Effect of methotrexate and leucovorin on female reproductive tract of albino rats.

Methotrexate (MTX) an antifolate drug and leucovorin its antidote, are used in the treatment of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases in young women. We hypothesize that MTX treatment might comprise a deleterious effect on fast proliferating reproductive cells, an unavoidable and unwanted side effect. MTX given dose dependently to rats for 20 days prevented vaginal cyclicity and caused a reduction in serum progesterone and estradiol.

Studies on methotrexate effects on testicular steroidogenesis in rats.

The effects of single dose, 4 consecutive days, 4 and 8 weekly doses of methotrexate (MTX) treatment (3 mg/kg body weight, intramuscularly) with and without leucovorin (LCN) supplementation (0.3 mg/kg body weight, intramuscularly) on serum testosterone titres, total, free and esterified cholesterol concentrations and steroidogenic enzymes, viz. 3beta- and 17beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase activities were studied in adult albino rats.

Effect of short-term treatment of eugenol on the seminal vesicles of adult albino rats.

The structure and biochemical content of adult albino rat seminal vesicles, were studied, after administration of two different doses of eugenol for 10 days (0.2 and 0.3 mg/kg/day, i.

Effect of short duration caffeine treatment on the jejunum of adult albino rats.

The effect of the short duration (21 days) of caffeine at two different doses (12 mg & 30 mg/kg body weight/day) on the activities of adenosine triphosphatases in jejunum was studied. The activity of Na+, K+ -dependent ATP-ase was reduced significantly in the upper jejunal mucosal and serosal layers of low an high dose groups. Such effect was observed only in the lower jejunal serosal layer while a marked reduction in the activity of Mg2+ATP -ase was seen in mucosal and serosal layers of the jejunum at both doses.

Hepatotoxicity of eugenol.

EUGENOL a widely used pharmaceutical agent proceeds toxicity on inhalation in rats. Two different doses 20 & 30 μg/100g body weight/ day of eugenol were given intramuscularly to male albino rats for 10 days and the liver function was assessed by measuring the specific enzyme activities, and total and differential bilirubin concentration. There was an appreciable increase in total as well as differential bilirubin fractions and a dose dependent increase was noticed in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, transminases, lactate dehyrogenase with a decrease in the activity of glytamyl transferase activity, and suggesting eugenol to have a toxic effect on liver.

Effect of beta-sitosterol on uterine biochemistry: a comparative study with estradiol and progesterone.

Administration of estradiol/progesterone to ovariectomized animals significantly increased the uterine weight, RNA, DNA and protein concentrations. Similarly, administration of beta-sitosterol alone or in combination with estradiol caused a marked increase in the above parameters and the maximum influence was evident only after median and high dose treatments. However, administration of median/high dose of beta-sitosterol along with progesterone accentuated only the RNA and protein concentrations but exerted an inhibitory effect on sitosterol-induced increment in uterine weight and DNA concentrations.

Biochemical changes in epididymis following treatment with combined extracts of amaranthus spinosus roots and dolichos biflorus seeds.

Combined extracts of Amaranthus spinosus roots and Dolichos biflorus seeds at two different doses were administered to adult male rats to assess the structural and functional activity of epididymis. Biochemical studies were made throughout the experiment. Sperm motility was decreased markedly in the cauda epididymal fluid and the sperm counts were reduced in both caput and caudal segments.

Effects of combined extracts of dolichos biflorus seeds and amaranthus spinosus roots on the accessory sex organs of male rats.

Biological effects of extracts of Dolichos biflorus seeds and Amaranthus spinosus roots administered at two different doses (25 mg of D.biflorus seeds and 25 mg of A.spinosus roots; 50mg of D.

Comparative study of the effects of beta-sitosterol, estradiol and progesterone on selected biochemical parameters of the uterus of ovariectomised rats.

A comparative study was made of the effects of beta-sitosterol, estradiol-17 beta and progesterone, individually and in combinations, on certain biochemical parameters important to carbohydrate metabolism in the uteri of adult ovariectomised rats. beta-Sitosterol (SITO), estradiol (E2) and combined treatment (SITO + E2) induced significant increases in glycogen concentration and the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), phosphohexose isomerase (PHI) and total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Progesterone (P) administration however, raised only the uterine PHI and LDH activities.

Antifertility effects of beta-sitosterol in male albino rats.

The effects of beta-sitosterol on fertility, epididymal sperm counts and testicular and accessory reproductive organ weights were evaluated in male albino rats. The effects were studied at two dosages (0.5 and 5 mg/kg per day rat subcutaneously) for 16, 32 and 48 days.

Effects of anethole on seminal vesicle of albino rats.

Administration of anethole at 10 and 50 mg doses caused significant reduction in seminal vesicle weight, RNA and protein concentrations and contents and acid phosphates activity. However, there was significant increase in DNA concentrations and in the activities of alkaline phosphates and lactate dehydrogenase. The effects were more pronounced in the group receiving 50 mg of anethole.

Rat toxicity studies with beta-sitosterol.

Chronic administration of beta-sitosterol subcutaneously to rats for 60 days was well tolerated and there was no clear cut evidence of any gross or microscopic lesions either in the liver or kidney. Liver and kidney function tests were assessed by determining the blood/serum parameters like haemoglobin, blood glucose, serum protein, serum bilirubin, serum cholesterol, serum GPT and serum GOT. All the parameters were in the normal range except serum protein and serum cholesterol.

Effects of bamboo buds: structural and functional changes in the epididymis of rats.

An ethanolic extract of the tender shoots of Bambusa arundinaceae was administered at 300 mg/kg per rat per day for 7 days to adult male rats to assess epididymal structural and functional activity. Sperm motility decreased markedly in the cauda epididymal fluid and sperm count decreased significantly in both caput and caudal segments of the epididymis. Histologically, a reduction in epithelial and stereocilia height (in both segments) and lumen diameter (in cauda) was noted.

Antifertility effect of Bambusa arundinacea shoot extracts in male rats.

An ethanolic extract of Bambusa arundinacea tender shoots (BASE) caused a reduction in fertility of male rats. After administration of 300 mg/kg per day of BASE for 7 days, the fertility index decreased to 15% for control rats and to 23% after a 7-day recovery period, respectively. The number of cohabited females being successfully inseminated was reduced especially after 4 days of treatment.

Effect of foeniculum vulgare seed extract on mammary glands and oviducts of ovariectomised rats.

The effect of acetone extracts of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., seeds at different dose levels (50/ug, 150/ug and 250/ug/100gm body wt.) on mammary glands and oviducts of castrated rats was investigated.

Effect of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seed extract on the genital organs of male and female rats.

Following the oral administration of acetone extract of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) seeds for 15 days is male rats, total protein concentration was found to be significantly decreased in testes and vas deferens and increased in seminal vesicles and prostate gland. There was a decrease in activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase in all these regions, except that alkaline phosphatase was unchanged in vasa. In female rats, oral administration of the extract for 10 days led to vaginal cornification and oestrus cycle.

Adenosine triphosphatase systems in genital tract of testosterone treated male adult monkeys.

Studies on the distribution of Na+, K+-dependent, Mg2+ dependent and Ca2+ dependent Adenosine Triphosphatase (ATP-ases) in the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate glands of mature bonnet monkeys were carried out with and without Testosterone propionate (TP) treatment. Comparatively, the Ca2+ dependent ATP-ase was very active in the testes, caput and cauda epididymis and prostate of control animals. However, the Mg2+-dependent ATP-ase activity was predominant in the seminal vesicles.

Influence of sex steroids and prolactin on rat mammary gland.

The effect of sex steroids and prolactin on rat mammary glands. Estradiol-17 beta alone was found to increase the protein concentration significantly. Progesterone increased LDH and G-6-PD activities whereas Estradiol and Prolactin decreased LDH activity.

Hormonal influences on the oviducal lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes.

Changes in the specific activities and distribution of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes have been studied in the oviduct of intact, ovariectomized and ovariectomized-hormone treated rats. Total LDH and M-subunits were higher in the oviduct during estrus compared to early diestrus phase. Ovariectomy lowered the total activity as well as the proportion of H and M-subunits of LDH, with a total loss of LDH.