S-allyl Cysteine Enhances Testosterone Production in Mice and Mouse Testis-Derived I-10 Cells

Hypogonadism, associated with low levels of testosterone synthesis, has been implicated in several diseases. Recently, the quest for natural alternatives to prevent and treat hypogonadism has gained increasing research interest. To this end, the present study explored the effect of S-allyl cysteine (SAC), a characteristic organosulfur compound in aged-garlic extract, on testosterone production. SAC was administered at 50 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally into 7-week-old BALB/c male mice in a single-dose experiment. Plasma levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) and testis levels of proteins involved in steroidogenesis were measured by enzymatic immunoassay and Western blot, respectively. In addition, mouse testis-derived I-10 cells were also used to investigate the effect of SAC on steroidogenesis. In the animal experiment, SAC significantly elevated testosterone levels in both the plasma and the testis without changing the LH level in plasma and increased phosphorylated protein kinase A (p-PKA) levels. Similar results were also observed in I-10 cells. The findings demonstrating the increasing effect of SAC on p-PKA and mRNA levels of Cyp11a suggest that SAC increases the testosterone level by activating the PKA pathway and could be a potential target for hypogonadism therapeutics.

Sustainable and Ecofriendly Approach of Managing Soil Born Bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Using Dried Powder of Conyza canadensis

Bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating plant disease that inflicts heavy losses to the large number of economic host plants it infects. The potential of dried powder of the Conyza canadensis to control bacterial wilt (BW) of tomato was explored in vitro and in planta. Three application times (16 days before transplanting (DBT), 8 DBT and 0 DBT), three plastic-mulch durations (10 days plastic mulching (DPM), 5DPM and 0DPM) and four doses viz. 0 g, 8 g, 16 g and 24 g of the plant powder were evaluated. SEM analysis was also conducted to observe the change in bacterial cell morphology. Ethanol extract of dried C. canadensis in different concentrations inhibited the in vitro growth of R. solanacearum by as much as 98% of that produced by ampicillin. As evident from the scanning electron micrograph, the highest concentration produced severe morphologic changes, such as rupture of the bacterial cell walls and cell contents leaked out. Results from application time and dose experiment demonstrated that the highest powder dose viz. 24 g kg−1 mixed with infested soil 16 DBT gave maximum root length (34.0 ± 2.5 cm), plant height (74.3 ± 4.7 cm), fresh biomass (58.3 ± 4.3 g), reduction in bacterial population (1.52 log10) and resulted in lowest AUDPC value (1156.6). In case of mulching duration and dose experiment the maximum root length (39.6 ± 3.2 cm), plant height (78.3 ± 5.8 cm), fresh biomass (65.6 ± 4.9 g) reduction in bacterial population (1.59 log10) and lowest AUDPC value (1251.6) was achieved through the application of highest powder dose viz. 24 g kg−1 and longest plastic mulching duration of 10 DPM. The better results of highest dose and longer application time can be explained on the basis of higher amounts of anti-microbial plant bio-active compounds in highest dose and the longer exposure time of the pathogen to these chemicals. The better results of longer mulching duration are due to faster and more complete decomposition (because of 10-days-long plastic-mulch-provided increased solar heat) of the dried powder which produced more amounts of volatile and non-volatile bactericidal compounds. Our results clearly suggest that the use of 24 g kg−1 dried plant powder of C. canadensis plastic-mulched for two weeks could be used as a reliable component of the integrated disease management program against BW.

CROSS-RESISTANCE OF RICE FLATSEDGE TO ALS-INHIBITING HERBICIDES

ABSTRACT Cyperus iria (CYPIR) is one of the main weeds in irrigated rice crops. The intense chemical control with acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides favors the selection of cross-resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the crossresistance of CYPIR to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in irrigated rice in Rio Grande do Sul. Two experiments arranged in a factorial scheme, in a completely randomized design, with four replications were conducted. Experiment I consisted of resistant (CYPIR-R) and susceptible (CYPIR-S) biotypes and ALS-inhibiting herbicide doses: imazethapyr (106 g a.i. ha-1); pyrazosulfuron-ethyl (20 g a.i. ha-1); penoxsulam (36 g a.i. ha-1) and, as an alternative herbicide, bentazone (960 g a.i. ha-1); corresponding to 0; 1/16; 1/8; 1/4; 1/2; 1; 2; 4; 8 and 16x (x = maximum registered dose). Experiment II followed the same procedures, with doses of 0; 1/64; 1/32; 1/16; 1/8; 1/4; 1/2; 1 and 2x for CYPIR-S and 0; 1/2; 1; 2; 4; 8; 16; 32; 64 and 128x for CYPIR-R; including bispyribac-sodium (50 g a.i. ha-1). The variables evaluated were: visual control at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the treatments (DAT) and shoot dry matter (SDM) at 28 DAT. The results, fitted by nonlinear regression, show varied and high levels of cross-resistance of CYPIR-R to ALS-inhibiting herbicides from the group of imidazolinones, sulfonylureas, triazolopyrimidines and pyrimidinyl(thio)benzoates. Bentazone can be used as an alternative herbicide, however, not exclusively in the control of this biotype.

Influence of the Parameters of Light Source on Observers’ Visual Performance

In order to investigate the influence of the light source with different illuminance and color temperature on the observers’ visual performance, five kinds of light sources were selected, named LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4 and Fluorescent, which have different illuminance or color temperature. 3 series of visual experiments, such as the ‘find out’ experiment, compared experiment, dose experiment were designed.13 observers were organized to carry out the experiment in the given time in turn. The reading rate, accuracy , index of mental capacity (IMC) and visual comfortable level score were analyzed, the results indicated that the light source with the lower color temperature and medium illuminance has the best visual performance and comfortable visual feel.

Amphotericin B-induced nephrotoxicity: characterization of blood and urinary biochemistry and renal morphology in mice

This study was conducted to characterize blood and urinary biochemistry, and renal morphology, after single or 1-week repeated dosing of mice with the polyene macrolide antibiotic, amphotericin B (AMB). AMB was intravenously administered to mice at 2 or 4 mg/kg for the single-dose experiment or once daily at 1 or 2 mg/kg for 1 week for the repeated-dose experiment. The most prominent histopathological findings included necrosis of the tubular epithelial cells in the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop in the renal outer medulla at a single dose of 2 or 4 mg/kg, and the severity of the lesion was dose-dependent. Blood chemistry and urinalysis revealed several changes suggestive of renal dysfunction such as reduction of plasma filtration ability (increases in plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, a decrease in creatinine clearance) and polyuria accompanied with dehydration (decrease in renal water reabsorption, increases in plasma total protein and albumin) at a dose of 4 mg/kg in the single-dose experiment. Among the parameters analyzed, urinary lactate dehydrogenase was the most sensitive and reliable parameter for the prediction of AMB-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. These data provided comprehensive information on the nephrotoxicity of AMB and indicate useful markers for the sensitive detection of AMB-induced renal injury in mice.