Comparison of urinary creatine with other biomarkers for the detection of 2-methoxyethanol-induced testicular damage

This study has compared different biomarkers of testicular damage, in particular evaluating urinary creatine as a non-invasive marker. Male rats were exposed to various doses of 2-methoxyethanol, a known testicular toxicant. Pathological damage, testis weight, urinary creatine and creatinine, serum lactate dehydrogenase, isozyme C4 (LDH-C4), and serum testosterone were determined. 2-Methoxyethanol caused dose-dependent pathological damage to the testes which was detectable at the lowest dose (100 mg kg^-1). Urinary creatine excretion was significantly raised at all doses but testis weight was only significantly decreased at the highest two doses (500, 750 mg kg^-1). Serum testosterone was only significantly decreased at 500 mg kg^-1 and LDH-C4 was not significantly increased at any dose. Therefore urinary creatine was the most sensitive marker of 2-methoxethanol-induced testicular damage and dysfunction.     

Comparison of urinary creatine with other biomarkers for detection of cadmium induced testicular damage

In this study, biomarkers of testicular damage were compared. In particular, urinary creatine was evaluated as a non-invasive marker of damage. Male rats were exposed to various doses of cadmium chloride, an established testicular toxicant. Pathological damage, testes weights, urinary creatine and creatinine, serum LDH-C4 and serum testosterone were determined. Cadmium chloride caused dose-dependent damage to the testes undetectable at the lowest dose (0.75 mg kg-1) but apparent at a dose of 1.125 mg kg-1. Urinary creatine was significantly raised after doses of 1.125 mg kg-1 and above 24-48 hr after dosing, and at the highest dose within 24 hr after dosing. Testes weight and serum testosterone were significantly decreased, and LDH-C4 significantly increased, at the highest dose (3.0 mg kg-l). Therefore urinary creatine was the most sensitive marker of acute cadmium-induced testicular damage and dysfunction.     

Comparison of urinary creatine with other biomarkers for detection of cadmium induced testicular damage

In this study, biomarkers of testicular damage were compared. In particular, urinary creatine was evaluated as a non-invasive marker of damage. Male rats were exposed to various doses of cadmium chloride, an established testicular toxicant. Pathological damage, testes weights, urinary creatine and creatinine, serum LDH-C4 and serum testosterone were determined. Cadmium chloride caused dose-dependent damage to the testes undetectable at the lowest dose (0.75 mg kg-1) but apparent at a dose of 1.125 mg kg-1. Urinary creatine was significantly raised after doses of 1.125 mg kg-1 and above 24-48 hr after dosing, and at the highest dose within 24 hr after dosing. Testes weight and serum testosterone were significantly decreased, and LDH-C4 significantly increased, at the highest dose (3.0 mg kg-l). Therefore urinary creatine was the most sensitive marker of acute cadmium-induced testicular damage and dysfunction.     

Ferulic acid in the treatment of post‐diabetes testicular damage: relevance to the down regulation of apoptosis correlates with antioxidant status via modulation of TGF‐β1, IL‐1β and Akt signalling

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of ferulic acid at different doses (50 mg kg^?1 alternative day and 50 mg kg^?1 daily) on the streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced post‐diabetes rat testicular damage. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). Rats treated with ferulic acid were given once a day orally for 10 weeks, starting 3 days after STZ injection. Testis tissue and blood samples were collected for investigating biochemical analysis, antioxidant status, sperm parameters, and histopathological, immunohistochemical and apoptotic studies. Treatment with ferulic acid to diabetic rats significantly improved the body weight, testis weight, serum insulin level, serum testosterone level and sperm parameters (viability, motility and count). Histopathological study also revealed that ferulic acid‐treated diabetic rats showed an improved histological appearance. Our data indicated that significant reduction in the activity of apoptosis by using terminal deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end‐labelling and reduced expression of transforming growth factor‐β1 and interleukin‐1β in the testis tissue of ferulic acid‐treated diabetic rats. Conversely, it was also revealed that ferulic acid‐treated diabetic rats markedly enhanced the serine/threonine protein kinase protein expression in the testis tissue. Our result suggests that ferulic acid inhibits testicular damage in diabetic rats by declining oxidative stress. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Testicular creatine and urinary creatine-creatinine profiles in mice after the administration of the reproductive toxicant methoxyacetic acid

It was previously observed that the acute or subchronic administration of some testicular toxicants, caused a significant raise in urinary creatine in rats. The aim of this study was to verify whether creatinuria could be detected in mice (a species with a different excretion profile of creatine) and whether it could be correlated to the levels of creatine in testis and to other parameters of testicular toxicity. The well known testicular toxicant methoxyacetic acid (MAA) was orally administered as a single dose (400 or 600 mg kg^-) to male adult mice B6C3F1. Twenty-four hours after dosing, urinary creatine and creatinine showed a significant reduction with respect to the pre-treatment values. At the following times post-dosing (48 and 72 h) the creatine exceeded the control and pre-treatment values, while creatinine had not yet recovered. The ratio creatine/creatinine was significantly higher than control and pre-treatment values, at 24 and 48 h after the treatments. In testis a significant, dose-dependent, decrease of creatine was observed 24 h after dosing, with a pattern related to the histopathologic alterations observed at different times after the treatments. Creatine determination was the earlier quantitative parameter of testicular toxicity, since at this time testis weights, sperm head number and enzyme activities (LDH-C4, SDH) were less affected, their maximum decrease being reached at 14 days after the treatments. These data suggest that in mice, 2-MAA could interfere with the metabolism of creatine, both in testis and other biosynthetically active tissues.     

Is there a correlation between taurine levels and xenobioticinduced perturbations in protein synthesis?: A study with tetracycline in rats

Summary Changes in urinary levels of taurine have been reported in rats following treatment with various xenobiotics including those which alter protein synthesis and/or are hepatotoxic. This paper reports on the time course of the urinary elevation of taurine following treatment of rats with tetracycline (50, 150 and 200mg.kg^-1). Maximum taurine excretion occurred 8–12h following dosing. Serum albumin and total protein were significantly lower after 24h (200mg.kg^-1). The increase in urinary taurine was dose-related and reflected in the raised serum levels of taurine 24h after dosing. Serum and urinary protein and [³H]-leucine incorporation into acid precipitable protein in liver and muscle were reduced by tetracycline (100, 150 and 200mg.kg^-1) 10h after dosing. The reduction in protein synthesis was correlated with increased urinary and serum levels of taurine at 10h. The use of taurine as a non-invasive marker of protein synthesis is discussed.     

Protective Role of Cactus Cladodes Extract on Sodium Dichromate-Induced Testicular Injury and Oxidative Stress in Rats

Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a xerophyte plant that belongs to the Cactaceae family. The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of cactus cladodes extract (CCE) on sodium dichromate-induced testis damage in adult male Wistar rats. For this purpose, CCE at a dose of 100 mg/kg was orally administrated, followed by 10 mg/kg sodium dichromate (intraperitoneal injection). After 40 days of treatment, the rats were sacrificed, and the testes were excised for histological, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and antioxidant enzyme analyses. Sodium dichromate treatment significantly (P?<?0.01) decreased the body, testis, and accessory sex organ weights, sperm count and motility, and serum testosterone level. In addition, histological analysis revealed pronounced morphological alterations with tubular necrosis and reduction in the number of gametes in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules of sodium dichromate-intoxicated rats. Furthermore, exposure to sodium dichromate significantly (P?<?0.01) increased LPO level and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in testis. Interestingly, pretreatment with CCE significantly (P?<?0.01) restored the serum testosterone level, sperm count, and motility to the levels of the control group. Moreover, CCE administration was capable of reducing the elevated level of LPO and significantly (P?<?0.01) increased SOD, CAT, and GPx activities in testis. Cactus cladodes supplementation minimized oxidative damage and reversed the impairment of spermatogenesis and testosterone production induced by sodium dichromate in the rat testis.     

Dose‐response effects of the antioxidant α‐lipoic acid in the liver and brain of pompano Trachinotus marginatus (Pisces,Carangidae)

This study evaluated the effect of different doses of the antioxidant α‐lipoic acid (LA) administered by intraperitoneal injection on the detoxifying capacity (activity of glutathione‐S‐transferase, GST) and oxidative damage (lipids and proteins) in the pompano, Trachinotus marginatus. The plasma glucose levels showed that there were no differences between the treatments (P > 0.05). In the brain, GST activity was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fish injected with 40 mg LA kg^?1 when compared with the control group. In the muscle, GST activity was not influenced by LA treatment (P > 0.05). In the liver, fish injected with 20 mg LA kg^?1 showed higher GST activity than the control group (P < 0.05); however, higher doses (40 and 60 mg LA kg^?1) led to a reduction of GST activity in the liver, which was comparable to that observed in the control group (P > 0.05). The two highest LA doses (40 and 60 mg kg^?1) had opposite effects, depending on the tissue examined: LA was an antioxidant in the brain, reducing lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05), and a pro‐oxidant in the liver, augmenting oxidative lipid damage (P < 0.05). The latter effect was accompanied by an increase in the free iron concentration in the liver at higher LA doses. These results indicate the need to thoroughly evaluate the antioxidant effects on aquatic organisms, since at some doses and/or in some organs their beneficial effects can be lost.     

Sustainable phosphorous management in two different soil series of Pakistan by evaluating dynamics of phosphatic fertilizer source

Phosphorous (P) plays the prominent role to promote the plants storage functions and structural roles, as it is recognized as a vital component of ADP, ATP, Cell wall as well as a part of DNA. Soils acts as the sink to supply P to plants because soil pH and its physical condition are the main factor which regulate the solubility and availability P element. Phosphorus is not deficient in Pakistani soils but its availability to plants is the serious matter of concern. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate P dynamics in two different soil series of Pakistan (Bahawalpur and Lyallpur) using Maize as test crop. The treatments applied were T0: Control (without any fertilizer), T1: Recommended DAP @648 mg pot^?1, T2: Half dose DAP @324 mg pot^?1, T3: Recommended rate of TSP @900 mg pot^?1, T4: Half dose TSP @450 mg pot^?1. Soil analysis showed that Bahawalpur soil has sandy clay loam texture with 33% clay and Lyallpur series has sandy loam texture with 15.5% clay; furthermore, these soil contain 4.6 and 2.12% CaCO₃ respectively. Results showed an increase in P concentration in roots (23 mg kg^?1) with the application of half dose of TSP in Lyallpur series and lowest in Bahawalpur series (14.6 mg kg^?1) at recommended dose of DAP. Concentration of P in shoots responded the same; increase at half dose of TSP (16.7 mg kg^?1) and lowest at full dose of DAP in Bahawalpur series as (15.58 mg kg^?1). Adsorbed P (17 mg kg^?1) was recorded highest in Bahawalpur soil with more clay amount in pot with DAP application but lower in Lyallpur soil series (14 mg kg^?1) with the application of applied TSP. The PUE was recorded highest in Lyallpur series with the application of half dose of TSP and it was 61% more than control and was Highest in Bahawalpur series was with the application of recommended dose of DAP is 72% more than control treatment. On estimation; results showed that applied sources made an increase in P availability than control, but TSP gave better P uptake than DAP unless of rates applied. Soil of Lyallpur series showed better uptake of P and response to applied fertilizers than Bahawalpur series which showed more adsorption of P by high clay and CaCO₃ amount. Conclusively, the study suggested that soil series play a crucial role in choosing fertilizer source for field application.     

Preclinical toxicity biomarkers for combination treatment with clotting factors rFXIII and rFVIIa

Abstract

Combination treatment with the clotting factors recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa), serine protease, and recombinant factor XIII (rFXIII), protransglutaminase, is being explored for haemostatic therapy. We performed a single-dose toxicology study in the cynomolgus monkey, with four dose groups receiving 0.1 + 0.34 mg kg^?1 (group 1), 0.33 + 1.12 mg kg^?1 (group 2), 1.67 + 5.60 mg kg^?1 (group 3) and 5.00 + 16.80 mg kg^?1 (group 4) of a rFVIIa + rFXIII combination. In the three lower dose groups, no clinical, histopathological or blood chemistry changes were observed. In group 4, the animals died at 4 h post-dosing, with histopathology revealing a systemic coagulopathy resembling, but distinct from, disseminated intravascular coagulation. Due to the absence of toxicity warning signs, toxicity biomarkers were identified by a Western blot-based screening of approximately 20 plasma proteins known to be involved in the clotting cascade. Three of the examined proteins were specifically affected by rFVIIa + rFXIII treatment. Fibronectin and fibrinogen exhibited dose-dependent reductions from less than 10% reduction (group 2) to more than 90% reduction (group 4). These reductions were reversible, and specific. For vitronectin, a dose-dependent conversion to the 65-kDa form was found to occur in groups 3 and 4. Thus, fibrinogen, fibronectin and vitronectin represent the first biomarkers for clotting factor toxicity.     

Effect of sub-chronic endosulfan exposures on plasma gonadotrophins, testosterone, testicular testosterone and enzymes of androgen biosynthesis in rat

Insecticide endosulfan significantly inhibited testicular androgen biosynthesis in adult rats, when fed (po) at 7.5 and 10 mg/kg body weight dose levels, consecutively for 15 and 30 days. No appreciable alterations were apparent in body weights, testicular wet weights, and cytosolic and microsomal protein contents of testis in treated rats. Profound decrease in the levels of plasma gonadotrophins (FSH and LH) along with plasma testosterone and testicular testosterone were observed at both the doses of endosulfan, particularly after the longer exposure of 30 days. Activities of steroidogenic enzymes studied (3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases) were considerably lowered on longer exposure of endosulfan. A significant decrease in the contents/activities of microsomal cytochrome P-450 and related mixed function oxidases (MFOs) in testis of treated rats was also observed, along with a marked inhibition in the activity of cytosolic conjugation enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase at both doses studied. These biochemical changes were reversed when the endosulfan treatment was withdrawn.     

LEAD PHYTOEXTRACTION BY WHEAT IN RESPONSE TO THE EDTA APPLICATION METHOD

Lead solubilization in soil and accumulation by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was studied in response to the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) application method. In this study, 4 mmol EDTA kg^?1 was applied using two application methods (a single dose and split doses) either alone or in combination with elemental sulfur. Results indicate that the application of EDTA in four equal splits at 1 mmol kg^?1 during the growth period resulted in significantly higher shoot dry matter than its application at 4 mmol kg^?1 at once 10 d before harvesting the wheat crop at the bolting stage. EDTA applied in split doses resulted in less lead (Pb) solubilization as compared with the single-dose application. The split application also significantly increased the shoot Pb concentration and Pb accumulation by wheat shoots as compared with the single-dose application. Despite its lesser effect on Pb solubilization, the EDTA application in split doses substantially increased Pb accumulation; thus, it is expected to minimize the risk of groundwater contamination.     

The effects of biochars produced in different pyrolsis temperatures from agricultural wastes on cadmium uptake of tobacco plant

Abiotic stresses caused by cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil retard plant growth and decline the quality of food. Amendment of biochar was reported effective in reduction of mobility, plant uptake and toxicity of Cd in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar applications produced from corn cob and rice husk at three different pyrolysis temperatures (400, 500 and 600 °C) on Cd uptake of tobacco plants. The results showed that the shoot Cd concentration and content of tobacco plants significantly increased with the application of Cd in increasing doses. The results showed that increasing Cd dosescaused significant increase (P < 0.01) in shoot Cd concentration and content of the tobacco plant at three different pyrolysis temperatures of both corn cob and rice husk biochars. The concentration of Cd was 0.48 mg kg^?1 in Cd0 dose of corn cob biochar produced at 500 °C and increased to 61.6 mg kg^?1 at Cd5, while Cd concentration increased to 72.3 mg kg^?1 with rice husk biochar. Despite the increase in Cd concentrations and content, shoot Cd concentrations and contents were significantly (P < 0.01) reduced with the treatments of corn cob and rice husk biochars produced at different pyrolysis temperatures. The Cd concentration at Cd5 dose in the absence of biochar addition was 90.5 mg kg^?1, while Cd concentration at Cd5 dose in 400, 500 and 600 °C treatments of corn cob biochar was reduced to 66.5, 61.6 and 67.3 mg kg^?1 respectively, and to 77.0, 72.3 and 70.2 mg kg^?1 in rice husk biochar. The results also revealed that corn cob biochar treatments were more effective in reducing Cd uptake of tobacco plants compared to rice husk biochar. Higher specific surface area of corncob biochar compared to rice husk biochar caused to the difference between two biochar sources on Cd uptake of tobacco plants.     

Renoprotective effect of a combination of garlic and telmisartan against ischemia/reperfusion-induced kidney injury in obese rats

Obesity enhances the frequency and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI). Telmisartan pre-treatment was used experimentally in the amelioration of ischemia/reperfusion (IR)-induced AKI. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding its beneficial effects on AKI in obese animals. The present study, therefore, aimed to explore the protective effects of garlic and/or telmisartan against renal damage induced by unilateral IR in obese rats. Meloxicam was used as a standard anti-inflammatory agent. Prophylactic oral administration of meloxicam (3?mg kg^?1), garlic (500?mg kg^?1) and/or telmisartan (5 and 10?mg kg^?1) for 4 wk protected against renal function deterioration induced by IR in obese rats. Both doses of telmisartan significantly reduced serum total cholesterol and triacyglycerol levels as well as peri-renal adipocytes size and renal fibrosis. Renal nuclear factor-kappa B immunoreactivity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha content as well as interleukin-10, adiponectin receptor 1 and macrophages (M1, M2) polarization markers (CD11c, CD206) mRNA expressions were down-regulated in ischemic kidney tissues and white adipose tissues around them by all treatments. Moreover, garlic, telmisartan and their combinations significantly suppressed oxidative stress in renal ischemic tissues. Histological picture was also improved by these treatments. Interestingly, the combinations provided a greater protection than their monotherapy in a dose-dependent manner. We suppose that this combination may be a promising prophylactic regimen for managing AKI in case of obesity. Thus, future experimental and clinical large-scale studies are necessary.     

Comparison of the urinary excretion time courses of pyrene-1,6-dione,pyrene-1,8-dione and 1-hydroxypyrene in rats intravenously exposed to pyrene

Abstract

The urinary excretion time courses of pyrene-1,6-dione (P16D), pyrene-1,8-dione (P18D) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) were compared in Sprague–Dawley and Wistar rats. Groups of five male rats, of about 200 g of body weight, were injected intravenously with 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 µmol pyrene kg^?1 of body weight. Urine was collected at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24, 30, 42 and 48 h post-dosing. Pyrene metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/fluorescence after enzymatic hydrolysis of the glucurono- and sulfo-conjugates, extraction on Sep-Pak C18 cartridges and, for the analysis of dione metabolites, derivatization to stable diacetoxypyrene molecules. Over the 48-h sampling period, on average 17.4–25.6% of the injected pyrene was excreted overall as P16D, 6.4–8.8% as P18D and 0.6–0.8% as 1-OHP in the urine of Sprague–Dawley rats. By comparison, on average 10.3–14.7% of the intravenous pyrene dose was recovered as P16D, 4.8–6.4% as P18D and 0.3–0.4% as 1-OHP in the urine of Wistar rats. In both strains of rats there was no clear effect of the dose on the 0–48-h cumulative urinary excretion of P18D and 1-OHP over the entire dose range, while the percentage of dose recovered overall as P16D in urine at the highest dose (50 µmol kg^?1) was statistically lower than at the other doses. The 0–48-h cumulative percentage of pyrene dose excreted as metabolites in the urine of Sprague–Dawley rats was also significantly higher than in Wistar rats (p<0.01) exposed under identical conditions. As for the urinary excretion-time courses of the different metabolites, for a given dose and strain of rats, excretion curves of P16D, P18D and 1-OHP generally evolved in parallel. There was also no clear effect of the dose on the excretion rate, thus half-life, of pyrene metabolites, except for P16D in Sprague–Dawley rats at the highest dose where elimination tended to be slower compared with the other doses (p<0.01). The average first-order elimination half-life of P16D, P18D and 1-OHP was 4.0, 5.7 and 4.1 h, respectively, in Sprague–Dawley rats, and 5.1, 6.1 and 5.1 h, respectively, in Wistar rats (all doses combined but excluding the highest dose for P16D). This study showed the relative importance of metabolic pathways leading to diones compared with 1-OHP. These dioxygenated metabolites appear to be interesting biomarkers of pyrene exposure at environmentally and occupationally relevant doses. Their adequacy as biomarkers of human exposure has yet to be confirmed.     

Lack of micronuclei induction by fumonisin B1 mycotoxin in BALB/c mice

The genotoxic potential of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) in vivo in BALB/c mice (male and female) was assessed by induction of micronuclei (MN) formation in bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes. The ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes (PCE/NCE) was also determined. Mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with FB₁ at a low dose (0.1 mg?kg^?1 body mass), middle dose (1.0 mg?kg^?1 body mass) and high dose (10 mg?kg^?1 body mass) as single and multiple doses in normal saline to test the genotoxicity. Mitomycin C, a known clastogen, was used as positive control. The frequency of MN and the PCE/NCE value in animals treated with FB₁ at low, middle, and high doses in single dose studies, and the frequency of MN in multiple dose studies, were statistically non-significant from that of the controls injected with saline only. The multiple dose studies at all doses revealed that the PCE/NCE value was found to be reduced upon exposure to FB₁ as compared to the controls. In animals injected with multiple low doses of FB₁, the PCE/NCE value was found to be 0.66 in males and 0.82 in the females; at multiple middle doses the value was 0.30 in males and 0.41 in the females and was statistically significant (p?<?0.001); however, at multiple high doses, the ratio was found to be 0.36 in both males and females. The present study confirms that FB₁ is non-genotoxic in nature while the reduced ratio of PCE/NCE suggests the cytotoxic nature of FB₁.     

Effects of dose and formulation of carvacrol and thymol on bacteria and some functional traits of the gut in piglets after weaning

Two trials were conducted to study the effects of dose and formulation of carvacrol and thymol on bacterial counts, metabolites and functional traits of the gut in weaned piglets. In the first experiment (Exp. I), 25 piglets (28 d, 6.59 ± 0.48 kg BW) were allocated to five dietary treatments: a control diet, or the same diet supplemented with either carvacrol or thymol at doses of 500 and 2000 mg kg^?1. In the second experiment (Exp. II), 35 piglets (28 d, 7.99 ± 0.73 kg BW) were assigned to seven dietary treatments: the same control diet as in Exp. I, or this diet supplemented with thymol in one of three formulations (on celite, on alphacel or microencapsulated) at doses of 500 and 2000 mg kg^?1. At 11/12 days post-weaning piglets were euthanised, and digesta from stomach, proximal and distal small intestine were sampled for bacteriological and biochemical analysis. Small intestinal tissue was sampled for histo-morphological determinations. In none of the experiments or sections of the gut was the number of bacteria lowered by the carvacrol or thymol supplementation. In Exp. I, the villus/crypt ratio at the distal small intestine for the experimental diets (1.30–1.32) was higher than for the control diet (1.24) (p < 0.05). Thymol fed animals in Exp. II had a lower number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes at the proximal (p < 0.05) and at the distal (p < 0.1) small intestine as compared to control animals. Mean concentration of the active ingredient in the stomach and proximal small intestine for the 2000 mg kg^?1 carvacrol diet was 521 and 5 mg kg^?1 fresh digesta, respectively, and for the 2000 mg kg^?1 thymol diets it ranged between 475 and 647 and between 13 and 24 mg kg^?1 fresh digesta, respectively. Cumulative absorption in the proximal small intestine was higher than 90% for all treatments and was not affected by formulation type. These data suggest that carvacrol and thymol can improve gut health, but evidence for clear antimicrobial effects towards the major culturable bacteria of the pig foregut is limited.     

Steroid metabolism by testicular homogenates of the Stanley-Gumbreck pseudohermaphrodite male rat. I. Increased formation of androsterone and androstanediol

Tritiated progesterone androstenedione and testosterone were incubated with testicular homogenates of 4- and 32-week-old Stanley-Gumbreck pseudohermaphrodite (Ps) and normal (N1) male littermate rats. In 15 and 180 minute incubations, both 4- and 32-week-old Ps testes converted all three substrates predominantly to androsterone and to a lesser extent androstanediol, while androstanediol in 4-week and testosterone in 32-week-old N1 testis were the major products. The addition of carrier testosterone (240 μg/g tissue) to 15 min incubations of testicular homogenates from 4- and 32-week-old N1 rats almost completely blocked the formation of androstanediol and markedly increased the accumulation of testosterone (47 and 41% from Progesterone-1,2-³ H; 66 and 92% from androstenedione-l,2-³H) indicating that androstanediol formed in the absence of carrier testosterone is, most likely, a product of testosterone reduction. When similar incubations were repeated using testicular homogenates from 4- and 32-week-old Ps rats, testosterone accumulation was not greatly increased (4–11%) by the addition of carrier testosterone, but androsterone formation was completely inhibited. However, when the incubations of Progesterone-1 ,2-³H with 4- and 32-week-old Ps and N1 testis in the presence of carrier testosterone were continued for 180 min, the major fraction of radioactivity from 32-week-old N1 testis was testosterone (79%) while that from 4-week-old N1 testis was androstanediol (60%) and from 4-and 32-week-old Ps testis was both androsterone (44–45%) and androstanediol (22–33%). The present data indicate that 4-week-old Ps testis, like the N1, has a high level of ring A reductase activity but forms androsterone rather than androstanediol as its major product. Unlike the normal mature male rat testis, in which ring A reductase activity diminishes allowing testosterone to become the major product, the 32-week-old Ps testis maintains a high level of reductase activity.     

Protective effect exerted by soil phosphorus on soybean subjected to arsenic and fluoride

Objetive: Arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) are found in groundwater and soils around the world, causing different problems to crops. Because these elements compete against phosphorus (P) in soils and plants, their relationship is complex. The aim of this work was to study the oxidative stress of soybean plants subjected to different concentrations of As and F, and the effect of P.

Methods: The following 10 treatments were carried out in each of two soils with different P content: three As levels (low 10?mg?As?kg^-1, medium 50?mg?As?kg^?1 and high 100?mg As kg^?1), three F levels (low 160?mg?F?kg^?1, medium 250?mg?F?kg^?1 and high 500?mg?F?kg^?1) and three As?+?F levels (same concentrations), and the control treatment (soil with the background As and F concentrations) Lipid peroxidation, chlorophyll, gluthatione contents and antioxidant enzymes activities were determination.

Results: Increased lipid peroxidation and alterations in glutathione content, catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities as well as in chlorophyll content revealed that As causes higher oxidative stress in plants grown in soils with low P content.

Conclusion: Stress parameters in F treatments were less affected. Plants grown in soils enriched with P revealed a decrease in the toxic effects caused by As and F.     

Comparison of the Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Estradiol Regimens as Part of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy

ObjectiveGender-affirming hormone therapy guidelines describe the estradiol (E2) doses for intramuscular (IM), but not subcutaneous (SC), routes. The objective was to compare the SC and IM E2 doses and hormone levels in transgender and gender diverse individuals.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study at a single-site tertiary care referral center. Patients were transgender and gender diverse individuals who received injectable E2 with at least 2 E2 measurements. The main outcomes were the dose and serum hormone levels between the SC and IM routes.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in age, body mass index, or antiandrogen use between patients on SC (n = 74) and those on IM (n = 56). The weekly doses of SC E2, 3.75 mg (IQR, 3-4 mg), were statistically significantly lower than those of IM E2, 4 mg (IQR, 3-5.15 mg) (P =.005); however, the E2 levels achieved were not significantly different (P =.69), and the testosterone levels were in the cisgender female range and not significantly different between routes (P =.92). Subgroup analysis demonstrated significantly higher doses in the IM group when the E2 and testosterone levels were >100 pg/mL and <50 ng/dL, respectively, with the presence of the gonads or use of antiandrogens. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the dose was significantly associated with the E2 levels after adjusting for injection route, body mass index, antiandrogen use, and gonadectomy status.ConclusionBoth the SC and IM E2 achieve therapeutic E2 levels without a significant difference in the dose (3.75 vs 4 mg). SC may achieve therapeutic levels at lower doses than IM .