Adverse hematological profiles associated with chlorpromazine antipsychotic treatment in male rats: Preventive and reversal mechanisms of taurine and coenzyme-Q10

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is one of the most effective antipsychotic drugs used for managing psychotic related disorders owing to its dopamine receptor blocking action. However, pharmacological investigations against CPZ's cytotoxic effect have remained scarce. Hence, this study investigated the preventive and reversal effects of taurine and coenzyme-Q10 (COQ-10), which are compounds with proven natural antioxidant properties, against CPZ-induced hematological impairments in male rats. In the preventive study, rats received oral saline (10 ml/kg), taurine (150 mg/kg/day), COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day) or in combination for 56 days, alongside CPZ (30 mg/kg, p.o.) between days 29-56. In the reversal protocol, rats had CPZ repeatedly for 56 days before taurine and COQ-10 treatments or their combination from days 29-56. Rats were also given taurine (150 mg/kg/day), and COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day) alone for 56 days. Serums were extracted and assayed for hematological, with oxidative and inflammatory markers. CPZ induced decreased red/white blood cells, erythropoietin, platelet count, packed cell volume and hemoglobin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte, which were prevented and reversed by taurine and COQ-10, or their combination. Taurine and COQ-10 improved mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin concentration, with increased erythropoietin levels relative to CPZ groups. CPZ-induced increased malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 levels with decreased interleukin-10, glutathione, and superoxide-dismutase were prevented and reversed by taurine and COQ-10 in comparison with CPZ groups. Taurine and COQ-10 alone notably improved the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory status relative to controls. Among other mechanisms, taurine and COQ-10 abated CPZ-induced hematological deficiencies, via decreased serum levels of oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory cytokines release, with increased antioxidants and anti-inflammation function.

Taurine and coenzyme Q10 synergistically prevent and reverse chlorpromazine-induced psycho-neuroendocrine changes and cataleptic behavior in rats

Over the years, mounting evidences have suggested a strong association between chronic chlorpromazine therapy, a popular first-generation antipsychotic drug, and psycho-neuroendocrine changes. In this study, we aim to examine whether treatment with taurine and coenzyme Q10 (COQ-10), compounds with steroidogenic-gonadotropin hormone-enhancing properties, can attenuate the negative impacts of chlorpromazine on steroidogenic, gonadotropin, thyroid and HPA-axis hormones, dopamine levels, catalepsy behavior and neuronal cells of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the preventive and reversal treatments in male Wister rats. In the drug treatment alone or preventive protocol, rats received oral administration of saline (10 mL/kg), taurine (150 mg/kg/day), COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day), or both (taurine + COQ-10/day) alone for 56 consecutive days, or in combination with oral chlorpromazine (30 mg/kg/day) treatment from days 29 to 56. In the reversal protocol, the animals received chlorpromazine or saline for 56 days prior to taurine, COQ-10, or the combination from days 29 to 56. Thereafter, serum prolactin, steroidogenic (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone), gonadotropin (luteinizing hormone, LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH), thyroid (thyrotropin-stimulating hormone, tetraiodothyronine, triiodothyronine) hormones, corticosterone, brain dopamine levels and cataleptic behavior were investigated. The histopathological features of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland were also evaluated. Taurine, COQ-10, or their combination prevented and reversed chlorpromazine-induced hyperprolactinemia, decrease in FSH, LH, testosterone, progesterone and dopamine concentrations, as well as the increase in estrogen levels. Taurine and COQ-10 reduced the changes in thyroid hormones, corticosterone release, histological distortions of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland of chlorpromazine-treated rats. Taurine and COQ-10 attenuated chlorpromazine-induced catalepsy. The study showed that taurine and COQ-10 prevented and reversed chlorpromazine-induced changes in reproductive, thyroid hormones, dopamine level, corticosterone release, neurodegenerations, and cataleptic behavior in rats.

Prevention and reversal of chlorpromazine induced testicular dysfunction in rats by synergistic testicle-active flavonoids, taurine and coenzyme-10

Evidences have shown that alterations in testicular dehydrogenase and ionic-ATPase activities have important implications in spermatogenesis and sperm capacitation, a penultimate biochemical change required for fertilization. Previous studies have revealed that taurine and coenzyme-Q10 (COQ-10), which are synergistic testicle-active bioflavonoids, with proven gonadotropin-enhancing properties reduce testicular damage in rats. Hence, this study investigated the effects of taurine and COQ-10 or their combination alone, and in the preventive and reversal of chlorpromazine-induced inhibition of testicular dehydrogenase enzymes, electrogenic pumps, sperm capacitation and acrosomal-reaction in male Wister rats. In the drug-treatment alone or preventive-protocol, rats received oral treatment of saline (10 mL/kg), taurine (150 mg/kg/day), COQ-10 (10 mg/kg/day) or both alone repeatedly for 56 days, or in combination with chlorpromazine (30 mg/kg/p.o./day) from days 29-56. In the reversal-protocol, the animals received chlorpromazine for 56 days prior to saline, taurine, COQ-10 or the combination from days 29-56. Thereafter, spermatogenesis (sperm count, viability, motility and morphology), testicular dehydrogenase [3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), lactate dehydrogenase-X (LDH-X)], ATPase (Na⁺/K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, H⁺) activities, sperm capacitation and acrosomal reaction were evaluated. Taurine and COQ-10 or their combination increased spermatogenesis, testicular 3ß-HSD, 17ß-HSD, G6PDH and LDH-X enzymes of naïve and chlorpromazine-treated rats. Both taurine and COQ-10 increased Na⁺/K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and H⁺-ATPase activities. Also, taurine and COQ-10 or their combination prevented and reversed chlorpromazine-induced inhibition of sperm capacitation and acrosomal-reaction. The study showed that taurine and COQ-10 prevent and reverse chlorpromazine-induced inhibition of spermatogenesis, epididymal sperm capacitation and acrosomal reaction in rats through increased testicular dehydrogenases and electrogenic pump activities.

Leukocyte profile of adult Nigerian subjects with acute musculoskeletal trauma

BACKGROUND

Leukocyte levels are evidently useful in trauma assessment, prognostication and management. Leukocytosis is a known physiologic response to trauma but suggested to be absent among Africans origin. The aim of present study is to investigate the existence of leukocytosis among adult Nigerians who sustain acute musculoskeletal trauma, S and also assess its prognostic value in management.

METHODS

A calculated sample size of 223 subjects participated following informed consent while 50 apparently healthy adult Nigerian volunteers served as control. Data obtained included age, sex, duration of hospitalization and leukocyte counts using improved Neuabauer chamber while differential count was done on stained thin film.

RESULTS

Analyzed results expressed as mean +/- SDM show significant male dominance (p < 0.05) among the acutely traumatized subjects with majority (70%) aged between 20 and 49 years. The mean total white blood cell count was 8184.96 +/- 201.087 cells/m3, significantly higher than mean for the control group (4922.00 + 1282.264 cells/mm3) at p < 0.05. The mean values for neutrophil and lymphocytes also show significant neutrophilia and lymphocytopaenia among the test population (p < 0.05). Pearson's correlation test for duration of hospitalization was positive for higher levels of total White Blood Cell count, with strong positive correlation between the levels of neutrophil and total White Blood Cell count suggesting the source of the observed leukocytosis.

CONCLUSION

Thus adult Nigerians exhibit posttraumatic neutrophilic leukocytosis contrary to some widely accepted postulations. The post-traumatic neutrophilia exhibit an inverse relationship with observed lymphocytopaenia. This can be expressed as a ratio called Neutrophil Lymphocyte Stress Factor (NLSF) and used in trauma management and prognosis determination.

Histological changes in kidney structure following a long-term administration of paracetamol (acetaminophen) in pregnant Sprague Dawley rats

Histological changes in kidney structure following paracetamol administration in pregnant Sprague - Dawley rats were studied. Ten (10) Sprague-Dawley rats divided into five animals per group were used for the study. They were divided into two groups (A and B). Group A served as a control group, while group B received 7.3 mg x 3/kg/day of paracetamol from 10th day of gestation till the 13th day after parturition. The drug was administered by gavage. They were allowed free access to feed and water ad libitum. The maternal rats were then sacrificed for tissue processing. Three deaths were recorded amongst the maternal rats in the paracetamol treated group during parturition and a prolonged gestation period was also observed in the same animals while two maternal rats had a normal gestation period and a safe parturition. Histopathology results of the maternal control animals showed normal kidney architecture (very minimal capsular spaces and rounded glomeruli intimately surrounded by the Bowman's capsule). Two of the paracetamol treated maternal rats that had a safe parturition at the end of the normal gestation period and showed vascular congestion and glomeruli haemorrhage, while one of the maternal rats that had prolonged gestation period (44 days) with signs of abnormally high bleeding during parturition showed higher degree of kidney derangement which was evidenced by shrunken glomerulus's plus droplets in the tubules, vascular congestion, haemorrhage and tubular necrosis. These findings reflect derangement of kidney architecture. The results suggest that paracetamol though considered safe at a considerable low dose especially in pregnant state, could cause kidney derangement during pregnancy.

Semen analysis of infertile Igbo males in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria

The semen samples of 1,110 (one thousand, one hundred and ten) Igbo males attending infertility clinic, aged between 30-50 years were collected and analyzed. The specimens were collected and analysed in the microbiology laboratory of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Eastern Nigeria. The standard method of masturbation after 3-5 days of prior abstinence from sex before sample collection was applied. The samples were examined for semen volume and microscopically as a wet preparation for sperm motility, morphology and count. The semen volume result showed that 91.07 % were normal. 6.3% sperm samples were motile. In the sperm count, only 7.3% had normal cells, 62.0% showed abnormal morphology. The aetiology of male infertility in the population studied seems to be related to the sperm count, motility and morphology but not volume. Racial factor seems to play no role and it is important to abstain from sexual intercourse some days before collection of semen for analysis.

The effects of menopause on the serum lipid profile of normal females of South East Nigeria

Dyslipidemia in menopause is a known feature in women, whether it leads to significant increase in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) is still controversial, more so in our environment where little work has been done. The present study is aimed at comparing the level of total serum cholesterol, including its subunits in premenopausal with that of their postmenopausal counterparts. This is to enable us ascertain the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women in our environment. One hundred and twenty six (126) apparently healthy, non-pregnant females (74 premenopausal and 52 postmenopausal) were recruited for the study. Serum total cholesterol and their subfractions- high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and triglycerides (TG) were estimated using enzymatic and established mathematical methods. There was no significant difference in the total serum cholesterol and triglyceride between the two groups. There was however, a significant reduction of HDL and VLDL in the postmenopausal group [P < 0.005] and a significant increase in the level of LDL in the postmenopausal group [P < 0.005]). The elevated LDL and the reduction of cardio protective HDL and VLDL is an indication that menopause is an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in our environment.