The unfavourable outcome of cadmium (Cd) on male fertility, sex hormones' production and sperm criteria have been reported in literature (Medina et al., 2017). Testicular tissue is particularly susceptible to cadmium-induced damage. Cd causes degeneration of rats' epididymis, seminal vesicles and spermatozoa (Sajjad et al., 2014). Cd, other heavy metals and oestrogenic-based compounds may explain the recent deterioration in male fertility in industrialised regions in the form of sperm count and testicular function reduction. This may involve the fact that Cd disrupts endocrine control of testicular tissue and induces oxidative damage (Siu et al., 2009). Cd exposure is linked with the generation of free radicals in acute toxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in chronic toxicity. Cdgenerated superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals have been reported and are usually associated with redox reactions and ROS-related genetic alterations. It is, therefore, stated that oxidative damage plays an integral part in cadmium toxicity (Liu et al., 2009). In rats subjected to prenatal Cd exposure, plasma testosterone concentrations are drastically lowered and expression of

Background: Energy drinks have been observed to threaten public health leading to many medical problems. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have broad prospects in tissue regeneration. Nigella Sativa (NS) possess great therapeutic properties for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Materials and methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided into: control group and treated group. The treated group was further subdivided into: energy drink subgroup 2a, BMSCs-injected subgroup 2b, NS-injected subgroup 2c. Histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical assessment was performed. Results: Administration of energy drink revealed that it adversely affected the pancreatic cytoarchitecture. BMSCs and NS have been similarly observed to significantly ameliorate the histological, biochemical and immunohistochemical changes induced by energy drink. Conclusions: The extent of pancreatic regeneration, exerted by each of BMSCs and NS oil, is nearly similar but the effect of BMSCs is more superior; however, NS could be privileged to BMSCs as a line of treatment being easily accessible and of lower cost.

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The present study was conducted to investigate the role of vitamin C versus platelet-rich plasma against sodium fluoride (NaF)-induced cardiotoxicity and cell death in rats' myocardium.Previous studies suggest that NaF decreased cellular viability and intracellular antioxidant power. The present study revealed that NaF administration caused histological alterations in the cardiac muscle and increased the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, the expression of iNOS and PCNA as well as collagen deposition in cardiac tissue. As supported by colorimetric analysis, an elevation in MDA level and a decrease in both SOD and TrX levels were seen, whereas molecular analysis revealed a decrease in Keap1 and an increase in Nrf2 and HO-1 gene expression. Pretreatment with vitamin C and PRP prior to NaF administration significantly improved the altered parameters and enhanced the cellular antioxidant capability of myocardium resulting in protection of cardiac muscle from NaF-induced cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death. The cyto-protective activity of PRP was found to be comparable to that of the known antioxidant, vitamin C.