Due to the continuous increase in polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) incorporation in the environment, growing number of adverse effects on living organisms and ecosystem have become a global concern. Therefore, current study was planned to elucidate the impacts of 5 different concentrations control, 2, 20, 200, and 2000 μgL-1 of PS MPs on testicular tissues of rats. PS MPs significantly reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) as well as total protein contents, while elevated the level of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species. Moreover, expressions of steroidogenic enzymes (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) as well as the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) in plasma, intra-testicular testosterone and plasma testosterone were reduced and a significant ( P < 0.05) reduction was noticed in the sperm count, motility and viability. Furthermore, PS MPs significantly up-regulated the expressions of Bax and caspase-3, while down-regulated the Bcl-2 expression. The histomorphological assessment revealed significant damages in the testicles as well as decrease in the number of germ cells (spermatogenic, spermatocytes and spermatids). Collectively, PS MPs generated oxidative stress (OS) and caused potential damage to the testicles of rats in a dose-dependent manner.

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Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental contaminant, which adversely affects the male fertility due to endocrine disruption and generation of oxidative stress. The current research was planned to assess the effects of nobiletin (NOB), a polymethoxyflavone, on NP-induced testicular damages. Twenty-four male rats were divided into 4 groups: control (0.1% DMSo), NP group (50 mg/kg), NP+NOB group (50 mg/kg + 25 mg/kg), and NOB group (25 mg/kg). Our results revealed that NP brought down the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GSR), while elevated the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Additionally, NP decreased the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma testosterone, daily sperm production (DSP), epididymal sperm count, viability, motility, gene expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD) and anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2), as well as number of spermatogenic cells belonging to various stages. Whereas, sperm (head, mid-piece/neck and tail) abnormalities, expression of apoptotic proteins (Bax and caspase-3), and histopathological damages were increased. However, NOB remarkably reversed all the damages caused by NP. Therefore, it is deduced that NOB could be used as a potential therapeutic to counter the NP-prompted oxidative stress and apoptotic damages in testes.

Arsenic is one of the most hazardous environmental contaminants, which adversely affects the dynamics of male reproductive system. Fisetin (FIS) is a bioactive flavonoid, which is known to exert strong antioxidative effects. Therefore, the current research was planned to evaluate the alleviative efficacy of FIS against arsenic-induced reproductive damages. Forty-eight male albino rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 12), which were treated as follows: (1) Control, (2) Arsenic-intoxicated group (8 mg kg−1), (3) Arsenic + FIS-treated group (8 mg kg−1 + 10 mg kg−1), and (4) FIS-treated group (10 mgkg−1). After 56 days of treatment, the biochemical, lipidemic, steroidogenic, hormonal, spermatological, apoptotic and histoarchitectural profiles of rats were analyzed. Arsenic intoxication reduced the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GSR), in addition to glutathione (GSH) level. Conversely, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased. Moreover, it escalated the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol, while declining the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Furthermore, steroidogenic enzymes expressions, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β-HSD, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) and 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase (CYP17A1), were found to be reduced, which brought down the level of testosterone. Besides, the levels of gonadotropins (LH and FSH) were decreased. Additionally, a decline in sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), motility, epididymal sperm count and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) coil-tailed sperms was observed, whereas the dead sperms and structural damages (head, midpiece and tail) of sperms were escalated. Moreover, arsenic exposure up-regulated the mRNA expressions of apoptotic markers, namely Bax and caspase-3, whereas lowered the expression of anti-apoptotic marker, Bcl-2. In addition, it induced histoarchitectural changes in testes of rats. However, FIS treatment resulted in remarkable improvements in testicular and sperm parameters. Therefore, it was inferred that FIS could serve as a therapeutic candidate against arsenic-generated male reproductive toxicity attributing to its anti-oxidant, anti-lipoperoxidative, anti-apoptotic, and androgenic efficacy.

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Social skills have a fundamental role in the academic achievement. Keeping this in view, investigation has been planned out to examine the relationship between social skills and academic achievement of elementary students in low-income urban areas of Islamabad. A descriptive reserch design of correlational type was used in the study. All the students of 6th to 8th grade studying at elementary level in government school live in low-income urban areas of Islamabad constituted the population of the study. Four hundred students were conveniently selected as a sample in the study. Questionnaire was used to measure the social skills of students. To determine academic achievement of elementary level students’ previous results were taken. Five research hypotheses were formulated and tested using Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple linear regression statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The finding revealed that there was no significant relationship between social skills and academic achievement. It was recommended that educational planners, counselors, elementary school teachers and administrators should train student’s positive socials kills and monitor or co-ordinate the activities of the student an ideal environment should be created for better academic achievement.

The main aim of this study was to explore the role of light microscopy in the identification of microalgae as a source of study. Three microalgal species (Nostoc, Anabaena, and Volvox) were identified by light. In this study, different parameters of the oil extraction process from algae biomass were studied. The samples of Nostoc, Anabaena, and Volvox were collected from the freshwater bodies in Lahore, and the samples were identified by light microscopy. Pretreatment of algae was done which includes harvesting, drying, and grinding. The sun drying of sample was done. Solvent extraction was done for the extraction of oil from algal cells. Solvent n‐hexane and diethyl ether were used alone as well as in combination. Effects of n‐hexane to oil ratio, size of algal biomass, and contact time on the percentage yield of extracted oil were studied and analyzed. It was concluded that maximum amount of oil was extracted from algae by using a greater ratio of solvent to algal biomass, maximum contact time, and smaller algal biomass size. The extracted oil yield was satisfactory, demonstrating the potential of microalgae for biodiesel production. It was discovered that if algal oil is subjected to transesterification, it can be turned into biodiesel, and light microscopy can be used to assess anatomical characteristics. However, more research will be required for transesterification.