Shortwave radiation-induced reproductive organ damage in male rats by enhanced expression of molecules associated with the calpain/Cdk5 pathway and oxidative stress

Shortwave radiation has been reported to have harmful effects on several organs in humans and animals. However, the biological effects of 27 MHz shortwave on the reproductive system are not clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of shortwave whole-body exposure at a frequency of 27 MHz on structural and functional changes in the testis. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 27 MHz continuous shortwaves at average power densities of 0, 5, 10, or 30 mW/cm2 for 6 min. The levels of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) and anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb) in the peripheral serum, sperm motility, sperm malformation rate, and testicular tissue structure of rats were analyzed. Furthermore, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, calpain, and Cdk5 expression were analyzed at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after exposure. We observed that the rats after radiation had decreased serum INSL3 levels (p < 0.01), increased AsAb levels (p < 0.05), decreased percentage of class A+B sperm (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased sperm malformation (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), injured testicular tissue structure, decreased SOD and CAT activities (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased MDA content (p < 0.01), and testicular tissue expressions of calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5 were increased (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). In conclusion, Shortwave radiation caused functional and structural damage to the reproductive organs of male rats. Furthermore, oxidative stress and key molecules in the calpain/Cdk5 pathway are likely involved in this process.

Metformin Ameliorates 2.856 GHz Microwave- Radiation-Induced Reproductive Impairments in Male Rats via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

The reproductive system has been increasingly implicated as a sensitive target of microwave radiation. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in microwave radiation -induced reproductive damage, though precise mechanisms are obscure. Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, has emerged as an efficient antioxidant against a variety of oxidative injuries. In the present study, we hypothesized that metformin can function as an antioxidant and protect the reproductive system from microwave radiation. To test this hypothesis, rats were exposed to 2.856 GHz microwave radiation for 6 weeks to simulate real-life exposure to high-frequency microwave radiation. Our results showed that exposure to 2.856 GHz microwave radiation elicited serum hormone disorder, decreased sperm motility, and depleted sperm energy, and it induced abnormalities of testicular structure as well as mitochondrial impairment. Metformin was found to effectively protect the reproductive system against structural and functional impairments caused by microwave radiation. In particular, metformin can ameliorate microwave-radiation-induced oxidative injury and mitigate apoptosis in the testis, as determined by glutathione/-oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), lipid peroxidation, and protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). These findings demonstrated that exposure to 2.856 GHz microwave radiation induces obvious structural and functional impairments of the male reproductive system, and suggested that metformin can function as a promising antioxidant to inhibit microwave-radiation-induced harmful effects by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Association of placenta-derived extracellular vesicles with pre-eclampsia and associated hypercoagulability: a clinical observational study

OBJECTIVE

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-associated condition initiated by placental factors. We have demonstrated that placental extracellular vesicles (pcEVs) cause hypertension and proteinuria in pregnant and non-pregnant mice.

STUDY DESIGN

An observational study with both case-control and longitudinal designs.

SETTING

A single centre at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tianjin Medical University.

POPULATION

We collected blood samples and clinical information from 54 PE patients, 33 normally pregnant women at 30-36 gestational weeks and on postpartum days 1 and 4 for the cross-sectional study, and at 22-31, 32-35 and 36-40 weeks for the longitudinal study. Non-pregnant women were also recruited.

METHODS

Blood samples were analysed using flow cytometry, coagulation tests and ELISA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was plasma pcEV and other extracellular vesicles (EVs), and their expressions of anionic phospholipids and von Willebrand factor (VWF). Secondary variables included coagulation, ADAMTS-13 and the anionic phospholipid-binding proteins.

RESULTS

Plasma pcEVs progressively increased from pregnant women during non-menstrual period (NW) to PE patients (interquartile range [IQR] for NW: 206/microlitre [116-255], normal pregnancy [NP]: 1108/microlitre [789-1969] and PE: 8487/microlitre [4991-16 752]) and predicted PE. EVs from endothelial cells, platelets and erythrocytes accounted for <10% of pcEVs. VWF became hyper-adhesive in PE patients and contributed to the pregnancy-associated hypercoagulability.

CONCLUSION

Placental, platelet- and endothelial cell-derived EVs were significantly elevated in PE patients, but only pcEVs predicted PE. These EVs played a causal role in the pregnancy-induced hypercoagulability.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Placenta-derived extracellular vesicles predict pre-eclampsia and the associated hypercoagulability.

[Effect of zinc on the activities of ATPase of erythrocyte membrane]

The effects of zinc on the activities of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase of erythrocyte membrane were studied both in vivo and in vitro. Male adult rats were divided into three groups and fed on diets with different concentration of zinc (2.2, 28 and 128 mg/kg diet). Eight rats of each group were sacrificed after 25 days and the activities of the two ATPase were measured. The rest rats were changed diet for an other seven days to detect the sensitivities of the ATPases. The activities of these ATPase were also determined in fresh human erythrocyte membrane treated with different concentration of zinc (0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 mumol/L). The results showed that the activities of both Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase were in close relationship with zinc concentration, too low or too high zinc could decrease them. Compared with Na+, K(+)-ATPase, Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase was more sensitive to zinc deficiency and in a slower reaction to zinc supplement, but it could stand higher zinc concentration. It was concluded that zinc played an important role on maintaining the normal activities of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase.

Effect of total alkaloid of Peganum harmala L. in the treatment of experimental haemosporidian infections in cattle

Cattle experimentally infected with Babesia bigemina or Theileria sergenti or mixed infestations of the two parasites were treated with Total Alkaloid of Peganum harmala L. The results showed that treatment was effective against B. bigemina infection, had a marked effect on the course of infection with T. sergenti and some effect on the course of the mixed infection.