This study was performed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RES) against CdCl2-induced toxicity in rat testes. Seven experimental groups of adult male rats were formulated as follows: A) controls+NS, B) control+vehicle (saline solution of hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin), C) RES treated, D) CdCl2+NS, E) CdCl2+vehicle, F) RES followed by CdCl2 and M) CdCl2 followed by RES. At the end of the protocol, serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured in all groups, and testicular levels of TBARS and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Epididymal semen analysis was performed, and testicular expression of Bcl-2, p53 and Bax was assessed by RT-PCR. Also, histopathological changes of the testes were examined microscopically. Administration of RES before or after cadmium chloride in rats improved semen parameters including count, motility, daily sperm production and morphology, increased serum concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone, decreased testicular lipid peroxidation and increased SOD activity. RES not only attenuated cadmium chloride-induced testicular histopathology but was also able to protect against the onset of cadmium chloride testicular toxicity. Cadmium chloride downregulated the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 and upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax. Resveratrol protected against and partially reversed cadmium chloride testicular toxicity via upregulation of Bcl2 and downregulation of p53 and Bax gene expression. The antioxidant activity of RES protects against cadmium chloride testicular toxicity and partially reverses its effect via upregulation of BCl2 and downregulation of p53 and Bax expression.

Problem statement: Aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ) is commonly used in daily life but it can be potentially toxic. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of camel's milk against aluminum-induced biochemical alterations and oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of white albino rats. Approach: White albino male rats (230-250 g) were divided into three groups of 10 rats: a control group treated with normal saline, the AlCl 3 -treated group and the camel's milk-AlCl 3 -treated group. The AlCl 3 treated group received 0.5 mg kg −1 of AlCl 3 orally. The camel's milk-AlCl 3 -treated group was fed 1 mL of fresh camel's milk 10 minutes prior to the administration of oral AlCl 3 . All rats were treated every day for 30 days. Liver and kidney biochemical serum parameters were analyzed. Lipid peroxidation, as determined by the tissue concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydrogen peroxide (HP), and the oxidative stress status, as measured by glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, were evaluated in the kidney and liver of treated rats. Results: Data showed that the oral administration of AlCl 3 resulted in statistically significant increases in the serum levels of urea, creatinine, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cholesterol and triglycerides; the total amount of protein and albumin were also significantly decreased. However, these parameters were within normal levels in the rats given camel's milk prior to AlCl 3 . Additionally, oral administration of AlCl 3 induced lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidney, which was indicated by a significant increase in lipid peroxidation biomarkers (TBARS and HP) and a significant decrease in the activities of GSH, SOD and CAT. In all rats treated with camel's milk before being given AlCl 3 , lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress parameters were within normal levels. Conclusion: Treatment with camel's milk prior to AlCl 3 exposure alleviates AlCl 3 -associated hazards and protects the kidney and liver from AlCl 3 toxicity.

The molecular mechanisms through which ghrelin exerts its cardioprotective effects during cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction (MI) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the cardioprotection mechanisms are mediated by modulation of JAK/STAT signaling and what triggers this modulation. Rats were divided into six groups (n = 12/group): control, sham, sham + ghrelin (100 µg/kg, s.c., daily, starting 1 day post-MI), MI, MI+ ghrelin, and MI+ ghrelin+ AG490, a potent JAK2 inhibitor (5 mg/kg, i.p., daily). All treatments were administered for 3 weeks. Administration of ghrelin to MI rats improved left ventricle (LV) architecture and restored cardiac contraction. In remote non-infarcted areas of MI rats, ghrelin reduced cardiac inflammation and lipid peroxidation and enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activity. In addition, independent of the growth factor/insulin growth factor-1 (GF/IGF-1) axis, ghrelin significantly increased the phosphorylation of JAK2 and Tyr702 and Ser727 residues of STAT3 and inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK1 and Tyr701 and Ser727 residues of STAT1, simultaneously increasing the expression of BCL-2 and decreasing in the expression of BAX, cleaved CASP3, and FAS. This effect coincided with decreased expression of SOCS3. All these beneficial effects of ghrelin, except its inhibitory action on IL-6 expression, were partially and significantly abolished by the co-administration of AG490. In conclusion, the cardioprotective effect of ghrelin against MI-induced LV injury is exerted via activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling and inhibition of STAT1 signaling. These effects were independent of the GF/IGF-1 axis and could be partially mediated via inhibition of cardiac IL-6.

The potential inhibitory effect of the antidiabetic and anti‐inflammatory drug, metformin on thioacetamide (TAA)‐induced hepatotoxicity associated with the inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)–hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) axis has not been investigated before. Therefore, we tested whether metformin can protect against liver injuries including fibrosis induced by TAA possibly via the downregulation of mTOR–HIF‐1α axis and profibrogenic and inflammatory biomarkers. Rats either injected with TAA (200 mg/kg; twice a week for 8 weeks) before being killed after 10 weeks (model group) or were pretreated with metformin (200 mg/kg) daily for 2 weeks before TAA injections and continued receiving both agents until the end of the experiment, at Week 10 (protective group). Using light and electron microscopy examinations, we observed in the model group substantial damage to the hepatocytes and liver tissue such as collagen deposition, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and degenerative cellular changes with ballooned mitochondria that were substantially ameliorated by metformin. Metformin also significantly ( p < 0.05) inhibited TAA‐induced HIF‐1α, mTOR, the profibrogenic biomarker α‐smooth muscle actin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases‐1, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase in harvested liver homogenates and blood samples. In addition, a significant ( p < 0.01) positive correlation between hypoxia scoring (HIF‐1α) and the serum levels of TNF‐α ( r = 0.797), IL‐6 ( r = 0.859), and ALT ( r = 0.760) was observed. We conclude that metformin protects against TAA‐induced hepatic injuries in rats, which is associated with the inhibition of mTOR–HIF‐1α axis and profibrogenic and inflammatory biomarkers; thus, may offer therapeutic potential in humans.

Problem statement:Cadmium is one of the most dangerous occupational and environmental toxins. It is found in drinking water, atmospheric air and even in food. Cadmium is reported to be very toxic to biological systems. Until now in treating intoxication with this metal, chelating Compounds have been used, burdened with numerous undesirable symptoms. For this reason, many researches are carried out in many countries to find natural-made compounds that help in the protection against cadmium induced toxicity with fewer or no side effects. This study was conducted to demonstrate the effect of daily oral Camel's milk administration against Cadmium chloride induced toxicity in white albino rats. Approach: White albino rats of both sexes (230-250 g) were housed in standard metal cages (6 rats/cage). The experimental rats (6 in each group) distributed into two experimental groups with a shared control group received only normal saline orally (Group 1). In experimental first group a daily dose (10 mg kg  1 body weight) of cadmium chloride was orally administrated to the rats for 21 days and named Cadmium chloride treated rats. In experimental second group, the same concentrations of cadmium chloride was dissolved in 2 mL of early morning fresh Camel's milk and the whole solution was administered into the experimental rats for 21 days and named Camel's milk cadmium chloride treated group. Water and food were provided ad libitum. Results: The data indicated that, in experimental Cadmium chloride treated rats, serum albumin, calcium and blood hemoglobin were decreased compared with control group received normal saline only. Moreover, Camel's milk administration with cadmium chloride showed a significant improvement of albumin, hemoglobin and calcium levels in the serum of the rats compared with cadmium chloride treated rats. Serum iron, sodium, chloride and urea levels were significantly increased in cadmium chloride treated rats compared with control group, while the addition of camel's milk to cadmium chloride decreased the high levels of these serum parameters in the treated rats. The enzyme activities of serum Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and serum Alkaline Phaospatase (ALP) were significantly increased by orally administration of cadmium chloride compared with control group, while adding Camel's milk to cadmium chloride decreased the high levels of these enzymes comparing with the cadmium chloride treated rats. Cadmium chloride administration resulted in a high concentration of lipid peroxidation markers; TBARS and Hydroperoxides in comparison to control group, adding camel's milk to the cadmium chloride restored the levels of these markers to their normal levels in comparing to Cadmium chloride treated rats. Also treatment with cadmium chloride alone caused a significant decrease in both the enzymatic and nonenzymatic markers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and reduced glutathione, respectively in the liver tissues of treated rats, while the admini...