Studies on testicular ultrastructural and hormonal changes in type-2 diabetic rats treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy conjugated silver nanoparticles.

AIM: This study investigated the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as HAART-AgNPs on the sperm count, viability, serum hormonal profile, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), and testicular ultrastructure. METHODS: Thirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into diabetic and non-diabetic groups (n = 18). The rats in the diabetic group were induced experimental type 2 diabetes using fructose and streptozotocin (frt-STZ). Animals in both groups were subdivided into three groups each, A-C and DF (n = 6), and received distilled water, HAART, and HAART-AgNP, respectively. FINDINGS: Treatment with HAART-AgNP displayed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testicular IGF-1 in diabetic rats. Also, electron microscopy revealed ameliorated testicular ultrastructure upon administration of HAART-AgNP in diabetic rats that were previously marked with architectural and cellular alterations. In addition, treatment with HAART-AgNP significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the blood glucose levels of diabetic rats. In contrast, the treatment of non-diabetic rats with HAART caused a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the sperm count, serum GnRH, and testicular IGF-1, however, this treatment induced ultrastructural changes and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum testosterone levels in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. SIGNIFICANCE: This study has demonstrated the beneficial impact of HAART-AgNP on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, IGF-1, and testicular architecture in male frt-STZ induced diabetic rats. This nanoconjugate could be a potential nano-drug candidate to cater for testicular dysfunction and metabolic derangements while managing HIV-infected male individuals.

Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection: Microbiologic perspectives and anatomic considerations for sanctuary sites.

INTRODUCTION: A significant chunk of global life - the economy, sports, aviation, academic, and entertainment activities - has significantly been affected by the ravaging outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) with devastating consequences on morbidity and mortality in many countries of the world. METHODS: This review utilized search engines such as google scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, and web of science to retrieve articles and information using keywords like "Coronavirus", "SARS-CoV-2", "COVID-19", "Origin of coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2", "microbiology of coronavirus", "microbiology of SARS-CoV-2", COVID-19", "Coronavirus reservoir sites", "Anatomic sanctuary sites and SARS-CoV-2", biological barriers and coronavirus", biological barrier and SARS-CoV-2". RESULTS: While this pandemic has caught the global scientific community at its lowest level of preparedness, it has inadvertently created a unified and wholesome approach towards developing potential vaccine (s) candidates by escalating clinical trial protocols in many countries of Europe, China and the United States. Interestingly, viral pathobiology continues to be an evolving aspect that potentially shows that the management of the current outbreak may largely depend on the discovery of a vaccine as the administration of known antiviral drugs are proving to offer some respite. Unfortunately, discontinuation and longtime administration of these drugs have been implicated in endocrine, reproductive and neurological disorders owing to the development of pathological lesions at anatomical sanctuary sites such as the brain and testis, as well as the presence of complex biological barriers that permit the entry of viruses but selective to the entrance of chemical substances and drugs. CONCLUSION: This review focuses on the microbiologic perspectives and importance of anatomical sanctuary sites in the possible viral rebound or reinfection into the system and their implications in viral re-entry and development of reproductive and neurological disorders in COVID-19 patients.

Hibiscus sabdariffa extract protects against cadmium-induced ovarian toxicity in adult Wistar rats.

Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) is native to tropical and subtropical regions, and its enrichment as a source of antioxidants and phytoestrogen has been documented. The present study investigated effects of HS on ovarian toxicity induced by cadmium. Adult female Wistar rats were grouped into 4 (n=5/group): Group A received HS (100 mg/kg), group B received cadmium sulphate (5 mg/kg), group C received cadmium sulphate and HS, and group D (control) received 1 ml of distilled water. Cadmium sulphate was administered for five days (i.p) followed by oral administration of HS for 28 days. Results showed distortion in the cytoarchitecture of the follicular cells in the ovary of cadmium-treated rats while there was mild or no distortion recorded for the ovary of the rats treated with cadmium and HS. There was also a significant reduction in the serum level of Luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone of the rats treated with cadmium (group B) when compared with control rats. However, these alterations were attenuated when treated with HS. We concluded that HS has an ovarian protective effect in cadmium-treated adult female rats. Hence the present results suggest that HS extract would be a potential therapeutic agent in ovarian dysfunction.