Pre-puberty cannabichromene exposure modulates reproductive function via alteration of spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, and eNOS pathway metabolites.

Background: Cannabis and cannabinoids affect almost every system of the body and exert systemic effects such as alterations in memory and cognitive functions, neurotransmission impediment, as well as obstruction of endocrine and reproductive system functions. Reproduction is a complicated phenomenon that integrates biological, psychological and behavioural aspects, hence susceptible to intracellular and extracellular modulations by numerous chemicals and toxicants like cannabis.

Aim: The effects of early-life exposure to cannabis on reproductive function biomarkers and genes were investigated in male and female Wistar rats in this study.

Probiotics consortium synergistically ameliorates aflatoxin B1-induced disruptions in lipid metabolism of female albino rats.

To investigate the effects of oral administration of probiotics consortium on lipid metabolism in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposed rats, ninety female albino rats were first grouped into two: NC (control fed standard feed) and AF (fed AFB1-contaminated feed at 40 ppb). After eight weeks, baseline animals were sacrificed from both groups while the others further divided into four groups - NC treated with and without the probiotics consortium, aflatoxin treated with and without the probiotics consortium (NCT, NCC, AFT, and AFC respectively). Five animals from each group were sacrificed weekly for four weeks, with the collection of blood, liver, brain, and the small intestine.

Oxidative Stress in Extrahepatic Tissues of Rats Co-Exposed to Aflatoxin B1 and Low Protein Diet.

Early life exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and low protein diet through complementary foods during weaning is common in parts of Africa and Asia. This study evaluated the effect of co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet on the extrahepatic tissues of rats. Twenty-four three-week old weanling male albino rats were used for this study and were randomly assigned into four groups: group 1 served as control and was fed normal protein diet (20% protein), group 2 was fed low protein diet (5% protein), group 3 was fed normal protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1 while group 4 received low protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1, all for eight weeks.

Coexistence of Aflatoxicosis with Protein Malnutrition Worsens Hepatic Oxidative Damage in Rats.

To investigate the effects of the coexistence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and protein malnutrition in rat liver, weanling rats were fed either normal protein diet (20% protein), low-protein (PEM) diet (5%), normal protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1, or low-protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1. After 8 weeks, biomarkers of hepatic functions and oxidative stress, caspase-3 activity, and tumor suppressor protein 53 (p53) were determined spectrophotometrically. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) was employed to determine genomic alterations among the groups.

Arsenic-induced dyslipidemia in male albino rats: comparison between trivalent and pentavalent inorganic arsenic in drinking water.

Background: Recent epidemiological evidences indicate close association between inorganic arsenic exposure via drinking water and cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact mechanism of this arsenic-mediated increase in cardiovascular risk factors remains enigmatic.

Methods: In order to investigate the effects of inorganic arsenic exposure on lipid metabolism, male albino rats were exposed to 50, 100 and 150 ppm arsenic as sodium arsenite and 100, 150 and 200 ppm arsenic as sodium arsenate respectively in their drinking water for 12 weeks.

Amoxillin- and pefloxacin-induced cholesterogenesis and phospholipidosis in rat tissues.

Background: To investigate whether amoxillin and pefloxacin perturb lipid metabolism.

Methods: Rats were treated with therapeutic doses of each antibiotic for 5 and 10 days respectively. Twenty four hours after the last antibiotic treatment and 5 days after antibiotic withdrawal, blood and other tissues (liver, kidney, brain, heart and spleen) were removed from the animals after an overnight fast and analysed for their lipid contents.

Paraoxonase 1 activity in subchronic low-level inorganic arsenic exposure through drinking water.

Epidemiological evidences indicate close association between inorganic arsenic exposure via drinking water and cardiovascular diseases. While the exact mechanism of this arsenic-mediated increase in cardiovascular risk factors remains enigmatic, epidemiological studies indicate a role for paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in cardiovascular diseases. To investigate the association between inorganic arsenic exposure and cardiovascular diseases, rats were exposed to sodium arsenite (trivalent; 50, 100, and 150 ppm As) and sodium arsenate (pentavalent; 100, 150, and 200 ppm As) in their drinking water for 12 weeks.

Hypolipidemic effects of lactic acid bacteria fermented cereal in rats.

Background: The objectives of the present study were to investigate the efficacy of the mixed culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus (DSM 20242), Bifidobacterium bifidum (DSM 20082) and Lactobacillus helveticus (CK60) in the fermentation of maize and the evaluation of the effect of the fermented meal on the lipid profile of rats.

Methods: Rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups and each group placed on a Diet A (high fat diet into which a maize meal fermented with a mixed culture of Lb acidophilus (DSM 20242), B bifidum (DSM 20082) and Lb helveticus (CK 60) was incorporated), B (unfermented high fat diet) or C (commercial rat chow) respectively after the first group of 7 rats randomly selected were sacrificed to obtain the baseline data. Thereafter 7 rats each from the experimental and control groups were sacrificed weekly for 4 weeks and the plasma, erythrocytes, lipoproteins and organs of the rats were assessed for cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids.

Tissue dyslipidemia in Salmonella-infected rats treated with amoxillin and pefloxacin.

Background: This study investigated the effects of salmonella infection and its chemotherapy on lipid metabolism in tissues of rats infected orally with Salmonella typhimurium and treated intraperitoneally with pefloxacin and amoxillin.

Methods: Animals were infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain TA 98. After salmonellosis was confirmed, they were divided into 7 groups of 5 animals each.

Effects of sub-chronic low-level lead exposure on the homeostasis of copper and zinc in rat tissues.

Information about the health risks or the subtle adverse health effects that might be associated with low-level lead exposure on micronutrient metabolism are scarce in the literature. The present work investigated the subtle adverse health effects of exposure to progressively low levels of lead on the metabolism of two micronutrients, copper and zinc in different tissues of the rat. Rats were exposed to 200, 300 and 400 ppm lead in their drinking water for 12 weeks.

Inability of legumes to reverse diabetic-induced nephropathy in rats despite improvement in blood glucose and antioxidant status.

Diabetes mellitus has assumed epidemic proportions in most parts of the world, including developing countries, with vascular and renal complications being the major causes of death. Evidence is emerging that legumes play a beneficial role in diabetes and its associated complications. In connection with the above, four groups of alloxan-induced diabetic rats were fed on four different legume-based (Vigna unguiculata ssp.

Lead-induced phospholipidosis and cholesterogenesis in rat tissues.

In order to investigate the effects of lead exposure on lipid metabolism, rats were exposed to 200, 300 and 400 ppm lead in their drinking water for 12 weeks. The lead exposure resulted in induction of phospholipidosis in kidney and brain of the animals. While renal phospholipidosis was accompanied with depletion of renal cholesterol, phospholipidosis in the brain was accompanied with enhanced cholesterogenesis and hypertriglyceridemia.

Endogenous antioxidant defences in plasma and erythrocytes of pregnant women during different trimesters of pregnancy.

Background: To assess the antioxidant capacity of pregnant women in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Methods: The activities of total superoxide dismutase (total SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione transferase(GST), aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), and the concentrations of glutathione (GSH), were determined in the plasma and red blood cells of non-pregnant (n=20), normal healthy pregnant women during different trimesters of pregnancy (n=90), and pregnant women with pre-eclampsia (n=7).

Results: A 2-fold increase in erythrocyte CAT activity was observed in the pregnant women (p<0.

Plasma lipid profiles and risk of cardiovascular disease in occupational lead exposure in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

In order to investigate the effects of lead exposure on risk of cardiovascular disease during occupational exposure to this metal, plasma cholesterol and its fractions as high-density liporotein (HDL), low-density liporotein (LDL) and triglyceride were determined in various artisans in Abeokuta, Nigeria who have been shown to be occupationally exposed to lead and these were related to blood lead levels. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease was observed in the artisans. Total cholesterol in the artisans was between 1.