OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of lead exposure to rat placenta and pups during different gestation periods.

METHODSAll 108 Wistar rats (72 females, 36 males) were randomly divided into four groups. All rats were orally fed with 0.025% lead acetate during different gestation periods. Blood was obtained from the abdominal vena cava and the lead level in maternal blood was measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry at the end of the pregnancy. The number of pups, their body weight, body length and tail length were measured. The effects of lead to rat placenta were observed by level of microscopy, optical microscopy and electronic microscopy.

RESULTSExperimental groups the blood lead level at the end of gestation were above 0.483 micromol/L. There were significant differences among, of pups, during different groups (P < 0.01). Among them the drinking lead group of whole distant was the lowest in placenta weight [(0.31 +/- 0.13) g] body weight of pups [(2.08 +/- 0.88) g] length and tail length of pups [(2.37 +/- 0.32) cm, (0.98 +/- 0.09) cm]. There were significantly differences between the experimental groups and controls. Maternal blood lead level was negatively related to placenta weight (r = 0.652, P < 0.01), and had no relation with the body weight of pups (r = -0.107, P = 0.46). In the experimental groups of lead poisoned rats, the placenta showed focus necrosis in the deciduas, and increased the trophoblastic giant cells and light staining cells in the trophospongium. Trophoblast in the labyrinth and trophospongium showed degeneration; fibrin deposition around the villi was increased. Microvilli around the trophoblast were shorter and less, mitochondrion was swollen and decreased in number, rough endoplasmic reticulum was distended and ribosomal number on membrane decreased.

CONCLUSIONLead exposure during different gestation periods should have a traumatic effect on the trophoblast, leading to interference of nutrition and oxygen exchange. Furthermore, the blood supply to the placenta and nutrition and oxygen exchange between mother and pups were also interfered, leading to reduction of placenta weight and retardation of development of pups.

Animals ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Placenta ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

To assess the effects of a single supraphysiological postnatal administration of a progestogen on uterine glands in dogs, 10 females were randomly assigned to a medroxyprogesterone acetate 35 mg (MPA; n = 6) or placebo (n = 4) group within the first 24 h of birth. The safety of the treatment was also evaluated. A transient mild clitoris enlargement appeared in MPA-treated females. Microscopic postpubertal uterine assessment revealed the presence of uterine glands in all cases without significant differences in the area occupied by the glands per µm2 of endometrium nor in the height of the uterine epithelium.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Clitoris/drug effects ; Dogs ; Epithelium/*drug effects ; Female ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate/*pharmacology ; Organ Size/drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Sexual Maturation/drug effects ; Uterus/*drug effects

Animals ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Testis ; drug effects ; Triazines ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) injection on the volumes of different histological structures in the seminal vesicles of adult rats.

METHODSTwenty-seven male SD rats aged approximately 90 days were randomly divided into a control group (n = 14) and an EDS group (n = 13) to receive one intraperitoneal injection of normal saline and EDS (75 mg/kg bodyweight), respectively. At 7 and 12 days after treatment, the unilateral seminal vesicles were removed, methacrylate resin-embedded sections prepared and the total volumes of various structures in the seminal vesicles estimated using stereological methods.

RESULTSEDS treatment almost completely destroyed the Leydig cells in the testis, resulting in a drastic testosterone deficiency. The volume of the seminal vesicle (including the coagulating gland attached to the vesicle) was decreased by 53% in the 7 d EDS group (n = 6) in comparison with the 7 d control group (n = 7) ([138.2 +/- 12.9] vs [64.9 +/- 3.6] mm3, P < 0.01), but showed no significant difference between the 7 d and the 12 d EDS (n = 7) groups ([64.9 +/- 3.6] vs [55.4 +/- 7.7] mm3, P > 0.05). The total volumes of the glandular lumen, glandular epithelium, smooth muscular layer and adventitia were decreased by 96.7, 80.3, 57.6 and 67.0%, respectively, in the 12 d EDS group as compared with the 12 d control group (n = 7).

CONCLUSIONEDS induces drastic testosterone deficiency in adult rats, and significantly reduces the total volumes of the seminal vesicle lumen, glandular epithelium, smooth muscular layer and adventitia.

Animals ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Mesylates ; pharmacology ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the in vivo effect of traditional chinese medicine (TCM) Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue (SGLX) decoction on estrogen in vivo in mice.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into control, tamoxifen (TAM), SGLX and SGLX + TAM groups. After SGLX decoction had been given to mice for 21 days, the serum hormone level of mice was tested by radioimmunological method, uterine weight index was obtained by uterine weight divided by body weight. Endometrial change was pathologically observed.

RESULTSSGLX decoction reduced the level of serum estrogen more than the control with significant difference (P < 0.001). Uterine weight index was more lowered in the SGLX group than the control giving a difference but not significant. The endometrium in the SGLX group showed no change when compared with that of the control, but the SGLX + TAM group showed slightly more endometrial hyperplasia than the TAM group.

CONCLUSIONSGLX decoction, having synergistic effect on TAM, can reduce serum hormone level and alleviate the endometrial hypertrophy side effect of TAM.

Animals ; Drug Synergism ; Endometrium ; drug effects ; pathology ; Estrogens ; blood ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology ; Uterus ; drug effects

Pressure overload diseases, such as valvular stenosis and systemic hypertension, manifest morphologically in patients as cardiac concentric hypertrophy. Prevention of cardiac remodeling due to increased pressure overload is important to reduce morbidity and mortality. Epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) is a major bioactive polyphenol present in green tea which has been found to be a nitric oxide-mediated vasorelaxant and to be cardioprotective in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Therefore, we investigated whether EGCG supplementation could reduce in vivo pressure overloadmediated cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by suprarenal transverse abdominal aortic constriction (AC) in rats. Three weeks after AC surgery, heart to body weight ratio increased in the AC group by 34% compared to the sham group. EGCG administration suppressed the load-induced increase in heart weight by 69%. Attenuation of cardiac hypertrophy by EGCG was associated with attenuation of the increase in myocyte cell size and fibrosis induced by aortic constriction. Despite abolition of hypertrophy by EGCG, transstenotic pressure gradients did not change. Echocardiogram revealed that increased left ventricular systolic dimensions and deteriorated systolic function were relieved by EGCG. These results suggest that EGCG prevents the development of left ventricular concentric hypertrophy by pressure overload and may be a useful therapeutic modality to prevent cardiac remodeling in patients with pressure overload myocardial diseases.
Animals ; Blood Pressure/drug effects ; Cardiomegaly/pathology/*prevention & control ; Catechin/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Echocardiography ; Heart Rate/drug effects ; Histocytochemistry ; Male ; Organ Size/drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDNonselective muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine, was believed to inhibit myopic progression. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy, through topical administration, of the M1-selective muscarinic antagonist pirenzepine in preventing experimentally induced form-deprivation myopia in guinea pigs.

METHODSFifty-three guinea pigs, which underwent monocular deprivation with their eyelids sutured, were divided into 6 groups. Three groups were treated with 1%, 2% or 4% pirenzepine ophthalmic solutions; the fourth group with atropine; the fifth with saline and the last group left untreated. Ocular refraction, in vivo biometric measurements and wet eye weight were collected before and after the experiment. All the eyes were finally enucleated for histopathological examination to evaluate the possible toxic effects on ocular structures.

RESULTSAnimals untreated or treated with saline produced (-2.31+/-1.47) D and (-2.25+/-0.88) D of axial myopia respectively. Those treated with 1% pirenzepine ophthalmic solution produced relative myopia of (-1.63+/-0.48) D, and those under the treatment of 2% and 4% pirenzepine ophthalmic solution only developed a relative myopia of (-0.89+/-0.42) D and (-0.70+/-0.41) D (F=9.56, P<0.05). The significant reduction in myopia in 2% and 4% pirenzepine treated animals was caused by significantly less vitreous chamber elongation and axial elongation of the deprived eyes [2% group: (0.009+/-0.052) mm, 4% group: (0.006+/-0.078) mm] when compared with untreated, saline treated or 1% pirenzepine treated guinea pigs (0.057+/-0.056) mm, (0.064+/-0.053) mm and (0.033+/-0.035) mm, respectively]. Histological examinations revealed no obviously toxic effects on the eyes treated with pirenzepine.

CONCLUSIONTopical administration of the M1-selective muscarinic antagonist, pirenzepine, can prevent induced form-deprivation myopia in guinea pigs by inhibiting axial elongation without obvious damage to ocular tissues.

Animals ; Eye ; drug effects ; pathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Muscarinic Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Myopia ; prevention & control ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Pirenzepine ; therapeutic use ; Refraction, Ocular ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the dose-response relationship between the quantitative morphological stereology on thyroid and different iodine doses in mice.

METHODSWeaning Kunming mice were randomly divided into seven groups. The mice were fed for 100 days with distilled water containing different KIO3 concentrations, i.e. 50, 250, 500, 1 000, 1 500, 2 000, and 3 000 microgram/L respectively. The 50 microgram/L (proper iodine concentration) group was control group, and the groups of 250 approximately 3 000 microgram/L were high iodine groups. The stereology parameters of thyroid follicle and follicular cavities were measured with HPIAS-1000 (High Resolution Pathological Image & word Analysis System). The stereology parameters included mean surface, volume on area, volume on circumference, specific surface, numerical density on area, spherical factor, the percentage of mean surface and mean volume of the follicular epithelial cell in thyroid follicle was further calculated.

RESULTSPositive correlations was observed between the thyroid absolute and relative weight, goiter rate and different iodine doses. And the thyroid absolute and relative weight of mice in the 250 microgram/L group was significantly different from that in 50 microgram/L group. The goiter rate of mice in different high iodine groups was in conformity with that of epidemiological investigation. The goiter rate of mice in 500 microgram/L group was different from that in 50 microgram/L group. Positive correlations were observed between mean surface, volume on area, volume on circumference, spherical factor and iodine doses, but the negative correlations were observed between numerical density on area, specific surface, the percentage of mean surface and mean volume of the follicular epithelial cell in thyroid follicle and iodine doses.

CONCLUSIONSWhen Iodine doses are between 250 approximately 3 000 microgram/L, the dose-response relationship was observed between the morphological stereology parameters of thyroid follicle and follicular cavities and iodine doses, and when the dose of iodine is 250 microgram/L, it is possible to induce colloid goiter of mice. The goiter rates of mice resulted by different high iodine doses were in conformity with that of the epidemiological investigation of people.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Female ; Iodine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Organ Size ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) on activities of testicle enzymes as biological markers in rats.

METHODSFifty male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10). One group was left untreated and used as a solvent control (administered orally by corn oil), while the other 4 groups were treated with 3, 4-DCA. Corn oil was used as a solvent, and 3,4-DCA was diluted into tested concentrations (39, 81, 170, and 357 mg/kg). All the groups orally administered 3,4-DCA or corn oil, once a day for 4 weeks. The testicle tissue was homogenized in a 0.1 mol/L potassium phosphate buffer (0.1 mol/L, pH 7.2). The crude homogenate was centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 5 min at 4 degrees C. The supernatant obtained was used as an enzyme extract for determination of the enzyme activities.

RESULTSCompared with the control, the activities of ALP, ACP, and SDH were increased significantly at a lower level of 3,4-DCA, and decreased at a higher level of 3, 4-DCA, whreas the activities of LDH, LDH-X, and G6PDH were inhibited significantly with the increased 3,4-DCA concentration. Organ coefficient "organ weight/total body weight x 100" of testis, liver, and spleen increased significantly with the increased 3,4-DCA concentration. These results suggest that 3,4-DCA toxicity to the male reproductive system was associated with the activities of testicular enzymes which are the sensitive biochemical endpoints reflecting 3,4-DCA toxicity to the male reproductive system.

CONCLUSION3,4-DCA has toxicity to the reproductive system in male rats.

Aniline Compounds ; toxicity ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Toxicity Tests

AIMTo determine the effect of the aqueous extract of Mondia whitei (Periplocaceae) roots on testosterone production and fertility of male rats.

METHODSAdult male Wistar rats were used. In the acute study, 20 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 4 animals each. Four treated groups were administered orally a single dose of Mondia whitei (400 mg/kg) and the controls received a similar amount of distilled water. One group of animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after treatment, respectively. The controls were sacrificed at 6 h. Testicular testosterone was determined by radioimmunoassay. In the chronic study, 28 rats were divided at random into 4 groups of 7 animals each: Groups 1, 2 and 3 were given orally the plant extract (400 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)) for 2, 4 and 8 days, respectively. The animals of Groups 1 and 2 were sacrificed 24 hours after the last dosing. The controls (Group 4) received the same amount of distilled water for 8 days. The fertility was assessed only in Groups 3 and 4 and after that, the animals were sacrificed and the epididymal sperm density, the serum testosterone and the testicular testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol were assayed. The serum, testicular and epidydimal protein contents were also determined.

RESULTSIn the acute treatment groups, the serum and testicular concentrations of testosterone remained unchanged at all the time points. Chronic treatment for 8 days induced a significant increase in the testicular weight, the serum and testicular testosterone, the testicular protein content and the sperm density (P < 0.05-0.01), but did not affect the accessory gland weights, the serum protein contents, the testicular concentration of 17beta -estradiol and the fertility compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONMondia whitei root extract possesses an androgenic property.

Androgens ; Animals ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Gentiana ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sperm Count ; Testis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood