Lead being a toxic cumulative poison and an environmental pollutant, experiments were conducted at an oral chronic dose of (60 mg/kg/day) for 90 days on adult female rats (Rattus Norvegicus) and its effect on the reproductive functions in relation to the biochemical effects was studied. It was observed that the chronic dose of lead caused an elevation in the level of proteins, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in all the soft tissues studied indicating tissue damage. It also inhibited the level of acetylcholinesterase in all the tissues. Fertility tests by pairing treated females with males showed that lead-treated female showed irregular estrous cycle and the fertility rate dropped to 40% as female pups of lead-treated mothers showed loss in weight, high mortality rate, poor growth rate, and late vaginal opening. Histological studies of ovary showed atresia in all the stages of folliculogenesis sustaining the poor fertility observations. The present study revealed that lead caused great tissue damage and affected reproductive performance of female rats at a chronic dose.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

The importance of Tinospora cordifolia stem and leaves extract was investigated for its possible hepatoprotective effect in Swiss albino male mice against lead nitrate induced toxicity. Oral administration of plant extracts prevented the occurrence of lead nitrate induced liver damage. The decreased level of tissue enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and increased level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and acid phosphatase (ACP) were observed in mice treated with lead. Administration of aqueous stem extract (400 mg/kg body weight, orally) and aqueous leaves extract (400 mg/kg body weight, orally) along with the lead nitrate (5 mg/kg body weight, i.p. for 30 days) increased the activities of SOD and CAT and decreased the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and ACP enzymes in mice. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathology/histological examinations of liver section. Results of this study revealed that plant extract could afford protection against lead-induced hepatic damage.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

This study was carried out to evaluate in vivo protective role of aqueous extract of stem and leaves of Tinospora cordifolia (TC) on the toxic effects of lead on the hematological values. The lead-treated (5 mg/kg body weight, intraperitonially, once daily) male albino mice concurrently received either T. cordifolia stem or leaves extracts (400 mg/kg body weight, orally, once daily) for the duration of 30 days. The animals exposed to lead showed significant decrease in RBC and Hb level. Significant decline in WBC, DLC, and PCV was also noticed. Increase in MCV values displaying reciprocal relationship with RBC, PCV, and Hb values in lead-treated mice were also recorded. These influences of lead were prevented by concurrent daily administration of T. cordifolia stem and leaves extract. These results suggested that simultaneous supplementation of T. cordifolia protects against lead intoxication.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

The present study was undertaken to assess the testicular toxicity following short-term exposure to cypermethrin (a-CP) in albino mice. Cypermethrin was dissolved in arachis oil and administered to two groups of mice (n = 12/group) orally at the dose rate of 250 mg/kg body weight, once a day for 28 days. Fifty percent of the animals in both the groups were sacrificed on day 14 and the remaining on day 28. Plasma samples were subjected to radioimmunoassay to determine testosterone levels. The testes were collected to determine the cholesterol levels and the activity of transaminases (AST and ALT) or epididymal alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Histological study of testicular tissue was also undertaken to examine the α-CP-induced ultrastructural changes using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). α-CP significantly (P<0.05) increased the activities of testicular AST (1.36±0.12 vs. 1.19±0.10), ALT(1.78±0.11 vs. 1.36±0.09), and significantly (P<0.05) decreased the testosterone levels (0.86±0.24 vs. 1.72±0.18). Testicular cholesterol levels were elevated in treated animals as compared to control (1.81±0.16 vs. 1.42±0.08). Epididymal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was also decreased significantly (P<0.05) in treated animals (1.10±0.20 vs. 1.64±0.1). Histological studies on day 28 revealed rupture of spermatogonic cell membrane, shrinkage in the nucleus, stages of apoptosis, condensation of chromatin, and decreased cytoplasmic organelles. The study suggested that short-term exposure to α-CP in albino mice induced toxicopathological lesions in testicular tissue leading to decreased plasma testosterone levels.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

Indiscriminate use of pesticides for the eradication of pests causes tremendous changes to the environment and also to other nontarget organisms. To prevent such contamination of the environment and save nontarget species, zoopesticides are increasingly used as they are cost effective, eco-friendly, safe, and sustainable in the field of agriculture. The present study was undertaken to find out the effect of pygidial secretion (zoopesticide) on Odontopus varicornis. The insects were exposed to pygidial secretion for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours and its sublethal concentration was found to be about 2.8% for 48 hours. When the insects were injected with sublethal concentration 2.8% for 48 hours, the study revealed certain remarkable changes in the histopathology of the male accessory reproductive glands (MARGs) such as disintegration of epithelial cell wall, swollen nucleus, vacuolization of cytoplasm, highly pycnotic and necrotic epithelium, enlargement of epithelial cells, and disorganized tissues. It is suggested that zoopesticide causes several histopathological damages in the MARGs of O. varicornis and affects the reproductive potentiality of O. varicornis.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

Diclofenac toxicity was studied in male broiler chicks (Cobb strain) of a day old age. The chicks were randomly divided into eight groups consisting of 10 in each group. Group 1 was kept as basal diet control (1-32 days), group 2 on basal diet for 32 days + diclofenac (0.8 mg/kg body weight I/M) on day 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32, group 3 on basal diet for 32 days + cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg body weight I/M once daily) from day 20 to 23, group 4 on high-protein, high-calcium, low vitamin A (HPHC) diet (1-32 days), group 5 on basal diet + diclofenac + cyclophosphamide (as per the schedule), group 6 on HPHC + diclofenac (as per the schedule), group 7 on HPHC + cyclophosphamide (as per the schedule), and group 8 on HPHC + diclofenac + cyclophosphamide (as per the schedule). The activity of TBARS, SOD, and catalase revealed a significant (P< 0.05) increase, while there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the concentration of GSH in liver in the groups given diclofenac either alone or in combination with other variables. There was no significant difference in the diclofenac residue levels. The electron microscopy of liver revealed lesions of mild to marked severity in different combinations. It can be concluded that diclofenac has the toxic potential in poultry at subtherapeutic doses and further the toxic effects were more pronounced under the influence of immunosuppressants and HPHC diet.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

Effect of thiodicarb was investigated on various biochemical parameters and blood enzymes in adult male Wistar rats following its intraperitoneal administration at rates of 2.9 and 5.8 mg/kg daily for 28 days. Rats did not exhibit any marked changes in their gross behavioral signs and symptoms. Thiodicarb caused hyperglycemia in rats; however, increase in plasma glucose level was nonsignificant. There was no effect on total plasma protein indicating no severe damage to vital organs and no interference with protein metabolism in rats. Thiodicarb did not cause significant change in blood urea and creatinine levels, thus indicating to have no toxic effect on kidneys in rats. It did not affect aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level except a significant increase in AST level only on 7th day of treatment. There was an increase in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), but this trend reversed on 14th and 28th day. Thiodicarb did not alter significantly the levels of alkaline phosphatase in rats. It caused inhibition of plasma and brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in rats throughout the entire period of 28 days of treatment, which was dose-dependent. The findings of this investigation indicated that thiodicarb did not effect or alter much the various biochemical profiles except inhibiting AChE following i.p. administration up to 28 days in adult male rats.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

Incidence of drug-induced gastritis and ulceration in human medicine is well established. Besides, unilateral hemangioma, a unique concurrent case of tetracycline induced gastric toxicity in a dog, characterized by gastritis and ulceration is being reported here. Grossly, the appearance of gastric ulcers mimicked the appearance of Italian pizza. Histological examination further supported drug-induced etiology in this case. This is probably the one of the few cases in the annals of veterinary medicine to be documented as drug-induced gastric toxicity in dog.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]