Cadmium-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Mice: Subacute and Subchronic Route-Dependent Effects.

This study aimed to compare Cd exposure by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and oral routes, evaluating the testicular subacute and subchronic effects. Adult male mice were separated into three groups subdivided according to the experimental period (7 and 42 days after Cd exposure: subacute and subchronic effects, respectively): one group received water and two groups received CdCl2 (1.2 mg/kg i.p. and 24 mg/kg oral). The testicular concentration of essential minerals and Cd, activity of antioxidant enzymes and markers of oxidative stress, histology, and testicular histomorphometry were evaluated. The subacute effect of oral Cd showed reduced Fe concentration, while Ca and Cu increased in this route. The subchronic effect promoted decreasing in Mg in i.p. and oral routes, whereas Zn decreased only in the oral, and the Fe concentration did not change. SOD activity decreased in the oral subacute evaluation and in both pathways, i.p. and oral routes, in the subchronic evaluation, while GST activity increased, and MDA concentration decreased. Labeling of apoptotic cells was increased in the subacute and subchronic evaluation. Seminiferous epithelium degeneration, death of germ cells, and Leydig cell damages occurred in i.p. and oral routes. However, these damages were more intense in the oral route, mainly evaluating the subchronic effects. The results confirm that the severity of Cd-induced testicular injury depends on the pathway, as well as the duration of exposure.

Evaluación de la toxicidad subcrónica de la variedad colombiana de Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacón) en ratas hembra / Subchronic toxicity evaluation of colombian variety of Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacón) in female rats

Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacón) es una planta usada comúnmente por largos periodos de tiempo con el fin de ayudar en el control de la diabetes y otros desordenes metabólicos, por lo que con el propósito de evaluar la toxicidad subcrónica de la variedad colombiana de esta planta, fueron tratadas 30 ratas hembra de 8 semanas de edad dividas en 6 grupos. A cada uno de ellos se administró durante 28 días una de las siguientes dosis de infusión acuosa liofilizada (500, 250 y 125 mg/kg de peso), evaluando paralelamente grupos control (positivo y negativo) e incluyendo entre ellos grupos con y sin dieta hipercalórica. Para el seguimiento del perfil metabólico de los animales, se tomaron muestras de sangre periódicamente durante el ensayo y se evaluaron los niveles séricos de: glucemia, triglicéridos, colesterol total y HDL. Además, también se realizó el control del peso, así como estudios comportamentales que incluyeron el Test de Irwin y el Test Hipocrático. Al final de estudio (28 días), se realizó el análisis anatomopatológico e histológico comparativo con el fin de detectar posibles daños tisulares. Como resultado pudo observase que el liofilizado, si bien puede tener un efecto antihiperglucemiante, no modificó significativamente el perfil lipídico. Además, a pesar de que la administración se hizo durante 28 días, no se observaron cambios comportamentales que evidencien toxicidad, pero sí pudieron observarse cambios histológicos en el tejido cardiaco como hialinización, separación y redondeo de fibras.

Abstract. Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacón) is a plant commonly used over long periods of time to help control diabetes and other metabolic disorders. To assess the sub-chronic toxicity of the Colombia variety of this plant, it was tested on 30 eight-week-old female rats, divided into six groups. For 28 days each group was administered with the following doses: three groups with lyophi­lized aqueous infusion (500 mg, 250 mg and 125 mg per kg of weight), two control groups (positive and negative) being assessed in parallel; this groups receiving hyper-caloric diet, and the last group was the general control or normal control. To monitor the animals' metabolic profile, blood samples were taken from time to time during the test period, and the serum levels of glycemia, triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL were measured. Weight tracking was also carried out, as well as behavioral studies, including the Irwin Test and the Hippocratic Test. At the end of the study (28 days), comparative anatomo-pathological and histological analyses were performed to detect possible tissue damage. The results showed that, although the lyophilized infusion could have an antihyperglycemic effect, it did not significantly change the lipid profile. Moreover, though the infusion was administered during 28 days, it was found that it did not lead to any behavioral changes indicating toxicity, but did produce in heart tissue histological changes such as hyalinization, separation and rounding of fibers.

Oral acute and subchronic toxicity studies of the oil extracted from pequi (Caryocar brasiliense, Camb.) pulp in rats.

The Caryocar brasiliense (pequi) is a Brazilian fruit of important geographic distribution and of broad popular use for nutritional purposes. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicological potential of pequi through the acute and subchronic toxicity tests. For the acute toxicity test, female Wistar rats received, orally, a single dose of 2000 mg/kg/bw of pequi oil and were observed for 14 days. In subchronic toxicity test, Wistar male and female rats received, orally, repeated doses of 125, 250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg/bw of the oil, being treated and observed for 28 days. In the acute toxicity test, no changes as well as no mortality were observed, indicating that the LD50 is higher than 2000 mg/kg/bw. In the subchronic toxicity test, the tested doses produced no significant changes in behavioral, physiological, biochemical or histopathologic parameters in animals. Some hematological abnormalities were found after subchronic exposure and need to be clarified. These results demonstrate the low toxicity of acute and subchronic to the oil of pequi in rats. However, additional studies are required in order to verify if the hematological abnormalities have any relation to the oil exposure and also provide sufficient safety evidence for the use of the oil in humans.

Avaliação toxicológica pré-clínica do chá das folhas de Morus nigra L. (Moraceae) / Pre-clinical toxicological evaluation of tea from the leaves of Morus nigra L. (Moraceae)

O objetivo desse estudo foi realizar um ensaio toxicológico pré-clínico para analisar a toxicidade do chá das folhas de Morus nigra L. (Moraceae). A toxicidade subcrônica do chá (CF-Mn) foi avaliada durante 30 dias por via oral em ratos. Ao grupo controle foi administrado água, para comparação. Durante o período experimental foi avaliada a presença de sinais de toxicidade, variação do peso corporal, e o consumo de líquido e alimento. Ao final do experimento o sangue dos animais foi retirado para análise de parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos. Não foram observados mortalidade e sinais de toxicidade indicando baixa toxicidade da planta. Não houve alterações nos parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos. Nas condições do estudo, o CF-Mn pode ser considerado de baixa toxicidade, pois não produziu efeitos tóxicos nos animais tratados.

The aim of this study was to carry out a pre-clinical toxicological assay to analyze the toxicity of tea from the leaves of Morus nigra L. (Moraceae). The subchronic toxicity of this tea (CF-Mn) was orally evaluated during 30 days in rats. The control group was given water for comparison. During the experimental period, signs of toxicity, body weight variation, and water and food consumption were assessed. At the end of the experiment, the blood of animals was removed for analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters. No mortality and no toxicity signs were observed, indicating low toxicity of the plant. There was no alteration in the hematological and biochemical parameters. Under the study conditions, CF-Mn can be considered of low toxicity since it did not produce toxic effects in treated animals.