BackgroundHumans are ubiquitously exposed to multiple environmental contaminants. Consequences of combined action on the reproductive system remain unknown. This study aimed to assess single and joint effects of cadmium and diazinon exposure on sperm quality parameters.MethodsMale adult Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups of ten animals each. Group A was used as a control, animals from group B were exposed to cadmium (30 mg/L), rats from group C were administered with diazinon (40 mg/L), and rats from group D were exposed simultaneously to cadmium (30 mg/L) and diazinon (40 mg/L) via drinking water for 90 days. Sperm morphology and motility were evaluated using a bright field microscope and a computer-assisted semen analysis.ResultsThe percentage of motile spermatozoa and morphologically normal sperm was markedly reduced in rats from the group B. Rats from the C group showed an increase in velocity parameters, amplitude of lateral head displacement, decrease in beat-cross frequency, and an increase in abnormal sperm morphology. Simultaneous coexposure to cadmium and diazinon increased distance and velocity parameters, and amplitude of lateral head displacement. Reductions were observed in straightness, linearity, wobble, and beat-cross frequency. The decreased normal sperm morphology rates were related to defects of the sperm tail.ConclusionsExposure to cadmium and diazinon at relatively low doses impairs sperm quality and can reduce male fertility. Cadmium and diazinon caused significant changes on sperm morphology with varying effects on motility patterns. These parameters were significantly higher in the group D as compared to the group C. The findings have important implications for reproductive risk assessment of combined exposures to multiple chemicals.
The present study aimed to elucidate the structural changes in testis and epididymis of adult rats following subchronic peroral administration of cadmium at 30 mg/L, diazinon at 40 mg/L, cadmium at 30 mg/L, and diazinon at 40 mg/L, respectively. At the end of 90-day experiment, the samples of the testes and epididymis were assayed by qualitative and quantitative histological methods. The testis and epididymis weights increased following exposure to cadmium and simultaneous exposure to cadmium and diazinon. Testicular damage following cadmium and diazinon coexposure was significantly less expressive than in groups with individual administration of these compounds. Cadmium caused a significant thickening of seminiferous epithelium, cellular degeneration, and necrosis. Desquamation of immature germ cells resulted in a significant increase of intraepithelial spaces and reduced tubule volume in all experimental groups. Vascular dilation and congestion were detected in the interstitial tissue. The changes in epididymal histology in the group exposed to cadmium and group exposed simultaneously included a reduction of epithelium, necrotic epithelial cells, vasoconstriction, and interstitial edema together with mononuclear cell infiltration. Results did not indicate a synergistic or any additional effect from the simultaneous administration of both toxicants. Further research is needed to determine the significance and the mechanism of the adverse effects.
BackgroundThe study investigated the associations of rs9340799:A > G (XbaI) and rs2234693:T > C (PvuII) polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1) with femoral neck (BMD-FN) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD-LS), biochemical markers of bone turnover, calcium and phosphate levels, fracture prevalence, and a response to two types of anti-osteoporotic therapy in postmenopausal women from southern Slovakia.MethodsWe analysed 343 postmenopausal Slovak women (62.40 ± 0.46 years). The influence of rs9340799 (AA vs. AG + GG) and rs2234693 (TT vs. TC + CC) genotypes on BMD and biochemical markers was evaluated by covariance analysis adjusted for age and BMI. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the genotype effect on fracture prevalence. Pharmacogenetic part of the study included women who received a regular therapy of HT (17ß estradiol with progesterone; 1 mg/day for both; N = 76) or SERMs/raloxifene (60 mg/day; N = 64) during 48 months. The genotype-based BMD change was assessed by variance analysis for repeated measurements.ResultsWomen with AA genotype of rs9340799 had higher BMD-FN (+ 0.12 ± 0.57 of T-score) and BMD-LS (+ 0.17 ± 0.08 of T-score) in comparison with AG + GG. The rs2234693 polymorphism did not affect any of the monitored parameters. No effect of any ESR1 polymorphisms was found on fracture prevalence. Both types of anti-osteoporotic therapy had a positive effect on BMD improvement in FN and LS sites. Considering the effect of the ESR1 gene within the HT, the subjects with rs9340799/AA genotype showed worse response than those with GG genotype (− 0.26 ± 0.10 of BMD-FN T-score; − 0.35 ± 0.10 of BMD-LS T-score) and also with AG genotype (− 0.22 ± 0.08 of BMD-LS T-score). The rs2234693/TT genotype responded poorer in BMD-LS in comparison with TC (− 0.22 ± 0.08 of T-score) and CC (− 0.35 ± 0.09 of T-score). The effect of the ESR1 gene on raloxifene therapy was reported only in BMD-LS. Subjects with rs9340799/AA genotype had a − 0.30 ± 0.11 of T-score worse response compared to AG genotype. The rs2234693/TT genotype showed − 0.39 ± 0.11 and − 0.46 ± 0.15 lower T-scores in comparison with TC and CC genotypes, respectively.ConclusionsThe rs9340799 polymorphism may contribute to decreased BMD in postmenopausal women from southern Slovakia; however, this is not related to higher fracture prevalence. Concurrently, both polymorphisms affected a response to analysed anti-osteoporotic therapies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12881-018-0684-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
In this study, the effects of nickel chloride (NiCl(2)) applied per os on testis histopathology and morphometry of mice were investigated. The metal was applied in pellets at a dose of 10 mg NiCl(2)/kg bw to male mice 4 weeks of age. After 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks of nickel administration, the relative volume of whole seminiferous tubule, germinal epithelium, tubule lumen, interstitium and blood vessels as well as the diameter of seminiferous tubules were determined in the experimental and corresponding control groups. Microscopic examination of testis showed significant changes in all nickel-exposed groups. The degeneration of germinal epithelium, with released germ cells into the lumen of the tubules, and occurrence of empty spaces in the seminiferous epithelium were found in all experimental groups. The changes in the testes were time-dependent. The relative volume of empty spaces in the seminiferous epithelium significantly increased (P < 0.001) in all experimental groups when compared with the corresponding control. A significant decrease in the relative volume of seminiferous epithelium was observed after 6 and 12 weeks of Ni-exposure. The increased luminization of the tubules was found after 6 (P < 0.001), 9 (P < 0.01) and 12 (P < 0.001) weeks. Interstitial tissue significantly decreased after 6 and 9 weeks of Ni exposure and increased after 12 weeks of Ni intake. The seminiferous tubule diameter significantly (P < 0.001) decreased after 12 weeks. Results of this study report a serious, time-dependent changes in the testes, mainly in the germinal epithelium, after a peroral intake of nickel.
The aim of this study was to find the structural changes in the rat testis after a diazinon, selenium and their combined administration. The testis structural changes after the diazinon intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg b.w., selenium 2 mg/kg b.w. and both diazinon 20 mg/kg b.w. and selenium 2 mg/kg b.w. were evaluated by histological and morphometric methods in light microscopy. 36 hours after the diazion i.p. administration, the vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium, evacuation of germ cells into the tubule lumen, epithelium necrosis and disintegration, interstitium extension and fibrotization were observed. The germ cells released from the basal lamina and subsequently they were visible in the tubule lumen. Blood vessels were damaged and morphometric analysis have shown their significant dilatation (P<0.05). Diazinon causes the damage of the germinal epithelium in the testes leading to the spermatogenesis failure. The infertility can then appear. In selenium treated group disintegration of cellular associations in the seminiferous epithelium, damaged and separating spermatids lines, reduced spermatogenesis and significant vacuolization of seminiferous epithelium (P<0.0001) were observed. Similar changes as in selenium threated group occured, significant vacuolization of seminiferous epithelium (P<0.05) was seen. In combined diazinon and selenium treated group protective effects of selenium in seminiferous epithelium and interstitium were noticed. Further investigation of diazinon and selenium is needed to practical use this results. doi:10.5219/44
Cyanogenic glycosides are present in several economically important plant foods. Amygdalin, one of the most common cyanoglucoside, can be found abundantly in the seeds of apples, bitter almonds, apricots, peaches, various beans, cereals, cassava and sorghum. Amygdalin has been used for the treatment of cancer, it shows killing effects on cancer cells by release of cyanide. However, its effect on bone structure has not been investigated to date. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine a possible effect of amygdalin application on femoral bone microstructure in adult rabbits. Four month old rabbits were randomly divided into two groups of three animals each. Rabbits from E group received amygdalin intramuscularly at a dose 0.6 mg.kg-1 body weight (bw) (group E, n = 3) one time per day during 28 days. The second group of rabbits without amygdalin supplementation served as a control (group C, n = 3). After 28 days, histological structure of femoral bones in both groups of rabbits was analysed and compared. Rabbits from E group displayed different microstructure in middle part of the compact bone and near endosteal bone surface. For endosteal border, an absence of the primary vascular longitudinal bone tissue was typical. This part of the bone was formed by irregular Haversian and/or by dense Haversian bone tissues. In the middle part of substantia compacta, primary vascular longitudinal bone tissue was observed. Cortical bone thickness did not change between rabbits from E and C groups. However, rabbits from E group had a significantly lower values of primary osteons' vascular canals and secondary osteons as compared to the C group. On the other hand, all measured parameters of Haversian canals did not differ between rabbits from both groups. Our results demonstrate that intramuscular application of amygdalin at the dose used in our study affects femoral bone microstructure in rabbits.
The accumulation of Selenium (Se) and Cadmium (Cd) and their effects on sperm motility parameters in rats were investigated. Male rats were dosed with Cd (group A: 2 mg kg −1 b.w., intraperitoneally, group B: 30 mg L −1 , per os in drinking water) and Se (group D: 2 mg kg −1 b.w., intraperitoneally, group E: 5 mg L −1 , per os in drinking water). 36 h after an intraperitoneal (i.p.) and after 90 days of per oral (p.o.) administration of Cd and Se, the samples of liver, kidney, adipose tissue and muscle tissue (m. quadriceps femoris) were collected and content of Cd was analyzed using an Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS) and Se using a Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HG-AAS) methods. Sperm motility parameters were performed using a Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) method. A significant increase in Cd (p<0.0001) and Se (p<0.01) in liver, Cd (p<0.05) in kidney and adipose tissue and Cd (p<0.0001) and Se (p<0.01) in muscle tissue were found after an i.p. administration of Cd. After the per oral Cd administration, increases in Cd (p<0.0001) in liver, Cd and Se (p<0.0001) in kidney, Se in adipose tissue (p<0.05) and in muscle tissue (p<0.0001) contents were observed. In group D, increase in Se in liver and kidney (p<0.0001), in muscle (p<0.05) and the decrease in kidney Cd contents (p<0.0001) were found. Significant increase in Se in liver, kidney, adipose tissue (p<0.0001) and in muscle (p<0.01) contents were recorded in group E. All evaluated sperm motility parameters significantly decreased in groups B, D and E. Intraperitoneal administration of Cd caused the significant decrease in the motility (p<0.01), progressive motility (p<0.001), Straightness (STR) and Beat-Cross Frequency (BCF) (p<0.05) in exposed males. The concentration of selenium in tissues changes in relation to cadmium intake and vice-versa. Increased intake of Se negatively affects the sperm motility. Cd intake affected the sperm motility more significantly after a per oral administration than that exposed intraperitoneally. Both elements can increase their levels in the organism and it can result to symptoms of reduced male fertility or infertility.
BackgroundPatulin, a toxic mold metabolite, has been found as natural contaminant of processed fruits, most notably apples, apple juices and other apple-based products. A number of adverse health effects in humans and animals are associated with patulin intoxication. The current study was performed to analyse possible toxic effects of patulin on femoral bone microstructure in adult rabbits in detail. Fourteen clinically healthy four-month-old rabbits of both sexes (6 males and 8 females) were included in the study. Animals from the experimental groups (group E♂, n = 3; group E♀, n = 4) were injected intramuscularly with patulin at dose 10 μg/kg body weight two times a week for 28 days. The dose of patulin was estimated based on the maximum permitted level of patulin for apple products intended for infants and young children. Three males and four females without patulin administration served as controls (groups C♂ and C♀). Cortical bone thickness and qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics of compact bone tissue were investigated.ResultsIntramuscular applications of patulin significantly increased the thickness of cortical bone in both sexes of rabbits. In patulin-exposed males, an absence of primary vascular longitudinal bone tissue near the endosteal border was observed, which could be associated with intensive bone remodeling. Femoral diaphyses of females displayed a lower number of secondary osteons in the middle part of the substantia compacta, and occurrence of the osteons near the periosteum. This could indicate alterations in bone turnover. Histomorphometrical evaluations showed significantly increased sizes of the primary osteons’ vascular canals (P < 0.05) in males exposed to patulin possibly due to mycotoxin-induced increased levels of testosterone.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates significant impact of intramuscular application of patulin on bone microstructure in adult rabbits. Moreover, we have found that the effects of patulin on qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics of compact bone are sex-dependent.
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