ObjectiveThis study investigated the effects of D-ribose and L-cysteine on aluminum-induced testicular damage in male Sprague-Dawley rats.MethodA total number of thirty-five (35) adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (AD). Group A (comprised five (5) rats) was designated the Control Group that received Physiological Saline; while groups B, C, and D (comprised ten (10) rats) were given 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of body weight of aluminum chloride respectively for 39 days. At day 40, the aluminum-treated groups were subdivided into sub-groups (B1, C1, D1) comprising of five (5) rats each, and 30 mg/kg body weight of Riboceine were administered for twenty (20) days. Groups B, C and D remained on the normal dosage of aluminum chloride for three more weeks (59 days).ResultsAndrological parameters (Sperm count, motility, morphology and testosterone) in the aluminum-treated Groups B and C showed no significant difference in their mean values when compared with their control counterparts, whereas there was a significant reduction in the andrological parameters in Group D rats when compared with the Control animals. Histoarchitecture of the testes "stain with H&E" of Group A, B and C rats appeared normal while Group D rats showed testicular damages with several abnormal seminiferous tubules with incomplete maturation of germinal cell layers and absence of spermatozoa in their lumen; Leydig cells appear hyperplastic. Group B1, C1 and D1 andrological and histological parameters appeared normal.ConclusionRiboceine treatment significantly attenuates aluminum-induced testicular toxicity in male Sprague-Dawley in rats.

Cell phones have become an integral part of everyday life. As cell phone usage has become more widespread, concerns have increased regarding the harmful effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from these devices. The current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the emitted radiation by cell phones on testicular histomorphometry and biochemical analyses. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g were randomly allotted to control, group A (switched off mode exposure), group B (1-hr exposure), group C (2-hr exposure) and group D (3-hr exposure). The animals were exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation of cell phone for a period of 28 days. Histomorphometry, biochemical and histological investigations were carried out. The histomorphometric parameters showed no significant change (p < .05) in the levels of germinal epithelial diameter in all the experimental groups compared with the control group. There was no significant change (p < .05) in cross-sectional diameter of all the experimental groups compared with the control group. Group D rats showed a significant decrease (p ˂ .05) in lumen diameter compared with group B rats. There was an uneven distribution of germinal epithelial cells in groups B, C and D. However, there was degeneration of the epithelia cells in group D when compared to the control and group B rats. Sera levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which are markers of reactive oxygen species, significantly increased (MDA) and decreased (SOD), respectively, in all the experimental groups compared with the control group. Also sera levels of gonadotropic hormones (FSH, LH and testosterone) significantly decreased (p < .05) in groups C and D compared with the control group. The study demonstrates that chronic exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation of cell phone leads to defective testicular function that is associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased gonadotropic hormonal profile.

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SUMMARY:Vernonia amygdalina (bitter-leaf) is native to West Africa but occurs mostly in its cultivated form in various parts of central and southern Nigeria. It is a dark-green leafy vegetable commonly used in cooking and as folkloric medicine for the management of several diseases in Nigeria. In the present study, the effects of varying doses of ethanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina on the rat testis histo-morphometry were investigated. Forty male wistar rats were divided into groups of four. Group A, as the control was given 10 ml/kg/day/oral distilled water while Group B, C and D subsequently treated with 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg/day/oral route Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract respectively for 56 days. Results showed that Group B rats had normal testis histology comparable to the control group. However, rats in Group C and D exhibited dose-dependent poor testes histo-morphometric profiles, with the higher dosage-group (D) providing a worse feature. Thus, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the tubular diameter, crosssectional area of the tubules, number of tubular profiles per unit area and the mean numerical density of seminiferous tubules of Group C and Group D animals compared to the control group. Our results therefore indicated that, while the lower dose (100 mg/kg) of Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract can be accommodated by rat testis, the higher doses (300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg) demonstrate testicular toxicity in the rat.

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Cyanide is among the ubiquitous chemicals that humans are usually exposed to and it is well documented that cyanide induces infertility in humans and experimental rodents. However, the pathogenesis remains unknown. Likewise, quercetin is an important nutraceutical that detoxifies reactive oxygen species, but its effects on testicular damage is not clear. The present study investigated the role of nutraceutical, quercetin on cyanide-induced testicular toxicity and probable involvement of cAMP-response-element modulator (CREM) which is a transcription factor necessary for the process of spermatogenesis. Thus, this work hypothesized that quercetin will mitigate endocrine dysfunction induced by cyanide. Seventy-two adult male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (A to G). Groups A, B, C, F and G comprised of eight (8) rats per group while groups D and E comprised of sixteen (16) rats per group. Group A was designated as control while Groups B and C were given 0.5 and 1 mg/kg of cyanide respectively for 56 days. Group D and E received 0.5 and 1 mg/kg body weight cyanide respectively for 30 days. At day 30, eight animals were sacrificed from Group D and E and the remaining eight (8) rats were subdivided into sub-groups (D1 and E1) and were given 20 and 40 mg/kg of quercetin respectively for twenty-six (26) days. Group F and G were given concurrent administration of cyanide and quercetin at a dose of 0.5 + 20 mg/kg and 1 + 40 mg/kg respectively for 56 days. Body and testicular weight were significantly reduced in cyanide treated groups while quercetin modulates the reduction. Significant down-regulation of CREM gene and reduction in serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and zinc in cyanide-treated groups, whereas administration of quercetin concomitantly with cyanide exposure or post-treated significantly reversed the alterations.

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