RESUMEN
Background: Tamoxifen (TAM) is a widely used drug in patients with gynecomastia and breast cancer. TAM exerts its anticancer effects via its antiestrogenic activities. Unfortunately, TAM has been reported to exert gonadotoxic effects on male testes. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the possible associated mechanisms involved in TAM-induced testicular dysfunction and the possible ameliorative effects of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA). Methodology: Animals were randomly divided into control, O3FA, TAM, and TAM + O3FA. All treatment lasted for 28 days. Results: TAM exposure impaired sperm qualities (count, motility, and normal morphology) and decreased testicular 3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD. It was accompanied by a decline in serum testosterone and an increase in estradiol, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones. These observed alterations were associated with an increase in testicular injury markers, oxido-inflammatory response, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. These observed alterations were ameliorated by O3FA treatments. Conclusions: O3FA ameliorated TAM-induced testicular dysfunction in male Wistar rats by modulating XO/UA and Nrf2/NF-kb signaling and cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis in TAM-treated rats.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Vigna subterranea is widely consumed as a traditional staple food in Nigeria and some West African countries. The ethanolic seed extract of V. subterranea (EEVS) was investigated for its gastroprotective effects on aspirin plus pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcerated rats using an in vivo assay. METHODS: Gastric mucosal ulceration was induced experimentally in Groups 2 to 5 using aspirin plus pylorus ligation. Rats in Group 1 were orally pretreated with 3% Tween 80 only as normal control. Groups 2 to 5 were pretreated with 3% Tween 80 (ulcer group), 20â¯mg/kg of omeprazole (positive group), and 200 and 400â¯mg/kg of EEVS (experimental groups), respectively, once daily for 21â¯days before ulcer induction. Parameters including those for gastric secretions, ulcerated areas and gastric wall histology were assessed. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the gastric tissue homogenate were also determined. RESULTS: Pretreatment with EEVS significantly (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) reduced the ulcer index, gastric volume and total acidity in rats with aspirin plus pylorus ligation-induced ulcer. The pH and mucus of gastric content increased significantly (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) while the levels of SOD and GPX were observed to be elevated with a reduced amount of MDA. Significant severe gastric mucosal injury was exhibited in the ulcer group and EEVS or omeprazole offered significant (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) protection against mucosal ulceration. Histologically, the gastric submucosal layer showed remarkable decrease in edema and leucocytes infiltration compared with ulcer group. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that EEVS offered a protective action against aspirin plus pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcers in Wistar rats. The protective effect might be mediated via antisecretory, cytoprotective and antioxidative mechanisms.