Environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metal-containing products, such as crude oil, poses serious global health concerns. The bioaccumulation of crude oil constituents in humans has been reported to be toxic to the brain, however, much is still unknown about the neurotoxic mechanism of crude oil. The thalamus is a key sensory neuro relay station to various cortical regions involved in numerous cognitive and sensorimotor functions. In the present study, we investigated thalamic glial and neuronal response to Bonny Light crude oil (BLCO) exposure in rats by immunohistochemical evaluations of selected neuro markers, including GFAP, Iba1, Nrf2, parvalbumin, and NeuN. Adult Wistar rats (n = 6) were orally administered either distilled water (control), 1 or 2 ml/kg BLCO for 21 days. Following administration, we performed immunohistochemistry protocols for the markers mentioned above. BLCO induced a marked decrease in Iba1 expression levels with a contrasting increase in GFAP levels reflective of the involvement of glial activity. In contrast, BLCO exposure did not alter Nrf2 levels suggestive of the lack of influence on oxidative stress regulation by the Nrf2 pathway. Furthermore, there was overexpression of thalamic parvalbumin, which could indicate an aberrant increase in inhibitory activity by parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons, thus possibly disrupting the brain's excitatory-inhibitory balance. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the number of NeuN-positive cells but no change in immunoreactivity levels, signifying a reduction in thalamic neuronal density in BLCO-exposed rats. Overall, our results suggest that BLCO exposure could alter glial and neuronal functions in the thalamic region of the brain. ...
Squirrels have attracted many interests from many scientists as a model for research. There are several species of squirrels found across the globe; however, different species are found in specific locations. This study examined the Thomas'-Rope-Squirrel (TRS) and Gambian-Sun-Squirrel (GSS), mostly found in West Africa and Central Africa. There is paucity of information on the brain and testicular morphometry in these species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the gross morphometric and histological descriptions of the brain and testes between TRS and GSS. Comparing five adult males from each species, the study found that TRS had smaller brains but significantly larger testes relative to their body size compared to GSS. Brain length differed between the species, but brain width was similar. The observed macromorphological variation in size and weight of testes could be attributed to the number of seminiferous tubules and degree of cellularity within the testis of each species. The olfactory bulb and testes of both species displayed similar histological features. In the TRS, the internalplexiform-layer (IPL) was not easily differentiated from the mitral cell layer except when observed at a higher magnification. The subventricular-zone was evident in the TRS but not noticeable in the GSS. TRS showed a higher testicular cell density compared to the GSS. The findings from the present study show significant differences in body, brain and testicular weights of the two tree squirrels. The similarities observed in histological patterns of the organs further suggest conservation of features across rodent species. ...
The first step in evaluating toxicity of a substance is to test for acute toxicity of that substance. The focus of acute oral toxicity is on possible short-term adverse effects from one or more oral exposures given within a 24-hour period. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of acute oral administration of Syzygium guineense’s root extract on the kidney of albino Wistar rats. S. guineense belongs to the family Myrtaceae. It is used against cancer and stomach ache, and as antihelmintic and purgative. A total of fifteen (15) young healthy male Wistar rats (8-10 weeks old) weighing between 140 g and 165 g were used for this study. The study was designed and conducted in two (2) phases: phase I and phase II using established protocols. In phase I, twelve (12) rats were divided into four (I-IV) groups of three rats each. Group I was designated as the control group, while groups II, III and IV were administered with 10 mgkg-1, 100 mgkg-1 and 1000 mgkg-1 respectively. In phase II, three rats were used and shared into three (I-III) groups of one rat each. Groups I, II and III were administered with 1600 mgkg-1, 2900 mgkg-1 and 5000 mgkg-1 respectively. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism version 9.2.0. Results from this research were presented as mean±SEM. Relative kidney weights showed significant decrease. Plasma sodium and urea concentrations showed significant increase. Kidney sections from the treated groups showed no remarkable changes. It is recommended that the root of S. guineense should be used with caution....
In this study, the cardio-renal health of offspring of mother exposed to bonny light crude oil (BLCO) during gestation was assessed in Wistar rats. Ten pregnant rats were divided into 2 groups (n=5). Distilled water (0.75 mL/Kg/days) was administered to group 1 while BLCO (0.75 mL BLCO/Kg/day) was administered to group 2. The administration was done orally from gestation day 1-21. Cardiac and renal MDA, Superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were assessed as measures of oxidative stress. Serum and urine creatinine and creatinine clearance were assessed as indices of renal function. Serum creatinine kinase was used as an index of cardiac integrity. Histopathology and histomorphometry of the heart and kidney were also assessed. Data were subjected to Two-way ANOVA to assess the interaction between sex and treatment. The result showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in body weight at birth, postnatal days 21 (weaning) and 3 months of postnatal life in the male and female offspring of BLCO group. Cardiac and renal Catalase and SOD activities, urine creatinine, and creatinine clearance were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the female offspring of BLCO group. The cardiac MDA, renal MDA and serum creatinine kinase activities were significantly raised (P < 0.05) in both male and female offspring of BLCO treated dams. Histopathology results also suggest pathological changes in the heart (including fibres fragmentation and disintegration, and loss of striation) and kidney (including atrophic glomeruli, some glomeruli appeared inflamed with occlusion of the Bowman’s space, and occasional hemorrhagic reaction.) of the male and female offspring of BLCO treated rats. In conclusion, the result suggests an alteration in renal and cardiac function and increased oxidative stress in these tissues. ...
The most prevalent malignant tumor in humans is basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and its frequency has been rising over time. This study examined the histological subtypes of cutaneous BCC identified at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Nigeria. The study examined the histological subtypes of cutaneous BCC using a cross-sectional retrospective 7-year hospital-based approach. Out of 150 instances of cutaneous malignancies, a total of 42 (28%) cases of BCC were diagnosed. According to body regions, the head and neck account for 30 cases (71.4%), followed by the body (trunk) with 8 (19.0%), and the extremities with 4 cases (9.5%). Of the 42 BCC cases, 29 (69.0%) were detected in females, and 13 (31.0%) in men. The age group with the largest BCC occurrence was 50–59 years old (16 cases, or 38.1%), whereas the age group with the lowest incidence was 70–79 years old (1 case, or 2.4%). There were 17 nodular subtypes (40.5%), 9 superficial subtypes (21.4%), and 7 basosquamous subtypes (16.7%) of BCC detected. Infiltrating and morpheaform variants had 5 instances (11.9%) and 4 cases (9.5%), respectively. The data obtained from this study about the prevalence of BCC subtypes in the hospital may serve as a roadmap for future investigations into BCC management....
Diabetes mellitus contributes to male sexual dysfunction and infertility by causing oxidative damage to the testis. Over the years, the use of herbs like Hibiscus sabdariffa for the treatment of ailments has garnered worldwide recognition. However, its impact on male infertility due to Type1 diabetes is not clear, hence, this study. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five animals each. Group A was given normal rat feed and water as the Control; Group B was administered 120 mg/kg body weight of Alloxan Monohydrate, Group C was administered 200 mg/kg body weight of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf extract, Group D was administered 120 mg/kg body weight of Alloxan monohydrate + 200 mg/kg body weight of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf extract. All the treatments were given daily orally. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the animals were anesthetized under chloroform and dissected. The testicular tissues were harvested, weighed and fixed in 10% formal saline for histological studies. Sperm cells were obtained from the epididymis for analysis of sperm quality. The analysis of sperm morphology, sperm motility and sperm count showed better outcome in treatment with Hibiscus sabdariffa compared with diabetes-induced rats. Rats treated with Hibiscus sabdariffa following diabetes induction revealed fewer lesions and damage of the testicular tissue compared to the diabetic rats. The findings of this study suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa has the potential to help in the management of male infertility due to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus....
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent that exhibits splenotoxicity and induce hematopoietic suppression in cancer patients. Gallic acid is an antioxidant and anti-tumor agent that protects non-cancer cells. Sixteen rats were randomly grouped into four (4) sub-groups of 4 rats. The control received 0.1 ml/kg/ i.p of normal saline, DOX alone group received 15 mg/kg, i.p of doxorubicin weekly, while the Low and high dose Gallic acid groups were given 15 mg/kg.i.p. of DOX and then treated with 60mg/kg and 120 mg/kg of Gallic acid orally for two weeks respectively. The blood samples were collected, for the analysis of hematologic parameters using the One-way ANOVA. The spleen was harvested and prepared for light microscopy and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin. The study showed that Gallic acid exerts significant increase in the HB, PCV, MCHC, and WBC in both the Low and high dose groups and splenic-protective effect against the toxicity of Doxorubicin. Hence, Gallic acid prevented both splenic toxicity and haematopoietic suppression. As a result, this finding recommends its adoption in prophylaxis and as treatment option for Doxorubicin chemotherapy-induced splenotoxicity and haematopoietic suppression....
Permethrin is a commonly used domestic insecticide with varying degrees of neurotoxicity in both insects and mammals. The phytochemical components of Moringa oleifera oil (MOR) have several health benefits including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the role of MOR in ameliorating cerebellar damage associated with permethrin neurotoxicity. Sixteen (16) male Wistar rats with an average weight of 89.6 g were randomly divided into four (4) groups: Group A (control) was fed on a normal rat diet, Group B was fed with rat diet mixed with 1000 mg/kg of 0.6% permethrin, Group C was fed a normal diet with 5 ml/kg of MOR, Group D was fed with rat diet mixed with 1000 mg/kg of 0.6% permethrin and 5 ml/kg of MOR. The rats were treated for 14 days. The rats were euthanised thereafter and the cerebellum was removed and processed for both biochemical and histochemical examinations using appropriate solution, to assess oxidative status, neuroinflammation (tumour necrosis factor-alpha, TNF-?), Nissl distribution and microarchitecture of the cerebellum. Permethrin-treated rats recorded a reduction in glutathione peroxidase activity, but significant increase in TNF-?; cerebellar histoarchitecture was disrupted with varying degrees of degenerative and chromatolytic changes, which were mitigated in rats that received MOR intervention. The action of MOR on permethrin-induced cerebellar damage is by enhancing antioxidant defence mechanism and modulating neuroinflammation....
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is an annual legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is very nutritive and considered to be healthy for human diet because of its health benefits. However, individuals have been observed to react to its different processed forms. This study, as a two phase study, was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of cooked, fresh and fried arachis hypogaea consumption on hematological parameters and renal biomarkers in male Wistar rats. Forty male Wistar rats randomly distributed into 4 groups of 10 animals each in the control and experimental groups (Group A, B and C) were used for this study. Control group was fed with standard basal diet and water ad libitum throughout the research period, while Groups A, B and C were fed with 50% cooked, fresh and fried groundnut with 50% basal diet mixture and water ad libitum respectively for 30 days (Phase 1) after which they were all later fed with standard basal diet for another 30 days (phase 2). Blood samples were analyzed for hematological and renal biomarkers. This study revealed therefore the mixture of fifty percent groundnut and fifty percent standard feed consumption to influence some hematological parameters and urea and creatinine renal markers with a non-significant weight reduction in the groundnut treated groups. This study has also revealed the different forms of groundnut to vary significantly in phytochemistry and proximate analysis....
A cure to type 1 diabetes without undesirable side effects still remains a formidable challenge in drug research and development. Many traditional plants and herbal medicines have been discovered to have favourable and safe anti-diabetic activity in comparison to synthetic drugs. This study was aimed at investigating the protective effect of composite teas on pancreas following streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia in female Wistar rats. Thirty normoglycemic adult female Wistar rats of an average body weight of 200 g were divided randomly into six groups and the composite teas administered after induction of hyperglycaemia. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and body weights were taken. At the end of the experiment, the rats were fasted overnight and sacrificed and the pancreas was excised. Control group showed decrease in blood glucose levels with significant increase in body weight while the treated groups showed improvement in the blood glucose level with significant increase in their body weights but there were alterations in blood glucose levels of the untreated group with significant decrease in their weights. The control group showed normal pancreatic cells histology; the architecture of pancreatic cells in streptozotocin (STZ) group were distorted but the groups treated with composite teas showed improvement in their micro-architecture. In conclusion, composite teas have protective role on blood sugar level and also restores distortions of pancreatic beta-cells in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia. ...
Several studies have demonstrated that the face that contains a combination of highly feminine and masculine characteristics may obtain a score that recommends average masculinity in the other racial division, but whether this is true for the African population is not yet known. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to determine frequency distribution of masculinity and femininity levels of each facial parameter and to find out the best facial parameter that discriminate facial masculinity and femininity of the study population. Four hundred and two (402) subjects were selected from two associations in Kano State, Nigeria [Tsaya da Kafarka Taxi Drivers Association and Tricycle Operators Association Kano (TOAKAN)], using random sampling methods. The age range of the participants was between 18-50 years. Photographic methods were used to capture the face to measure the facial distance. Facial masculinity and femininity were derived from facial distances (captured image face). The present study established the base line data of frequency distribution of masculinity and femininity levels of facial parameters of the study population of Hausa ethnic origin. It was observed that facial parameter that best differentiated the level of masculinity and femininity was nose width per interpupillary distance (al1_al2: ipd: %)....
Memory impairment is a neurodegenerative condition that is associated with poor cognition. Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) is a neurotoxic agent that disrupts the structure-function of the brain, leading to impaired cognition and memory. Buccholzia coriacea is traditionally reputed to boost memory. This study aimed at testing the aforementioned hypothesis through the use of B. coriacea seed and vitamins C and E on AlCl3-induced memory impairment in adult albino rats. Twenty-five female rats were divided into five groups of five rats each. Each group was administered: distilled water (control group), 1 ml/kg BW olive oil, 100 mg/kg BW AlCl3 (negative control), 100 mg/kg BW AlCl3 followed by 100 mg/kg BW vitamins C and 1000 IU/kg BW of vitamin E and the last group received 200 mg/kg BW of B. coriacea after 100 mg/kg BW AlCl3 administration for 28 days. AlCl3 administration lead to impaired memory and spatial learning. Treatment with B. coriacea improved memory and improved memory retention and modulated brain oxidative stress levels as observed from the depleted level of malondialdehyde and increased levels of the oxidized glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels of the hippocampus. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the use of B. coriacea is a promising plant for reducing oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and for memory enhancement. ...