Physiological Changes in Serum Calcium, Phosphate, Vitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone and Calcitonin During Pregnancy and Lactation in Randomised Population of Zaria Women

Pregnancy and lactation are usual but stressful physiological conditions accompanied by changes in calcium and phosphate metabolism and their regulatory hormones which may lead to calcium-related disorders in pregnant women. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in serum levels of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D and their regulatory hormones in pregnant and lactating women in Zaria, Nigeria. A cross‑sectional descriptive study was conducted at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria for three (3) months. Blood samples were collected, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and body mass index) of 179 women were taken. Serum calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin were determined using standard methods. Data were presented as mean ± SD, analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation analysis. Values were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. There was a significant decrease in serum calcium concentration (p < 0.01) during the third trimester of pregnancy and lactation. An increase in serum concentration of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin in the 2nd trimester and a decrease during the third trimester and lactation although not statistically significant when compared with the control. There was a negative correlation between serum calcium concentration and gestational age (r = 0.255) while no correlation between gestational age and serum phosphate concentration. Changes in serum calcium, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin during pregnancy and lactation has been demonstrated suggesting a relationship between calcium metabolism and these hormones at some stages of pregnancy.

Ageratum conyzoides attenuates alcohol induced liver toxicity in male Wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Ageratum conyzoides (AC) is unique for its antioxidant activity and protective role to tissues. However this property is yet to be demonstrated in animals administered toxic alcohol concentrations.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of AC extract on the oxidative stress, liver enzymes and histology.

METHODS

Twenty four male rats (190-230 g) were divided into three groups of eight rats. Group A (control) administered distilled water. Group B (ethanol group) received 10 g/kg body weight of ethanol. Group C (ethanol + AC group) were treated with ethanol (as above) and AC (250 mg/kg body weight) concurrently. Total experimental duration was 35 days at the end of which animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation. Liver and blood samples were taken and processed for: microscopic studies, estimation of activities of liver enzymes [alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], Malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidants [Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Catalase (CAT)] respectively.

RESULTS

Compared to control, the rats treated with ethanol had significantly increased liver enzymes and MDA levels but these were decreased in ethanol + AC group compared to the ethanol group. The histologies of concurrent ethanol + AC treated group were similar to control groups.

CONCLUSION

AC protects the liver against alcohol induced damage.

Honey improves healing of circumscribed excision injury to the paniculus adiposus in albino rats

BACKGROUND

Honey promoteswound healing.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we described the anatomical perspective of honey on wound healing in male rats.

METHODS

The twenty-four male rats used were randomly divided equally into treated Experimental (E) and Control (C) groups. Infliction of wound done under anaesthesia; honey was used for wound dressing in E, distilled water firmly held by plaster in C. Monitoring of wound contraction were carried out at the interval of three days till the wound healed. The histology of granulation tissue excised from the wounds of rats was also done.

RESULTS

Mean wound contraction (%) of rats in E on days 3, 6, and 9 were: 35.32 +/- 5.5; 57.56 +/- 0.7 and 82.30 +/- 0.9% compared to 26.50 +/- 1.2; 46.69 +/- 0.4 and 61.24 +/- 1.0% of rats in C. Honey treated groups showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in percentage of wound contraction in all treatment days. Complete wound closure day was also significantly shorter. On day 3, E showed a more intense infiltration by neutrophils and macrophages as well as features suggestive of edema and necrosis. On day 9, the connective tissues of E revealed markedly increased fibroblasts, less neutrophils, and presence of numerous new capillary blood vessels.

CONCLUSION

The use of honey accelerates the wound healing process.

Effect of methanolic seed extract of Momordica charantia on body weight and serum cholesterol level of male Sprague-Dawley rats

BACKGROUND

A steady weight increase disproportionate to height is by far the most prevalent type of body weight imbalance (overweight and obesity) in apparently healthy individuals of growing age. Many subsisting weight-reduction regimes or formulations are ineffective. Therefore, an effective and affordable weight-reduction product will add to the options available for the management of weight-related conditions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded oral doses of methanolic seed extract of Momordica charantia (MC) on the body weights and cholesterol levels of male rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 176 +/- 70 g, were used for this study. The animals, divided randomly into 4 groups (A-D) received daily graded oral doses of 15, 25 and 50 mg/100 g body weight of methanolic seed extract of MC, respectively, while Group D rats had distilled water for 56 days. The weights of the animals in each group were recorded weekly throughout the duration of the experiment. Serum cholesterol levels were assayed from blood obtained from a left ventricular puncture.

RESULTS

Treatment of rats with MC extract resulted in a dose-dependent, statistically significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.01) reduction in the body weight compared to control. The mean serum cholesterol levels in response to graded doses of MC in the different groups A to C also showed a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) from the baseline control value of 4.4 +/- 1.0 mMol/L to 3.4 +/- 0.7, 2.5 +/- 0.4 and 2.0 +/- 1.3 mMol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Present study demonstrated that MC caused dose-dependent reductions in body weight and serum cholesterol concentration in male Sprague-Dawley rats. MC may, therefore, be useful in controlling body weight increase in individuals of growing age as well as be a potential agent in the management of overweight and obesity.

Testicular oxidative stress in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with bitter melon (<i>Momordica charantia</i>): the effect of antioxidant supplementation

Objective: An important mediator of testicular injury is oxidative stress; the implicating pathway has been pointed at a free radical mechanism by researchers. This article, investigates the effect of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) (MC) seed extract and antioxidant supplementation in the testes of Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rat. Methodology: Ninety male S-D rats, weighing between 110- 214 g, were assigned randomly into six main Groups A to F. Group A was administered 50 mg/100 g of MC extract orally, between 6 to 16 weeks. Group B were pre-treated with ascorbic acid (AA) 0.01mg/kg, three days/week, α-tocopherol (AT) 20 mg/kg, five days/week and both test solutions (TS) i.e. AA and AT; 0.01 and 20 mg/kg, three and five days/week for 8 weeks. This was followed by administration of the extract at dose and duration as in A. Group C received the extract for 8 weeks and afterwards post-treated for another 8 weeks with AA, AT and both TS (as above). Group D in addition to the extract administration were treated with AA, AT and both TS in dose and duration similar to B above. Group E had AA, AT and both TS alone for 8 weeks. Group F served as the control subjects. The animals testicular tissues were processed for malondialdehyde (MDA) and AA concentrations. Serum testosterone (TT) assay was done from left ventricular blood. Results: The extract administered for 6, 8 and 16 weeks produced significantly (p < 0.05) increased testicular MDA (1.74 ± 1.15, 1.84 ± 0.38 and 2.38 ± 0.40) compared to control (0.38 ± 0.02, 0.38 ± 0.03 and 0.35 ± 0.02) and decreased AA (0.01± 0.02, 0.01± 0.01 and 0.00± 0.01) compared to control (0.15 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02 and 0.13 ± 0.02). There was also an associated significant decrease (p < 0.05) in peripheral TT levels compared to control. The extract produced responses that showed no prophylactic rather modulatory effect with TS. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the extract resulted in changes in the testicular oxidative status. This may play a role in testicular dysfunction that may compromise fertility. Key words: Momordica charantia; malondialdehyde; ascorbic acid; testosterone. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v10i2.7805 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.10 No.2 Apr’11 pp.104-111