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Biomedical subjects

N M Biswas

Publications and source records attributed to N M Biswas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Effects of gold on testicular steroidogenic and gametogenic functions in immature male albino rats.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of gold chloride, a metallic earth salt, on steroidogenic and gametogenic functions of testis in immature rats. Immature rats of Wistar strain, were injected (s.c.) with gold chloride at the dose of 0.3 mg and 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day for 26 days. All the treated animals along with the vehicle-treated controls were sacrificed 24 hours after last injections. Testicular steroidogenic activity was evaluated by measuring the activities of two steroidogenic key enzymes, Delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5-3beta-HSD) and 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-beta HSD). Gametogenic capacity was determined by counting the number of germ cells at stage VII of seminiferous cycle. Plasma levels of testosterone (T) was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Administration of gold chloride at a dose of 0.3 mg/ kg body weight for 26 days led to insignificant changes of testicular Delta5-3beta-HSD,17beta-HSD activities and gametogenesis along with plasma T. In contrast 0.5 mg gold chloride treatment for 26 days caused a significant increase in plasma T (p < 0.001) along with stimulation of testicular Delta5-3beta-HSD activity (p < 0.001) and 17beta-HSD activity (p < 0.001). Gametogenic activity exhibited a significant increase in the number of step 7 spermatids (7Sd) (p < 0.001) at stage VII of seminiferous cycle when compared to control. The results of our experiment suggest that gold chloride treatment might be associated with significant stimulatory effects on testicular activities. Furthermore, since hormonal changes, altered steroidogenic enzymes and gametogenic activities were evident to a specific dose of gold chloride treatment, our data may have some clinical implication on the stimulation of fertility.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed2003

Protection of adrenocortical activity by dietary casein in ether anaesthetized rats.

Adrenal delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta5-3beta-HSD) activity and serum corticosterone level were significantly higher in rats fed with 5% casein or 4% albumin diets after 1 hr of ether anaesthetic stress as compared to the controls, 5% casein and 20% casein (equivalent to 4% albumin) respectively. Ether anaesthesia to 20% casein fed rats caused no change in adrenal delta5-3beta-HSD activity and serum corticosterone level when compared with controls fed 20% casein diet. The results suggest that high milk protein diet may prevent acute stress effects by protecting adrenocortical activity. The present investigation opens up a new area of management of stress.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed2001

Prevention of adrenocortical hyperactivity by dietary casein in rats exposed to forced swimming stress.

Adrenal weight, adrenal hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and serum corticosterone level were significantly higher in rats fed with 5% casein diet after 7 days of swimming stress (45 min/day) as compared to their controls. All the parameters were similar to their control levels in rats receiving 20% casein diet and exposed to swimming stress. The results suggest that casein can play an important role in preventing adrenocortical hyperactivity in swimming stressed rats.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed2001

Effect of casein diet on gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist induced changes in adrenal gonadal functions in male rats.

Adult male rats received daily injections (sc) of gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (0.2 mg/kg(-1) x day(-1)) for 21 days when they were sacrificed on day 22, adrenal weight, adrenal A5-3beta (delta 5-3beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5-3beta-HSD) activity and serum level of corticosterone were increased significantly while testicular 17beta (17beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity and serum level of testosterone and spermatogenesis were decreased in the rats fed on 5% casein diet. GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet, resulted significant decrease in adrenal weight, serum corticosterone and adrenal A5-3beta-HSD activity while testicular 17beta-HSD activity serum testosterone levels and the weights of sex organs were increased with respect to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. But the GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet showed decreased spermatogenesis quantitatively and sperm count appeared similar to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. These results indicate that high casein diet protects adrenocortical activity and stimulates testosterone synthesis without effecting spermatogenic arrest in GnRH antagonist treated rats. It may be concluded that GnRH antagonist in presence of high milk protein diet may be considered to be a suitable antihormone in the development of an ideal male contraceptive.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed2000

Influence of adrenal cortex on testicular activity in the toad during the breeding season.

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of adrenals in gonadal activity in the male toad during the breeding season. Exogenous administration of corticosterone or metapyrone for 6 days inhibited adrenal delta5-3beta(delta 5-3 beta) hydroxysteroid (delta5-3beta-HSD) and testicular 17beta (17 beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activities, decreased the serum levels of testosterone and inhibited spermatogenesis. When toads were treated with corticosterone a significant rise of serum corticosterone was noted while metapyrone treatment appeared to decrease serum corticosterone levels. It is concluded that adrenocortical hormone plays an indirect role in testicular activity in toads during the breeding season.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1999

Antitesticular effect of copper chloride in albino rats.

Copper chloride treatment adversely affects testicular activity in albino rats. To investigate its antitesticular effects mature (120 days) Wistar strain albino rats were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with copper chloride at doses of 1000, 2000 and 3000 micrograms/kg body weight/day for 26 days. Significant reduction of testicular and accessory sex organs (seminal vesicle, ventral prostate) weight, along with inhibition of testicular delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activity and reduction in plasma testosterone level, were observed at the doses of 2000 and 3000 micrograms/kg body weight/day. The degree of inhibition in all the parameters were increased with the increase of dosage. But no significant change was observed in the above parameters when the animals were treated with 1000 micrograms/kg body weight/day dose. This suggests that copper produces a suppressive influence on male reproductive activity, mainly on testicular weight and steroidogenesis and accessory sex organ weight in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effects of passive immunization against alpha-2u-globulin and supplementation with alpha-2u-globulin on serum gonadotrophins and testicular activity.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of anti-alpha-2U-globulin on pituitary-gonadal functions in male rats. Adult male rats were given injections of anti-alpha-2u-globulin (1 mg/day) for 14 days, when they were killed 7 days after the last injection, serum levels of gonadotrophins and testosterone measured by radioimmunoassays, were less, testicular delta 3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase (3 beta- and 17 beta-HSD) activities were suppressed, spermatogenesis was inhibited and serum level of alpha-2u-globulin was decreased in anti-alpha-2u-globulin treated rats. Administration of alpha-2u-globulin (1.5 mg/day) for 7 days to anti-alpha-2u-globulin treated rats reversed the 3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD activities and serum levels of gonadotrophins, testosterone and alpha-2u-globulin, while spermatogenesis was restored to normal. The results indicate that changes in testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in rats after passive immunization against alpha-2u-globulin may be due to decrease in availability of endogenous alpha-2u-globulin.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1996

Hematologic and body fluid changes during simulated high altitude exposure in naproxen-treated rats.

Arterial blood oxygen saturation, body fluid and hematological parameters were studied in control, naproxen (a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor)-treated control, altitude-exposed, and naproxen-treated altitude-exposed rats after intermittent exposure of 8 h/d for 6 consecutive days to a simulated high altitude of 6,100 m (barometric pressure 349 +/- 3 mmHg). Arterial blood oxygen saturation was reduced in altitude-exposed rats, but increased significantly to near control level in naproxen-treated rats. On the other hand, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in erythrocytes increased in altitude-exposed rats, but naproxen prevented this increase. The red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit ratio were reduced significantly in drug-treated altitude-exposed rats when compared to the altitude-exposed group (without drug). Red cell mass was increased in the altitude-exposed group in comparison with control. Both red cell mass and mean corpuscular volume of altitude-exposed rats were shifted towards the control value when they were treated with naproxen. Drug-treated high altitude-exposure reduced the thiocyanate space, intracellular fluid volume and total body water content compared to drug-treated control rats. On the other hand, thiocyanate space and total body water content were increased significantly in drug-treated control rats in comparison with the control group.

Altitude↗
PubMed1994

Study on the activities of testes and accessory sex glands after losulazine treatment in rats.

Losulazine hydrochloride, an antihypertensive agent, was administered intraperitoneally to adult male Wistar rats in doses of 1, 2 and 5 mg/kg/day for 1 seminiferous epithelium cycle to determine its effects on testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis and accessory sex gland function. Administration of low doses of losulazine (1 and 2 mg/kg) resulted in a significant elevation of the steriodogenic key enzymes activity along with significant depletion of cholesterol content in testicular tissue. In addition, a significant rise in acid phosphatase activity in testes and prostate, and fructose content in accessory sex glands was also observed after low doses of losulazine. However, treatment with a higher dose of losulazine (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced the activities of testicular steroidogenic enzymes and acid phosphatase, and the content of fructose in accessory sex glands. Quantitative evaluation of the different varieties of germ cells at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle and epididymal sperm count in all losulazine-treated rats revealed a persistant prominent detrimental change in spermatogenesis. The results of our present experiment demonstrate an adverse action of losulazine treatment on functional activities of testes and accessory sex glands in adult rats.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1994

Effect of thyroidectomy, and thyroxine and alpha 2u-globulin replacement therapy on testicular steroidogenic and gametogenic activities in rats.

Adult male rats were thyroidectomized and killed after 22 days of treatment. Thyroidectomy lowered the weights of testes and accessory sex organs, decreased the activities of testicular delta 5-3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD), and diminished spermatogenesis, serum levels of testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin. Supplementation with thyroxine at a dose of 5 micrograms/100 g body weight per day for 21 days or supplementation with alpha 2u-globulin at a dose of 1.5 mg/rat per day for 21 days in thyroidectomized animals partially reversed the decrease in HSD activities and serum concentrations of testosterone and alpha 2u-globulin, while spermatogenesis was restored to normal. The weights of testes and accessory sex organs were also reinstated after supplementation with thyroxine or alpha 2u-globulin in thyroidectomized rats in comparison with thyroidectomized animals. It was concluded that alpha 2u-globulin may be an intermediary in the thyroid hormone control of testicular function.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1992

Histochemical study on adrenal delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in cadmium treated toad (Bufo melanostictus).

Effect of a single subcutaneous injection of cadmium chloride at the dose of 0.5 mg/toad on adrenal delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) was observed after 7 days. The activity of delta 5-3 beta-HSD was measured histochemically. The experiments indicate that cadmium chloride resulted in a significant decrease in the activity of adrenal delta 5-3 beta-HSD in toad during breeding season (June-July).

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1991

Effect of lithium chloride on spermatogenesis and testicular steroidogenesis in mature albino rats: duration dependent response.

Quantitative evaluation of the different varieties of germ cells at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, namely type-A spermatogonia (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), midpachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7 Sd) along with Leydig cell nuclear area (LCNA) and radioimmunoassay of plasma levels of gonadotropins (FSH and LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T), activities of testicular, delta 5-3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) were measured in mature rats of the Wistar strain following treatment with lithium chloride at a dose of 200 ug/100 g body wt/day for 7,14 and 21 days. A remarkable reduction in plasma levels of FSH (P less than 0.001), LH (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.01), PRL (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.001) and T (P less than 0.001) along with significant diminution in the activities of testicular delta 5-3 beta-HSD (P less than 0.001) and 17 beta-HSD (P less than 0.001) were observed following lithium treatment for 14 and 21 days. 21 days of treatment also resulted a marked degree of degeneration of ASg (P less than 0.05) and 7Sd(P less than 0.001) at stage VII but 14 days of treatment did not exhibited any significant effect on testicular gametogenesis. LCNA was decreased after lithium chloride treatment for 14 and 21 days (P less than 0.001). 7 days of treatment did not exert any notable result in the above parameters. The results of our experiment suggest that duration of lithium treatment is the critical factor for its adverse effects on testicular activity when the plasma levels of lithium remain within the therapeutic range. The possibility of an indirect action of lithium at the level of the testes is also discussed. Hence the data of our experiments have potential clinical implication.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1991

Effect of lithium chloride on testicular steroidogenesis and gametogenesis in immature male rats.

The present study was performed on immature male rats aged 35 days. Subcutaneous injections of lithium chloride at a daily dose of 2.0 mg/kg for 15 days resulted in significant inhibition of spermatogenesis at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle. Spermatogonia A, preleptotene spermatocytes and step 7 spermatids were decreased in number in comparison to controls. Serum levels of FSH, LH, PRL, and testosterone were decreased. Activities of testicular delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were suppressed along with a low caudal epididymal sperm count in comparison with controls. When the treatment was prolonged for 20 and 25 days, it showed an additional significant diminution in accessory sex organ weights and number of midpachytene spermatocytes at stage VII in comparison to control animals of corresponding age. It is concluded that lithium has an adverse effect on testicular function in immature rats by reducing serum levels of FSH, LH, PRL, and testosterone. Furthermore, since hormonal changes and altered spermatogenic activities were evident when the serum concentration of lithium was within the therapeutic range, our data may have some potential clinical implications.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1991

Studies on the effect of prolactin treatment on testicular steroidogenesis and gametogenesis in lithium-treated rats.

The effect of PRL supplementation in lithium-treated rats on spermatogenesis, testicular delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities, and serum levels of FSH, LH, PRL and testosterone were studied on the 22nd day of the experiment. Subcutaneous injections of lithium chloride at a dose of 2.0 mg.kg-1.day-1 for 21 days resulted in a significant inhibition of spermatogenesis at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle, along with remarkable diminution of serum levels of the above hormones and suppression of the activities of the above two testicular steroidogenic enzymes. Administration of bovine PRL at a dose of 0.25 mg.kg-1.day-1 plus lithium treatment resulted in a remarkable protection of spermatogenic and steroidogenic activities of the testes, along with restoration of serum levels of FSH and testosterone. It is concluded that PRL can markedly protect the testicular dysfunction induced by lithium chloride treatment in rats.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1991

Changes in the testicular acid and alkaline phosphatase activities at different durations following prostatectomy: a correlative study with spermatogenesis.

The purpose of this investigation was to make a correlative study between spermatogenesis and testicular acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in mature prostatectomized animals at different post-operative periods. The results demonstrate that there was a significant augmentation in the activity of testicular acid and alkaline phosphatases subsequent to 14 and 21 days of prostatectomy. A parallel quantitative study of spermatogenesis at stage VII of the seminiferous cycle, namely, type A spermatogonia (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), mid-pachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7sd), revealed that there was a significant reduction in the number of step 7 spermatids after 14 and 21 days. No change was observed in the above testicular enzymes and spermatogenesis after 7 days of prostatectomy. Therefore, it is concluded that prostatectomy can alter the above testicular enzyme activities and spermatogenesis in chronic prostatectomized state.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Effects of lithium chloride on testicular steroidogenic and gametogenic functions in mature male albino rats.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of lithium, an antimanic drug, on steroidogenic and gametogenic functions of testis in the laboratory rat. Adult male rats of Wistar strain maintained under standard laboratory conditions (L:D, 14h:10h), were injected (S.C) with lithium chloride at the dose of 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg and 0.4 mg/100 g body weight/day for 21 days. All the treated animals along with the vehicle treated controls were sacrificed 24 hours after the last injections. Testicular steroidogenic activity was evaluated by measuring the activities of two steroidogenic key enzymes, delta 5-3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-HSD) and 17 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD). Gametogenic capacity was determined by counting the number of germ cells at stage VII of seminiferous cycle. Plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Administration of lithium chloride at a dose of 0.1 mg/100 g body wt. for 21 days led to insignificant changes of plasma FSH, LH, PRL and T along with unaltered activities of testicular delta 5-3 beta-HSD, 17 beta-HSD activities and gametogenesis. In contrast, 0.2 mg of lithium treatment for 21 days causes a significant reduction of plasma FSH (P less than 0.01), LH (P less than 0.001), PRL (P less than 0.001) and T (P less than 0.001) along with inhibition of testicular delta 5-3 beta-HSD activity (P less than 0.01) and 17 beta-HSD activity (P less than 0.001). Gametogenic activity does not exhibits any significant reduction in the number of preleptotene spermatocytes (PLSc) and midpachytene spermatocytes (mPSC) while significant reduction in the number of spermatogonia A (Asg) (P less than 0.01) and Step 7 spermatids (7Sd) (P less than 0.001) were observed at stage VII of seminiferous cycle when compared to control. The degree of detrimental effects of lithium on testicular activity became more prominent at the dose of 0.4 mg/100 g body wt. The results of our experiments suggest that lithium administration might be associated with significant adverse effects on testicular activities. Furthermore, since hormonal changes and altered gametogenic activities were evident when plasma lithium concentration was below or within the therapeutic range, our data may have some potential clinical implications.

Animals↗