Ginkgo biloba supplement abates lead-induced endothelial and testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats via up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression, pituitary-testicular hormones and down-regulation of oxido-inflammatory reactions.

BACKGROUND: Apoptotic and oxido-inflammatory pathways have been found to be up-regulated in lead acetate poisoning which has been associated to endothelial and testicular dysfunctions. It is yet uncertain, nevertheless, if treatment with Ginkgo biloba supplements (GBS), a flavonoid-rich natural product can lessen the adverse effects of lead on endothelial and testicular functions. This study investigated the impact of Ginkgo biloba supplementation on lead-induced endothelial and testicular dysfunctions. METHODS: The animals were treated with GBS (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg orally) for 14 days following oral exposure to lead acetate (25 mg/kg) for 14 days. After euthanasia, blood samples, epididymal sperm, testes, and aorta were collected. The quantities of the hormones (testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as the anti-apoptotic, oxidative, nitrergic, inflammatory markers, were then determined using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and conventional biochemical methods. RESULTS: GBS reduced lead-induced oxidative stress by increasing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) in endothelium and testicular cells. Normal testicular weight was restored by GBS which also decreased endothelial endothelin-I and increased nitrite levels. TNF-α and IL-6 were decreased while Bcl-2 protein expression was enhanced. Lead-induced alterations in reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, and testosterone) were also restored to normal. CONCLUSION: According to our result, using Ginkgo biloba supplement prevented lead from causing endothelial and testicular dysfunction by raising pituitary-testicular hormone levels, boosting Bcl-2 protein expression and lowering oxidative and inflammatory stress in the endothelium and testes.

Ginkgo biloba Supplement Reverses Lead (II) Acetate-Induced Haematological Imbalances, Hepatic and Renal Dysfunctions in Male Wistar Rat.

Lead is a heavy metal abundant in nature that causes haematological imbalances, and hepatic and renal dysfunction, and this imbalance has been linked to oxidative stress. Several reports have shown that natural products are implicated in ameliorating metal poisonings. Ginkgo biloba is a flavonoid-rich natural herbal supplement with several pharmacological properties. The present study investigated effect of Ginkgo biloba supplement (GBS) on lead-induced toxicity. Animals were given a lead dose of 25 mg/kg for 14 days orally and then given Ginkgo biloba supplements of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg orally for 14 days. Animals given GBS had significantly improved haematological and rheological parameters. GBS showed a protective impact in terms of improved kidney and liver histology, anti-oxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, GSH, and MDA), organ function indices, and a lower rate of erythrocyte osmotic fragility. Conclusively, Ginkgo biloba supplementation attenuated lead toxicity by normalization of haematological imbalances, and hepatic and renal dysfunction as well as maintaining erythrocyte membrane integrity.

Investigation of vaginal mucus parameters: Development of models for staging the oestrous cycle of the Bunaji cow.

Changes in some vaginal mucus parameters were studied in order to generate predictive models capable of enhancing oestrous cycle staging, using equal groups (unsynchronized-USC [no treatment] and synchronized-SC [Synchromate® i/m on d0, d11]) of Bunaji cows (n = 48) aged 3-4 years. Vaginal mucus was collected (starting d11 in SC) daily over 26 days using standard procedures. Physical (viscosity, elasticity, density, resistivity) and biochemical (pH, glucose, cholesterol, total protein, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium) parameters were evaluated using standard procedures. Data were analysed using chi-square and multinomial logit regression modelling. Models generated using oestrus as reference categories were ascertained for accuracies. Chi-square values for viscosity, elasticity and density were significant (p < .01) in USC and SC across stages of the cycle. Results for USC showed that pH and cholesterol were predictive (p < .01) for pro-oestrus, metoestrus and dioestrus, while total protein was predictive (p < .01) for dioestrus only. Similarly, magnesium was predictive (p < .05) for pro-oestrus. For SC, pH, magnesium and cholesterol were predictive (p < .01) for pro-oestrus, metoestrus and dioestrus, while total protein was predictive (p < .01) for pro-oestrus and dioestrus. Potassium and total protein were also predictive for metoestrus at 10% and 5% significance levels, respectively. Though findings suggest the usefulness of magnesium in staging the oestrous cycle only in synchronized cows, pH, total protein and cholesterol appeared to be the more important vaginal mucus parameters in Bunaji cows, regardless synchronization. Furthermore, the models developed showed high accuracy levels for staging the oestrous cycle in USC (100%) and SC (89%).