Cigarette smoke pollution promotes oxidative stress imbalance and hormonal changes affecting pregnancy outcome in rats

Background: The deleterious effect of cigarette smoke on several health parameters due to pollution of air is of international concern. How these affect all living organisms and their wellbeing is a major research area. The development of oxidative stress, alteration in lipid peroxidation, thyroid and pregnancy hormone pattern was examined in pregnant rats exposed to cigarette smoke throughout the gestation period. Methods: Cigarette smoke exposed and control pregnant rats were sacrificed at gestational day 6, 12 and 20. Serum was collected for hormonal assay. Some vital organs were also dissected out, homogenized and used for oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation assay. Gestational weights, corporal luteum and implanted embryos were also recorded. Results: There was a significant increased loss of corpora lutea, embryonic implants and a disruption of the hormonal pattern of LH, progesterone and estradiol during pregnancy in cigarette smoke exposed rats. A significant increase in serum cortisol and brain tissue level of MDA, SOD and a significant decrease in GSH in cigarette smoke exposed rats was recorded. Conclusion: Exposing pregnant rats to cigarette smoke precipitated oxidative stress, early loss of corpora lutea, disruption in hormonal pattern and an increasing loss of embryonic implants.Keywords: Cigarette smoke, implantation, corpus luteum, pregnancy, female sex hormone, thyroid hormone, oxidative stres

The immune system cell populations were increased in salt-induced hypertensive rats without an increase in the serum testosterone level (Short communication)

The consumption of dietary salt has significantly increased globally, especially in the developed countries. High dietary salt intake has been linked to onset and complications in hypertension with a dimorphism tendency. There is scanty information about the influence of high salt diet on the immune cell population and androgen level in circulation. Male Sprague–Dawley rats of 8 weeks old were used for this study. They were divided into control (fed 0.1% salted feed) and salt-loaded groups (fed 8% salted feed) for 8 weeks. All experimental rats were allowed access to clean drinking water; daily feed consumption was measured in addition to weekly weight. On confirmation of hypertension using PowerLab® data acquisitions system, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected into EDTA and sterile sample bottles. EDTA-blood samples were used for white blood cell and CD4 counts while the serum was used for hormonal assays. All salt-loaded rats became hypertensive, with a significant increase in total white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, and CD4 cell counts. However, the eosinophil count was significantly decreased in salt-loaded rats. This study showed no change in the serum testosterone in salt-loaded male rats compared with control. In summary, dietary salt loading while precipitating hypertension also activated increased production of white blood cells and CD4 cells without any change in the serum testosterone level

Fourteen days oral administration of therapeutic dosage of some antibiotics reduced serum testosterone in male rats

Fourteen days oral administration of therapeutic dose of Ampicillin (4mg/100g/day), Cloxacillin (6mg/100g/day) and Tetracycline (12mg/100g/day) separately to healthy adult male albino rats significantly reduced their serum testosterone level as assessed by enzyme immunoassay. The control group received equal volume of the vehicle (Normal saline) throughout the period of the treatment. A significant reduction (