Normal Wistar Research Articles

Oil-extracted from flaxseeds protects against endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress by modulating nitric oxide, thiols contents and improving redox status in ouabain-induced hypertensive rats

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the antihypertensive and antioxidant effects of flaxseed oil in ouabain-induced hypertensive in normal rats Wistar. MethodsExperimental hypertension was induced by a daily subcutaneous (sc) injection of 10μg/kg/day/rat of ouabain diluted in 9g/L of saline solution (NaCl) for 21 days (n=16). Animals were then divided into two groups fed an experimental diet containing 20% casein supplemented (Ouab-Oil-Lu) or not (Ouab) with 1% flaxseed oil whereas control rats (n=8) received only a daily sc injection of NaCl. ResultsThe results showed that supplementing hypertensive rats with 1% flaxseed oil decreased significantly (P<0.05) the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure, ameliorated plasma and liver lipid profile and reduced glucose levels in plasma. Similarly, flaxseed oil decreased TBARS levels in plasma and tissues, as well as carbonyl levels in the heart. Interestingly, this supplementation increased GSH, thiols and nitric oxide levels and improved AchE and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and GSH-Px) in the tissues. ConclusionsOur findings suggested that flaxseed oil may provide a rationale for antihypertensive use in traditional medicine.

Cinnamaldehyde Supplementation Reverts Endothelial Dysfunction in Rat Models of Diet-Induced Obesity: Role of NF-E2-Related Factor-2.

Cinnamaldehyde (CN) is an activator of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which has the potential to reduce endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation in metabolic disorders. Our main purpose was to evaluate the effects of CN on vascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome rats. Normal Wistar (W) rats were divided into eight groups: (1) Wistar (W) rats; (2) W rats fed with a high-fat diet (WHFD); (3) W rats fed with a sucrose diet (WS); (4) WHFD fed with a sucrose diet (WHFDS); (5) W treated with CN (WCn); (6) WS treated with CN (WSCn); (7) WHFD treated with CN (WHFDCn); (8) WHFDS treated with CN (WHFDSCn). CN treatment with 20 mg/kg/day was administered for 8 weeks. Evaluation of metabolic profile, inflammation, endothelial function, oxidative stress, eNOS expression levels and Nrf2 activation was performed. The metabolic dysfunction was greatly exacerbated in the WHFDS rats, accompanied by significantly higher levels of vascular oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. In addition, the WHFDS rats displayed significantly reduced activity of Nrf2 at the vascular level. CN significantly reverted endothelial dysfunction in the aortas and the mesenteric arteries. In addition, CN significantly decreased vascular oxidative damage, inflammation at vascular and perivascular level and up-regulated Nrf2 activity in the arteries of WHFDS rats. Cinnamaldehyde, an activator of Nrf2, can be used to improve metabolic profile, and to revert endothelial dysfunction in obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Acute, Sub-acute and Chronic Toxicity Evaluation of Aqueous Extract of the Aerial Parts of Leonurus cardiaca in Normal Non-pregnant Female Wistar Albino Rats per OECD 425 TG

This study graded the acute, sub-acute, and chronic toxicity of aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Leonurus cardiaca in non-pregnant female wistar rats. Fifty wistar albino rats weighing between 180 and 200g were used for this study. The rats were grouped into 10 groups of five rats per group. Group 1 served as control while group 2-11 were orally administered aqueous extract of Leonurus cardiaca at 166, 250, and 500mg/kg for 7, 14, and 21 days. All haematological and biochemical parameters were determined based on standard methods. The plasma RBC, Hb, MCV, and WBC of the control were 5.33±0.01 x 1012/L, 13.54±0.01 g/dl, 42.16±0.01 fl, and 1.83±0.01 X 109/L respectively. The plasma RBC, Hb, MCV, and WBC of the rats treated with 500mg/kg of the extract for 21 days were 10.93±0.01x 1012/L, 19.24±0.01g/dl, 28.33±0.01fl, and 1.41±0.01 x 109/L respectively and were significantly different from the control at p≤0.05. The plasma Na+, K+ , Cl-, HCO3 , creatinine, and urea levels treated with extract at 500mg/kg for 21 days were 167.97±0.01 01mmol/l, 7.85±0.0101mmol/l, 164.24±0.0101mmol/l, 40.84±0.0101mmol/l, 1.16±0.0101mmol/l, and 5.68±0.02 01mmol/l respectively, were significantly different from the control at p≤0.05. The plasma ALT, ALP, and AST activities treated with extract at 500mg/kg for 21 days were 146.24±0.02U/L, 77.33±0.01U/L, and 168.71±0.01U/L respectively, were significantly different from the control at p≤0.05. Enhancement on architecture of the heart, kidney and liver tissues occurred after treatment with 500mg/kg of the extract for 21 days in comparison to the control. The significantly improved effects observed on all assayed parameters were expressive that the extract of the aerial parts of Leonurus cardiaca is safe at 500 mg/Kg.

Impact of Resveratrol in Attenuating Cisplatin Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male adult Rats

Background and Objective: Resveratrol is a poly-hydroxyphenol plant toxin that alleviates oxidative stress by increasing endogenous antioxidant levels and prevents tissue damage. The study aimed to investigate the anti-oxidative role of Resveratrol by histochemical, ultrastructural, and biochemical methods in Cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar Albino rats.&#x0D; Material and Methods: Quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology, Anatomy and Postgraduate Laboratory of ISRA University Hyderabad from October 2020 to March 2021. Twenty-four male, normal adult Wistar albino rats were recruited and distributed equally into; Group-A (Control), Group-B (Experimental group or Cisplatin group), Group-C (Experimental group or Cisplatin + Resveratrol combination group). Pre and post-experimental body weight, analysis of oxidative markers, semen parameters, and histomorphology were carried out in all three groups. SPSS version 24.0 was used for the analysis of Data.&#x0D; Results: A statistically significant decline in the body weight and testicular weight in group B and C respectively (p&lt;0.05). While reduction in sperm count, motility and viability was observed in Group-B compared with Group-C (p&lt;0.05). Oxidative markers were also significantly depleted in Group-B in comparison to Group-C (p&lt;0.05). Evident changes were observed in the testicular histology of Group-B compared with Group-C (p&lt;0.05). Irregular, regressive, and atrophic seminiferous tubules were seen in Group-B. Most seminiferous tubules having normal morphology were observed in Group-C while the number of atrophic and degenerative seminiferous tubules also decreased significantly. &#x0D; Conclusion: Resveratrol is a potent protective agent with promising results in attenuating cisplatin-induced oxidative stress and eventually testicular toxicity.

"Patterns of Some Immunological Proteins and Oxidative Indices in Normal and High Body Mass Index Wistar Rats Fed Coffee and Aspartame"

Body fatness has been an important psychosocial issue among humans since time immemorial. Traditionally, a person’s fatness can be defined at a personal level, as well as at a societal level. Thus, every individual has his / her own perception of how fat he / she could be. At the societal level, although it is poorly described or quantified, but there also is a degree of fatness beyond which a person generally is considered to be unacceptably fat; that is, there is an ill-defined threshold at which a person is labeled as being “too fat” or “obese.”

A naturalistic method to test depression: Anticipation of play

The Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat was developed as a control for the spontaneous hypertensive rat but has subsequently also been used as a genetic animal model of depression due to its hyper-responsiveness to stress. We used anticipation of social reward (i.e., a play partner) to assess behavioural and vocal differences between the WKY and normal Wistar (WI) rats in the juvenile period. We found marked differences between groups; the WKY rats, were less active, vocalized less, and used significantly fewer types of 50-kHz calls in comparison to their WI counterparts. The animals were re-tested in adulthood and the same differences existed in overall activity, types of vocalizations and the behavioural vocal profiles used by the two groups of animals. These findings provide a robust baseline for an animal model of depression using a social paradigm. This paradigm may be useful to evaluate the efficacy of pharmaceutical interventions as potential treatments of depression in WKY rats.

Distinct long non-coding RNA and mRNA expression profiles in the hippocampus of an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder model in spontaneously hypertensive rats and control wistar Kyoto rats

The incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is increasing. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in many biological processes involved in the regulation of gene expression. Although numerous lncRNAs have been proven to be crucial in brain development and associated with its degeneration, changes in lncRNA expression profiles during ADHD progression and their possible roles remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression profiles of lncRNAs in hippocampus from an ADHD model in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and in normal control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. We determined the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in SHRs and WKY rats using microarray analysis technology. Then, differentially expressed lncRNAs were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs or nearby genes was used to predict the possible functions of the lncRNAs. A gene co-expression network was established to study the relationship between expression of lncRNAs and related mRNAs. A total of 267 differentially expressed lncRNAs (including 144 upregulated and 123 downregulated) and 311 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified in SHRs, compared to those in WKY rats. Subsequently, 15 lncRNAs were selected and confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the dysregulated lncRNAs are involved in brain developmental processes and neuronal function and maintenance. Co-expression network analysis revealed the close relationship between the differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs. Additionally, co-expression analysis of dysregulated lncRNAs with their downstream genes, which are reported in nervous system and regulation of learning and memory, indicated that lncRNA NONRATT0006598.2 was related to Baiap2 gene, which may participate in ADHD progress. Our findings contribute to understand the importance of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the progression of ADHD, and identify potential therapeutic targets for ADHD treatment.

Cortical Somatosensory Neurons in WAG/Rij Rats Transform Firing Evoked by Simulation of Posterior Thalamic Nucleus from Tonic to Phasic at Age of 6 Months.

Functional peculiarities of paralemniscal subdivision of the thalamocortical system were examined in normal Wistar and in WAG/Rij rats genetically prone to absence epilepsy. In 6-7-month-old WAG/Rij characterized by developed epileptic activity, the response of cortical somatosensory neurons to single electrical stimulation of the posterior thalamic nucleus was phasic, whereas in normal Wistar rats, similar reaction was tonic. The study views this phasic response as neural equivalent of spike-wave discharges known as typical EEG symptom of absence epilepsy.

Berberis aristata Ameliorates Testicular Toxicity Induced by Combination of First-Line Tuberculosis Drugs (Rifampicin + Isoniazid + Pyrazinamide) in Normal Wistar Rats

ABSTRACTFirst-line antituberculosis drugs, namely, isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), and pyrazinamide (PZA), contribute to diverse pathological complications. Testicular toxicity is one such complication. Berberis aristata DC is an herb with potentially curative characteristics. The aim of this study was to test whether extract of Berberis aristata DC (Berberidaceae) has curing potential against testicular toxicity. Characterization of extract was done using ultra-performance liquid chromatography along with acute toxicity testing. Antioxidant activity of extract was checked by DPPH inhibition assay and H2O2 scavenging assay. Rats were dosed once daily for 28 days in groups: control group (saline), toxicant group (30.85 mg/kg body weight INH + 61.7 mg/kg body weight RIF + 132.65 mg/kg body weight PZA), treatment groups (TB drugs + 150/300 mg/kg body weight extract) and standard group (TB drugs +100 mg/kg body weight silymarin). Spectrophotometric evaluations of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT) content in testes were done using standard protocols. DNA fragmentation and histopathological studies were performed to check the damage at the cellular level. Acute toxicity studies revealed LD50 > 5 g/Kg body weight of B. aristata extract. IC50 for DPPH free-radical scavenging activity and H2O2 scavenging assay were 44.78 µg/mL and 85.28 µg/mL, respectively. Results revealed significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, decrease in glutathione and different antioxidants levels, DNA fragmentation pattern, and changes in histology in toxicant group. All the changes were absent in high-dose (300 mg/kg body weight) extract treatment group. This work proved that B. aristata extract has protective efficacy against testicular damage caused by anti-TB drugs.

Phosphodiesterase 2A as a therapeutic target to restore cardiac neurotransmission during sympathetic hyperactivity.

Elevated levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are regarded as an early compensatory response to cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, although exogenously administered BNP shows poor clinical efficacy in heart failure and hypertension. We tested whether phosphodiesterase 2A (PDE2A), which regulates the action of BNP-activated cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), was directly involved in modulating Ca2+ handling from stellate ganglia (SG) neurons and cardiac norepinephrine (NE) release in rats and humans with an enhanced sympathetic phenotype. SG were also isolated from patients with sympathetic hyperactivity and healthy donor patients. PDE2A activity of the SG was greater in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and patients compared with their respective controls, whereas PDE2A mRNA was only high in SHR SG. BNP significantly reduced the magnitude of the calcium transients and ICaN in normal Wistar Kyoto (WKY) SG neurons, but not in the SHRs. cGMP levels stimulated by BNP were also attenuated in SHR SG neurons. Overexpression of PDE2A in WKY neurons recapitulated the calcium phenotype seen in SHR neurons. Functionally, BNP significantly reduced [3H]-NE release in the WKY rats, but not in the SHRs. Blockade of overexpressed PDE2A with Bay 60-7550 or overexpression of catalytically inactive PDE2A reestablished the modulatory action of BNP in SHR SG neurons. This suggests that PDE2A may be a key target in modulating the action of BNP to reduce sympathetic hyperactivity.

Microarray analysis of the PVN of spontaneously hypertensive wistar rats (SHR)

The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus is a key autonomic regulation area in the brain known to influence sympathetic nerve activity. Identified neurons project from the PVN to the spinal cord and can modulate cardiac function (Coote JH 1995). The PVN has been linked to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, where an elevation in sympathetic nerve activity is observed (Guyenet PG 2006 and Zhang K et al. 2002). For example, the activity of ‘spinally projecting’ PVN neurons is altered in models of heart failure (Patel KP 2000) and lesioning of the PVN prevents the development of spontaneous hypertension in SHRs (Takeda K et al. 1991).In this study, we performed transcriptome analysis of tissue from the PVN of 4 SHR and 4 normal Wistar Kyoto rats. In brief, tissue was isolated by 2mm diameter tissue punch from the dorsal PVN, homogenised and RNA extracted with Qiagen RNAeasy minikits in accordance with the manufactures instructions. The highest quality scoring 3 normal and 3 SHR were then analysed with an Illumina Beadchip microarray. Data was analysed in MatLab. Log2 normalised expression sets were created and genes with low absolute expression values or variance were filtered out (lowest 10%) (Kohane, I. et al. 2003). Significant differential transcription was then identified with an all permutation (t‐test). FDR and correct “q‐values” were created following the methods of Storey et al. 2003. Significantly increased/decreased genes were subjected to biological function enrichment analysis using PANTHER.Both PCA (PC1 vs PC2) and cluster analysis showed complete separation of the SHR and normotensive populations and 1592 genes in total were differentially expressed by more than 1.3 fold (and q‐value&lt;0.05). Of particular interest to autonomic control of cardiovascular function was the enriched clusters of genes associated with circulatory control (AVP, angiotensin and Substance P, and the α‐1B adrenergic receptor), however, some genes associated with “inflammaging” were also differentially expressed such as superoxide dismutase 1 enzyme (SOD) and Il1b.Our results illustrate that there are distinct PVN‐specific changes in gene expression that occur in spontaneously hypertensive rats. In particular, we show that genes important in circulatory control and fear/stress responses are enriched in the PVN, further supporting a role for the PVN in cardiovascular diseases. Further experiments are needed to verify the functionality of these changes in gene expression, such as brain‐slice electrophysiology and whole‐animal experiments. The results of these experiments will be crucial in understanding the role of PVN in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Comparative Investigation of the Effects of the Commonly-consumed Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo Drinks) on Body Weight, Glucose Level and Lipid Profile Using Normal Wistar Albino Rats

Comparative Investigation of the Effects of the Commonly-consumed Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo Drinks) on Body Weight, Glucose Level and Lipid Profile Using Normal Wistar Albino Rats

Antidiuretic and antinatriuretic response to high salt load in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats: Role of alpha-1A-adrenoreceptors

Altered renal adrenergic responses have been recognized as pathophysiological responses to high salt intake. This study aims to investigate the influence of 6weeks of high salt diet on α1A -adrenoceptor regulation of renal tubular antinatriuretic and antidiuretic response in normal Wistar Kyoto rats. To achieve the above objective, antinatriuretic and antidiuretic response to phenylephrine was measured in the absence and presence of 5-methylurapidil (5-MeU) using the inulin clearance method. Systemic mean arterial blood pressure and renal haemodynamics were also measured simultaneously. Six weeks of high salt intake in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats did not bring any significant increase in mean arterial blood pressure. WKY rat on high salt diet (WKYHNa) showed an exaggerated increase in absolute and fractional sodium excretion. There was a significant involvement of α1A -adrenoceptor in carrying out renal tubular antinatriuretic and antidiuretic response in Wistar Kyoto rats on normal sodium diet (WKYNNa). However, α1A -adrenoceptor played a minimal role in handling the tubular reabsorptive response in WKY rats on high salt diet.

Hepatic and skeletal muscle mitochondrial toxicity of chitosan oligosaccharides of normal and diabetic rats

Diabetes and associated conditions are now considered a worldwide epidemic, with increasing costs and burdens with no cure yet developed. The chitin-derived glucosamine biopolymer chitosan has shown promising results when supplied to diabetic patients. However, no study has investigated the possible toxic side effects of chitosan treatments, in particular when regarding the most important bioenergetic organelle, mitochondria. As such, we aimed to understand if supplementation of chitosan to the diet of normal and diabetic rats could compromise mitochondrial function on two of the major organs involved in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic regulation, the liver and skeletal muscle. We supplemented the drinking water of normal Wistar and diabetic Goto–Kakizaki rats with 0.5% chitosan for 6 weeks. We show here that, in terms of hepatic bioenergetics, chitosan was relatively inert and had no major side effects. However, regarding skeletal muscle bioenergetics, chitosan significantly affected various bioenergetic parameters. As such, we conclude that chitosan, at the tested doses, is relatively safe for treatment of diabetic situations. Nonetheless, the potential for adverse toxicological side effects appears to be present, which might be relevant if higher doses are utilized.

Phytochemical Screening and Hypoglycaemic Effect of Methanol Extract of Solanum anomalum Thonn. Fruits in Alloxan induced Hyperglycaemic and Normal Wistar Rats

The study investigated the hypoglycaemic effect of methanol extract of Solanum anomalum fruit. Extraction of the powdered fruit was done with 90% methanol. Rats were divided into five groups of five rats per group. Hyperglycaemia was induced using alloxan at a dose of 150 mg/kg in groups two to five. Groups one to five received distilled water 2 ml/kg (normal control), distilled water 2 ml/kg (diabetic control), S. anomalum extract 500 mg/kg, S. anomalum extract 1,000 mg/kg and glibenclamide 10 mg/kg respectively. The treatment was continued for 14 days during which blood glucose levels were monitored. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence carbohydrate, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. The oral LD50 was found to be above 5,000 mg/kg. The methanol extract of S. anomalum fruit at 1,000 mg/kg showed a statistically significant blood glucose lowering effect (p<0.05) between the blood glucose level at zero hour (337.8 ± 29.4 mg/dL) and blood glucose level after 24 h (317.4 ± 21.5 mg/dL) for the groups being administered with the extract. The groups receiving 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg of the extract showed a statistical significant blood glucose lowering (p<0.05) between the blood glucose level at day zero (329 ± 34 and 337 ± 29 mg/dL) was compared to the blood glucose at day 15 (237 ± 32 and 143 ± 15 mg/dL). In conclusion, methanol extract of S. anomalum fruit contains one or more active agents that has anti-hyperglycaemic and hypoglcaemic activity in alloxan induced hyperglcaemic and normoglycaemic rats.

Characterization of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1α subcomplex 10 variants in cardiac muscles from normal Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats: Implications in the pathogenesis of hypertension

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been increasingly associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. In the present study, NADH dehydrogenase 1α subcomplex 10 (Ndufa10) was characterized from the left ventricular muscles of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normal Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Western blot analysis demonstrated that there was a shift in the molecular weight (MW) and in the isoelectric point (pI) of the Ndufa10 protein from SHRs and WKY rats. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that the replacement of an aspartate residue with asparagine at amino acid position 120 was the biochemical difference between the two Ndufa10 isoforms. Further analysis using the bacterially expressed proteins Ndufa10‑120N (WKY) and Ndufa10‑120D (SHR) revealed that the shift in the pI and MW of the two Ndufa10 isoforms was solely caused by the amino acid mutation, and not by post‑translational modifications. Since deficiencies of the mitochondrial complex I are the most common defects in the oxidative phosphorylation system, further studies are required to study the difference between the activities of the two Ndufa10 variants, and their role in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

The Involvement of Serotonin in the Hypoglycemic Effects Produced by Administration of the Aqueous Extract of Xylaria nigripes with Steroid-Induced Insulin-Resistant Rats.

Xylaria nigripes (XN) is a medicinal fungus with a high-economic value. The aim of this study was to explore the hypoglycemic effects and mechanisms of the XN aqueous extract in steroid-induced insulin-resistant (SIIR) rats. Significant hypoglycemic effects were observed 60 min after administration of XN aqueous extract. In normal Wistar, hypoglycemic effects were 21% (the plasma glucose level decreased from 128.6 ± 12.5 to 100.9 ± 10.7 mg/dL). In SIIR, hypoglycemic effects were 26% (the plasma glucose level decreased from 177.6 ± 12.5 to 133.3 ± 29.7 mg/dL) rats refer to their baseline. The signaling proteins for insulin-receptor substrate-1 and glucose transporter-4 increased 0.51-fold and 1.12-fold, respectively, as determined by Western blotting; the increase in the proteins was 13% and 9%, respectively, as determined by immunohistochemistry. The serotonin antagonist, α-p-chlorophenylalanine, effectively blocked the hypoglycemic effects and increased the signaling protein levels. After XN administration, none of the animals showed significant changes in plasma-free fatty acids in 60 min. In summary, the XN extract may have hypoglycemic effects in normal Wistar and SIIR rats that may have a serotonin-related hypoglycemic effect and enhance insulin sensitivity in the SIIR rats.

Evaluation of the Hepato and Nephron-Protective Effect of a Polyherbal Mixture using Wistar Albino Rats.

A polyherbal formulation prepared from a mixture of leaves of Gongronema latifolia, Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina (GOV) was evaluated for hepato-nephro protective properties against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Normal Wistar albino rats were orally treated with different doses of GOV extract (2, 4 and 8 g/kg b. wt), distilled water and some standard hepatoprotective drugs such as Liv 52 and silymarin for 14 days. However, a day prior to the 14th day, 3 g/kg body weight dose of Acetaminophen (APAP) was administered p.o. 1h before GOV and the standard drugs to induce hepatic and renal damage. The normal control was setup which received only distilled water. The serum levels of liver marker enzymes, biochemical analytes, antioxidant enzymes and hematological parameters were monitored. The results showed that pretreatment of experimental animals with a different doses of the polyherbal formulation dose dependently caused a significant (p≤0.05) increase in the levels of most of the measured hematological parameters but significantly (p≤0.05) reduced the levels of MCV and monocytes when compared to the APAP induced toxin control group. Rats pretreated with GOV exhibited significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum levels of ALP, ALT, AST, GGT, LDH, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Urea and a subsequent decrease in Albumin, Creatine and Total protein when compared to the normal rats. This trend in enzyme and biochemical analytes levels were significantly (p < 0.05) reversed when compared to toxin control group. GOV significantly (p < 0.05) and dose dependently increased the serum, kidney and hepatic CAT, GPx, GSH, GST, SOD and total protein activity in APAP induced damage in rats compared to the toxin control groups. The data from this study suggest that the polyherbal formulation possess hepato and nephron-protective potential against acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in rats, thus providing scientific rationale for its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of liver diseases.

Sub-acute Effects of Ethanol Extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius Root on Some Physiologically Important Electrolytes in Serum of Normal Wistar Albino Rats

Sarcocephalus latifolius (Synonym, Nauclea latifolia) is a shrub commonly seen in the South East of Nigeria. It is widely applied as herbal remedy in the treatment of various illnesses. The effect of ethanol extract of the root of the plant on some serum electrolytes was studied. A total of thirty Wistar albino rats were used to determine serum concentrations of K+, Ca2+, Cl- and HCO3-. The animals were divided into six groups of five rats each. Five groups labeled A, B, C, D and E, were administered orally with graded doses of root extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius at concentration of 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 mg kg(-1) body weight, respectively. The sixth group (Group F) was used as the control and its animals were simply sustained on normal diet and water. Administration of the extract lasted for twenty-one days after which the animals were sacrificed by cardiac puncture. K+, Ca2+, Cl- and HCO3- were determined from each sample and the mean concentration was calculated for each dose and the control. Potassium, calcium and chloride determination were done by colorimetric methods while determination of bicarbonate concentration was done by simple titration. Na+ was separately assayed, by flame photometer, from a set of 18 rats of six animals in each of three groups. For K+, non dose dependent increases were observed which was non-significant (p > 0.05), for A, D and E but significant (p < 0.05) for B and C. Ca2+ showed a dose dependent and significant (p < 0.05) decreases, except for A (p > 0.05). Decreases (p < 0.05) for C, D, E and (p > 0.05) for A and B were observed for Cl-. Serum bicarbonate appeared almost completely unaffected by the extract, showing no significant changes. Na+ levels were depressed for the two test groups, A and B compared with the control (group C), with test group B showing a significant decrease (p < 0.05). From the analysis, it could be concluded that Sarcocephalus latifolius has the capacity to influence various electrolytes to physiologically important degrees. Significant reductions in sodium and calcium levels indicate the usefulness of the plant in treatment of hypertension and pain/fever, respectively. However, significant reductions in chloride may negatively affect the normal balance of fluid in the body. Therefore, more scientific research is needed to establish the best approach to optimizing the numerous medicinal potentials of the plant.

Gibberellic acid acts as an agonist of steroidogenesis in male rats

Testicular steroidogenesis has significant implication in male reproductive function. Although the effects of various signalling molecules on testicular functions have been studied earlier, the influence of the plant hormone gibberellic acid (GA3 ) on steroidogenesis has not been investigated. Acute (4 h) and subacute (15 days) studies using this compound through oral administration (150 μg day(-1) ) to groups of normal and diabetic Wistar male rats were therefore carried out. Results indicate that (i) enhanced activity of steroidogenic markers 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), elevated tissue testosterone (T) content, increased steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and androgen binding protein (ABP) levels with reduced lipid peroxidation and improved antioxidant defence in this treatment group of normal and diabetic rat testis, and (ii) elevated lipid peroxidation and diminished antioxidant defence, with insignificant change in 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD activity and testosterone level in acute treatment group of normal and diabetic rats testis, were noted. The observed increase in the activity of testicular 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD along with elevated testosterone content established GA3 as an inducer of steroidogenesis in rat.