Protective role of curcumin against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin-induced histological and biochemical changes in fundic mucosa of the adult rat stomach:

Curcumin ameliorated low dose-Bisphenol A induced gastric toxicity in adult albino rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most common worldwide chemicals involved in the industry of polycarbonate plastics, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. Forty three-month-old albino rats were randomly classified into four groups. Group Ӏ received a daily corn oil dose (5 mL/kg/ body weight, BW) through a gastric tube for one month, Group ӀӀ received a daily dose of Curcumin (200 mg/kg body weight (B.W.) through a gastric tube for one month, Group ӀӀӀ received a daily dose of BPA (0.5 μg/kg B.W.) through a gastric tube for one month and Group ӀV received concomitant daily doses of Bisphenol A and Curcumin as the regimen described in groups ӀӀ and ӀӀӀ. The rats were sacrificed, and glandular portion of stomach was dissected and processed for light, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. BPA induced destructed gastric glands, dilated congested blood vessels, submucosal oedema, decreased PAS-positive reactivity, increased collagen fibres deposition, decrease in the positive BCL2 immunoexpression, increased positive PCNA immunoexpression, reduction in the gastric mucosal height and destructive changes in the enteroendocrine, chief and parietal cells. Curcumin coadministration provoked an obvious improvement in the gastric structure. BPA exposure has toxic effects on the glandular portion of the stomach in rats. Otherwise, Curcumin coadministration has exhibited protective impact on the architecture of the stomach.

Impact of an Energy Drink on the Structure of Stomach and Pancreas of Albino Rat: Can Omega-3 Provide a Protection?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A controversy developed between the benefits of energy drinks (EDs) versus the possible health threats since its revolution. Lack of information was a call to assess the effect of chronic consumption of Power Horse (PH) as one of the EDs, on the structure of pancreas and fundic mucosa of stomach in rats, and possible protective role of Omega-3.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty two adult male albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups; control received group which only received a standard diet, Omega-3 group, PH group which given PH and PH plus Omega-3 group received both PH plus Omega-3 for 4 weeks. Biochemical assessment of blood glucose, serum insulin, gastrin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) was performed. The antioxidant activity and histopathological examination of both pancreatic tissue and fundic mucosa of stomach were assessed.

RESULTS

Administration of PH significantly increased serum insulin and glucose levels while it significantly reduced serum gastrin level compared to control. PH also caused oxidants/antioxidants imbalance in both pancreas and fundic mucosa. The latter revealed degenerative changes and increased apoptosis which was evident by increased caspase-3 immunoexpression. Pancreas exhibited signs of β-cells overstimulation. Fundic mucosa showed reduced number of parietal cells, gastrin hormone expression compared to control group. Omega-3 administration could alleviate, to some extent, these changes. It significantly decreased TNF-α, iNOS and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as significantly increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities compared to the group which received PH alone.

CONCLUSION

Power Horse intake significantly injures islet cells, pancreatic acini as well as the glandular cells of the fundic mucosa. Omega-3 decreases these detrimental effects mostly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

Dose- and time-dependent effects of bisphenol A on bovine spermatozoa in vitro

The present study was to evaluate the effect of bisphenol A (BPA) at the doses 1, 10, 100 and 200 µg mL(-1) on the bovine spermatozoa motility, viability and production of superoxide radical. The CASA system was used to determine the spermatozoa motility. The initial motility showed the significant differences (P < 0.001) between the groups higher than 100 µg BPA mL(-1) and the control group. Evaluation of the spermatozoa motility after 6 h of cultivation at the doses > 10 µg BPA mL(-1) was found to decrease motility significantly. After 24 h it was observed that the doses < 10 µg BPA mL(-1) statistically increased motility, while the doses > 100 µg BPA mL(-1) significantly decreased motility in comparison to control. The viability of spermatozoa as detected by the MTT assay decreased in all experimental groups, but significant differences were noted only at the highest doses of BPA after 24 h of in vitro cultivation. The intracellular superoxide production was observed by the NBT test after 24 h of BPA exposure. The results indicated that in all experimental groups the amount of superoxide increased as compared to the control group; significant changes were observed at the doses > 100 µg BPA mL(-1). In conclusion, the results from our experiments suggest the negative effects of BPA at the highest doses used on motility and viability of bovine spermatozoa and production of superoxide radical.