Male Treatment Groups Research Articles

Bioactive lipids are altered in the heart, kidney, and serum of male and female F344 rats sub-chronically exposed to dietary 2-MCPD

Chloropropanols have been identified as processing-induced food contaminants that occur as by-products of the manufacturing of refined food oils and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. There has been a paucity of research on the 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol (2-MCPD) isomer, thus forming a data gap for regulatory risk assessment. Previous studies suggest 2-MCPD causes adverse cardiotoxic, nephrotoxic, and myotoxic effects, but were inconclusive for hazard identification; thus a dose-response OECD TG-408-compliant study was conducted by Health Canada. Our study profiled the effects of 2-MCPD on oxylipins and oxidized phosphatidylcholines, using HPLC-MS/MS, in heart, kidney, serum, and skeletal muscle of male and female F344 rats orally exposed to 2-MCPD (40 mg/kg BW/d) for 90 days. Cardiac n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived oxylipins, particularly DHA-derived oxylipins, were lower with 2-MCPD exposure, coincident with cardiac lesions. Lipoxygenase-derived oxylipins were decreased in the serum with a greater effect in the male 2-MCPD treatment group. Few oxylipin alterations were seen in the kidney and there was an absence of alterations in the tibialis anterior. Oxidized phosphatidylcholines and isoprostanes were not altered in this study, indicating that oxidative stress was not elevated by 2-MCPD. These findings add to the weight of the evidence for 2-MCPD toxicity and support the use of serum oxylipins as potential biomarkers of 2-MCPD exposure.

Male mice are susceptible to brain dysfunction induced by early-life acephate exposure.

Acephate is a widely used organophosphate insecticide. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as acephate, can interfere with neurodevelopment in childhood, increasing the risk of higher brain dysfunction later in life. Furthermore, brain dysfunction may be related to chemical exposure-related disturbances in the gut microbiota. However, the effects of early acephate exposure on the brains of adult males and females as well as on the adult gut environment remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of perinatal acephate exposure on the central nervous system and gut microbiota of mice, including sex differences and environmentally relevant concentrations. C57BL/6 N pups were exposed to acephate (0, 0.3, 10, and 300 ppm) via the dam in their drinking water from embryonic day (E) 11.5 to postnatal day 14. We examined its effects on the central nervous system of adult males and females. In the male treatment group, impairments in learning and memory were detected. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a decrease in SOX2-, NeuN-, DCX-, and GFAP-positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in males compared to the control group, whereas GFAP-positive cells were fewer in females. In addition, gut microbiota diversity was reduced in both sexes in the experimental group. Our study demonstrates that the effects of early-life exposure to acephate are more pronounced in males than in females and can lead to a lasting impact on adult behavior, even at low doses, and that the gut microbiota may reflect the brain environment.

Effects of Exogenous Hormones on Spawning Performances, Serum Gonadotropin and Sex Steroid Hormone in Manchurian Trout (Brachymystax lenok) during Sexual Maturation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of salmon gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (S-GnRH-A) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on the serum levels of gonadotropins (GtHs) and sex steroid hormones in Manchurian trout during sexual maturity. Females in the treatment group were injected with 20 µg/kg S-GnRH-A and 400 IU/kg HCG, whilst males were injected with half the amount. Blood samples were collected at 0, 5, 10, and 20 days post injection (dpi). The results showed an increase in female follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in the treatment group at 5 dpi, and from 5 dpi onwards, a difference was observed between the groups, with higher FSH levels in the treatment group compared to the control group. In males, FSH levels showed group differences at only 5 dpi (p < 0.05) and were higher in the treatment group. In females, luteinizing hormone (LH) peaked at 10 dpi in the treatment group, and there were differences between the two groups at 10 dpi and 20 dpi. In males, LH was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group at 5 dpi and 10 dpi (p < 0.05). In females, estradiol (E2) was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group at 5 dpi and 10 dpi (p < 0.05), whereas in males, the difference between the two groups was only observed at 5 dpi (p < 0.05). The female testosterone (T) level in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 5 dpi and 10 dpi (p < 0.05), while T levels were significantly higher in the male treatment group than in the control group at 5 dpi (p < 0.05). The level of 17α–hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP) in the females of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 5 dpi and 10 dpi (p < 0.05), and 17α-OHP levels were significantly higher in the male treatment group than in the control group at 10 and 20 dpi (p < 0.05). The fish were successfully spawned after S-GnRH-A and HCG injections, and brood amount, fertilization rate, and hatching rate were significantly increased (p < 0.05). This study provides a framework for a better understanding of the mechanisms of exogenous hormone-mediated control of reproduction in Manchurian trout.

Investigation of the relationship between inflammation and microbiota in the intestinal tissue of female and male rats fed with fructose: Modulatory role of metformin

BackgroundIt has been reported that High-Fructose (HF) consumption, considered one of the etiological factors of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), causes changes in the gut microbiota and metabolic disorders. There is limited knowledge on the effects of metformin in HF-induced intestinal irregularities in male and female rats with MetS.ObjectivesIn this study, we investigated the sex-dependent effects of metformin treatment on the gut microbiota, intestinal Tight Junction (TJ) proteins, and inflammation parameters in HF-induced MetS.MethodsFructose was given to the male and female rats as a 20% solution in drinking water for 15 weeks. Metformin (200 mg/kg) was administered by gastric tube once a day during the final seven weeks. Biochemical, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and bioinformatics analyses were performed. Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.ResultsThe metformin treatment in fructose-fed rats promoted glucose, insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance Index (HOMA-IR), and Triglyceride (TG) values in both sexes. The inflammation score was significantly decreased with metformin treatment in fructose-fed male and female rats (p < 0.05). Moreover, metformin treatment significantly decreased Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in ileum tissue from fructose-fed males (p < 0.05). Intestinal immunoreactivity of Occludin and Claudin-1 was increased with metformin treatment in fructose-fed female rats. HF and metformin treatment changed the gut microbial composition. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio increased with HF in females. In the disease group, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum; in the treatment group, Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus reuteri are the prominent species in both sexes. When the male and female groups were compared, Akkermansia muciniphila was prominent in the male treatment group.ConclusionIn conclusion, metformin treatment promoted biochemical parameters in both sexes of fructose-fed rats. Metformin showed a sex-dependent effect on inflammation parameters, permeability factors, and gut microbiota. Metformin has partly modulatory effects on fructose-induced intestinal changes.Graphical

Sex comparison of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis triggers induced by single-dose Abamectin in albino rats

Abamectin (AB) is widely used in agriculture and has been employed as an insecticide, nematicide, and livestock pest control agent. However, it may also pose a serious threat to mammals. The primary purpose of this research was to compare the sex variations between male and female rats during exposure and to assess the risk of toxicity of abamectin, which are still largely unknown. The twenty albino rats were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5): 1) the male control group; 2) the male treatment group treated with AB (1 mg/kg B.W.); 3) the female control group; and 4) the female treatment group treated with AB (1 mg/kg B.W.). AB administration caused a drop in body weight in females more than males with showing oxidative stress in both sexes of animals, as characterized by an increase in MDA content and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Reported sex-specific effects suggested that females are more susceptible from males in brain tissues for alteration of antioxidant markers while females' liver and kidney tissues showed more level of lipid peroxidation than males. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with a significant decrease in NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I) and a significant decrease in mitochondrial ATPase, which led to apoptosis and histopathological alterations in the targeted tissues, indicating that females are higher sensitive than males to these biological events. In brief, the results of this study led to female rats are generally more sensitive than male rats to neurobehavioral and hepatic complications associated with abamectin treatment. Further evaluation should be performed to determine the adverse outcome pathways involved and to determine the effects of sex on improving the risk assessment of abamectin in both sexes.

Abstract 278: Ccr2 Inhibition Impacts Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture In Rodents

Background: There is growing evidence that monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) / C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) axis crucially affects the initiation and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We hypothesize that inhibition of CCR2 may prevent AAA inflammation and rupture. Methods: 40 Male and 49 female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent intraluminal infrarenal abdominal aortic exposure to elastase to induce AAA. Rats received daily β-aminopropionitrile to promote AAA rupture. On post-operative day 3 (POD3), a treatment group (15 males, 17 females) received daily oral gavage of a CCR2 inhibitor (CCR2i; RS-504393), and a control group (25 males, 32 females) received no CCR2i. On POD6, both groups underwent PET/CT with a CCR2 targeting radiotracer 64 Cu-DOTA-ECL1i. In addition, AAA tissue cytokine/chemokine arrays were evaluated. Incidence of AAA rupture was evaluated in the remaining surviving rats until POD14 (Figure 1A). Results: Compared with controls, the incidence of AAA rupture was reduced in treated male AAA rats (0% vs 56%, p &lt;0.001; and tended to decreased in treated female AAA rats (18% vs 42%, p =0.09;). PET/CT demonstrated that male and female treatment groups had significantly decreased 64 Cu-DOTA-ECL1i uptake in AAAs ( p= 0.02 for male AAAs , p &lt;0.001 for females, Figure 1B). All cytokines, including MCP-1, RANTES, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-10, except TNF-a were significantly reduced in the male treatment group compared to control group ( p &lt;0.05; Figure 1C). Interestingly, in the female treatment group, IL-1B was significantly decreased ( p &lt;0.05), and RANTES was significantly increased ( p &lt;0.05). Conclusion: In rats, CCR2 appears to be a promising theranostic biomarker for AAAs. CCR2i can greatly impact AAA tissue inflammation and reduces the incidence of AAA rupture. Differences between male and female rats suggest that CCR2 signaling may be different in AAA between sexes and highlights future avenues of further investigation.

Does receiving a cash grant improve individual earnings in a war-torn country? Evidence from a randomized experiment in Afghanistan

Background: In this study, the effect of receiving a non-trivial cash grant and mentorship for business practice on individual earnings in Afghanistan was assessed. Methods: This randomized control trial (RCT) included 2177 individuals (n=2177), with the age range of 18-35 years. The amount of cash grant (500 USD) was approximately equal to the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the country. By a process of lottery, eligible applicants were equally divided into the group that received the grant (treatment group) and the group that did not (control group). Results: Almost two years after this study, the percentage of increased annual income to the size of this cash grant was approximately 173 % and 69 % for males and females, respectively. This result was much higher than the estimated percentage reported in previous literature assessing the effect of microfinance loans and cash grants in other countries. The treatment group had 7% higher probability of having an officially registered business than the control group. The treatment group also increased labor supply and employed additional workers, compared to the control group. The male treatment group bought more capital equipment (e.g., trike and commercial carts) than the male control group, while the female treatment group bought more domestic animals. Conclusion: A non-trivial cash grant has a strong positive effect on the earnings of the recipient of the cash grant in Afghanistan. If the state of increased income continues for the next few years, the sum of increased income will be more than the sum of the administration cost, the interest cost and the amount of cash grant given. This implies that the project passes the standard criteria to determine the appropriateness of government program. Additionally, we did not find any economically and statistically significant positive effect of mentorship on income.

Carcass Yields and Physical-Chemical Meat Quality Characteristics of Namibian Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) as Influenced by Sex and Muscle.

This study determined the carcass yields of red hartebeest from Namibia and compared the physical-chemical meat quality characteristics of six different muscles (biceps femoris, infraspinatus, longissimus thoracis et lumborum, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and supraspinatus) for both males and females. Red hartebeest males were heavier (133.92 kg) than females (114.20 kg) but the average dressing percentage did not differ between the two sexes. Muscles from females had a lower mean shear force value of 3.59 kg/1.27 cm ø, compared to males (4.23 kg/1.27 cm ø). The most tender muscle was the infraspinatus of the female treatment group, while the semimembranosus of the male treatment group was the least tender muscle. Drip loss, cooking loss and L* (lightness) values were not affected by sex. The largest hue angle was observed in the semitendinosus muscle of the female treatment group (28.94°), and it was thus the lightest red muscle. The highest chroma values (17.3) were observed in the semimembranosus muscle. Muscle protein content averaged 20.5% over all treatment combinations, and the mean intra-muscular fat content for both male and female muscles was low (2.4%). The shoulder muscles, infraspinatus and supraspinatus, of the females had the highest fat content (2.7%). The results indicate that red hartebeest meat should be market according to specific muscles and that sex of the animals need not be considered during marketing.

Herbal-Based Formulation Containing Eurycoma longifolia and Labisia pumila Aqueous Extracts: Safe for Consumption?

A combined polyherbal formulation containing tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) and kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila) aqueous extracts was evaluated for its safety aspect. A repeated dose 28-day toxicity study using Wistar rats was conducted where the polyherbal formulation was administered at doses 125, 500 and 2000 mg/kg body weight to male and female treatment groups daily via oral gavage, with rats receiving only water as the control group. In-life parameters measured include monitoring of food and water consumption and clinical and functional observations. On day 29, blood was collected for haematological and biochemical analysis. The rats were necropsied and the organs were collected for histopathological examination. This study showed that the combined formulation did not induce any significant toxicity effect at any dose level in terms of morbidity, mortality, behaviour, functional observation, body weight, food and water consumption, whole blood haematology and serum biochemistry. However, there were some microscopic changes in the histopathological examinations of some organs given 2000 mg/kg body weight, which may suggest an early response to the polyherbal formulation. From this study, the no observed adverse effect level is estimated to be more than 500 mg/kg body weight but not exceeding 2000 mg/kg body weight. The observed effects at the highest dose indicate the need for further study of longer dosing duration.

62 Altering sexual behavior of rats through neonatal treatment with an aromatase inhibitor, estrogen receptor antagonist and testosterone

Abstract The mammalian brain is sexually dimorphic until becoming imprinted before birth or during neonatal development. The naïve mammalian brain of neonates is programmed to become feminine. In male neonates, testosterone crosses the blood brain barrier where it is converted to estrogen by aromatase. Estrogen in the brain imprints male sexual behavior. In female neonates, estrogen binds to alpha fetoprotein which prohibits estrogen from entering the brain. The present study was undertaken to determine if testosterone, an estrogen receptor antagonist (ICI 182,780) or aromatase inhibitor (Letrozole) would alter sexual behavior in neonatal rats. In this study, the entire litter of neonatal rat pups received a sc injection (100µl) of one of the following four treatments: corn oil (CO), testosterone propionate 100 µg (TP), ICI 182,780 100 µg (ICI), or Letorozole 100 µg (LET) on days 1 and 3 after birth. At approximately 60-70 days of age, treated rats were placed in cages with nontreated rats of the opposite sex. Animals were euthanized after 20 days. Body, testis, epididymal, and accessory gland weights were recorded for males as well as the number of females they bred and litter size. Body weight, pregnancy status, and litter size (if pregnant) were recorded for treated females. While there was a difference (P&amp;lt; 0.001) in body weight between males and females (average 372 g vs 279 g respectively), there was no statistical differences in body, testis, epididymal, or accessory gland weight between male treatment groups. While number of females pregnant or litter size was not different for CO, TP, or ICI, LET males established no pregnancies. Body weight, number pregnant and litter size were not different between female CO, ICI, or LET treatments. However, TP treated females established no pregnancies. Sexual mating behavior is altered by neonatal exposure to an aromatase inhibitor or testosterone in rats.

Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis Alleviate the Progress of Osteoarthritis in Mice

Objective: To evaluate the contribution of gut microbiota dysbiosis on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in different gender mice. Design: We used a mouse OA model (8 weeks) of the destabilization of the medial meniscus(DMM) and gut microbiome dysbiosis induced by antibiotic treatment (ABT) with ampicillin and neomycin for 8 weeks. The severity of OA was evaluated by micro-CT scanning, X-rays and the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) histology score. Microbiome analysis via PCR of 16S DNA was performed on fecal samples, and the serum LPS, IL-6, TNF-α, osteocalcin, estrogen, calcium and magnesium ion levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Finding: Compared to those in normal mice, the bone volume over total volume (BV/TV) (P<0.01) and the OARSI score (P<0.01) in subchondral bone decreased significantly in the female and male ABT treatment groups. ABT decreased the osteophyte score in female mice in the standard normal group (P<0.05) and decreased the osteophyte maturity score in both female (P<0.01) and male (P<0.05) mice. The levels of IL-6 (P<0.01), TNF-α (P<0.01 for both subgroups), calcium (P<0.01) and expression of MMP-13 were decreased significantly in the ABT group compared with those in the control group, while magnesium and estrogen were increased significantly in the ABT-female group compared with those in the control-female group (P<0.01). For DMM surgery treatment, BV/TV (P<0.01) and serum level of IL-6 (P<0.01) were decreased significantly but the ratio of serum level of Ca2+ and Mg2+ increased significantly in male mice compare than female mice. the bone volume over total volume (BV/TV) of subchondral bone sclerosis has been increased significant in female mice after joint injury than male mice. However, trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and osteophyte score have been increased significantly in antibiotic-induced male mice than female mice. We further used network correlations analysis to verify the effect of gut microbiota dysbiosis on OA. Interpretation: Our data showed the factors to the gut microbiome dysbiosis alleviating the progression of OA. Funding Statement: This work was partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants no. 81874010, 81672133). Declaration of Interests: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists. Ethics Approval Statement: The experiments and protocol were approved by The Peking University Third Hospital Committee on Ethics in the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (No. LA2019209).

Bone Quality Analysis of the Effects of Maternal Prenatal Stress Exposure

Unperturbed fetal development is essential for future health of an individual. Previous studies have linked diseases of aging to harmful alterations that happen during fetal development. Given the significant long‐term impact that intrauterine environment has on an individual's life, it was hypothesized that maternal stress during pregnancy will have negative effects on the offspring's bone density and cross‐sectional area. To test this, twenty‐eight female and seven male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were purchased and bred to produce 176 offspring. During pregnancy, dams were randomly divided into four groups (n=7, per group) and immobilization stress induced as follows; Group 1 (GW1): immobilization stress on days 1–7 of pregnancy, Group 2 (GW2): on days 8–14, Group 3 (GW3): on days 15–21, Group 4 (Controls): left undisturbed. Maternal cortisol hormone, food intake, and weight gain were monitored during pregnancy. Pups were raised under normal laboratory conditions and sacrificed at ages: 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks to determine the effect of prenatal stress. At necropsy, the femur was removed and preserved for image analysis.Differences among groups were determined by T‐test or analysis of variance (ANOVA). P values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Cortisol hormone levels in controls were lower than those of stressed animals. Stressed dams consumed 12.5% less food per day compared to controls. Animals in GW1 and GW2 gained less weight during pregnancy but had larger litters than did GW3 or the control group. Offspring born to GW3 were heavier compared to all other groups. Preliminary MicroCT analysis of cortical bone shows the control males as having higher cortical thickness compared to male treatment groups at the age of 8 and 16 weeks. There was no significant difference in cortical thickness of females. Trabecular thickness in controls was higher at the age of 4 and 8 weeks compared to treatment groups. This difference was observed in both males and females. There was no significant difference observed among treatment groups. Analysis of the remaining samples is ongoing.Support or Funding InformationAmerican Association of Anatomists Visiting Scholarship.

PETCO2 in Women at Sea‐Level and Upon Acute Exposure to a Normobaric Hypoxic Environment Simulating 3,500 m

While prior work (Muza, J. Appl. Physiol. 91: 2001) suggests that women and men have similar responses to high altitude, no studies have attempted to develop gender specific predictive values for end‐tidal CO2 (EtCO2) in a normobaric hypoxic (NH) environment simulating acute exposure to an altitude of 3,500 m based on sea‐level (SL) EtCO2 values. As part of a larger study examining individual variability upon acute exposure to NH, EtCO2, heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR) were measured in 107 subjects at sea level (SL) who, no sooner than two days later, entered a normobaric hypoxia chamber at approximating O2 partial pressures equivalent to those found at 3,500 m.METHODSParticipants in this IRB‐approved study included: 63 informed volunteer female subjects (56 Treatment [NH]: 20.5±1.5 yr.; 165.8±6.9 cm; 63.011.1 kg; 22.93.3 BMI; 7 SHAM: 20.31.1 yr; 167.56.2 cm; 57.26.2 kg; 20.46.4 BMI); 44 informed volunteer male subjects (35 Treatment [NH]: 20.31.3 yr; 178.26.8 cm; 77.414.0 kg; 24.23.2 BMI; and 9 SHAM: 20.71.0 yr; 179.87.8 cm; 73.310.0 kg; 22.73.1 BMI). All subjects were tested at SL then again 2+ days later after entering a NH (FiO2=13.55%) chamber where EtCO2, HR, and RR were measured after 30 minutes of rest.RESULTSBonferroni t‐tests revealed no difference in female or male EtCO2 between the SL and SHAM conditions while, as expected, there was a difference (P≤0.05) in EtCO2 between the SL and NH conditions in the female treatment group (37±3 vs. 36±3 mmHg) and the male treatment group (39±3 vs. 37±2 mmHg). RR and HR remained unchanged in the female and male groups in all conditions.CONCLUSIONSUsing the following algorithm, we were able to predict EtCO2 in female subjects at the P 0.001 level of confidence [Actual vs. Predictive (EtCO2 at FiO2 = 13.55%) Y = 86.394 – 0.221X1‐ 0.541X2 (Where Y = EtCO2_HYPO, X1 = RR_NH, X2 = SpO2_NH, R2 = 0.520, P&lt;0.001] while the predictive value of the male data was not significant (R2 = 0.099, P = 0.187). Therefore, female responsiveness to acute exposure to simulated altitude may be greater than that of male peers.Support or Funding Information: The Chuo University Oversea Research Program, The Doug Morton/Marilyn Brown Endowment for Biomedical Research, The Foundation for Aging Studies and Exercise Science Research, and The Borgenicht Program

Yaz Koşullarında Gece-Gündüz Yemlemesi ve Aydınlatmanın Etlik Piliçlerin Performansı Üzerine Etkileri

Yaz koşullarında etlik piliçlerde gece-gündüz yemlemesi ve aydınlatmanın performans üzerine etkileri toplam 1104 adet ticari etlik civciv kullanılarak araştırılmıştır. Denemenin ikinci haftasında, etlik piliçler erkek-dişi ayrı olmak üzere 2 × 6 tekerrürlü olmak üzere deneme bölmelerine yerleştirilmişlerdir. Denemede, kontrol grubuna (1. grup) sürekli aydınlatma ve serbest yemleme yapılmıştır. 2. gruba sürekli aydınlatma uygulanmış ve son üç hafta 10:00 ile 16:00 saatleri arasında aç bırakılmıştır. 3. gruba ise sürekli aydınlatma yapılmış ve deneme süresince gündüz 10:00 ile 16:00 saatleri arasında aç bırakılmıştır. 4. gruba günışığı dışında sürekli aydınlatma yapılmış ve gece 24:00 ile 06:00 saatleri arasında yem verilmemiştir. 5. gruba sürekli aydınlatma uygulanmış ve son üç hafta gece 24:00 ile 06:00 saatleri arasında yem verilmemiştir. 6. gruba ise gündüz yem verilmiş, gece ise karartma yapılarak 24:00 ile 06:00 saatleri arasında yem verilmemiştir. Deneme sonunda her iki cinsiyette de muameleler arasında canlı ağırlık artışı, yem tüketimi ve yemden yararlanma oranı bakımından farklılık istatistikî olarak önemsiz bulunmuştur. Sıcak-soğuk karkas ağırlığına erkek-dişi etlik piliçlerde muamelelerin etkisi önemli olup, erkeklerde 3. ve 6. muamele grupları, dişilerde ise 6. muamele grubu daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Erkek etlik piliçlerde karkas randımanına muamelenin etkisi önemli bulunmuş, 4. ve 6. muamele gruplarının en yüksek değere sahip olduğu saptanmıştır. Dişi etlik piliçlerde ise karkas randımanı bakımından muameleler arasında farklılık bulunmamış. Muamelelerin ölüm oranlarına olan etkisi de önemsiz bulunmuştur. Yaz koşullarında serbest yemleme ve sürekli aydınlatma uygulaması piliçlerin performansını olumsuz etkilerken, kısıtlı yemleme ve aydınlatma ise hayvanların verim kayıplarını göreceli olarak azaltmıştır.

Fertility suppression effects of a new plant extract shikonin-quinestrol (ND-1) on mid-day gerbil (Meriones meridianus) populations

Controlling fertility of rodent pests has become a widely used means of controlling populations of grassland rodents in China. Research has recently focused on environmentally-friendly fertility inhibitors that lead to a more sustainable control of pest rodent populations. Using plant-derived fertility inhibitors may be an appropriate method. In this study, we used experimental populations of wild mid-day gerbils (Meriones meridianus Pallas) – the dominant rodents in typical Chinese desert regions – to test the effects of shikonin-quinestrol (ND-1) (also known as Nong Da-1), a new plant-derived fertility inhibitor. Mid-day gerbils were divided into control, female treatment and male treatment groups, and the effects of the fertility inhibitor ND-1 were studied. We found that there was a significant decrease in average litter size in the male treatment group (P < 0.01) during the first breeding period of the gerbil's annual breeding season. The average litter size of the male treatment group was 1.42 ± 0.12 individuals and the fertility suppression rate was 42.86%. The second litter showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the average litter size in both female and male treatment groups (1.42 ± 0.13 and 0.14 ± 0.04 individuals, respectively) and fertility suppression rates were 57.14% and 85.78%, respectively. The control group bred two to three times during the breeding season, while the two treatment groups bred zero to two times, which was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.01). Reproductive start-up periods (RSP) of the two treatment groups were delayed. The female treatment group showed a 15-22d delay in reproductive period, and the male treatment group showed a 32-157d delay. The fertility inhibitor ND-1 induced infertility in both males and females. As a plant-based agent, ND-1 is an effective and non-polluting agent for inhibiting fertility in mid-day gerbils.

Effects of developmental exposure to bisphenol A on spatial navigational learning and memory in rats: A CLARITY-BPA study

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous industrial chemical used in the production of a wide variety of items. Previous studies suggest BPA exposure may result in neuro-disruptive effects; however, data are inconsistent across animal and human studies. As part of the Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity (CLARITY-BPA), we sought to determine whether female and male rats developmentally exposed to BPA demonstrated later spatial navigational learning and memory deficits. Pregnant NCTR Sprague–Dawley rats were orally dosed from gestational day 6 to parturition, and offspring were directly orally dosed until weaning (postnatal day 21). Treatment groups included a vehicle control, three BPA doses (2.5μg/kg body weight (bw)/day—[2.5], 25μg/kg bw/day—[25], and 2500μg/kg bw/day—[2500]) and a 0.5μg/kg/day ethinyl estradiol (EE)-reference estrogen dose. At adulthood, 1/sex/litter was tested for seven days in the Barnes maze. The 2500 BPA group sniffed more incorrect holes on day 7 than those in the control, 2.5 BPA, and EE groups. The 2500 BPA females were less likely than control females to locate the escape box in the allotted time (p value=0.04). Although 2.5 BPA females exhibited a prolonged latency, the effect did not reach significance (p value=0.06), whereas 2.5 BPA males showed improved latency compared to control males (p value=0.04), although the significance of this result is uncertain. No differences in serum testosterone concentration were detected in any male or female treatment groups. Current findings suggest developmental exposure of rats to BPA may disrupt aspects of spatial navigational learning and memory.

Distinct gender differences in anthropometric profiles of a peri-urban South African HIV population: a cross sectional study.

BackgroundHighly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has extended life expectancy and enhanced the well-being of HIV-positive individuals. Since there are concerns regarding HAART-mediated onset of cardio-metabolic diseases in the long-term, we evaluated the anthropometric profile of black HIV-infected individuals in a peri-urban setting (Western Cape, South Africa).MethodsA cross sectional study design was followed to describe the gender differences in different HAART treatment groups. HIV-positive patients (n = 44 males, n = 102 females; 20–40 years) were recruited for three groups: 1) control (HIV-positive, HAART-naïve), 2) HIV-positive (<3 years HAART), and 3) HIV-positive (>3 years HAART).ResultsAll participants underwent comprehensive anthropometric and bio-electrical impedance analyses. No significant differences were observed in the male treatment groups. HAART-naïve females are mostly overweight (73.90 ± 2.79). This is followed by a period of muscle wasting seen in the triceps skinfold (29.30 ± 2.19 vs 20.63 ± 1.83; p < 0.01), muscle mass (22.23 ± 0.46 vs 19.82 ± 0.54; p < 0.01), and fat free mass (49.40 ± 1.08 vs 44.16 ± 1.21; p < 0.01) upon HAART initiation (<3 years HAART). Thereafter all parameters measured had levels similar to that seen for the female HAART-naïve group. Females on <3 years HAART exhibited significantly decreased body cell mass (p < 0.01), protein mass (p < 0.01), muscle mass (p < 0.01), fat free mass (p < 0.01), and fat mass (p < 0.001) versus matched HAART-naïve controls. The W:H ratio for the female treatment groups placed the females overall at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease compared to the males.ConclusionsThis study found striking gender-based anthropometric differences in black South African HIV-positive individuals on HAART. We also conclude from this observational study that no significant differences were found in the different male treatment groups. All female body composition parameters initially showed lower values (<3 years HAART). The female treatment group (>3 years HAART) displayed values similar to that seen in the HAART-naïve group. Higher W:H ratios in females receiving longer-term HAART potentially increases their risk for the future onset of cardio-metabolic complications.

Biological Activity of trans-2-Hexenal Against Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) at Different Developmental Stages.

trans-2-Hexenal, one of the C6 green leaf volatiles, is potentially useful for the control of Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang. In this study, the biological activity of trans-2-hexenal on B. odoriphaga was assessed in the laboratory. trans-2-Hexenal was observed to kill B. odoriphaga in different developmental stages at a relatively low concentration under fumigation. The respiration rate in the male treatment group decreased from 131.44 to 4.07 nmol/g·min with a prolonged fumigation time, while the respiration rate in females decreased from 128.82 to 24.20 nmol/g·min. Male adults exhibited a more sensitive electroantennogram response at 0.05–500 μl/ml at the dose of 10.0 μl than female adults. Moreover, trans-2-hexenal had a repellent effect on adults based on the results with a Y-tube olfactometer at 10.0 μl, as shown by the deterrent rate of male and female adults with 96.67% and 98.33%, respectively. The results showed that trans-2-hexenal had good biological activity in different developmental stages of B. odoriphaga, which could reduce the need for, and risks associated with, the use of traditional insecticides and enable nonharmful management.

Toxicity studies on Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's claw) capsules in mice

Acute (24 h) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on Harpagohytum procumbens (Devil’s claw) capsules manufactured by Boiron (France), were carried out. Male and female mice were used as experimental model. Acute dosages were: 0.5, 1.0 and 3 g/kg while chronic dosage was 100 mg/kg per day of the capsule contents. All morphological, biochemical, haematological and spermatogenic changes, in addition to mortality, body weight changes and any change in vital organs were recorded. Histopathological investigations were done on vital organs. During acute toxicity experiment, mice treated with higher dose were found to have reduced locomotor activity as compared to the control animals. Biochemical studies showed reduction in blood glucose level of mice in the treatment groups as compared to the control. During chronic toxicity studies, both male and female mice in the treatment groups gained statistically significant weight which was similar and comparable to respective control groups. The water intake increased in the treatment as well as the control groups. One male animal was found to develop forelimb inflammation and snout alopecia during chronic toxicity studies. All other animals were normal and comparable to the control animals. There was no mortality of statistical significance observed in any group. Biochemical studies revealed a significant decrease in blood sugar levels and uric acid level of Devil’s claw treatment groups. A slight increase in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels was noticed in the treatment groups as compared to the control groups. However, hematological parameters remained comparable to the control. At the end of the treatment, the visceral condition and the vital organs of animals were found to be normal and comparable to the control. The results were substantiated by histopathological studies. The male treatment group was subjected to sperm abnormality test to assess any mutagenic potential of Devil’s claw prolonged treatment. Devil’s claw capsules treatment group, after chronic treatment, showed no spermatotoxic effect. All the observations recorded revealed that Devil’s claw treatment in the given dose levels, poses low toxicity. The findings of present study might be used in designing future preliminary and preclinical studies on Devil claws capsules.

Effect of Hippocratea africana root bark extract on some biochemical indices of male and female albino Wistar rats

The benefits of medicinal plants may not be without some biochemical impediments. Anti-plasmodial activity of Hippocratea africana has been studied; its effects on some biochemical parameters were examined in rats in this study. It was observed that in the female test groups, there was no significant (p > 0.05) changes in urea concentration but there was significant (p 0.05). The male treatment groups however recorded significant (p 0.05) decrease. The result generally does not suggest any biochemical imbalance and therefore the herb may be safe for use for its anti-plasmodial property. Key words: Hippocratea africana, biochemical imbalance, glucose, total protein, urea, albumin, bilirubin, anti-plasmodial property, health benefit.