Mimosa pudica Protects the Testes Against Cadmium-Induced Inflammation and Oligospermia: Potential Benefits in Treatment of Heavy Metal Toxicity.

Cadmium is a known environmental and industrial pollutant with an enormous tissue disrupting potential. Mimosa pudica (M. pudica) is a creeping annual or perennial herb known to possess anti asthmatic, anti-epileptic, anti-tumour, anti-fertility, aphrodisiac, analgesic, anti-depressant, sedative, emetic properties and a strong radical scavenging activity. This research was aimed at investigating the ameliorative effects of M. pudica on cadmium-induced testicular damage in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. Twenty adult Sprague Dawley rats were employed in the study. They were divided into 4 groups (A-D) of 5 rats each, and toxicity was induced by administering 0.4 mg/ml cadmium chloride through drinking water to groups B-D for 21days. M. pudica extract was administered orally at 250 and 500 mg/kg to groups C and D. Animals in Groups C and D showed remarkable histological improvements in testicular tissue and markedly reduced damages when compared with group B.The active sperm motility of group B (6.00 ±â€¯1.00%) was significantly (p = 0.0001) decreased compared to that of the groups A (15.00 ±â€¯0.00%)) and C (13.00 ±â€¯1.22%). Sperm count analysis of group B (1.36 ±â€¯0.28 × 106/cc), C (4.18 ±â€¯0.81 × 106/cc) and D (2.54 ±â€¯1.13 × 106/cc) were significantly lower (p = <0.05) when compared with group A (12.78 ±â€¯0.92 × 106/cc), respectively. Sperm morphology of group A (70.00 ±â€¯3.16%), B (66.00 ±â€¯2.50), C (74.00 ±â€¯2.45%) and D (64.00 ±â€¯2.45%) recorded no significant difference. This study demonstrates that M. pudica has potential protective and restorative properties on the histoarchitecture of the testes of cadmium-treated rats.

Excruciating effect of formaldehyde exposure to students in gross anatomy dissection laboratory.

BACKGROUND: Formaldehyde is extensively used for preservation of cadavers in departments of anatomy. However, it is a noxious chemical which may cause serious health problems. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of exposure of medical students to formaldehyde at the Department of Anatomy, Niger Delta University, Nigeria. METHODS: In a questionnaire-based study, 93 second-year medical students were surveyed at the Department of Human Anatomy, Niger Delta University, Nigeria. The average duration of exposure for each student in the dissection hall was 6 hr/wk. Participants with history of cough, respiratory or skin diseases were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Out of 93 questionnaires distributed, 75 were completed and returned (response rate: 81%). Of 75 students, 58 (77%) were strongly affected by unpleasant smell of formaldehyde. It was followed by "runny or congested nose" and "redness of the eyes." "Skin-related diseases" was identified as the least ranked effect of formaldehyde. CONCLUSION: Due to the numerous health challenges that formaldehyde causes to students in the gross anatomy dissection laboratories, it cannot be considered as a suitable chemical for embalmment of cadaver for dissection.