Abstract: In the present study, changes of morphology and
mechanical characteristics in the lumbar vertebrae of the
ovariectomised (OVX) rat were investigated. In previous researches,
there were many studies about morphology like volume fraction and
trabecular thickness based on Micro - Computed Tomography (Micro
- CT). However, detecting and tracking long-term changes in the
trabecular bone of the lumbar vertebrae for the OVX rat were few. For
this study, one female Sprague-Dawley rat was used: an OVX rat. The
4th Lumbar of the OVX rat was subjected to in-vivo micro-CT.
Detecting and tracking long-term changes could be investigated in the
trabecular bone of the lumbar vertebrae for an OVX rat using in-vivo
micro-CT. An OVX rat was scanned at week 0 (just before surgery), at
week 4, at week 8, week 16, week 22 and week 56 after surgery. Finite
element (FE) analysis was used to investigate mechanical
characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae for an OVX rat. When the OVX
rat (at week 56) was compared with the OVX rat (at week 0), volume
fraction was decreased by 80% and effective modulus was decreased
by 75%.
Abstract: Leonotisleonurus a shrub indigenous to Southern
Africa is widely used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of
conditions ranging from skin diseases and cough to epileptic fits and
‘heart problems’. Studies on the aqueous extract of the leaves have
indicated cycloxegenase enzyme inhibitory activity and an
antihypertensive effect.
Five methanol leaf extract fractions (MLEa - MLEe) of L.
leonurus were tested on anaesthetized normotensive male Wistar rats
(AWR) and isolated perfused working rat hearts (IWH). Fraction
MLEc (0.01mg/kg – 0.05mg/kg) induced significant increases in BP
and HR in AWR and positive chronotropic and inotropic effects in
IWH (1.0mg/ml – 5.0mg/ml). Pre-administration of atenolol
(2.0mg/kg) and prazosin (60μg/kg) significantly inhibited MLEc
effect on HR and MAP respectively in vivo, while atenolol
(7.0mg/ml) pre-perfusion significantly inhibited MLEc effect in vitro.
The hypertensive effect of MLEc is probably via β1agonism.
Results also indicate the presence of multiple cardioactive
compounds in L. leonurus.
Abstract: Biochemical investigations were carried out to assess
the effect of different exposure regimes of Kazakhstan crude oil
(KCO) on hepatic antioxidant defense system in albino rats.
Contaminants were delivered under two different dosing regimes,
with all treatments receiving the same total contaminant load by the
end of the exposure period. Rats in regime A injected with KCO
once at a dose of 6 ml/kg bw while in regime B injected multiply at a
dose of 1.5 ml/kg bw on day 1, 3, 5 and 8. Antioxidant biomarkers
were measured in hepatic tissue after 1, 3, 5 and 8 days. Significant
induction was observed in serum aminotransferases (ALT, AST)
(p
Abstract: Delayed wound healing in diabetes is primarily
associated with hyperglycemia, over-expression of inflammatory
marker, oxidative stress and delayed collagen synthesis. This
unmanaged wound is producing high economic burden on the
society. Thus research is required to develop new and effective
treatment strategies to deal with this emerging issue. Our present
study incorporates the evaluation of wound healing effects of 50%
ethanol extract of Ocimum sanctum (OSE) in streptozotocin
(45mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats with concurrent wound ulcer. The
animals showing diabetes (Blood glucose level >140 and
Abstract: In this study, we investigated the effects of ginger and
L-carnitine on the reproductive performance of male rats with respect
to semen parameters, male sex hormones and the testicular
antioxidant system. A total of sixty mature male albino rats were
divided into four groups of fifteen rats. The control group received
saline, whereas the other three groups received ginger (100 mg kg-1 d-
1.), L-carnitine (150 mg kg-1 d-1.) or a combination of both ginger
(100 mg kg-1 d-1.) and L-carnitine (150 mg kg-1 d-1.) via a stomach
tube daily for one month. At the end of the treatment period, the rats
were sacrificed, and their sperm characteristics (count, motility and
viability), antioxidant enzyme factors levels (reduced glutathione,
catalase, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity) and sex
hormone levels (testosterone, Follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) and
luteinizing hormone (LH) were analysed. Our results showed that the
three experimental treatments improved sperm parameters,
antioxidant enzyme activity and testosterone hormone levels; the
most pronounced positive effects were observed in the group that
received a combination of both ginger and L-carnitine. Therefore, the
administration of a combination of ginger and L-carnitine may be
beneficial for improving male sexual performance.
Abstract: The research focuses on the effects of polyphenols
extracted from Sambucus nigra fruit, using an experimental arterial
hypertension pattern, as well as their influence on the oxidative
stress. The results reveal the normalization of the reduced glutathion
concentration, as well as a considerable reduction in the
malondialdehide serum concentration by the polyphenolic protection.
The rat blood pressure values were recorded using a CODATM
system, which uses a non-invasive blood pressure measuring method.
All the measured blood pressure components revealed a biostatistically
significant (p
Abstract: Ultrastructure of duodenum mucosa of irradiated rat
was studied versus dose rate of irradiation following exposure to
gamma rays from 60-Cobalt source. The animals were whole body
irradiated at two dose rates (1 Gy.mn-1 and 1 Gy.h-1) and three total
doses (1, 2 or 4 Gy) for each dose rate. 24 or 48 h after irradiation,
their small intestine was removed and samples of duodenum were
processed for observations under a transmission electron microscopy.
Samples of duodenum mucosa of control rats were processed in the
same way. For the lower dose rate of 1 Gy.h-1, main lesions
characteristic of apoptosis were detected within irradiated enterocytes
at a total dose of 2 Gy and 24 h after exposure. Necrosis was noted in
the samples, 48 h after exposition. For the higher dose rate of 1
Gy.mn-1, fewer changes were detected at all total doses 24 or 48 h
irradiation. Thus, it was shown that the appearance of radiationinduced
alterations varies not only with increasing total dose and
post-irradiation time but especially with decreasing dose rate.
Abstract: Thrombosis can be life threatening, necessitating therefore its instant treatment. Hydergine, a nootropic agent is used as a cognition enhancer in stroke patients but relatively little is known about its anti-thrombolytic effect. To investigate this aspect, in vivo and ex vivo experiments were designed and conducted. Three groups of rats were injected 1.5mg, 3.0mg and 4.5mg hydergine intraperitonealy with and without prior exposure to fresh plasma. Positive and negative controls were run in parallel. Animals were sacrificed after 1.5hrs and BT, CT, PT, INR, APTT, plasma calcium levels were estimated. For ex vivo analyses, each 1ml blood aspirated was exposed to 0.1mg, 0.2mg, 0.3mg dose of hydergine with parallel controls. Parameters analyzed were as above. Statistical analysis was through one-way ANOVA. Dunken-s and Tukey-s tests provided intra-group variance. BT, CT, PT, INR and APTT increased while calcium levels dropped significantly (P
Abstract: Kombucha Tea Ferment (KT), was given to male
albino rats, (1ml/Kg of body weight), via gavages, during 2 weeks
before intraperitoneal administration of 3.5 mg/Kg body weight
CdCl2 and/or whole body γ-irradiation with 4Gy, and during 4 weeks
after each treatment. Hepatic and nephritic pathological changes
included significant increases of serum alanine transaminase (ALT),
aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
activities, and creatinine and urea contents with significant decrease
in serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Increase in oxidative
stress markers in liver and kidney tissues expressed by significant
increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) contents
associated to significant depletion in superoxide dismutase (SOD)
and catalase (CAT) activities, and reduced glutathione (GSH) content
were recorded. KT administration results in recovery of all the
pathological changes. It could be concluded that KT might protect
liver and kidney from oxidative damage induced by exposure to
cadmium and/ or γ-irradiation.
Abstract: To compare Healing Effects of an
Ayurvedic Preparation and Silver Sulfadiazine on burn wounds in
Albino Rats.
Methods: Albino rats– 30 male / female rats weighing between
150-200 g were used in the study. They were individually housed and
maintained on normal diet and water ad libitum. Partial thickness
burn wounds were inflicted, on overnight-starved animals under
pentobarbitone (30mg/kg, i.p.) anaesthesia, by pouring hot molten
wax at 80oC into a plastic cylinder of 300 mm2 circular openings
placed on the shaven back of the animal. Apart from the drugs under
investigation no local/ systemic chemotherapeutic cover will be
provided to animals. All the animals were assessed for the percentage
of wound contraction, signs of infection, scab formation and
histopathological examination.
Results: Percentage of wound healing was significantly better in
the test ointment group compared to the standard. Signs of infection
were observed in more animals in the test ointment group compared
to the standard. Scab formation also took place earlier in the test
ointment group compared to standard. Epithelial regeneration and
healing profile was better in the test ointment compared to the
standard. Moreover the test ointment group did not show any raised
margins in the wound or blackish discoloration as was observed in
silver sulfadiazine group.
Conclusion: The burn wound healing effect of the ayurvedic
ointment under study is better in comparison to standard therapy of
silver sulfadiazine. The problem of infection encountered with the
test ointment can be overcome by changing the concentrations and
proportions of the ingredients in the test ointment which constitutes
the further plan of the study.
Abstract: Goat milk has an hypoallergenic effects, and allergic
diseases related to abnormal of intestinal flora. Probiotic microorganisms
do exert an activity on the immune system in the skin of
the individual.The purpose of this study are to determine the number
of leukocyte and lymphocyte proliferation in rat supplemented with
fermented goat milk (acidophilus milk and kefir) and sensitized with
dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Female Wistar rats 6-8 weeks olds
were divided into 3 treatment groups. The first group supplemented
goat milk kefir, second group acidophilus goat milk, and third group
as control. During 28-day experiment, on day 15 rat sensitized with
allergen DNCB on the dorsal of the body, and on day 24 was
challenged with DNCB on the ear. Sampling of blood and tissue of
intestinal Peyer'patch (PP) were performed on day 14 (before DNCB
sensitized) and on day 28 (after DNCB sensitized). The results
showed the number of neutrophils in rats supplemented with
acidophilus milk was higher (P