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Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is one of the most effective antipsychotic drugs used for managing psychotic related disorders owing to its dopamine receptor blocking action. However, pharmacological investigations against CPZ's cytotoxic effect have remained scarce. Hence, this study investigated the preventive and reversal effects of taurine and coenzyme-Q10 (COQ-10), which are compounds with proven natural antioxidant properties, against CPZ-induced hematological impairments in male rats. In the preventive study, rats received oral saline (10 ml/kg), taurine (150 mg/kg/day), COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day) or in combination for 56 days, alongside CPZ (30 mg/kg, p.o.) between days 29-56. In the reversal protocol, rats had CPZ repeatedly for 56 days before taurine and COQ-10 treatments or their combination from days 29-56. Rats were also given taurine (150 mg/kg/day), and COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day) alone for 56 days. Serums were extracted and assayed for hematological, with oxidative and inflammatory markers. CPZ induced decreased red/white blood cells, erythropoietin, platelet count, packed cell volume and hemoglobin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte, which were prevented and reversed by taurine and COQ-10, or their combination. Taurine and COQ-10 improved mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin concentration, with increased erythropoietin levels relative to CPZ groups. CPZ-induced increased malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 levels with decreased interleukin-10, glutathione, and superoxide-dismutase were prevented and reversed by taurine and COQ-10 in comparison with CPZ groups. Taurine and COQ-10 alone notably improved the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory status relative to controls. Among other mechanisms, taurine and COQ-10 abated CPZ-induced hematological deficiencies, via decreased serum levels of oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory cytokines release, with increased antioxidants and anti-inflammation function., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

This study investigated whether epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) could counteract the detrimental effects of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in rats exposed to rapamycin-induced reproductive and neuronal changes. Six rats per treatment group (n = 6) were utilized, in which groups 1 and 2 had dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (0.1%) and EGCG (80 mg/kg) respectively. Group 3 received HFD + 0.1% DMSO daily for 56 days. Group 4 received HFD + rapamycin (1 mg/kg) orally for 56 days. Rats in group 5 received HFD for 56 days and EGCG (80 mg/kg, p.o.) from days 29-56. Group 6 received the combination of HFD + rapamycin (56 days) with EGCG (80 mg/kg) from days 29-56. Cognitive loss was assessed using Y-maze-test (YMT). Afterwards, serum sex hormones, insulin-glucose balance, serotonin concentration, acetylcholinesterase activity, sperm features, antioxidants, and the markers of oxido-nitrergic, autophagy and apoptotic mediators were assessed. EGCG reversed rapamycin exacerbated HFD-induced alterations in spermatogenesis, insulin-glucose balance, reproductive hormones, oxido-nitrergic stress, and altered serotonin, acetylcholinesterase levels, and autophagic and apoptotic activities in rats' testes and brains respectively. EGCG significantly attenuated HFD-induced cognitive loss. The study showed that EGCG attenuated rapamycin-mediated HFD-induced spermatogenesis deficiency and cognitive impairment via normalization of reproductive hormones, testicular and brain oxidative stress, apoptotic, autophagic activities, with serotonin and cholinergic levels in rats., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the modulatory effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on lead acetate-induced endothelial dysfunction. Animals were administered GBE (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg orally) after exposures to lead acetate (25 mg/kg orally) for 14 days. Aorta was harvested after euthanasia, the tissue was homogenised, and supernatants were decanted after centrifuging. Oxidative, nitrergic, inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic markers were assayed using standard biochemical procedure, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. GBE reduced lead-induced oxidative stress by increasing SOD, GSH, and CAT as well as reducing MDA levels in endothelium. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were reduced while increasing Bcl-2 protein expression. GBE lowered endothelin-I and raised nitrite levels. Histological changes caused by lead acetate were normalised by GBE. Our findings suggest that Ginkgo biloba extract restored endothelin-I and nitric oxide functions by increasing Bcl-2 protein expression and reducing oxido-inflammatory stress in endothelium.

Geraniol is an acyclic isoprenoid monoterpenoid analogue that has been shown to elicit neuroprotective functions, primarily through its ability to stimulate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory systems. An increase in inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress exacerbate activation hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), leading to neurochemical dysfunction, which has important roles in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), a mental health disorder characterized of post-trauma-induced intense fear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-PTSD-like effects and underlying mechanisms of geraniol against single-prolonged-stress (SPS)-induced PTSD in mice. Following concomitant exposure to SPS (triple-paradigm traumatic events) and isolation for 7 days, mice (n = 9) were treated with geraniol (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) from days 8-21. Mice were assessed for behavioral changes. Neurochemical changes, inflammatory, oxido-nitrergic markers, adrenal weight, serum glucose and corticosterone concentrations were assayed. Geraniol inhibits SPS-induced anxiety- and depressive-like features as well as behavioral despair in the depression paradigms. SPS-induced locomotor and memory impairments were also abated by geraniol treatment similarly to fluoxetine. SPS-induced adrenal hypertrophy and increased blood glucose and corticosterone concentrations, were attenuated by the geraniol treatment. Elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and malondialdehyde, nitrite, acetylcholinesterase enzyme were reduced by geraniol. Geraniol also increased glutathione, superoxide-dismutase, and catalase levels as well as dopamine, serotonin concentrations and GABAergic glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme activity in the striatum, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the PTSD-mice relative to SPS control. In conclusion, geraniol attenuates behavioral impairments and neurochemical dysregulations by inhibitions of HPA-axis and oxido-inflammatory perturbations in mice exposed to PTSD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Diabetes is a global, costly, and growing public health issue. Intermittent fasting (IF) and exercise therapy have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity (IS) in large studies, although the underlying processes are still unknown. The goal of this study, which included both nondiabetic and diabetic rats, was to look at the mechanisms of intermittent fasting and exercise in the management of diabetotoxicity. The effects of starvation and honey on the oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, adipocytokines, oxidative glucose metabolic enzymes, glycolytic enzymes, food intake, and body weight in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were also investigated. In the nondiabetic phase, rats were administered an oral regimen of distilled water (0.5 ml/rat), honey (1 g/kg body weight), and interventions with IF, and starvation for 4 weeks while in the diabetic phase, after STZ or citrate buffer injections, interventions with IF, exercise, starvation, and honey treatment began for 4 weeks. At all OGTT and ITT points, there was a substantial rise in glucose in the STZ group. Adipocytokines hormone, oxidative glucose metabolic enzymes, glycolytic enzymes, and body weight were all affected by STZ when compared to starvation and honey, however, IF and exercise significantly reduced these alterations. In diabetic rats, intermittent fasting and exercise enhanced serum adipocytokines levels. These findings imply that adipokines modulate glycolytic/nonmitochondrial enzymes and glucose metabolic/mitochondrial dehydrogenase to mediate the antidiabetic effects of intermittent fasting and exercise., (© 2022 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.)

The therapeutic efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and zinc sulphate on di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-induced testicular oxido-nitrergic stress in rats was investigated in 36 male Wistar rats (170 ± 10 g) randomly assigned into one of six groups (n = 6). Group 1 (control) received 2.5 ml/kg of distilled water for 42 days, while group 2 (vehicle) received 2.5 ml/kg of corn oil for 42 days. Groups 3,4,5, and 6 were administered DEHP (750 mg/kg/day) for 21 days, after which groups 4, 5, and 6 received zinc sulphate (0.5 mg/kg/day), NAC (100 mg/kg/day), and zinc sulphate (0.5 mg/kg/day) + NAC (100 mg/kg/day) for an additional 21 days respectively. After the experimental period, the animals were euthanized by light thiopental sodium, and their testes were carefully dissected out for histological and biochemical assays. The result shows a significant alteration in testicular levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, antioxidant enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, sulphydryl levels, dehydrogenases and testicular architecture following the administration of DEHP. These effects were reversed by coadministration of NAC and zinc sulphate in the study. We therefore concluded that the combined effects of NAC and ZnSO 4 effectively improved testicular antioxidant status and reduced testicular nitregic stress, thus improving testicular architecture and functions., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of selected inflammatory cytokines to isometric handgrip exercise and identify possible effects of intensity and duration of the isometric effort on these variables., Methods: A total of 192 sedentary prehypertensive Nigerian participants aged between 30 and 50 years were recruited into the study and randomly distributed into 3 groups of 64 participants each. The participants performed 24 consecutive days of isometric handgrip exercise at 30% maximum voluntary contraction. At the end of the 24 days, group 1 discontinued the exercise protocol, while group 2 continued the exercise protocol for another 24 consecutive days, and group 3 continued with the exercise protocol for another 24 consecutive days but at 50% maximum voluntary contraction. The parameters used to assess the inflammatory cytokine variables included interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)., Results: There was an increase in the resting values of IL-10 across the 3 groups, while the resting values of IL-6 and TNF-α were reduced significantly across groups. Generally, the exercise-induced changes in the levels of these cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) should improve inflammatory and metabolic abnormalities., Conclusion: The isometric handgrip exercise protocols in this study resulted in elevation of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and reductions in the values of proinflammatory cytokines TNF- α and IL-6., (© 2022 by National University of Health Sciences.)

Background: Oxido-inflammatory stress and dysregulation of nitric oxide (NO) system has been implicated in lead toxicity. Cabbage is an antioxidant-rich household vegetable with plethora of therapeutic potentials. The present study investigated the anti-oxido-inflammatory activity of cabbage in lead-induced endothelial dysfunction., Methods: Twenty (20) male Wistar rats were selected into four groups (n = 5) and treated with distilled water (1 mL/100 g b.wt), lead acetate (25 mg/kg b.wt), cabbage juice (1 mL/100 g b.wt) and lead acetate (25 mg/kg b.wt) plus cabbage juice (1 mL/100 g b.wt) respectively. Treatment was done orally for 28 days, thereafter, oxidative stress (SOD, CAT, GSH, and MDA), inflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6) and apoptotic (Bcl-2) markers were assayed using standard biochemical assays as well as histoarchitectural study of the endothelium., Results: The results showed that they were significant increase in MDA, ET-1, TNF-α and IL-6 while SOD, GSH, CAT, NO and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased in Lead exposed animals. Endothelial histoarchitecture was also altered. Following Cabbage juice treatment, MDA, ET-I, TNF-α and IL-6 were down-regulated while SOD, GSH, CAT, NO and Bcl-2 protein expression were up-regulated. Histoarchitecture was significantly recovered., Conclusion: The study suggests that cabbage juice could mitigates Lead-induced endothelial dysfunction by modulating oxido-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mediators., Data Availability: All data are available upon request., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study is to investigate the in vivo attenuation of alcohol- and cadmium chloride-induced testicular toxicity modulated by Silymarin in male Wistar rats. A total of fifty-six (56) Wistar rats were used for this study and they were randomized into seven (7) groups of eight (8) rats each. Group 1 was control rats; Groups 2-7 served as the experimental groups. After 6 weeks treatment duration, the rats were euthanized, semen was collected for semen analysis, blood samples for testosterone, and FSH and LH assay determination, and left testes was harvested for histological analysis. One-way ANOVA was used to compare means at p-level < 0.05 was considered significant. Findings from this study have shown that alcohol and cadmium chloride adversely affected semen parameters, testosterone, and FSH and LH hormone milieu. Data also showed that Silymarin administration attenuated the adverse effect of alcohol and cadmium chloride on semen quality and hormones associated with reproductive functions. Hence, Silymarin mopped the effect of in vivo attenuation of alcohol and cadmium chloride testicular damage. The findings of this study have further established that alcohol and cadmium chloride adversely affected semen parameters, testicular alterations, and serum hormonal milieu. However, the effect was more significantly deleterious in rats exposed to cadmium chloride when compared to rats exposed to alcohol, subsequently alcohol- and cadmium chloride-induced degeneration of testicular tissues. Furthermore, Silymarin administration attenuated the adverse effect of alcohol on semen quality and hormones associated with reproductive functions., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Salivary gland dysfunction is common in people with diabetes. This study aimed to compare the measurements of salivary electrolytes (SE); Na + , K + , Cl - and HCO 3 - between diabetes and an age matched control group, and assess the relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and salivary electrolytes, and salivary glucose (SG). Eighty-five human participants [diabetes group, n = 45 (23 males and 22 females) and control group, n = 40 (20 males and 20 females)] aged between 25 and 65years were tested. Saliva samples were taken between 7.00 am and 8.00 am after an overnight fast and SG and SE concentrations were analysed . Diabetes mellitus was defined using FBG ≥ 126 mg/dl. SG and SE concentrations were analysed using t -test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient tested the relationship between FBG and Salivary electrolytes and glucose. The participants were matched in their baseline demographic characteristics with a mean age of 49 years (standard deviation SD, 11 years), body mass index (25.7 kg/m 2 (SD, 3.6). Half of them were males (50.6 %) and predominantly traders (30.6 %). However, the mean values for the salivary sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate electrolytes were significantly higher in the diabetes group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Of the salivary electrolytes, only the bicarbonate was significantly correlated with FBG ( r  = -0.594, p = 0.004) in female participants. This study found that people with diabetes have elevated salivary electrolytes which were not dependent on their age and gender. Although this study suggests some potential for saliva as an alternative in monitoring of diabetes mellitus, extensive research is required before we can reach any firm conclusion., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: Recent studies have shown that physical exercise significantly modulates immunocyte dynamics and possibly plays a significant role on immune function. This study examined the responses of some selected immune system parameters to isometric handgrip exercise and identified possible effects of intensity and duration of the exercise protocols., Methods: One hundred and ninety-two (N=192) sedentary pre-hypertensive subjects, aged between 30-50 years were recruited into the study. They were randomly distributed into three groups of 64 subjects each. A detailed explanation and a demonstration of the exercise protocol were given to the subjects and they were asked to report at the Exercise Physiology unit of the Physiotherapy department, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State at 4.00 pm daily for the exercise practice. The training session for each day took place between the hours of 4.00 pm and 8.00 pm daily (FMC/ASB/A81.VOL.XII/101). The subjects performed a 24 consecutive day's isometric handgrip exercise at 30% Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC). At the end of the 24 days, group one (GP1) discontinued with the exercise protocol, while group two (GP2) and group three (GP3) continued with the exercise protocol for another 24 consecutive days nevertheless GP3 performed at an increased intensity of 50% MVC. The clinical trial was registered with Nigeria Clinical Trial Registry, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja Nigeriawith Trial No: 1216582 (https://www.nctr.nhrec.net/viewTrials.php?TID=1216582)., Results: At the end of the study, the result shows thatthe number of CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio significantly (P<0.05) increased while the CD8 cell decreased in GP2 and GP3. It was further shown that increase in duration produced a more significant change compared to an increase in intensity of the isometric effort., Conclusion: The study established that isometric handgrip exercise alters the circulating levels of the immune system parameters which could have positive beneficial effects on the prehypertensive individuals as the number of CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio increased especially when practiced over a longer duration., Competing Interests: None., (IJPPP Copyright © 2022.)

Objective: To determine the length of exposure to high doses of phthalate that might affect sperm quality in adult male Wistar rats., Methods: Forty-two (42) adult male Wistar rats (weighing 150-200 g) were randomly assigned into six groups (n=7): Group A received 0.5 mL of distilled water - placebo - and served as controls; groups B, C, D, E and F received Phthalate (750 mg/kgbw) for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks, respectively. The data obtained from the study was expressed as Mean ± SEM with a p-value <0.05 considered significant. The data was analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post-hoc test using GraphPad Prism, version 8., Results: The results showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in testicular weight in the rats exposed to 750 mg/kg of phthalate for 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks when compared with the controls. Sperm count, motility and viability were also significantly (p<0.05) reduced, while sperm cells with abnormal morphology had increased counts in the groups exposed for 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks when compared with controls. Serum zinc and magnesium were also significantly reduced (p<0.05) in the subjects treated for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks when compared with controls., Conclusions: The dosage of phthalate adopted in this study was deleterious to testicular function when rats were exposed to it for as short a period as three weeks.

Busulfan is a popular antileukemia chemotherapeutic alkylating agent widely known to induce variety of serious adverse effects including chemobrain-related cognitive impairments and dysfunction in male reproductive system. Whether kolaviron, a neuro- and repro-active compound obtained from Garcinia kola, with neuroprotective and reproductive-promoting activities, mitigates busulfan-induced cognitive and male reproductive impairments remain unknown. Hence, we investigated the reversal effects of kolaviron on busulfan-induced episodic memory deficit and testicular dysfunction, and its underlying mechanisms in male rats. In the treatment-protocol, rats in groups 1 and 2 received saline (10 mL/kg/p.o./day) and DMSO (10 mL/kg/p.o./day) respectively, group 3 was given kolaviron (200 mg/kg/p.o./day), group 4 received busulfan (50 mg/kg/p.o./day) and group 5 was pretreated with busulfan (50 mg/kg/p.o./day) consecutively for 56 days prior to kolaviron treatment (200 mg/kg/p.o./day) from days 29-56. Episodic memory deficit was assessed using passive avoidance task (PAT). Following euthanization, blood samples, epididymal sperm, testes and brain were harvested and hormonal and neurochemical contents and their metabolizing enzymes were assayed. Kolaviron reversed busulfan-induced episodic cognitive deficit in the PAT. The reduced serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline concentrations, elevated glutamate levels, acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase-A and B activities were normalized by kolaviron. Kolaviron also reversed the busulfan-induced decreased testicular/body weights and spermatogenesis. Kolaviron abated busulfan-induced changes in androgenic hormones (testosterone, FSH, LH), dehydrogenase enzymes (3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD), altered sperm-chromatin, sperm-membrane integrity and sperm-acrosomal reaction and capacitation impairments. Our findings suggest that kolaviron could mitigate busulfan-induced episodic memory deficit and dysfunction in male reproductive system via neurochemical modulations and increase testicular androgenic hormones/enzymes in rats., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Over the years, mounting evidences have suggested a strong association between chronic chlorpromazine therapy, a popular first-generation antipsychotic drug, and psycho-neuroendocrine changes. In this study, we aim to examine whether treatment with taurine and coenzyme Q10 (COQ-10), compounds with steroidogenic-gonadotropin hormone-enhancing properties, can attenuate the negative impacts of chlorpromazine on steroidogenic, gonadotropin, thyroid and HPA-axis hormones, dopamine levels, catalepsy behavior and neuronal cells of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the preventive and reversal treatments in male Wister rats. In the drug treatment alone or preventive protocol, rats received oral administration of saline (10 mL/kg), taurine (150 mg/kg/day), COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day), or both (taurine + COQ-10/day) alone for 56 consecutive days, or in combination with oral chlorpromazine (30 mg/kg/day) treatment from days 29 to 56. In the reversal protocol, the animals received chlorpromazine or saline for 56 days prior to taurine, COQ-10, or the combination from days 29 to 56. Thereafter, serum prolactin, steroidogenic (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone), gonadotropin (luteinizing hormone, LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH), thyroid (thyrotropin-stimulating hormone, tetraiodothyronine, triiodothyronine) hormones, corticosterone, brain dopamine levels and cataleptic behavior were investigated. The histopathological features of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland were also evaluated. Taurine, COQ-10, or their combination prevented and reversed chlorpromazine-induced hyperprolactinemia, decrease in FSH, LH, testosterone, progesterone and dopamine concentrations, as well as the increase in estrogen levels. Taurine and COQ-10 reduced the changes in thyroid hormones, corticosterone release, histological distortions of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland of chlorpromazine-treated rats. Taurine and COQ-10 attenuated chlorpromazine-induced catalepsy. The study showed that taurine and COQ-10 prevented and reversed chlorpromazine-induced changes in reproductive, thyroid hormones, dopamine level, corticosterone release, neurodegenerations, and cataleptic behavior in rats.

Evidences have shown that alterations in testicular dehydrogenase and ionic-ATPase activities have important implications in spermatogenesis and sperm capacitation, a penultimate biochemical change required for fertilization. Previous studies have revealed that taurine and coenzyme-Q10 (COQ-10), which are synergistic testicle-active bioflavonoids, with proven gonadotropin-enhancing properties reduce testicular damage in rats. Hence, this study investigated the effects of taurine and COQ-10 or their combination alone, and in the preventive and reversal of chlorpromazine-induced inhibition of testicular dehydrogenase enzymes, electrogenic pumps, sperm capacitation and acrosomal-reaction in male Wister rats. In the drug-treatment alone or preventive-protocol, rats received oral treatment of saline (10 mL/kg), taurine (150 mg/kg/day), COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day) or both alone repeatedly for 56 days, or in combination with chlorpromazine (30 mg/kg/p.o./day) from days 29-56. In the reversal-protocol, the animals received chlorpromazine for 56 days prior to saline, taurine, COQ-10 or the combination from days 29-56. Thereafter, spermatogenesis (sperm count, viability, motility and morphology), testicular dehydrogenase [3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), lactate dehydrogenase-X (LDH-X)], ATPase (Na + /K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , H + ) activities, sperm capacitation and acrosomal reaction were evaluated. Taurine and COQ-10 or their combination increased spermatogenesis, testicular 3ß-HSD, 17ß-HSD, G6PDH and LDH-X enzymes of naïve and chlorpromazine-treated rats. Both taurine and COQ-10 increased Na + /K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and H + -ATPase activities. Also, taurine and COQ-10 or their combination prevented and reversed chlorpromazine-induced inhibition of sperm capacitation and acrosomal-reaction. The study showed that taurine and COQ-10 prevent and reverse chlorpromazine-induced inhibition of spermatogenesis, epididymal sperm capacitation and acrosomal reaction in rats through increased testicular dehydrogenases and electrogenic pump activities., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Infertility is generally regarded as a major clinical problem, and it adversely affects people both psychologically and medically. In this study, the changes in gonadal oxidative stress markers and reproductive function of BALB/c mice were investigated. Forty-eight (48) BALB/c mice acquired for this study were randomly divided into four (4) groups of eight (8) mice each. Each group was further sub-divided into male and female groups with equal number of mice. The groups were represented as thus: Group A: normal mice; Group B: mice infected with Plasmodium berghei; Group C: Plasmodium berghei infected mice treated with Artemether/Lumefantrine; Group D: Plasmodium berghei infected mice treated with Vitamin E. The experimental mice were inoculated with the Plasmodium berghei, and the parasites were confirmed in the mice four days later before the commencement of the experiments. After the experimental procedures which lasted for fourteen (14) days, the mice were sacrificed, blood samples collected for serum testosterone, estrogen and progesterone assay; semen were collected for semen analysis; and testes and ovaries were harvested for histological analyses and oxidative stress marker determination. Result show that Plasmodium berghei significantly (p<0.05) decreased the sperm count, percentage of sperm with progressive motility and percentage of sperm with normal morphology. The parasites also decreased the serum concentrations of testosterone and progesterone. Plasmodium berghei, also caused significant (p<0.05) reductions in testicular and ovarian activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione and peroxidase catalase while significantly (p<0.05) increasing the malonaldehyde level. The parasites also caused marked histological distortions in the testes and ovaries of the mice. Treatment with Artemether/Lumefantrine and Vitamin E separately reversed the detrimental changes induced by the parasites by increasing the semen quality and hormonal concentrations. Treatment with Artemether/Lumefantrine and Vitamin E also decreased the oxidative stress level of the gonads and improved the histological features of the testes and ovaries of the infected mice. This study therefore showed Plasmodium berghei infection posed anti-fertility threat while treatment with Artemether/Lumefantrine and Vitamin E ameliorates the effect of the parasites.

Background: Prehypertension highlights a category of subjects who are at high risk of developing hypertension., Aim: This study assessed the blood pressure attenuating effect of isometric handgrip exercise in the management of prehypertension., Materials and Methods: A total of 400 prehypertensive subject with a mean age of 40 ± 10 years and recently diagnosed as prehypertension were recruited for the study. They were randomly distributed into exercise and control groups (n = 200). The control group was placed on lifestyle modification only, while the exercise group performed a 24 consecutive days isometric hand grip exercise training at 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for 2 min each day in combination with lifestyle modification protocol., Results: The results show a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The exercise group had a mean reduction of 7.48 ± 0.06 and 6.41 ± 1.01 mmHg of the SBP and DBP, respectively. It was further observed that both the SBP and DBP and pulse rate significantly increased acutely within 5 min post exercise at 30% MVC with a mean value of 8.60 ± 0.20 mmHg, 7.33 ± 0.03 mmHg, and 8.24 ± 0.20 beats/min of the SBP and DBP and pulse rate, respectively. However, this increase returned to pre-exercise value within 10 min post exercises to a mean value of -0.68 + 1.64 mmHg, 1.48 ± 1.02 mmHg, and 3.00 ± 0.11 beats/min, respectively., Conclusion: This study has shown that isometric handgrip exercise is effective in the attenuation of blood pressure in prehypertensive subjects especially when combined with the routinely recommended lifestyle modifications. However, caution should be taken when recommending it because of acute increase in blood pressure., Competing Interests: None

The status of hemostatic parameters, are useful physiological markers of organ and tissue damage anddysfunction. This study investigated the effect of Piroxicam on some hemostatic parameters of albino Wistar rats. Twentyfour (24) female albino Wistar rats were used for this study, they were randomly divided into four (4) groups of six (6) ratseach. Group A served as control, Group B and C were rats treated with 0.1 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg piroxicam while Group Dserved as 0.2 mg/kg piroxicam treated rats administered with Vitamin E. The experiment lasted for a period of 4 weeks, afterwhich the rats were euthanized. Blood sample was collected for measurement of bleeding time, clotting time, fibrinogenlevel and platelets count. One-way ANOVA was used to compare, means and a p<0.05 was considered significant., Result: Data generated showed that Piroxicam significantly (p<0.05) decreased the clotting time, platelets count and fibrinogen level.Piroxicam also significantly (p<0.05) increased the bleeding time level of the rats. Co-administration of Vitamin Esignificantly (p<0.05) increased the bleeding time, it also significantly decreased the clotting time, fibrinogen level andplatelets counts., Conclusion: This study therefore shows that Piroxicam impairs hemostasis while Vitamin E administrationfurther enhances the activities of Piroxicam on hemostatic parameters.