scholarly journals Evaluation of the Reproductive Ability of Male Rats in Acute Toxoplasmosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
M. S. Kosova ◽  
◽  
E. S. Pashinskaya ◽  

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease of humans and animals caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma is an intracellular parasite that belongs to the simplest and has a complex development cycle. Infection with Toxoplasma is possible orally, transplacentally, percutaneously (if the integrity of the skin is damaged). This invasion is often the cause of problems with bearing pregnancy, as well as the development of congenital anomalies in children. The purpose of the study was to study the reproductive ability of male rats in acute toxoplasmosis. Materials and methods. The experiment was performed on 90 female and 45 male Wistar rats with a body weight of 180-200 g. The intact control males were orally injected with 2 ml of 0.2% starch gel. Experimental groups of males were infected with an invasive Toxoplasma gondii culture at a dose of 25 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight (5000 tachyzoites per rat) and 50 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight (10000 tachyzoites per rat). Then the males of all groups were coupled with the females for 3 days. The effect of toxoplasmas on the reproductive ability of male rats was assessed by the development of pregnancy and changes in the levels of pre- and post-implantation embryo death in female rats on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days after pregnancy. To account for changes in the pre- and post-implantation death of embryos in female rats after removal from the experiment, the uterus and ovaries were isolated, the uterine horns were opened, the number of implantation sites, the total number of embryos, the number of living and dead embryos, the number of resorption, and the number of yellow bodies in the ovaries were determined. Results and discussion. In the females of the 4th, 5th and 6th groups (coupling with males infected at the dose of 25 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight), a decrease in the number of implantation sites in the uterus, the total number of embryos and the number of live embryos was recorded by 1.8-1.9 times compared to the control parameters. In female rats of the 7th, 8th and 9th groups (coupling with males infected at the dose of 50 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight), there was a decrease in the number of implantation sites in the uterus, the total number of embryos and the number of live embryos by 5.6-6.8 times compared to the control. When compared to the results obtained from the females of the 4th, 5th and 6th groups, a decrease in these indicators was recorded by 3.1-3.5 times. Conclusion. Toxoplasma gondii has an effect on reproductive capacity in male rats expressed in changes of the levels of preimplantation mortality in female rats. The obtained effect depends on the dose of infection and the period of parasitosis development in males

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 102-107
Author(s):  
M. S. Kosova ◽  

The purpose of the study was to study the effect of chronic toxoplasmosis on changes in the levels of pre- and post-implantation mortality in the experiment. Materials and methods. In the experiment there were 90 female Wistar rats with a body weight of 180-200 g. For the development of pregnancy, females of the control and experimental groups were coupled with males for 3 days. After the onset of pregnancy, females of intact controls were orally injected with 2 ml of 0.2 % starch gel. The females of the experimental groups were infected with an invasive culture of Toxoplasma gondii at a dose of 25 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight (5,000 tachyzoites per rat) and 50 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight (10,000 tachyzoites per rat). On the 35th day after infection, females of the experimental groups were coupled with males for 3 days before infection. The effect of Toxoplasma on changes in the levels of pre- and post-implantation death was assessed after killing female rats on the 42nd, 49th and 56th (7th, 14th and 21st days after pregnancy) days after infection. Results and discussion. In animals infected at a dose of 25 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight, there is a decrease in the number of implantation sites in the uterus, the total number of embryos and the number of living embryos at all stages of the development of Toxoplasma by 1.8-2.1 times compared with the control. In females infected at a dose of 50 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight, a decrease in the number of implantation sites in the uterus and the total number of embryos at all stages of the development of the parasite was recorded by 2.2-2.5 times compared with the control values. There is a decrease in the number of living embryos by the 42nd day after infection by 4.3 times, by the 49th day – by 3.8 times and by the 56th day – by 5.1 times compared to the control. When compared with the results obtained from females with a lower dose of infection, a decrease in this indicator was revealed on the 42nd day after the development of Toxoplasma by 2.1 times, on the 49th day – by 1.7 times and on the 56th day – by 2.5 times. An increase in the number of dead embryos by 0.2-0.4 times in comparison with intact indicators and the results of experimental animals infected at a dose of 5,000 tachyzoites per rat were recorded. There was an increase in the level of resorptions on the 49th and 56th days by 1.4 and 1.6 times in comparison with the control and animals infected at a dose of 25 tachyzoites per 1 g of body weight. Conclusion. Experimental chronic toxoplasmosis causes an increase in pre-implantation and post-implantation embryo death. The recorded effect of Toxoplasma invasion depends on the dose of infection and the duration of the disease


Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Enoka P. Kudavidanage ◽  
D. M. I. Dissanayake ◽  
W. L. Rangi Keerthirathna ◽  
N. Lasni Wathima Nishshanke ◽  
L. Dinithi C. Peiris

Pesticides are known to result in toxic insult. We aimed to evaluate Judo 40, the commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos on the neurological activities, fertility, and hormone levels of male rats. Male Wistar rats were treated orally with 1 mL of 20 or 50 mg/kg Judo 40. The doses were administered four times, twice a day. Sexual and exploratory behavior indices, fertility indices, serum androgen levels, blood acetylcholinesterase (BChE) levels, and neurological and muscular effects were evaluated. Serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone were significantly reduced in the rats receiving 50 mg/kg Judo 40. A reduction in viable implantation sites and live pups born were evident in the female rats mated with the male rats treated with the highest dose. Similarly, in the rats treated with the highest dose of Judo 40, a significant reduction in plasma BChE enzyme was observed. According to the results, prolonged Judo 40 exposure can cause impairment of the neurological alterations and sex hormones leading to impaired fertility. Therefore, chemical handlers should be educated on protection and risk minimization.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (2) ◽  
pp. H499-H506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Héon ◽  
Martin Bernier ◽  
Nicolas Servant ◽  
Stevan Dostanic ◽  
Chunlei Wang ◽  
...  

Doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug, causes a dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Some evidence suggests that female children have an increased risk for DOX-mediated cardiac damage. To determine whether the iron chelator dexrazoxane (DXR) could reduce DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in the young, we injected day 10 neonate female and male rat pups with a single dose of saline or DOX, DXR, or DXR + DOX (20:1). We followed body weight gain with growth, measured cardiac hypertrophy after a 2-wk swim exercise program, markers of apoptosis (Bcl-2, BAX, BNIP1, caspase 3 activation), oxidative stress (heme oxygenase 1, protein carbonyl levels), the chaperone protein clusterin, and the transcriptional activator early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) in hearts of nonexercised and exercised rats on neonate day 38. All DOX-alone and DXR + DOX-treated rats showed decreased weight gain, with female rats affected earlier than male rats. DXR-alone, DOX-alone, and DXR + DOX-treated rats had an increased heart weight-to-body weight (heart wt/body wt) ratio after the exercise program with female rats showing the largest increase in heart wt/body wt. Drug-treated females also showed increased cardiac apoptosis, as measured by the increased expression of the proapoptotic proteins BAX and BNIP1 and the appearance of caspase 3 activation products, and oxidative stress, as measured by increased heme oxygenase 1 expression, and reduced Egr-1 and clusterin expression when compared with the similarly treated male rats. We conclude that DXR preinjection did not reduce DOX-induced noncardiac and cardiac damage and that young female rats were more susceptible to DXR and DOX toxicities than age-matched male rats.


2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 2005-2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian K. Roberts ◽  
Nosratola D. Vaziri ◽  
R. James Barnard

Dietary and humoral factors are thought to be involved in the development of hypertension. This study investigated the interaction between diet and gonadal hormone status in the development and reversibility of hypertension. Normal male and female and ovariectomized (OVX) female Fischer rats were placed on either a high-fat (primarily saturated), refined carbohydrate (sucrose) (HFS) or a low-fat, complex carbohydrate (LFCC) diet at 2 mo of age, and body weight and systolic blood pressure (BP) were measured. Male and OVX female rats were initially on the diets for 7 mo, whereas normal female rats were on the diets for 2 yr. After this initial phase, a group of rats from each of the normal HFS groups were converted to the LFCC diet for a period of 1 mo (males) and 2 mo (females). The OVX females were subcutaneously implanted with a 0.5-mg estradiol (E2) pellet for 1 mo. A significant rise in arterial BP occurred within 12 mo in female and only 2 mo in male rats on the HFS diet, exceeding 140 mmHg after 24 and 7 mo, respectively. Conversion from the HFS to the LFCC diet led to a normalization of BP in both female and male rats. HFS diet-induced hypertension was accelerated by OVX in female rats, approaching the pattern seen in male rats. The effect of OVX was completely reversed by E2replacement. BP did not significantly change in any of the LFCC groups at any time point, and E2 replacement had no effect on BP in the OVX LFCC group. All HFS groups had significantly greater body weight, with differences occurring sooner in the male and OVX rats compared with the female rats. Diet modification resulted in a partial but significant reduction of body weight, but E2replacement did not. These results demonstrate that long-term consumption of HFS diet induces hypertension in both genders and is reversible by diet modification. Hypertension is significantly delayed in females with functional ovaries. This protection is lost by OVX and restored by estrogen replacement. Thus hormone status contributes to the delayed onset of diet-induced hypertension in females compared with males.


2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-61
Author(s):  
NR Shepelskaya ◽  
YaV Kolyanchuk

Aim. Studying the effect of generic pesticides cyproconazole (98 %) and two samples of epoxiconazole (epoxiconazole 1 — 95,75 % and epoxiconazole 2 — 98,7 %) on the reproductive system of male and female Wistar Han rats at the level of the organism when exposed during gametogenesis, identification and characterization of their hazard, as well as assessment of the risk of reproductive toxicity of these compounds. Materials and Methods. The test samples were administered daily (5 days a week) by oral gavage at doses of 0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg for cyproconazole and 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg for epoxiconazoles during 11 weeks for males, and 10 weeks for females. Also, there were kept intact males and females, intended for crossover mating with experimental animals. After the end of the exposure, functional indicators of the state of the gonads and the ability of animals to reproduce offspring were studied. The duration and the frequency of each stage of the estrous cycle in female rats and the number of motile sperm, the total amount of sperm and the number of abnormal forms of germ cells of the male rats were studied. The reproductive function state in females was evaluated on day 20th of pregnancy. Thereby the number of corpora lutea in the ovaries, number of alive, dead and resorbed foetuses and embryos, the foetus weight, total weight of litters were registered. The studies were carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Bioethics Commission and the Centre’s standard operating procedures, developed in accordance with the recommendations and requirements of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Conclusions. Test substances at a maximum dose of 2.0 mg/kg of body weight have reproductive toxicity and endocrine-disruptive effect, exerting a significant antiandrogenic effect on males and antiestrogenic effect on female rats. No-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOАEL) for gonadal and reproductive toxicity for male and female Wistar Han rats were established. They are 0.2 mg/kg body weight for cyproconazole and 0.5 mg/kg body weight for epoxiconazole. Key Words: azole fungicides, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, reproductive toxicity, antiandrogenic and antiestrogenic effects, Wistar Han rats.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-97
Author(s):  
EL Lappa ◽  
◽  
C Bogning Zangueu ◽  
EL Nguemfo ◽  
JJ Kojom Wanche ◽  
...  

Ficus vogelii is a medicinal plant mainly found in tropical Africa and reported to treat inflammatory complaints. This study aims to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the aqueous extract of Ficus vogelii stem bark in wistar rats. For acute study, aqueous extract at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight was administered to female rats and observed for 14 days. In the sub-chronic study, the extract was administered daily to both sex rats at the doses of 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight for 28 consecutive days. Body weight was measured weekly, while hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were analyzed after euthanize. Aqueous extract of Ficus vogelii at all tested doses didn’t produced any mortality or significant change on the body weight and relative weight of rats on acute and sub-chronic studies. The lethal dose 50 was estimated greater than 5000 mg/kg (DL50˃5000 mg/kg). Hematological parameters were recorded non-significant in all treated rats. Aqueous extract at 600 mg/kg significantly changed transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activities, these changes were reversible in satellites. The concentrations of bilirubin was increased at 200 and 600 mg/kg in male rats, at 100, 400 mg/kg in female rats. The levels of lipids markers didn’t changed, except the significant decrease of LDL-cholesterol. Histological examination didn’t showed any change in the architecture of the liver and kidney of rats treated compared to control. Thus aqueous extract of Ficus vogelii stem bark didn’t produced adverse effects in rats after oral acute and sub-chronic treatment.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (3) ◽  
pp. R579-R584 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rivest ◽  
D. Richard

The effects of a hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) lesion on energy balance were investigated in exercise-trained rats. Male Wistar rats weighing initially 250 g were divided into four groups. Two groups of rats underwent a bilateral PVN lesion, whereas the two remaining groups were sham operated. The PVN lesions were done electrolytically. One group from each surgical treatment was exercised, while the other group was kept in sedentary conditions. Rats were exercised on a rodent motor-driven treadmill at moderate intensity, 1 h/day for 21 consecutive days. Food intake and body weight were measured each day during the study. At the end of the treatment period, rats were killed, and carcasses were analyzed for their energy content. Serum corticosterone was measured by a competitive protein-binding assay. Energy gain and energy intake were lower in exercised rats than in sedentary controls, regardless of whether they were sham or PVN lesioned. Concurrently, there was no difference in the energy gain between PVN-lesioned and sham-operated rats, despite the fact that PVN-lesioned rats ended the experiment with a larger body weight than the sham-lesioned animals. Serum corticosterone levels were lower in PVN-lesioned rats than in sham-lesioned rats. In conclusion, the present results indicate that the PVN, the hypothalamic nucleus predominantly controlling the pituitary-adrenal axis activity, is not a prominent structure in the regulation of energy balance in exercised male Wistar rats.


2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Houpt ◽  
Glenn J. Leach ◽  
Larry R. Williams ◽  
Mark S. Johnson ◽  
Gunda Reddy

4-Amino-2-nitrotoluene (4A2NT; CAS 119-32-4) is a degradation product of 2,4-dinitrotoluene. The toxicity data on 4A2NT are limited. Therefore, we collected toxicity data from rats to assess environmental and human health effects from exposures. The approximate lethal dose for both sexes was 5000 mg/kg. A 14-day toxicity study in rats was conducted with 4A2NT in the feed at concentrations of 0, 125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 ppm. Based on a 14-day oral dose range toxicity study with 4A2NT in the feed, 2000 ppm was selected as highest concentration for a subsequent 90-day study. An oral 90-day subchronic toxicity study in rats was conducted with concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 ppm of 4A2NT in the feed. The calculated consumed doses of 4A2NT in the feed were 0, 27, 52, or 115 mg/kg/d for males and 0, 32, 65, or 138 mg/kg/d for females. A no-observed adverse effect level could not be determined. The lowest observed adverse effect level was 27 mg/kg/d for males and 32 mg/kg/d for female rats based upon decreased body weight gain. The decreased body weight gain in male rats was the most sensitive adverse event observed in this study and was used to derive a benchmark dose (BMD). A BMD of 23.1 mg/kg/d and BMD with 10% effect level of 15.5 mg/kg/d were calculated for male rats, which were used to derive an oral reference dose (RfD). The human RfD of 1.26 μg/kg/d was derived using current United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.


1966 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Beaton ◽  
A. J. Szlavko ◽  
J. A. F. Stevenson

The effect of various factors on excretion of a lipid-mobilizing activity in FMS IA (anorexigenic) and in FMS IB (fat-mobilizing) by the fasting rat has been investigated. During fasting, the greatest excretion of such activity in FMS IA and FMS IB occurred in the first 24 hours and diminished thereafter up to 72 hours; and the specific activity of FMS IB was greatest in the first 24 hours whereas that of FMS IA was constant throughout. The hypothalamicobese rat excretes FMS IA and FMS IB in greater than normal amounts. The alloxan-diabetic rat excretes less total activity of FMS IA and IB than do control animals. Young male rats excrete greater amounts of FMS IB, but not of FMS IA, than do adult rats, the greatest excretion per 100 g body weight being observed at approximately 37 days of age. At 27 days of age (prepuberty), male rats excreted a greater total activity of FMS IB but not of FMS IA than did female rats. At 90 days of age (post-puberty), there was no apparent sex difference in the amount of total activity of FMS IB excreted per rat, but when expressed per 100 g body weight, females excreted more FMS IB than did males.


1985 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Hoberman ◽  
W. M. Weatherholtz ◽  
R. S. Durloo

The effects of a new experimental drug, KF-868, were investigated after administration to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats at 0(vehicle), 0.1, 2.0, and 40.0 mg/kg per day during Days 7 through 17 of gestation by examination of term fetuses and naturally delivered offspring. Pregnant rats administered 0.1, 2.0, and 40.0 mg/kg per day gained significantly more weight during the dosage period than did the vehicle control group. Treatment-related physical signs, bloody crust on nose and stains on fur, were observed in the high dosage group. Fetal viability was significantly increased, and resorptions were significantly decreased for the mid and high dosage groups, when compared with the control group. Average fetal body weights for cesarean-delivered fetuses were less for the 40.0 mg/kg per day dosage groups than for the vehicle control group. Visceral and skeletal evaluations of fetuses revealed no difference between the control and test groups. Percent survival of pups was significantly less for the high dosage group than for the control group. Average rat body weights prior to mating for the high dosage group were generally less than for the control group. All physical and functional developmental values were comparable among the control and test groups. Evaluation of postweaning parameters of pups revealed no significant difference in sex maturation, behavior (open-field and water maze), and reproductive capacity. Average body weight gains during the 9-week growth period before mating were significantly less for the 40.0 mg/kg per day dosage group F1 generation female rats. Toxicity in fetuses and offspring was observed only at the highest dosage level. Dosage-dependent, significant increases in maternal body weight gain, as compared with control values, occurred for doses in the 3 KF-868-administered groups. These results indicate that 0.1 and 2.0 mg/kg per day dosages of KF-868 were not lethal and did not produce any adverse effects on the morphological or functional development of offspring. Toxicity was evident in offspring and fetuses of dams administered 40.0 mg/kg per day KF-868, 40,000 times as high as the daily therapeutic dose.


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