Soybean isoflavone affects in rabbits: Effects on metabolism, antioxidant capacity, hormonal balance and reproductive performance.

Though soybean isoflavones (SBI) have pharmaceutical properties, the compounds also have endocrine disrupting activities that may adversely affect fertility of mammals. The effects of SBI on metabolism, antioxidant capacity, hormonal balance and reproductive performance of male rabbits were investigated. Adult male rabbits (n = 21) fed an isoflavone-free diet were orally treated with 0 (control; CON), 5 (small; LSBI) or 20 (large; HSBI) mg of SBI/kg body weight/day for 12 weeks. Both SBI doses resulted in lesser blood plasma total protein concentrations, while there were no effects on glucose and cholesterol concentrations compared to CON. The HSBI-treated males had the greatest (P < 0.05) blood plasma total antioxidant capacity and least malondialdehyde. Treatment with both SBI doses induced a 43% increase in triiodothyronine concentrations (P < 0.05) and 82% in reaction times (P < 0.001), while decreased sperm concentrations (P = 0.01) and blood plasma testosterone concentrations (P = 0.017) 26% and 19%, respectively. The total functional sperm fraction was less (P < 0.05) in the HSBI group; however, there was no effect of the LSBI treatment as compared to values for the CON group. The kindling rates of females mated to HSBI-treated males tended to be less (P = 0.081) than those of does mated with LSBI or CON males. In conclusion, only the HSBI treatment improved antioxidant status; whereas, treatment with both LSBI and HSBI doses induced a hormonal imbalance which led to an impaired testis function indicating the sensitivity of the adult male reproductive system to SBI actions.

Prolonged exposure of dietary phytoestrogens on semen characteristics and reproductive performance of rabbit bucks.

The effects of inclusion of different sources of dietary phytoestrogens on antioxidant capacity, hormonal balance, libido, semen quality, and fertility of rabbit bucks were studied. Twenty-one, adult, fertile, V-line bucks were randomly allocated into 3 homogenous groups (n = 7/treatment) and received control diet (phytoestrogens-free diet, CON) or soybean meal isoflavones-containing diet (SMI) or linseed meal lignans-containing diet (LML) for 12 wk. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The concentrations of isoflavones in the SMI diet were 24.04 mg/100 g dry matter (DM) daidzein and 13.10 mg/100 g DM genistein. The major phytoestrogen detected in the LML diet was secoisolariciresinol (36.80 mg/100 g DM). Treatment had no effects on body weight, feed intake and rectal temperature of bucks. Compared with control, bucks fed the SMI and LML diets had higher (P < 0.001) blood plasma total antioxidant capacity (0.98 ± 0.12, 1.50 ± 0.13, and 2.29 ± 0.17 mM/L for CON, SMI, and LML, respectively), and lower (P < 0.01) blood plasma malondialdehyde (2.76 ± 0.23, 1.76 ± 0.16, and 1.70 ± 0.18 nmol/mL for CON, SMI, and LML, respectively), whereas activities of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes were not affected. Bucks fed the SMI and LML diets had greater (P < 0.001) concentrations of blood plasma triiodothyronine. Feeding the SMI and LML diets decreased (P < 0.01) libido (8.26 ± 0.71, 12.18 ± 0.97, and 14.12 ± 1.12 s for CON, SMI, and LML, respectively), sperm concentration (327.7 ± 21.6, 265.8 ± 36.8, and 226.5 ± 20.1 × 106/mL for CON, SMI, and LML, respectively), testosterone (5.16 ± 0.95, 3.91 ± 0.63, and 3.04 ± 0.92 ng/mL for CON, SMI, and LML, respectively), and seminal plasma fructose compared with the CON diet. The percentage of progressive motile sperm was improved (P < 0.001) by both phytoestrogen-containing diets. Feeding the SMI diet increased (P = 0.02) the percentage of live sperm compared with CON, whereas LML resulted in an intermediate value. Dietary treatment of bucks did not affect kindling rates or litter sizes of does, and did not affect birth weights or viabilities of kits. In conclusion, prolonged consumption of dietary isoflavones or lignans did not impair semen fertilizability. This may be due to the benefits of antioxidant activity or due to the benefits of other components in the diet. Dietary phytoestrogens did evoke obvious decreases in libido and steroidogenesis with altered semen parameters.

Changes in some hematological and biochemical indices of rabbits induced by isoflavones and cypermethrin.

Protective effect of isoflavones on cypermethrin-induced changes in blood hematology, and plasma lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, urea, creatinine, total bilirubin and protein concentrations of male New Zealand White rabbits was studied. Rabbits were orally given sublethal dose of cypermethrin (24 mg/kg BW; 1/100 LD50), while isoflavones (2 mg/kg BW) was given alone or in combination with cypermethrin. The tested doses were given to rabbits every other day for 12 weeks. Results showed that cypermethrin caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of plasma total lipids (TL), cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), while the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) decreased. Isoflavones alone significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of TL, cholesterol, TG, LDL and VLDL, and increased HDL, and alleviated the harmful effects of cypermethrin on lipid profiles. Cypermethrin caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in glucose, urea, creatinine and total bilirubin. The concentrations of plasma total protein (TP) and albumin (A) were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in plasma of rabbits treated with cypermethrin, while globulin concentration and A/G ratio were not affected. Results showed that cypermethrin significantly (P<0.05) decreased hemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocytic count (TEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), while total leukocyte count (TLC) increased. Isoflavones alone did not cause any significant change in these parameters, but minimized the toxic effect of cypermethrin. Results demonstrated the beneficial influences of isoflavones in reducing the negative effects of cypermethrin on blood hematology and biochemical parameters of male rabbits.

Protective role of ascorbic acid to enhance semen quality of rabbits treated with sublethal doses of aflatoxin B(1).

Aflatoxins are toxic to a wide variety of animals, including man. The antioxidant ascorbic acid (AA) plays an important role in various physiological processes in the body including detoxification of different toxic compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of AA on productive and reproductive characteristics of mature male rabbits given two sublethal doses (15 or 30 microg/kg of body weight; every other day) of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). The experiment lasted 18 weeks and included two periods: a treatment period (first 9 weeks) where the animals were given the tested materials, and a recovery period (second 9 weeks) where all the drugs were withdrawn. Results showed that live body weight (LBW), dry matter intake (DMI), relative testes weight (RTW), and serum testosterone were significantly reduced (P<0.05) by treatment with AFB(1) in a dose-dependent manner, and these effects continued during the recovery period. Aflatoxin treatment also decreased (P<0.05) ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm output, sperm motility index, and semen initial fructose concentration. The negative effects of aflatoxin on semen characteristics were dose-dependent and continued during the recovery period. Treatment with AA increased (P<0.05) LBW, DMI, RTW, serum testosterone concentration, improved semen characteristics, and alleviated the negative effects of AFB(1). Aflatoxin treatment increased (P<0.05) the numbers of abnormal and dead sperms in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect continued during the recovery period. Treatment with AA alleviated the negative effects of AFB1 during treatment and recovery periods. Results demonstrated the beneficial influences of AA in reducing the negative effects of AFB(1) on production and reproduction of male rabbits.

Effect of ascorbic acid and Vitamin E supplementation on semen quality and biochemical parameters of male rabbits.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementation of ascorbic acid, Vitamin E (Vit. E) and their combination in drinking water on sperm characteristics, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and seminal plasma enzymes of mature male rabbits. Twenty-four male New Zealand White rabbits (5 months old) were given drinking water supplemented with ascorbic acid (1.5 g/l), Vit. E (1.0 g/l) and ascorbic acid+Vit. E (1.5+1.0 g/l) for 12 weeks. Vitamin supplementation in drinking water increased feed intake, but body weight gain was not significantly affected. Concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in seminal plasma of treated groups compared with the control. Treatment with ascorbic acid, Vit. E, and their combination significantly (P<0.05) increased lipido (reaction time), ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm output, sperm motility index, total motile sperm, packed sperm volume, initial hydrogen ion concentration (pH), and semen initial fructose concentration. Abnormal and dead sperm were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in treated animals. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly (P<0.05) decreased, whereas glutathione S-transferase (GST) showed a significant increase in seminal plasma of treated animals compared with the controls. The results from this study indicated that supplementation of drinking water with antioxidant ascorbic acid, Vit. E and their combination reduced the production of free radicals and can improve rabbit semen quality, but the greater improvement seemed to be from Vit. E.

Semen quality, testosterone, seminal plasma biochemical and antioxidant profiles of rabbit bucks fed diets supplemented with different concentrations of soybean lecithin.

A total of 28 adult V-line rabbits were fed ad libitum a control diet or a diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% soybean lecithin (SL) for 12 weeks. Bucks that received 0.5%, 1.0% or 1.5% dietary SL had a higher ejaculate volume, mass motility, sperm concentration, total sperm output and total motile sperm. Dietary SL reduced the percentage of dead sperm and increased the normal sperm, and this concurred with an increase in blood testosterone concentration. Blood and seminal plasma total lipid, acid phosphatase and seminal plasma alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased because of inclusion of SL. Interestingly, SL reduced blood and seminal plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances while increasing blood and seminal plasma glutathione content, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. Conception rate and litter size at birth and weaning were also significantly improved. Practically, it could be suggested that SL is a suitable supplement for improving semen quality, antioxidant status, reproductive traits and the economic efficiency of V-line rabbit bucks and 1% is an adequate concentration.

Influence of ascorbic acid supplementation on the haematological and clinical biochemistry parameters of male rabbits exposed to aflatoxin B1.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of L-ascorbic acid (AA) in alleviating the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in male New-Zealand white rabbits. Five rabbits (6 months of age and mean body weight 3.12 kg) per group were assigned to 1 of 6 treatment groups: 0 mg AA and 0 mg AFB1/kg BW (control); 20 mg AA/kg BW; 15 microg AFB1/kg BW; 15 microg AFB1 plus 20 mg AA/kg BW; 30 pg AFB1/kg BW; 30 pg AFB1 plus 20 mg AA/kg BW. Rabbits were orally administered their respective doses every other day for 9 weeks, followed by a 9-week recovery period where all drugs were withdrawn. Evaluations were made for hemato-biochemical parameters and enzymatic activities. Results showed that AFB1 significantly (p < 0.05) decreased hemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocytic count (TEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), in a dose-dependent manner, and these effects were continued during the recovery period. Ascorbic acid caused an increase in these parameters, and alleviated the negative effect of AFB1 during the treatment period. Additionally, serum concentrations of total protein, albumin and glucose were significantly (P < 0.05) declined by treatment with the high dose of aflatoxin and these effects were continued during the recovery period. Ascorbic acid caused non-significant increases in these parameters and alleviated the harmful effect of AFB1. On the other hand, aflatoxin treatment caused significant increases (P < 0.05) in the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) during the treatment period in a dose dependent manner, and this effect was continued during the recovery period, especially with the high dose. Also, treatment with the high dose of aflatoxin caused significant increases (P<0.05) in cholesterol and total bilirubin. Ascorbic acid caused significant decreases in these parameters and alleviated the harmful effects of AFB1. Whereas, Total leukocyte count (TLC), urea and creatinine were not significantly affected by aflatoxin-treatment. Generally, it is interesting feature that the treatment with AA alone had no negative effects on most of the previous parameters. Also, the presence of AA could diminished the adverse effects of AFB1 on most of hematological and biochemical values, and enzymatic activities in rabbits.

Total salivary gland proteins of female Culex pipiens and Aedes caspius (Diptera: Culicidae) and their fractionation during adult development and after blood sucking.

Salivary glands of Culex pipiens and Aedes caspius were analyzed to determine total protein content and its fractionation during adult female development and after blood sucking. In both species, the molecular weight of proteins ranged between 26.000 and 84.000 Daltons. These proteins were not identical in the two species. In Cx. pipiens, the total protein level increased during the first 3 days of adult development from 4.94 +/- 0.84 to 6.6 +/- 0.37 micrograms/gland. During this period, the salivary gland proteins were separated into 35, 34 and 37 fractions respectively. Cx. pipiens released in the human host 64% of the total proteins while taking a blood meal compared to unfed females. This decrease in protein level was proportional to protein fractions. Over the next 6 days, the protein level increased again to attain values comparable to those obtained prior to blood sucking. In Ae. caspius, the total protein level of the salivary glands did not change during the first 4 days of adult development (range between 3.13 +/- 0.27 and 3.91 +/- 0.36 micrograms gland), but on the fifth day, 2-fold increase was observed. The total salivary gland protein increased during the next 3 days after blood sucking to reach 15.5 +/- 0.98 micrograms/gland. During this period, a tremendous change in protein patterns was observed. After oviposition, on the fourth day, a significant reduction in the total protein level was observed (4.13 +/- 0.56 micrograms/gland), but over the next 3 days the level increased again (range between 4.13 +/- 0.66 and 7.13 +/- 0.66 micrograms/gland).