphometry evidence.

Tetrapleura tetraptera (TT) has been used as a spice, dietary supplement and medicine for various ailments. This study evaluate influence of Tetrapleura tetraptera extract on testis and copulatory behavior in sexually mature male rats. Thirty-two male and sixty-four virgin female rats weighing 150-200 g were used for this study. Male rats randomly divided into four groups of eight (n = 8) rats each. Group A: Control given 2 ml distilled water, group B, C and D received 50, 300 and 700 mg/kg bwt TT for 56 days through oral gavage. The female rats were used for fertility test. Testicular histology, histomorphology, copulatory behavior, sperm parameters, testosterone (TET), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and fertility test were investigated. Tetrapleura tetraptera significantly increase sperm count, motility, normal morphology, daily sperm production, efficiency of sperm production, sperm (average path velocity, straight line velocity and curvilinear velocity), TET, LH, FHS, SOD, GPx, CAT, number of pregnant females, number of fetuses, seminiferous diameter, epithelium thickness and decrease abnormal morphology, seminiferous height, tubule lumen and MDA across the group as compared with control group. Improved testicular histological integrity, sexual behaviour and libido by increased frequencies of mount, intromission, ejaculation and ejaculatory latency. Latencies of mount, intromission and post-ejaculation were significantly reduced. Also, observed increase spermatocytes and spermatids showed no significant difference in spermatogonia cell counts. Tetrapleura tetraptera therefore, enhance steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and improved testicular histological integrity and boost sexual competence in male rats.

Modulatory Role of Vitamin E on Proton Pump (ATPase) Activity of Cadmium Chloride-Induced Testicular Damage in Wistar Rats.

Proton pumps are membrane-bound enzymes important in generating gradients that help in maintaining cellular ion homeostasis, cell membrane potential, water, and solute transport across the cell surface. This study investigated the modulatory role of vitamin E on proton pump activity and reproductive parameters in cadmium-induced testicular damage. Twenty (20) male Wistar rats weighing between 180 and 200 g were sorted into 4 groups of five rats each. Group I served as the control and was given normal saline orally, Group II rats were treated with a single dose of 2 mg/kg BW cadmium chloride (CdCl2) intraperitoneally, Group III rats were given 100 mg/kg BW of vitamin E orally, and Group IV rats were given 100 mg/kg BW of vitamin E orally for 30 days prior to intraperitoneal administration of single dose of 2 mg/kg BW of cadmium chloride. The rats were anaesthetized with diethyl ether, and blood samples were obtained for sex hormonal analysis; caudal epididymis was dissected for sperm count, motility, and viability, and the testis were homogenized for lipid peroxidation and proton pump (Na+/K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase, and Mg2+ ATPase) activity. Proton pump activity was assayed spectrophotometrically using the Stewart method to determine the inorganic phosphate level. Histopathological changes of the testis were also studied. The group treated with CdCl2 showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in proton pump activity, sperm count, and motility and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in malondialdehyde level when compared with the control group. The CdCl2-treated group also showed decrease reproductive organ weights and hormonal levels and cause necrosis of spermatogonia lining the seminiferous tubules. Rats treated with vitamin E orally for 30 days prior to CdCl2 exposure showed improvement in proton pump activity, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in sperm parameters and luteinizing hormonal level, and a decrease in the lipid peroxidation level as compared with the CdCl2 group. This study showed that vitamin E ameliorated the toxic effect of CdCl2 on proton pump activity in the testes, hence improving testicular integrity, structures, and functions.

High fructose-enriched diet synergistically exacerbates endocrine but not metabolic changes in letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine-metabolic disorder that highly contributes to the prevalence of infertility globally. The increased consumption of refined carbohydrate, particularly fructose has been associated with pandemic metabolic disorders, including in women of reproductive age. However, the effects of high fructose consumption (FRD) on endocrine and metabolic disorders associated with PCOS are not clear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of FRD on endocrine/metabolic changes in letrozole-induced PCOS in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight adult female Wistar rats were randomly allotted into 4 groups and treated with vehicle, letrozole (LET; 0.5 mg/kg), FRD (D-fructose chow pellet mixture) and LET + FRD. The treatment lasted for 21days. RESULTS: Data showed a significant increase in ovarian weight, liver weight, luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone and decrease in follicle stimulating hormone as well as moderate histopathological changes in the fallopian tube, uterus and liver of animals with PCOS. FRD-treated group showed a significant increase in ovarian weight and liver weight but no significant alteration in hormonal profile or histopathological changes in uterus and fallopian tube. However, FRD significantly altered hormonal profile with consequent histopathological changes in fallopian tube and uterus but FRD did not alter ovarian/liver weight or blood glucose in animals with PCOS when compared with animals without PCOS. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrate that FRD synergistically aggravates endocrine but not metabolic changes in PCOS, suggesting that FRD might deteriorate endocrine-related phenotypes in PCOS.

Cardioprotective Activities of Ethanolic Extract Root of Ageratum conyzoides on Alloxan-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Diabetic Rats.

Diabetes mellitus has developed into one of the debilitating diseases disturbing the health of many people living with cardiovascular diseases in modern times. The root of Ageratum conyzoides was investigated for its effects on alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats' cardiac tissues. Thirty-two (32) Wistar rats weighing between 180 and 190 g were randomly divided into four groups. The animals in groups B-D were induced with a single dose of 150 mg/kg body weight of alloxan (ALX) intraperitoneally. They were confirmed hyperglycemic after 72 hours of induction and then sustained in hyperglycemic condition for 2 weeks. Animals in groups C and D received AC intervention, as stated above, for four weeks. The body weight of the experimental animals and blood collection for glucose estimation were taken weekly for six weeks using appropriate instruments. Biochemical assays for lipid profile, antioxidant enzymatic, and nonenzymatic markers were carried out. Histopathological changes in the cardiac tissues were also studied. Administration of 150 mg/kg of ALX to experimental rats induced diabetes and significantly reduced the body weights, significantly (p < 0.05) increased the glucose level, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and decreased the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and antioxidant enzymatic markers such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) while the antioxidant nonenzymatic marker such as malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly increased. By contrast, rats given the ethanolic extract root of A. conyzoides had significantly (p < 0.05) increased the body weight gain, whereas the glucose levels significantly (p < 0.05) improved in treated diabetic rats. This extract also improved the cardiovascular system of the diabetic rats by significantly decreasing TG and LDL levels, significantly (p < 0.05) increasing the HDL level, significantly reducing the cardiac contents of CAT, SOD, and GPx, and significantly (p < 0.05) decreasing MDA. Ethanolic extract root of A. conyzoides exhibited antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities and mitigates damage to the heart from the ALX-induced myocardial toxicity associated with type-1 diabetes.