Comparative study of anabolic natural products and synthetic steroids on male sex hormones

To compare the effects of synthetic anabolic steroid [nandrolone decanoate] and natural anabolic products [wheat, soy flour, baker's yeast and whey protein either individually or in combination form] on serum sex hormones and histopathology of testes of male albino rats. Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University. Seven groups of male albino rats were used, each group was subdivided into two subgroups and supplied with one of the following compounds for 5 and 10 weeks, respectively; rodent chow, whole wheat [10 g/kg/day], soy flour [1.2 g/kg/day], baker's yeast [0.005 g/kg/day], whey protein [I g/kg/day] and mixture of the aforementioned products. The last group was intramuscularly injected with nandmione decanoate [0.001 g/kg/2 week]. Serum luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], were estimated by immuncradoet assay. Serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA] were determined by eIectrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Specimen from testes were taken for histopathological study. Rats received wheat and soy flour elicited significant decrease of serum testosterone after short and long term use, however, yeast displayed significant increase in testosterone. Whey protein revealed a significant degree in testosterone after short term intake but the result was reversed following Jung rera intake. Anabolic natural mixture displayed significant increase in testosterone following both periods, term anabolic steroid injection recorded significant decrease in serum testostene Throughout this work, dietary supplementation with wheat, decreased DHEA level, however yeast:.. puteia and natural mixture significantly elevated its level. Natural mixture induced non-significant change in FSH level but FSH was decreased after injection of anabolic steroid. Short and long intake of wheat significantly decreased LH, but soy, yeast and mixture caused a significant elevation in its level. Meanwhile anabolic steroid displayed a significant elevation after long term use. Groups supplemented with natural products either individually or in a mixture exhibited normal Sertoli cells, complete series of spermatogenesis and seminiferous tubules filled with sperm cells. Anabolic steroid-injected group showed necrosis of some sperm cells in addition to atrophy of some seminiferous tubules and decreased the number of sperm cells in other seminiferous tubules. The use of natural mixture of wheat; soy flour, baker's yeast and whey protein as a dietary supplement increases fertility instead of anabolic steroid which may cause serious damage in the testes and reduce the level of sex hormones

Serum CRP in STZ-diabetic rats and its correlation with cytokines: evidence for chronic inflammation and a trial for treatment

To find out the link between diabetes and inflammation and the possible relation between acute phase proteins and cytokines in experimental diabetes. In addition to study the role of hypoglycemic, natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents either individually or in combined forms to select the best combination for treatment. Setting: Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University. Design: Group comparative study. Animals: STZ-diabetic male albino rats were allocated into groups and treated according to the following scheduel [1] glimepiride [G] [2] catechin [C] [3] aspirin [A] [4] G + C [5] G +A [6] C + A. A normal control group and STZ-diabetic one were used for comparison. Intervention: Experimental diabetes was induced in rats by a single IP injection of STZ. Serum glucose was evaluated enzymatically, levels of inflammatory mediators [SAA and CRP] and cytokines [TNF-alpha and IL-6] were estimated by ELISA technique. Rats received STZ demonstrated significant increase in their serum levels of glucose, SAA, CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6. Glimepiride administration induced significant hypoglycemic effect associated with non significant changes in the other tested parameters. Meanwhile, combination of G + C or G + A showed significant reduction in tested parameters. Catechin exhibited significant decrease in serum levels of glucose, SAA, TNF-ct and IL-6. On the other hand, catechin combination forms [G + C, C + A] demonstrated significant decrease in glucose, SAA, CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6. Whereas aspirin decrease the levels of SAA, CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6. Experimental diabetes showed evident of hyperglycemia joined with an increase in inflammatory markers [SAA, CRP] and cytokines [TNF-alpha, IL-6]. Marked differences were observed between the effect of the tested drugs. Glimepiride-catechin combination is preferable for its antidiabetic effects, whereas glimepiride-aspirin combined form is favorable for both antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties