METHODS: A 20 mg/kg dose of fenitrothion was administered orally by gavages for 28 consecutive days. Blood sample was obtained by cardiac puncture and dissection of the testes and cauda epididymis was performed to obtain sperm. The effects of fenitrothion on the body and organ weight, biochemical and oxidative stress, sperm characteristics, histology and ultrastructural changes in the testes were evaluated.
RESULTS: Fenitrothion significantly decreased the body weight gain and weight of the epididymis compared with the control group. Fenitrothion also decreased plasma cholinesterase activity compared with the control group. Fenitrothion altered the sperm characteristics, such as sperm concentration, sperm viability and normal sperm morphology, compared with the control group. Oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, total glutathione and glutathione S-transferase, were significantly increased and superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased in the fenitrothion-treated group compared with the control group. The histopathological and ultrastructural examination of the testes of the fenitrothion-treated group revealed alterations corresponding with the biochemical changes compared with the control group.
CONCLUSION: A 20 mg/kg dose of fenitrothion caused deleterious effects on the sperm and testes of Sprague-Dawley rats.
METHODS: In a series of choice, no-choice, and embryo toxicity bioassays, we examined changes in the ovipositional behaviours and larval eclosion of Ae. albopictus in response to coffee extracts at different concentrations.
RESULTS: Oviposition responses were extremely low when ovicups holding highly concentrated extract (HCE) of coffee were the only oviposition sites. Gravid females retained increased numbers of mature eggs until 5 days post-blood feeding. When provided an opportunity to oviposit in cups containing coffee extracts and with water, egg deposition occurred at lower rates in those containing coffee, and HCE cups were far less attractive to females than those containing water only. Females that successfully developed in a coffee environment preferentially oviposited in such cups when in competition with preferred oviposition sites (water cups), but this trait did not continue into the fourth generation. Larval eclosion occurred at lower rates among eggs that matured in a coffee environment, especially among those that were maintained on HCE-moistened substrates.
CONCLUSIONS: The observations of the present study indicate a pronounced vulnerability of Ae. albopictus to the presence of coffee in its habitats during the early phases of its life cycle. The observations that coffee repels gravid females and inhibits larval eclosion provide novel possibilities in the search for novel oviposition deterrents and anti-larval eclosion agents against dengue vectors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: TGBII was performed in male Wistar rats (3 to 5 months, 150 to 300 g) which underwent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 20 minutes, then reperfused for 10 days (BCCAO group, n = 6). Two groups of BCCAO were treated with intraperitoneal injection of calcitriol 0.125 μg/kgBW (VD1 group) and 0.5 μg/kgBW (VD2 group). The spatial memory function was tested using a probe test with Morris water maze (MWM). mRNA expression of BAX and SOD2 were assessed by the RT-PCR method. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical staining was used for identification of SOD2 protein. Statistical analysis is tested using one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc LSD.
RESULTS: MWM showed a shorter duration in target quadrant of BCCAO group than the SO group, which is associated with BAX upregulation and SOD2 downregulation. The VDtreated groups had longer duration probe test compared to BCCAO. Furthermore, VD-treated groups had a longer duration in probe test with lower mRNA expression of BAX and higher expression of SOD2. However, there was no significant difference in VD1 and VD2. Immunostaining showed a reduced SOD2 signal in pyramidal cell of CA1 area in BCCAO group and ameliorated in VD1 and VD2 groups.
CONCLUSION: Vitamin D ameliorates memory function and attenuates oxidative stress and apoptosis in the TGBII model.