The impact of Apis dorsata forest honey administration on follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels in rats (Rattus norvegicus) forced swim test as a chronic physical animal model

Background

Chronic physical stress has many effects on the nervous system and can cause structural changes in different parts of the brain and hemomodulatory, including hormonal. Current pharmacotherapeutic treatments have limited efficacy and are associated with many deleterious side effects.

Aim

The aim of this research is to determine how Apis dorsata forest honey administration affects follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in rats who are subjected to forced swim tests as a model of chronic physical stress placed in a container filled with water from which it cannot escape.

Methods

This was an experimental laboratory study with 32 rats divided into four treatment groups: control (C), Treatment 1 (T1) with a forced swim test + honey (2 g/rat/day), Treatment 2 (T2) with a forced swim test + honey (4 g/rat/day), and Treatment 3 (T3) with a forced swim test + honey (6 g/rat/day). All treatments were administered for 14 days. Then, blood was taken for FSH and LH serum tests, and a one-way ANOVA and Duncan test were used to statistically test the data analysis.

Results

The results of this study indicate that the administration of forest honey had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the FSH parameter, but there was a significant decrease in LH levels in the T2 and T3 groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

It can be concluded that giving forest honey to rats who were subjected to a 14-day forced swim test had no effect on FSH and LH levels. In rats given a forced swim test as a model of chronic stress, administration at doses of 4 and 6 g/rat/day reduced LH serum levels. Thus, giving forest honey could maintain reproductive health in rat that experience chronic stress.

Calcium (Ca2+) expression and intensity in cumulus-oocyte complex (COCs)in Kacang goat after vitrification

The process of vitrification of the cumulus-oocyte complex (COCs) often results in cold shock. When warming, heat shock occurs which can disrupt the balance of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) intensity. Drastic changes in temperature cause Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), affecting changes on Ca2+ in COCs. The role of calcium is needed for oocyte activation in the fertilization process. The purpose of this study was to measure the expression of Ca2+ and the intensity of Ca2+ in COCs after vitrification. The study was divided into 2 groups, the control group (C) of fresh COCs, and the treatment group (T) of COCs after vitrification. After vitrification for 24 hours, then thawing, the expression of Ca2+ was examined using the Immunocytochemistry (ICC) method and the intensity of calcium (Ca2+) with a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM). The research data obtained were analyzed statistically by T-Test. The results showed that the expression of Ca2+ in the control group (12.00±0.00) was different from the treatment group (0.35±0.79). The intensity of Ca2+ in the control group (1059.43±489.59) was different from the treatment group (568.21±84.31). The conclusion of this study is that cryopreservation affects calcium in COCs; there were differences in the expression and the intensity of Ca2+ between fresh COCs and COCs after vitrification. Ca2+ intensity of COCs after vitrification was concentrated in the nucleus, while in fresh COCs it was concentrated in the cytoplasm.

Effect of kebar grass extract ( Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch) on histopathological changes in liver of mice offspring from the parent exposed to carbofuran during lactation period

This study aims to determine the potential of Kebar grass extract in reducing the impact of liver damage in mice offspring ( Mus musculus) from parent exposed to carbofuran during lactation period. 42 lactation mice ( Mus musculus) used in the study were divided into seven groups, each group consisting of six mice. Carbofuran, Kebar grass extract, and vitamin C are administered orally on days 1 to 14 after birth. This group consisted of K (aquadest), P1 (carbofuran 1/4 LD50 0.0125 mg/day), P2 (carbofuran 1/8 LD50 0.00625 mg/day), P3 (Kebar grass extract 3.375 mg (0.2 ml) + carbofuran 1/4 LD50), P4 (Kebar grass extract 3.375 mg (0.2 ml) + carbofuran 1/8 LD50), P5 (vitamin C 5 mg (0.2 ml) + carbofuran 1/4 LD50), and P6 (vitamin C 5 mg (0.2 ml) + carbofuran 1/8 LD50). On the 15th day after birth, mice were sacrified and their liver taken for microscopic examination with hematoxilin and eosin staining. The scoring data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test. The result showed significant different (p⟨0.05) among the treatment groups. Mean of P4 in degeration is (1.13), necrosis (1.13) and inflamation (0.73), while the mean of P6 in degeneration is (2.20), necrosis (2.73) and inflamation (1.93). The conclusion of this research is giving Kebar grass extract is more effective in reducing degeneration, necrosis and inflammatory cell's infiltration than vitamin C in in mice offspring ( Mus musculus) from parent exposed to carbofuran during lactation period.

The potency of eel meat (Monopterus albus) extract on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression and epidermal thickness incision wounds on rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Objective:

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of eel meat (Monopterus albus) extract ointment on an incision.

Materials and Methods:

The experimental animals used in this study were 20 male rats (Rattus norvegicus), Wistar, weighing 150–200 gm and aged 8–12 weeks. This study uses complete random design and is divided into four groups. In the negative control group, group treatment was carried out on the healthy rat. In the positive control group, the incision was performed without any therapy. In the T1 and T2 groups, group treatment was performed with a dose of 2% and 5% eel (M. albus) extracts. The TNF-α expression was analyzed by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique and epidermal thickness by Masson’s Trichrome (MT) staining. Data analysis of TNF-α expression and epidermal thickness was done using one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test with a confidence level of 95% (α = 0.05).

Results:

The results showed that the eel (M. albus) extract therapy, with a concentration of 2% and 5%, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the TNF-α expression and increased the epidermal thickness.

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that the administration of eel (M. albus) extract therapy could help to reduce TNF-α expression and increase epidermal thickness in rat incision wounds.