Reproductive outcomes of neonatal exposure to betamethasone in male and female rats.

Betamethasone (BM) is the drug of choice for antenatal corticosteroid therapy for women at risk of preterm delivery because it induces fetal lung maturation and enhances survival after birth. However, our group reported evidence of fetal programming and impaired reproductive development and function in rats exposed during the critical window of genital system development. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of BM on the sexual development of rats in the period that corresponds to antenatal corticosteroid therapy in humans.

Developmental and Reproductive Outcomes in Male Rats Exposed to Triclosan: Two-Generation Study.

Triclosan (TCS) is a phenolic compound with broad-spectrum antimicrobial action that has been incorporated into a variety of personal care products and other industry segments such as toys, textiles, and plastics. Due to its widespread use, TCS and its derivatives have been detected in several environmental compartments, with potential bioaccumulation and persistence. Indeed, some studies have demonstrated that TCS may act as a potential endocrine disruptor for the reproductive system.

Low Corticosterone Response to Stress in a Perimenopausal Rat Model Is Associated with the Hypoactivation of PaMP Region of the Paraventricular Nucleus and Can Be Corrected by Exogenous Progesterone Supplementation.

Introduction: The transition to menopause is characterized by mood, behavioral and metabolic changes. However, little is known about the changes in adrenal response to stress.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate, in an animal model of perimenopause induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), (1) the endocrine and neuronal stress system activity in response to acute restraint stress and (2) the effect of hormonal therapy in this response.

Effects of isolated or combined exposure to sibutramine and rosuvastatin on reproductive parameters of adult male rats.

Many obese patients are exposed to hypolipidemic and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) drugs. Statins are one of the most marketed drugs in the world to treat dyslipidemia, while sibutramine, a SNRI drug, is prescribed in some countries to treat obesity and is detected as an additive in many adulterated weight loss supplements marketed worldwide. Previous studies reported adverse effects of isolated exposure to these drugs on male rat reproductive parameters.

In utero and lactational exposure to triclocarban: reproductive effects on female rat offspring.

Triclocarban (TCC) is an antimicrobial compound widely used in personal care products such as soaps, toothpaste, and shampoo. This agent is incompletely removed by wastewater treatment and represents an environmental contaminant. Recent studies have shown that TCC is associated with some endocrine disruptions.

Identification of Suitable Reference Genes for Quantitative Gene Expression Analysis in Innervated and Denervated Adipose Tissue from Cafeteria Diet-Fed Rats.

Our previous studies show that cafeteria diet increases body adiposity, plasma insulin levels, and sympathetic activity to brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) of Wistar rats, leading to rapid and progressive changes in the metabolic profile. The identification of suitable reference genes that are not affected by the experimental conditions is a critical step in accurate normalization of the reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), a commonly used assay to elucidate changes in the gene expression profile. In the present study, the effects of the cafeteria diet and sympathetic innervation on the gene expression of adrenoceptor beta 3 (Adrb3) from BAT and WAT were assessed using one of the most stable and one of the least stable genes as normalizers.

Investigation of the potential effects of triclosan as an endocrine disruptor in female rats: Uterotrophic assay and two-generation study.

Triclosan (TCS) is a phenolic compound with antimicrobial action widely used in cosmetics and other personal care products and other industry segments. Its widespread use over the decades has made TCS one of the most commonly detected compounds in wastewater and effluent worldwide already being found in human urine, plasma and milk. In this study, the (anti)estrogenicity of TCS was evaluated in the uterotrophic assay in 18-day old female Wistar rats.

Ascorbic acid supplementation ameliorates testicular hormonal signaling, sperm production and oxidative stress in male rats exposed to rosuvastatin during pre-puberty.

Dyslipidemias are occurring earlier in the population due to the augmentation of obesity. Rosuvastatin reduces cholesterol and triglycerides; however, previous studies have shown that it may affect male reproduction. Ascorbic acid (AA), an antioxidant compound, plays a protective role in the male reproductive system.

Reproductive outcomes in rat female offspring from male rats co-exposed to rosuvastatin and ascorbic acid during pre-puberty.

Dyslipidemias are occurring earlier in different countries due to the increase of obesity, bad eating habits, and sedentary lifestyle. Rosuvastatin reduces serum cholesterol; however, several studies associated statin exposure with male reproduction impairment. Ascorbic acid (AA) is an antioxidant substance that plays a protective role in the male reproductive system.

Ascorbic acid co-administered with rosuvastatin reduces reproductive impairment in the male offspring from male rats exposed to the statin at pre-puberty.

Obesity during childhood and adolescence is closely related to dysfunctions on lipid profile in children. Rosuvastatin is a statin that decreases serum total cholesterol. Ascorbic acid is an important antioxidant compound for male reproduction.

Lower sperm quality and testicular and epididymal structural impairment in adult rats exposed to rosuvastatin during prepuberty.

The increase of obesity, bad eating habits and the lack of physical exercises are highly related to dyslipidemias. Rosuvastatin is a lipid-lowering drug and has been indicated to prevent cardiovascular diseases and to treat dyslipidemias due to its higher efficiency to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive adverse effects on sexual maturity due to rosuvastatin exposure in juvenile male rats during prepuberty.

Reproductive parameters of female Wistar rats treated with methylphenidate during development.

Methylphenidate (MPH), a psychoactive agent that acts mainly by blocking the uptake of dopamine, is the main drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adolescents. During development, important changes in brain architecture and plasticity occur, these changes, sensitive to exposure to stimulant drugs, are important in the control of GnRH secretion, influencing the release of sex hormones throughout the ovarian cycle. This study investigated the effects of repeated treatment with MPH during development on reproductive parameters of adult female rats.

Sperm quality and fertility in rats after prenatal exposure to low doses of TCDD: A three-generation study.

Exposure to Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in male rats promotes, decreased sperm concentration, alterations in motility and in sperm transit time. We evaluated the effect transgenerational of in utero exposure to low doses TCDD in the sperm quality. Pregnant rats (F0) were exposed to 0.

The transition to reproductive senescence is characterized by increase in A6 and AVPV neuron activity with attenuation of noradrenaline content.

During the course of life, cyclic females face a state of midlife transition that occurs in a fully functioning neurological system, and results in reproductive senescence. The authors' hypothesis was that changes in the activity noradrenergic neurons may be one of the factors involved in this phenomenon. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of the neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and locus coeruleus (LC), to analyze their role in determining reproductive senescence.

In utero and lactational exposure to fluoxetine delays puberty onset in female rats offspring.

Depression is one of the most prevalent disorders in the world and may occur during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Fluoxetine (FLX) has been widely prescribed for use during depression in pregnancy and lactation. This study aimed to investigate if in utero and lactational exposure to FLX could compromise reproductive parameters in female offspring.

In utero and lactational exposure to fipronil in female rats: Pregnancy outcomes and sexual development.

Fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, is used in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and public health. Because this insecticide is considered a potential endocrine disruptor, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of perinatal exposure to fipronil on neonatal female reproductive system development. Pregnant rats were exposed (via gavage) daily to fipronil (0.

The Coadministration of N-Acetylcysteine Ameliorates the Effects of Arsenic Trioxide on the Male Mouse Genital System.

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has shown effectiveness in treatment of leukemia but is also associated with reproductive toxicity. Since remediation with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may mitigate the adverse effects caused by exposure, we assessed the effects of As2O3 and its potential reversibility after exposure cessation or coadministration of NAC. Animals received 0.

Lack of Reproductive Toxicity in Adult Male Rats Exposed to Interferon-Alpha.

Interferon-alpha (IFN- α), a type I IFN, is a protein with antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunoregulatory activities, widely used in the treatment of several types of cancers as well as hepatitis B and C. Decrease of libido and erectile dysfunction are commonly reported by male patients during treatment of chronic hepatitis C with IFN- α . However, IFN therapy-associated underlying factors attributed to sexual dysfunction are still not well defined.

Activity of neurons in the preoptic area and their participation in reproductive senescence: Preliminary findings.

Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in females determine the transition from regular to irregular reproductive cycles, with loss of fertility. Stimulation of noradrenergic neurons of the anteroventral periventricular neurons (AVPV) is essential for regular reproductive cycles. Therefore, we examined the activity of neurons of the AVPV and measure the noradrenaline (NE) of acyclic rats, in constant estrus, and compared it with that of cyclic rats in estrus.

Effects of a mixture of pesticides on the adult female reproductive system of Sprague-Dawley, Wistar, and Lewis rats.

The Brazilian federal government Agency for Health Surveillance detected pesticide residues in fresh food available for consumers all over the country. The current study investigated the effects of a mixture of some of those pesticides (dichlorvos, dicofol, dieldrin, endosulfan, and permethrin) on the reproductive system of Sprague-Dawley (SD), Wistar (WT), and Lewis (LEW) rats. Female rats from each strain were randomized into three experimental groups and were fed a control diet or diets added with pesticides mixture at their respective no-observed-effect level (NOEL)/no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) (low dose) (mg/kg/d): dichlorvos (0.

Effects of repeated administration of methylphenidate on reproductive parameters in male rats.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychostimulant drug which acts by blocking the dopamine and norepinephrine transporters and is the main drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. During puberty, changes in neurotransmitter systems (including dopaminergic system) are engaged on the release of gonadal hormones and the development of cephalic structures responsible for reproductive function. This study investigated the effects of repeated treatment with methylphenidate during development on reproductive parameters of adult male rats.

Neonatally induced mild diabetes: influence on development, behavior and reproductive function of female Wistar rats.

Background: Neonatal STZ treatment induces a state of mild hyperglycemia in adult rats that disrupts metabolism and maternal/fetal interactions. The aim of this study was investigate the effect of neonatal STZ treatment on the physical development, behavior, and reproductive function of female Wistar rats from infancy to adulthood.

Methods: At birth, litters were assigned either to a Control (subcutaneous (s.

Delayed reproductive development in pubertal male rats exposed to the hypolipemiant agent rosuvastatin since prepuberty.

Dyslipidemias are frequently found in children due to obesity, bad eating habits and the lack of physical exercises. Rosuvastatin acts as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, decreasing total cholesterol and triglycerides. This study aimed to investigate initial sexual development and morphological aspect of the testis and epididymis in juvenile rats exposed to rosuvastatin since pre-puberty.

High-fat diet obesity associated with insulin resistance increases cell proliferation, estrogen receptor, and PI3K proteins in rat ventral prostate.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of obesity and insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet on prostate morphophysiology, focusing on cell proliferation, expression of androgen (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER) and proteins of the insulin signaling pathway. Adult male Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (20% fat) for 15 weeks, whereas control animals received a balanced diet (4% fat). Both groups were then divided and treated for 2 weeks with 1 mg/kg body weight/day of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole or vehicle only.

Influence of treatment with intranasal corticosteroids on the nasal mucosa, weight, and corticosteroid concentration in rats.

Background: The effect of intranasal corticosteroids on the nasal epithelium mucosa is an important parameter of treatment safety. This study was designed to examine whether treatment with topical corticosteroids in patients with allergic rhinitis causes atrophic nasal mucosal changes, when compared with systemic corticosteroids, in rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated daily during 7 weeks with topical administration with 10 microliters of normal saline (control group), 10 microliters of mometasone furoate group, 10 microliters of triamcinolone acetonide (T group), and 8 mg/kg of daily subcutaneous injections of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP group).