REPEATED ACUTE RESTRAINT‐INDUCED STRESS: EFFECTS ON BODY WEIGHT, CORTISOL AND REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS

Aim: The increasing rate of infertility in humans has necessitated the need to assess commonly used medicinal plants to ascertain their effects on reproductive functions. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of tetrapleura tetraptera fruit extract on reproductive hormones and fertility in females. Methods: A total of seventy two (72) adult female wistar rats weighing 160-180 g were randomly assigned into four groups of 18 animals each. Group1 (control) was administered distilled water, groups II, III and lV were daily treated with the extract at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively, orally for 28 days. Thereafter, 6 rats from each group were sacrificed during oestrous phase and serum used for analyses of reproductive hormones; while remaining 12 females from each group were each cohabited with males (2:1), sacrificed at gestational age16 and fertility parameters were determined. Results: The results show that in the test groups, there was significant (P < 0.05 ) reduction in the levels of FSH, LH and Estrogen, with a significant (P < 0.05 ) increase in progesterone, when compared with the control. Also, the number of pregnant female rats, number of foetuses, and fertility index significantly (P < 0.05 ) increased in the test animals, compared with the control. Conclusion: We concluded that Tetrapleura. tetraptera fruit extract impairs reproductive hormones and fertility parameters in female rats, and therefore should be consumed with caution.

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The fertility assessment of normal cyclic Wistar rats following the administration of methanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea: an experimental study

Middle East Fertility Society Journal ◽

10.1186/s43043-020-00048-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Izuchukwu Azuka Okafor ◽

Uchenna Somtochukwu Nnamah ◽

Jude Nnaka

Keyword(s):

Estrous Cycle ◽

Adult Female ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Major Effect ◽

Reproductive Hormones ◽

Portulaca Oleracea ◽

High Dose ◽

Methanolic Extracts ◽

Cycle Arrest ◽

Female Wistar Rats

Abstract Background Purslane is a widely distributed shrub used for the treatment of different ailments. The increasing reproductive complications associated with herbal treatments have led to the need to critically evaluate the safety and/or reproductive potentials of commonly used plant extracts. This study investigated the reproductive effect of methanolic extracts of Portulaca oleracea (MEPO) in adult female Wistar rats. Results Group C showed a significant decrease both in relative ovarian weight (p = 0.000), and relative uterine weight (p = 0.037), when compared with the control. There were no significant (p ˃ 0.05) changes in the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and estradiol. When compared to the control, groups B and C showed abnormal estrous cycle and cycle arrest especially at the metestrus phase with mild congestion of a few blood vessels in the ovary and uterus. Conclusions MEPO may possess some anti-fertility effect, as it disrupts the estrous cycle of adult female Wistar rats; although it has no major effect on the reproductive hormones, uterus, and ovarian histology of adult female Wistar rats. However, high dose consumption should be taken with precaution.

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The influence of food restriction versus ad libitum feeding of chow and purified diets on variation in body weight, growth and physiology of female Wistar rats

Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1258/la.2011.011011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 101-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M Moraal ◽

P P A M Leenaars ◽

H Arnts ◽

K Smeets ◽

B S Savenije ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Food Restriction ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Restricted Feeding ◽

Organ Weights ◽

Female Wistar Rats ◽

Ad Libitum

Ad libitum (AL) supply of standard chow is the feeding method most often used for rodents in animal experiments. However, AL feeding is known to result in a shorter lifespan and decreased health as compared with restricted feeding. Restricted feeding and thus limiting calorie intake prevents many health problems, increases lifespan and can also increase group uniformity. All this leads to a reduced number of animals needed. So-called standard chows are known to be prone to variation in composition. Synthetic foods have a more standard composition, contributing to group uniformity which, like diet reduction, may decrease the number of animals necessary to obtain statistical significance. In this study, we compared the effects of AL versus restricted feeding (25% reduction in food intake) on standard chow versus synthetic food of three different suppliers on body weight (BW), growth, several blood parameters and organ weights in growing female Wistar rats over a period of 61 days. Diet restriction led to a decreased growth and significantly reduced variation in BW and growth as compared with AL feeding. AL feeding on synthetic diets caused a significantly higher BW gain than on chow diets. Due to experimental design, this same effect occurred on food restriction. Blood parameters and organ weights were affected neither by diet type nor by amount. Incidentally, variations were significantly reduced on food restriction versus AL, and on synthetic diets versus chow diets. This study demonstrates that food restriction versus AL feeding leads to a significantly reduced variation in BW and growth, thereby indicating the potential for reduction when applying this feeding schedule.

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Acute and Subacute Toxicity Studies of the Ethyl Acetate Soluble Proanthocyanidins of the Immature Inflorescence of Cocos nucifera L. in Female Wistar Rats

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2019/8428304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

C. P. Ekanayake ◽

M. G. Thammitiyagodage ◽

S. Padumadasa ◽

B. Seneviratne ◽

C. Padumadasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Acute Toxicity ◽

Ethyl Acetate ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Cocos Nucifera ◽

Toxicity Study ◽

Immature Inflorescence ◽

Subacute Toxicity ◽

Toxicity Studies ◽

Female Wistar Rats

Ayurvedic and traditional medical practitioners of Sri Lanka use the decoction of the immature inflorescence of Cocos nucifera L. (IC) variety aurantiaca for the treatment of menorrhagia. The progestogenic effect of the ethyl acetate soluble proanthocyanidins (EASPA) of the IC in female rats at a dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight has been reported. Acute and subacute toxicity studies of EASPA of the IC carried out using female Wistar rats according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines 423 and 407, respectively, are reported herein. In the acute toxicity study, a single dose of EASPA (2000 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to rats, which were monitored for 14 days. In the subacute toxicity study, rats were orally administered with EASPA daily for 28 days at doses of 1.75, 3.5, 7, and 14 mg/kg body weight. No rat in either the acute or subacute toxicity study exhibited mortality or clinical signs of toxicity. Further, these rats did not show any significant change in their mean body weight, food, and water intake, haematological and biochemical parameters as well as in the results of their histopathological examinations compared to those of control group rats. According to results of the acute toxicity, the LD50 of EASPA is estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight. Considering the results of the subacute toxicity study, the oral administration of EASPA daily for 28 days was well tolerated up to the dose, 14 mg/kg by rats. These results will be useful in the development of a novel therapeutic agent from EASPA of the IC for the treatment of menorrhagia, which incapacitates a considerable proportion of women worldwide.

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Fluoxetine effect on gestation and fetal development

Acta Medica Marisiensis ◽

10.2478/amma-2014-0034 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 157-159

Author(s):

Bianca Eugenia Ösz ◽

C. E. Vari ◽

Maria Dogaru

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Fetal Development ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽

Gravid Uterus ◽

Control Group ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Female Wistar Rats ◽

In Pregnancy

Abstract The prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is very controversial. There is no conclusive evidence for increased risk of malformations after SSRI use in pregnancy. The aim of the study was to determine how fluoxetine is affecting gestation and fetal development in rats. Twenty sexually mature female Wistar rats weighting between 250-260 g received 20 mg/kg body weight fluoxetine from the first day of gestation and during the entire gestation period.The drug was administered by oral route. Healthy, primipareus animals were selected along with 20 female Wistar rats, as control group. Mature males were caged with virgin females for an entire week. Rat’s behaviour during gestation, after birth and rats body weight was examined. The number of healthy pups was also noted. The females not giving birth after 21 days to any pup were anesthetized (halothane through gas scavenging apparatus untilled death) and the gravid uterus were dissected out and examined. Compared to the controlled group, in which weight gain was more significant, the animals from the experimental group had a slight increase in body weight. The weight gain normally induced by gestation, is less significant in fluoxetine treated rats due to the increase serotonin levels in the brain. The uteri examination of pregnant rats showed an increase in the number of dead and resorbed rat embryos. Preclinical studies suggest that the inclusion of fluoxetine in pregnancy category C is justified and the appropriateness of its administration in pregnancy is still an unresolved issue.

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Potency of Curcuma aeruginosa as A Chemopreventive Candidate Agent on 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-Induced Rat Spleen

ANNALES BOGORIENSES ◽

10.14203/ann.bogor.2019.v23.n2.58-65 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 58

Author(s):

Asri Sulfianti ◽

Nur Hasanah ◽

Agung Eru Wibowo ◽

Kurnia Agustini ◽

I Made Artika

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Body Weight ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Negative Control ◽

Tumor Incidence ◽

White Pulp ◽

Tumor Multiplicity ◽

Response Effect ◽

Female Wistar Rats ◽

Spleen Mass

Present investigation shows that the extract of C. aeruginosa attenuates DMBA-induced spleen carcinogenesis in Wistar rats. Three-week female Wistar rats were treated with three different C. aeruginosa extract doses (CA1: 40 mg/200 g body weight, BW; CA2: 80 mg/200 g BW; CA3: 160 mg/200 g BW) and were induced with DMBA after one-week administration of these doses. A commercial immunostimulant, and DMBA only were also given to each group as positive and negative control, respectively. The development of tumors was evaluated by investigating the incidence of tumor and tumor multiplicity during the experiment. Spleen mass index and histological parameters such as white pulp, centrum germinativum, and marginalis zone were also examined. Based on our study, the administration of C. aeruginosa extract during and after carcinogen induction gave several impacts on rat carcinogenesis. At the extract dose of 80 mg/200 g BW, tumor incidence of animals were least (P<0.05). However, all doses did not show any effect to the spleen mass index, though the highest dose (160 mg/200 g BW) was found to cause changes in white pulp and marginalis zone boards. This trend indicates that it takes higher dose to cause an immune response effect reaching the organs.

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Effect of Reoxygenation on the Electrical Stability of the Rat Heart In Vivo: A Chronobiological Study

Physiological Research ◽

10.33549/physiolres.932579 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. S143-S149

Author(s):

P. ŠVORC ◽

A. MAROSSY ◽

P. ŠVORC ◽

M. BUŽGA

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Tidal Volume ◽

Rat Heart ◽

Ventricular Arrhythmias ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Pulmonary Ventilation ◽

Electrical Stability ◽

Female Wistar Rats ◽

Light:Dark Cycle

Reoxygenation following hypoxic episodes can increase the risk for the development of ventricular arrhythmias, which, in addition to circadian aspects of reoxygenation arrhythmias has not been studied extensively. The aim of the present study was to evaluate circadian changes in the electrical stability of the rat heart during reoxygenation following a hypoventilatory episode. The electrical stability of the heart, defined in the present study as the ventricular arrhythmia threshold (VAT), was measured at 3 h intervals at clock times 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00, 24:00, 03:00, 06:00 and 09:00 during 20 min hypoventilation (20 breaths/min, tidal volume = 0.5 ml/100 g body weight [n=17]) and subsequent 20 min reoxygenation (50 breaths/min, tidal volume = 1 ml/100 g body weight [n=4]) intervals. The experiments were performed using pentobarbital-anesthetized (40 mg/kg intraperitoneally) female Wistar rats that first underwent a four-week adaptation to a 12 h light:12 h dark regimen. Detailed analysis showed that circadian VATs changed to biphasic rhythms at 10 min of hypoventilation. The VAT circadian rhythms were observed immediately following the commencement of reoxygenation, with the highest values measured between 12:00 and 15:00, and the lowest values between 24:00 and 03:00. These results suggest that myocardial vulnerability is dependent on the light:dark cycle and characteristics of pulmonary ventilation.

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Involvement of proinflammatory cytokines and metallothionein in the repairing of arsenic-mediated uterine tissue damage by curcumin

Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1515/jbcpp-2017-0179 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hasina Perveen ◽

Sandip Chattopadhyay ◽

Moulima Maity ◽

Moumita Dash ◽

Syed Sirajul Islam

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Sodium Arsenite ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽

Enzymatic Antioxidants ◽

Uterine Tissue ◽

Ovarian Steroidogenesis ◽

Female Wistar Rats ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Abstract Background Curcumin is extensively used as a therapeutic intervention for treating several ailments. The antioxidant curcumin has an anti-inflammatory and chelating property with arsenic to exhibit a strong therapeutic effect on reproductive organs. This study was undertaken to describe the protective effect of noninvasive administration of curcumin against sodium-arsenite-mediated uterine hazards in female Wistar rats. Methods Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. The treatment was continued for 8 days and given orally sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg body weight) in combination with curcumin (20 mg/kg body weight). Results Our evaluation revealed that 8 days of sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg body weight) treatment reduced the activities of the uterine enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase. Blood levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid decreased followed by an increased serum lactate dehydrogenase, homocysteine level, and hepatic metallothionein-1 in arsenic-treated rats. Necrosis of uterine tissue along with the disruption of ovarian steroidogenesis was marked in arsenic-treated rats with an upregulation of uterine NF-κB and IL-6 along with a raised level of serum TNF-α. Oral administration of curcumin (20 mg/kg body weight/day) in arsenic-treated rats significantly reinstated these alterations of the antioxidant system followed by an improvement of ovarian steroidogenesis and the circulating level of B12 and folate along with the downregulation of serum homocysteine, metallothionein-1, and cytokines. Conclusions The findings of this study clearly and strongly elucidated that arsenic-induced oxidative stress in uterus is linked to an alteration of inflammation-signaling biomarkers and these have been protected through the co-administration of curcumin due to its anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, and antioxidant activity by the possible regulation of an S-adenosine methionine pool.

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