RESUMEN
Arsenic is a contaminant that occurs naturally in the environment, and it is related to several diseases, such as cancer and severe metabolic diseases. Sodium arsenite effects on testes rats are not fully understood regarding morphology and stereology; thus, it becomes necessary to evaluate possible changes in these parameters under low concentrations and simulating occupational exposure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the morphometrical and stereological changes on rat testis treated with sodium arsenite. The treatment was accomplished using 5 mg/kg of sodium arsenite by gastric gavage in Wistar rats, which experiment lasted 8 weeks. Organs were weighed and gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated. Using the software Image Pro Plus, seminiferous tubule diameter was measured, and the volume densities of testicular parenchymal components were obtained. It was counted 200 hundred spermatozoa and classified as normal or abnormal. The parameters means of control (N = 5) and treated (N = 7) groups were compared by U Mann-Whitney's test, and the results were considered significant for P < 0.05. We observed a decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter, as well as testis weight. These finds may be related with disorders of testosterone metabolism due to activation of immunological responses of macrophage, which inhibit the steroidogenesis. Thus, we conclude that sodium arsenic does not impair the animal's general health, but its exposure induces biochemical and tissue changes.
Asunto(s)
Arsenitos/toxicidad , Contaminantes Ambientales/toxicidad , Compuestos de Sodio/toxicidad , Espermatozoides/efectos de los fármacos , Testículo/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Espermatozoides/patología , Testículo/anatomía & histologíaRESUMEN
This study was performed to determine the effects of Arctium lappa (Al) to protect against cadmium damage in the rat liver. Male rats received a single i.p. dose of CdCl2 (1.2 mg/kg body weight (BW)) with or without Al extract administered daily by gavage (300 mg/kg BW) for 7 or 56 days. After 7 days, Al caused plasma transaminase activity to diminish in groups Al (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT)) and CdAl (GPT). After 56 days, GOT and GPT plasma activities were reduced in the Cd group. No alteration in plasma levels of creatinine, total bilirubin, and total protein were observed. GOT liver activity increased in the Cd group. No alteration was observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) dosage. In the Cd group, hepatocyte proportion decreased and sinusoid capillary proportion increased. In the Al and CdAl groups, the nuclear proportion increased and the cytoplasmic proportion decreased. The hepatocyte nucleus density reduced in Cd and increased in the Al group. After 56 days, there was no alteration in the Cd group. In Al and CdAl groups, the nuclear proportion increased without cytoplasmic proportion variation, but the sinusoid capillary proportion was reduced. The hepatocyte nucleus density decreased in the Cd group and increased in the Al and CdAl groups. In conclusion, the liver function indicators showed that A. lappa protected the liver against cadmium toxicity damage.
Asunto(s)
Arctium/química , Cadmio/toxicidad , Enfermedad Hepática Inducida por Sustancias y Drogas/prevención & control , Raíces de Plantas/química , Sustancias Protectoras/farmacología , Alanina Transaminasa/sangre , Alanina Transaminasa/metabolismo , Animales , Aspartato Aminotransferasas/sangre , Aspartato Aminotransferasas/metabolismo , Cloruro de Cadmio/toxicidad , Enfermedad Hepática Inducida por Sustancias y Drogas/etiología , Hepatocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Hepatocitos/metabolismo , Hepatocitos/patología , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/metabolismo , Hígado/patología , Masculino , Fitoterapia , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Proteínas de Plantas/sangre , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Ratas Wistar , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Basal generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential for male reproductive function, whereas high ROS levels may be linked to low quality of sperm and male infertility. The number of antioxidants known to inflict damage is growing, and it will be of interest to study natural products, which may have this activity. Since the epididymis is known to play an important role in providing the microenvironment for sperm maturation and storage of sperm, this study was undertaken to evaluate the morphometric-stereological and functional alterations in the epididymis after chronic treatment with low doses of Brazilian green propolis, which is known for its antioxidant properties. For this purpose, forty-eight adult male Wistar rats were treated with 3, 6 and 10 mg/kg/day of aqueous extract of Brazilian green propolis during 56 days and morphological parameters, sperm production and number of sperm in rat epididymis and oxidative stress levels were analyzed. The results showed higher sperm production and greater epithelium height of the epididymis initial segment and no induction of oxidative stress in treated animals. Further studies are needed to fully understand the effects of propolis on the reproductive system but our results showed that it could alter male reproductive function.
Asunto(s)
Epidídimo/efectos de los fármacos , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Própolis/farmacología , Animales , Brasil , Catalasa/metabolismo , Epidídimo/anatomía & histología , Masculino , Microscopía Electrónica de Transmisión , Tamaño de los Órganos/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Recuento de Espermatozoides , Espermatogénesis/efectos de los fármacos , Sustancias Reactivas al Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismoRESUMEN
The aim of this study is to investigate the association of a single low dose of Cd and daily doses of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the testis and accessory glands of rats. The animals were treated with a single dose of 3 µmol/kg body weight of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and/or 100 mg/kg body weight of GbE. The plasma testosterone levels; corporal, testicular, and accessory glands weight; gonadosomatic index, volumetric proportion; and absolute volume of testicular components did not change after the treatments. CdCl2 caused significant reduction in Leydig cells volume and altered Leydig cell morphology, as well as vacuolated Sertoli cells cytoplasm, irregular chromatin condensation of late spermatids, and modified acrosome formation. However, animals that received GbE did not show these alterations. The reversal of Cd-induced alterations by the extract is a strong indication that G. biloba is helpful in diminishing the effect of Cd toxicity.
Asunto(s)
Cadmio/toxicidad , Ginkgo biloba/química , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Testículo/efectos de los fármacos , Testículo/ultraestructura , Animales , Masculino , Microscopía Electrónica de Transmisión , Tamaño de los Órganos/efectos de los fármacos , Extractos Vegetales/química , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Testosterona/sangreRESUMEN
Although it is well known that cadmium (Cd) causes adverse effects on male rat reproductive organs, few studies have quantified alterations caused by its low doses. Quantification of these alterations, especially in the testis, was measured using morphometry. A single dose of cadmium chloride (1 or 1.2 mg/kg BW) was injected i.p. in adult rats, killed after 7 or 56 days. The lower dose caused slight alterations as measured by morphometrical analysis. The higher dose caused significant reduction in testis and epididymis weight, gonadossomatic index and length of seminiferous tubule (ST) after 7 and 56 days. Cadmium significantly reduced the ST diameter after 56 days. Decreased volume density of ST, after 7 and 56 days, was accompanied by an increase in interstitium volume density. The damage caused by the dose of 1.2 mg/kg can be clearly observed with light microscope. After 7 days, the tubule lumens were filled with degenerated germ cells and multinucleated spermatid aggregates. Vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium was also observed. After 56 days, increased damage resulted in vacuolated ST, consisting only of Sertoli cells. Scanning electron microscopy examination of the testis showed that, in the group cadmium treated (1.2 mg/kg) and killed after 56 days, the interstitial tissue presents a compact and fibrous appearance with absence of fenestrae. The seminiferous epithelium height diminished and the absence of spermatozoa can be noted. The results show that a very small difference of Cd dose causes a sudden increase in testicular damage, apparently overpowering this tissue's natural defences.