Effect of Penicillin on Reproductive Function in Female Wistar Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of penicillin on reproductive function in female Wistar rats. Fifteen female rats (120 – 160 g) were used for the estrous cycle and histopathological studies. Penicillin (17.14 mg/kg) was administered orally on daily basis for 21 and 50 days respectively for the estrous cycle and histological studies. Estrous cycle was carried out using the technique of Marcondes et al., histologies of the ovaries and uteri were also carried out. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and student’s t-test at p=0.05. Treatment of rats for 21 days with penicillin (17.14 mg/kg) produced significant (p<0.05) increments in the estrous and metestrous phases as well as a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the proestrous phase of the estrous cycle relative to their respective controls. The histopathological study presented with a moderate endometrial congestion. It can therefore be concluded that penicillin probably has a pro-fertility effect with a moderate deleterious effect on the uteri at histological level in female Wistar rats.

Effect of Artesunate on Reproductive Function in Female Wistar Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of artesunate on reproductive function in female Wistar rats. Fifteen female rats (120 – 160 g) were used for the estrous cycle and histopathological studies. Artesunate (1.43 mg/kg) was administered orally on daily basis for 21 and 50 days respectively for the estrous cycle and histological studies. Estrous cycle was carried out using the technique of Marcondes et al., histologies of the ovaries and uteri were also carried out. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and student’s t-test at p=0.05. Treatment of rats for 21 days with artesunate (1.43 mg/kg) produced significant (p<0.05) increments in the estrous and metestrous phases as well as a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the proestrous phase of the estrous cycle relative to their respective controls. The histopathological study presented with ovarian medullar that is severely congested (hemorrhagic) including expanded lumen of the endometrial glands. It can therefore be concluded that artesunate probably has pro-fertility effect with deleterious effect on the ovaries at histological level in female Wistar rats.

Effect of Methotrexate on Reproductive Function in Female Wistar Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of methotrexate on reproductive function in female Wistar rats. Eighteen female rats (120 – 160 g) were used for the estrous cycle and histopathological studies. Methotrexate (0.071 mg/kg) was administered orally on daily basis for 21 and 50 days respectively for the estrous cycle and histological studies. Estrous cycle was carried out using the technique of Marcondes et al., histologies of the ovaries and uteri were also carried out. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and student’s t-test at p=0.05. Treatment of rats for 21 days with methotrexate (0.071 mg/kg) produced significant (p<0.05) reductions in the proestrous and estrous phase of the estrous cycle as well as significant (p<0.05) increments in the metestrous and diestrous phases of the estrous cycle relative to their respective controls. The histopathological study revealed that treatment of rats with methotrexate (0.071 mg/kg) for 50 days presented with ovarian medullary part that is congested and oedematous as well as with multiple foci of hemorrhage within the endometria. It can therefore be concluded that that methotrexate probably has dominant pro-fertility effect, but also probably induced deleterious effects on the ovaries and uteri in female Wistar rats.

Effect of Clindamycin on Reproductive Function in Female Wistar Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of clindamycin on reproductive function in female Wistar rats. Fifteen female rats (120 – 160 g) were used for the estrous cycle and histopathological studies. Clindamycin (8.57 mg/kg) was administered orally on daily basis for 21 and 50 days respectively for the estrous cycle and histological studies. Estrous cycle was carried out using the technique of Marcondes et al., histologies of the ovaries and uteri were also carried out. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and student’s t-test at p=0.05. Treatment of rats for 21 days with clindamycin (8.57 mg/kg) produced significant (p<0.05) reductions in the proestrous and diestrous phases as well as significant (p<0.05) increments in the estrous and metestrous phases of the estrous cycle relative to their respective controls. The histopathological study presented with no deleterious effects on the ovarian and uterine tissues in the rats. It can therefore be concluded that clindamycin probably has pro-fertility effect without deleterious effects on the ovaries and uteri at histological level in female Wistar rats.

A Natural Experiment on Job Insecurity and Fertility in France

Job insecurity can have wide-ranging consequences outside of the labour market. A 1999 rise in the French layoff tax paid by large private firms when they laid off older workers made younger workers less secure; this insecurity reduced their fertility by 3.7 percentage points (with a 95% confidence interval between 0.7 and 6.6 percentage points). Reduced fertility is only found at the intensive margin: job insecurity reduces family size but not the probability of parenthood itself. Our results also suggest negative selection into parenthood, as this fertility effect does not appear for low-income and less-educated workers.

SEARCH FOR NOVEL ANTI-FERTILITY AGENT BY MONITORING IN VITRO METABOLIC INHIBITION, CELL MOTILITY AND CELLULAR INTERACTIONS OF NIFEDIPINE ANALOGUES

Current family planning measures predominantly target a female clientele, with relatively few significant developments in male fertility regulation. At present, only effective methods for contraception in men are those that prevent sperm transport, such as condoms and vasectomy. Thus, in an attempt to synthesize non-hormonal, safe, reversible and oral male contraceptive, we have used nifedipine as a prototype molecule. Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker and popular anti-hypertensive drug. Its reversible anti-fertility effect is a well-known side effect. In order to develop male oral contraceptive, we have synthesized four analogues; m-hydroxy (D5), m-chloro (D6), p-nitro (D7), p-methoxy (D8) aryl 1, 4-dihydropyridine derivative of nifedipine and monitored their effect on sperm motility and metabolic activity. To highlight their mechanism of action on sperm function through membrane interaction, we have studied their molecular level interactions with model membrane using NMR and DSC technique. One of the synthesized analogues (D5) showed promising results.