Oxidative stress has been implicated to play a role, at least in part, in pathogenesis of many disease conditions and toxicities in animals. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species and free radicals beyond the cells intrinsic capacity to neutralize following xenobiotics exposure leads to a state of oxidative stress and resultant damages of lipids, protein, and DNA. Lead and cadmium are the common environmental heavy metal pollutants and have widespread distribution. Both natural and anthropogenic sources including mining, smelting, and other industrial processes are responsible for human and animal exposure. These pollutants, many a times, are copollutants leading to concurrent exposure to living beings and resultant synergistic deleterious health effects. Several mechanisms have been explained for the damaging effects on the body system. Of late, oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of the lead- and cadmium-induced pathotoxicity. Several ameliorative measures to counteract the oxidative damage to the body system aftermath or during exposure to these toxicants have been assessed with the use of antioxidants. The present review focuses on mechanism of lead- and cadmium-induced oxidate damages and the ameliorative measures to counteract the oxidative damage and pathotoxicity with the use of supplemented antioxidants for their beneficial effects.

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Oxidative Stress in Lead and Cadmium Toxicity and Its Amelioration

Alteration of testicular steroidogenesis and histopathology of reproductive system in male rats treated with triclosan.

Abstract In the past decades, much attention has been paid to toxicity assessment of nanoparticles prior to clinical and biological applications. While in vitro studies have been increasing constantly, in vivo studies of nanoparticles have not established a unified system until now. Predictive models and validated standard methods are imperative. This review summarizes the current progress in approaches assessing nanotoxicity in main systems, including the hepatic and renal, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. Histopathological studies and specific functional examinations in each system are elucidated. Related injury mechanisms are also discussed.

https://www.degruyter.com/downloadpdf/j/ntrev.2017.6.issue-3/ntrev-2016-0047/ntrev-2016-0047.xml

Toxicity assessment of nanoparticles in various systems and organs

Although it is well known that cadmium (Cd) causes adverse effects on male rat reproductive organs, few studies have quantified alterations caused by its low doses. Quantification of these alterations, especially in the testis, was measured using morphometry. A single dose of cadmium chloride (1 or 1.2 mg/kg BW) was injected i.p. in adult rats, killed after 7 or 56 days. The lower dose caused slight alterations as measured by morphometrical analysis. The higher dose caused significant reduction in testis and epididymis weight, gonadossomatic index and length of seminiferous tubule (ST) after 7 and 56 days. Cadmium significantly reduced the ST diameter after 56 days. Decreased volume density of ST, after 7 and 56 days, was accompanied by an increase in interstitium volume density. The damage caused by the dose of 1.2 mg/kg can be clearly observed with light microscope. After 7 days, the tubule lumens were filled with degenerated germ cells and multinucleated spermatid aggregates. Vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium was also observed. After 56 days, increased damage resulted in vacuolated ST, consisting only of Sertoli cells. Scanning electron microscopy examination of the testis showed that, in the group cadmium treated (1.2 mg/kg) and killed after 56 days, the interstitial tissue presents a compact and fibrous appearance with absence of fenestrae. The seminiferous epithelium height diminished and the absence of spermatozoa can be noted. The results show that a very small difference of Cd dose causes a sudden increase in testicular damage, apparently overpowering this tissue's natural defences.

Testis response to low doses of cadmium in Wistar rats.

There is a widespread repeated exposure of the population to the pesticides and heavy metals of occupational and environmental origin. Such population is forced to undergo continuous stress imposed by combined exposure of the heavy metals and different classes of the pesticides used in agricultural as well as health practices. The existing reports from several workers have indicated that heavy metals and pesticides in combination may lead more severe impact on the human health when compared to their individual effects. Such a combination of pesticides and heavy metals may also change or influence the detection of exposure. Several studies in past have shown the synergistic toxic effects of heavy metals and pesticides. Such evaluations have revealed the synergistic interactions of various heavy metals and pesticides in animals as well as humans. The aim of the present article is to provide a synthesis of existing knowledge on the synergistic effects of heavy metal and pesticides in living systems. The information included in this article may be useful for different environment protection agencies and policy makers to consider the combined effects of heavy metals and pesticides on humans while designing strategies towards environmental protection and safety regulations about human health.

/pdf/synergistic-effects-of-heavy-metals-and-pesticides-in-living-1r38bs0968.pdf

Synergistic Effects of Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Living Systems.

Adrenal weight, adrenal hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and serum corticosterone level were significantly higher in rats fed with 5% casein diet after 7 days of swimming stress (45 min/day) as compared to their controls. All the parameters were similar to their control levels in rats receiving 20% casein diet and exposed to swimming stress. The results suggest that casein can play an important role in preventing adrenocortical hyperactivity in swimming stressed rats.

Prevention of adrenocortical hyperactivity by dietary casein in rats exposed to forced swimming stress.

Protection of adrenocortical activity by dietary casein in rats treated with estrogen

The current investigation was planned to assess the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic efficiency of watermelon seeds on male albino rats. Eight male albino rats weighing between 105-150g were randomly selected for the present experiment and were placed into two equal groups (n=4) designated as control and treated group. The control group received normal stock diet (20% protein, 5 % fat, 60 % carbohydrate). The treated group received a modified diet (90g Stock diet excluding groundnut oil + 9g watermelon seed kernel + 1g sugar). Percentages of protein, fat and carbohydrate in the modified diet were kept same as that of the stock diet. All animals were given water ad libitum. Rats were weighed at weekly intervals. After 28 days rats were anesthetized using chloroform anesthesia and blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture and serum was obtained for evaluation of some biochemical parameters. Result showed that serum glucose, triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) of the treated group were decreased significantly (p < 0.01, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05 respectively) compared to that of the control group. Liver glycogen, serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and AI (Atherogenic Index) were decreased (non-significant) whereas high density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (non-significant) in the treated group. Current Research in nutrition and Food Science Journal Website:www.foodandnutritionjournal.org ISSN: 2347-467X, Vol. 5, No. (3) 2017, Pg. 368-373 ContACt Reetapa Biswas biswasreetapa@gmail.com Department of Home Science, Food and Nutrition Division, University

/pdf/hypoglycemic-and-hypolipidemic-effects-of-watermelon-24871d2g4d.pdf

Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic effects of Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) Seed Kernels on Male Albino Rats

Effect of copper chloride on adrenocortical activities in adult and immature male rats.

Adult male rats received daily injections (sc) of gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (0.2 mg/kg(-1) x day(-1)) for 21 days when they were sacrificed on day 22, adrenal weight, adrenal A5-3beta (delta 5-3beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5-3beta-HSD) activity and serum level of corticosterone were increased significantly while testicular 17beta (17beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity and serum level of testosterone and spermatogenesis were decreased in the rats fed on 5% casein diet. GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet, resulted significant decrease in adrenal weight, serum corticosterone and adrenal A5-3beta-HSD activity while testicular 17beta-HSD activity serum testosterone levels and the weights of sex organs were increased with respect to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. But the GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet showed decreased spermatogenesis quantitatively and sperm count appeared similar to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. These results indicate that high casein diet protects adrenocortical activity and stimulates testosterone synthesis without effecting spermatogenic arrest in GnRH antagonist treated rats. It may be concluded that GnRH antagonist in presence of high milk protein diet may be considered to be a suitable antihormone in the development of an ideal male contraceptive.

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/24078/1/IJEB%2039%2812%29%201249-1253.pdf

A. Chattopadhyay

Papers

Prevention of adrenocortical hyperactivity by dietary casein in rats exposed to forced swimming stress.

Protection of adrenocortical activity by dietary casein in rats treated with estrogen

Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic effects of Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) Seed Kernels on Male Albino Rats

Effect of copper chloride on adrenocortical activities in adult and immature male rats.

Effect of casein diet on gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist induced changes in adrenal gonadal functions in male rats.