Effects of Liquid Fructose Supplementation and Chronic Unpredictable Stress on Uterine Contractile Activity in Nonpregnant Rats.

Increased fructose consumption and chronic stress, the major characteristics of modern lifestyle, impact human health; however, the consequences of their combination on the uterus remain understudied. In this study, we investigated contractile activity, morphology, and intracellular activity of antioxidant enzymes in uteri from virgin Wistar rats subjected to liquid fructose supplementation and/or unpredictable stress over 9 weeks. Contractile activity and uterine response to oxytocin or adrenaline were examined using isolated bath chambers.

Ibogaine Induces Cardiotoxic Necrosis in Rats-The Role of Redox Processes.

Ibogaine is an organic indole alkaloid that is used in alternative medicine to combat addiction. Numerous cases of life-threatening complications and sudden deaths associated with ibogaine use have been reported, and it has been hypothesized that the adverse effects are related to ibogaine's tendency to induce cardiac arrhythmias. Considering that the bioavailability of ibogaine and its primary metabolite noribogaine is two to three times higher in female rats than in male rats, we here investigated the effect of a single oral dose (1 or 20 mg/kg) of ibogaine on cardiac histopathology and oxidative/antioxidant balance.

The humanised CYP2C19 transgenic mouse exhibits cerebellar atrophy and movement impairment reminiscent of ataxia.

Aims: CYP2C19 transgenic mouse expresses the human CYP2C19 gene in the liver and developing brain, and it exhibits altered neurodevelopment associated with impairments in emotionality and locomotion. Because the validation of new animal models is essential for the understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of movement disorders, the objective was to characterise motoric phenotype in CYP2C19 transgenic mice and to investigate its validity as a new animal model of ataxia.

Methods: The rotarod, paw-print and beam-walking tests were utilised to characterise the motoric phenotype.

Evaluation of Tick Abundance and Pyrethroid Resistance Via Determination of Glutathione-S-Transferases Activity.

Controlling the number of ticks as carriers of infectious diseases is very important. The process is sometimes compromised by activating the protective mechanisms of the tick itself. Glutathione-S-transferases activity (GSTs) was the subject of our investigation of tick abundance after pyrethroid treatment.

Antipsychotic Drug-Mediated Adverse Effects on Rat Testicles May Be Caused by Altered Redox and Hormonal Homeostasis.

Sexual dysfunction, as a noticeable adverse effect of atypical antipsychotic drugs (APDs) for the treatment of schizophrenia, has not been investigated in detail. A study was undertaken to investigate whether 28-day long treatment with clozapine, ziprasidone or sertindole (using a recommended daily dose for atypical antipsychotic therapy), induced histopathological changes both in rat testicles and prostate, changed the activity of the antioxidant defence system and altered blood testosterone and prolactin. Clozapine, ziprasidone and sertindole induced histopathological changes in rat testicular tissue, which could be attributed to a disturbed testicular antioxidant defence system in addition to an altered prolactin to testosterone ratio.