Unbiased Stereology. Three‐Dimensional Measurement in Microscopy.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or synthetic compounds present in the environment which can interfere with hormone synthesis and normal physiological functions of male and female reproductive organs. Most EDCs tend to bind to steroid hormone receptors including the oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR). As EDCs disrupt the actions of endogenous hormones, they may induce abnormal reproduction, stimulation of cancer growth, dysfunction of neuronal and immune system. Although EDCs represent a significant public health concern, there are no standard methods to determine effect of EDCs on human beings. The mechanisms underlying adverse actions of EDC exposure are not clearly understood. In this review, we highlighted the toxicology of EDCs and its effect on human health, including reproductive development in males and females as shown in in vitro and in vivo models. In addition, this review brings attention to the toxicity of EDCs via interaction of genomic and non-genomic signalling pathways through hormone receptors.

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Molecular mechanism(s) of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals and their potent oestrogenicity in diverse cells and tissues that express oestrogen receptors

Rhein reverses Klotho repression via promoter demethylation and protects against kidney and bone injuries in mice with chronic kidney disease

Background: The EC Regulation for Organic Farming states that organic livestock should be treated preferably with phytotherapeutic products. In spite of the high importance of organic livestock in Europe, primarily ruminants, today almost no phytotherapeutic product is registered for livestock. Also, scientific information regarding veterinary phytotherapy is rare. The aim of this paper is to find approaches to cope with health problems of organic ruminants in Europe on the basis of findings from the European ethnoveterinary medicine (EuEVM). Methods: A systematic review of ethno-biomedicinal papers was conducted with the aid of the Scopus database, and 75 papers, from European countries were analyzed regarding ethnoveterinary information. Results: A total of 590 plant species referring to 102 different plant families are reported to be used for animal treatment, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae being the most important families. The traditional use of some plant species (e.g. mallow, chamomile, wormwood) corresponds with findings from recent scientific literature. The large number of less studied plant species, such as white lupin as an antiparasitic herb, and Helleborus spp. as potential immunostimulatory agent, opens an interesting field for future research. Conclusions: In general, EuEVM provides interesting treatment approaches for gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders as well as parasitosis. Findings regarding disorders of female genital or respiratory tract are less consistent.
Nevertheless, EuEVM offers a solid basis for stimulating research in veterinary phytotherapy in Europe with a perspective to solve animal health problems in organic or even nonorganic ruminant production.

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Treatment of Organic Livestock with Medicinal Plants: A Systematic Review of European Ethnoveterinary Research

This investigation reported the isolation and characterization of a potent heavy metal accumulating bacterial strain Enterobacter cloacae B1 from polluted soil at Ghaziabad, India. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the selected bacterial strain was recorded to be 1100 ppm for lead, 900 ppm for cadmium, and 700 ppm for nickel. Bioaccumulation of lead by this bacterial strain was extremely high (95.25 %), followed by cadmium (64.17 %) and nickel (36.77 %). Antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was determined in presence of lead, cadmium, and nickel at a concentration of 400 ppm. To monitor the physiological stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) level was also estimated. In order to optimize the flocculant production, bacterial strain E. cloacae B1 was cultured in specific medium at different incubation period (24 to 72 h), pH (6.0 to 9.0), and temperature (20 to 50 °C). It was observed that surfactant production was maximum at 72 h of incubation period (47.28 %), pH 8.0 (56.63 %), and temperature 40 °C (62.94 %). Protein expression profile in presence of these heavy metals was also interesting. Few proteins were noticed to be overexpressed in presence of these heavy metals.

Bioremediation of Heavy Metals by a Novel Bacterial Strain Enterobacter cloacae and Its Antioxidant Enzyme Activity, Flocculant Production, and Protein Expression in Presence of Lead, Cadmium, and Nickel

Background: Diazinon is a widely used Organophosphate insecticide, which is applied against plant pests This compound has various side effects because it acts as an acetyl cholinesterase enzyme inhibitor Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of diazinon on pituitary–gonad axis and ovarian histological changes in rats Materials and Methods: In total, 50 female wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 10, including control, sham and experimental groups I, II and III which orally received 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg/bw diazinon for 14 days respectively Diazinon was administered orally, and 24 hours after the last treatment, blood samples were taken from the heart, centrifuged and sera were evaluated for the concentrations of estrogen, progesterone and gonadotropins via RIA method In addition, ovaries were removed, fixed and studied with steriological methods Results: The results show no significant changes in body weight among various groups; while, ovarian weight in experimental group III decreased significantly (p<005) Also, no significant changes in the levels of LH, FSH and estradiol hormones were observed In contrast, the concentration of progesterone showed a significant decrease in all experimental groups compared with the control group The results showed no significance difference in the mean number of primary, secondary and graffian follicles but there was a significant decline in the mean number of corpus luteum in experimental group receiving 150 mg/kg diazinon (p<005 )  Conclusion: One can conclude that oral administration of diazinon could have adverse effect on progesterone hormone level as well as hazardous effects on ovarian tissues and reproductive processes

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The effects of diazinon on pituitary-gonad axis and ovarian histological changes in rats

Lead (Pb) is one of the most widely heavy and toxic metal in the environment. Since it is used at the petroleum
 production, its abundance has been developed around the world. Application of the resistant bacteria to this toxic
 metal could be utilized in bioremediation process. The goal of this study is to isolate and characterize the leadresistant
 bacteria and evaluate their ability in lead bioremediation and evaluate their growth kinetic. Sampling was
 conducted from the soil around the three gas stations in Jahrom city. The amount of lead in the samples was
 measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The numbers of bacteria were counted at two medium with and
 without lead acetate. The isolation of bacteria was conducted by primary enrichment and then culturing on the
 nutrient agar with lead acetate. The bacteria were characterized by the common biochemical tests. The MIC test
 was utilized in order to obtain the minimum concentration lead essential for preventing bacteria growth. These
 bacteria were cultured in different concentrations of lead acetate on the LB broth medium in order to evaluate their
 growth kinetic. The logarithm average of the number of bacteria at the medium without lead was 6.605 and more
 than medium with lead. The maximum number of lead-resistant bacteria was 7.289 at station C, and the minimum
 number was 5.179 at the station A. The Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Corynebacterium sp, Staphylococcus sp and
 E.coli were isolated as the lead-resistant bacteria. Most of isolated bacteria from the soil of gas stations were highly
 capable to eliminate lead. Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Corynebacteriumsp, Staphylococcussp and E.coli
 eliminated 89.66% , 87.97 %, 86.64 %, 64.82 % and 60.35% of lead, respectively. The results of this study showed
 that Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Corynebacterium sp are highly resistant to lead and are sufficient options for
 lead bioremediation.

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Range determination for resistance/tolerance and growth kinetic of indigenous bacteria isolated from lead contaminated soils near gas stations (Iran)

Effect of Hydro Alcoholic Ginger Extracts on the Body Weight, Testis Weight and Spermatogenesis in Male Rats Undergoing Chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide

Article history: Received: 01 Apr 2011 Revised: 20 May 2011 Accepted: 03 Jun 2011

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The Effects of a Hydroalcoholic Extract of Matricaria chamomilla Flower on the Pituitary-Gonadal Axis and Ovaries of Rats

Background: The aim of this study was the effect of Myrtus communis extract on liver enzymes and blood biochemical factors in diabetic adult male rats. Materials and Methods: This study has been carried out experimentally and completely random. Seventy adult male Wistar rats were divided in 7 groups including: control which received no treatment, sham who received 2 mL of distilled water, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd experimental groups which received 0.75, 1.5 and 3 mg/kg Myrtus communis leaf extract respectively, the 4th experimental group as the diabetic control group who received streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) and the 5th experimental group as the diabetic treatment group who received 3 mg/kg of extract. This experiment lasted 14 days with prescript orally. After this period, all the rats, were weighted, anesthetized and blood samples were taken from the heart centrifuged and sera were evaluated for the concentration of various factors. In addition liver were removed and sliced. Results: According to the obtained results, the plasma concentration of liver enzyme (alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase), cholesterol and glucose presented a significant decrease at (p≤0.05). Whereas no significant change were seen in body weight, triglyceride, urea, albumin and total protein. Histological studies of the liver tissue showed no significant difference among various groups. Conclusion: Myrtus communis is comprise of collections of flavonoids and other various components with antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. Thence it can effective in treatment of liver diseases and decrease of blood sugar and cholesterol in diabetes mellitus patients.

Habibollah Johari

Papers

The effects of diazinon on pituitary-gonad axis and ovarian histological changes in rats

Range determination for resistance/tolerance and growth kinetic of indigenous bacteria isolated from lead contaminated soils near gas stations (Iran)

Effect of Hydro Alcoholic Ginger Extracts on the Body Weight, Testis Weight and Spermatogenesis in Male Rats Undergoing Chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide

The Effects of a Hydroalcoholic Extract of Matricaria chamomilla Flower on the Pituitary-Gonadal Axis and Ovaries of Rats

The Effect of Myrtus communis Extract on Liver Enzymes and Blood Biochemical Factors in Diabetic Adult Male Rats