Vitamin C supplementation promotes locomotor and exploratory behaviors in male Wistar rats exposed to varying stress models.

Constant exposure to environmental stress has negative behavioral outcomes. Considering the inverse relationship between stress and Vitamin C intake, this study was aimed at investigating variable stress techniques and Vitamin C supplementation on exploratory/locomotor behaviors in male Wistar rats. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (100g-120g) were allotted into four groups (n=7).

Vitamin C supplementation modulates crude oil contaminated water induced gravid uterine impaired contractile mechanism and foetal outcomes in Wistar rats.

Objectives: Crude oil is a common environmental contaminant that impacts the reproductive functions of women. Understanding the contractile mechanism of the gravid uterus and how it impacts fetal outcomes during crude oil-contaminated water (CCW) exposure is still evolving. This study investigates the effect of vitamin C supplementation during the ingestion of CCW from Bayelsa, Nigeria, on the contractile mechanism of the gravid uterus and fetal outcomes.

Neuronal Function in Male Sprague Dawley Rats During Normal Ageing.

During normal ageing, there are physiological changes especially in high energy demanding tissues including the brain and skeletal muscles. Ageing may disrupt homeostasis and allow tissue vulnerability to disease. To establish an appropriate animal model which is readily available and will be useful to test therapeutic strategies during normal ageing, we applied behavioral approaches to study age-related changes in memory and motor function as a basis for neuronal function in ageing in male Sprague Dawley rats.

Streptozotocin diabetes and insulin resistance impairment of spermatogenesis in adult rat testis: central vs. local mechanism.

Mammalian reproduction is dynamically regulated by the pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormones are synthesized in the pituitary gland following stimulation by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and act by stimulating steroid production and gametogenesis in both males and females. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats (120 - 140 g) were randomly divided into 7 groups.

Acute oral toxicity test and phytochemistry of some West African medicinal plants.

Background: Although there is increased acceptance and utilization of medicinal plants worldwide, many are used indiscriminately without recourse to any safety test. Thus, the need for toxicity tests to determine the safe dose for oral consumption.

Objective: LD50 and phytochemistry of four medicinal plants of West Africa were investigated.

Ascorbic acid and the effect of cigarette smoke on tissues--a preliminary report.

Background: Smoke from the average cigarette contains chemicals, which are highly toxic, causing chronic airways diseases in smokers as well as non-smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). It is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis and cancer.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ascorbic acid on the degenerative effect of passive cigarette smoke on some vital organs.

Contractile effect of the aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves on aortic rings in rat.

Aqueous leaves extract of Psidium guajava significantly and dose-dependently (0.25-2 mg/ml) contracted aorta rings. The effect was evaluated also in presence of nifedipine and phentolamine.

Blood pressure and heart rate changes during pregnancy in fructose-fed Sprague-Dawley rats.

Blood pressure and heart rate changes during pregnancy were investigated in fructose-fed (diabetic) Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of 48 pubertal female rats were used. The experimental rats were fed with 25% (w/w) fructose mixed with normal rat chow for minimum period of 3 weeks while the control rats were fed with the normal rat chow.

Effect of acute acetyl-l-carnitine treatment on daytime melatonin synthesis in the rat.

The effects of acute treatment of young male rats with 350 mg/kg of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALCAR) at 15.00 hr on the synthesis and secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland and the retinas were studied 1 hr after injection. The pineal N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity was unchanged when compared with the control.