Alpana Tyagi

Changes in structure and functions of prostate by long-term administration of an androgen, testosterone enanthate, in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The increasing use of androgens in clinical trials for developing a safe, effective, and reversible male contraceptive has necessitated a critical evaluation of the effects of their long‐term use on the structure and functions of the prostate gland, which is androgen dependent. Combination regimens using progestogens, gonadotropin‐releasing hormone antagonists, or antiandrogens along with androgens are undergoing clinical evaluation as antispermatogenic agents. The majority of these regimens have used testosterone enanthate (TE) as the androgen of choice, but very limited information is available on the side effects of long‐term androgen use. The present study is the first report that critically evaluates the effects of long‐term use of TE on prostate structure and functions.

Effects of long term administration of testosterone enanthate on glucose metabolism in rhesus monkeys

The effects of long term administration of testosterone enanthate (TE) on glucose metabolism including glucose tolerance test (GTT) and fasting serum insulin levels were evaluated in adult rhesus monkeys kept under controlled dietary conditions. Adult male rhesus monkeys (n = 9) were administered 50 mg of TE bimonthly for 32 months, whereas control animals were injected the vehicle only. Glucose concentration reached a maximum 5 min after an intravenous glucose load and thereafter decreased gradually to reach near baseline values within 60 min. Significant changes in GTT or t1/2 of glucose were not seen in animals treated with TE, throughout the treatment period. However, serum insulin levels decreased significantly from months 27-32 of TE treatment and returned to baseline values within 3 months of recovery.

Hydrogen absorption/desorption characteristics of room temperature ZrMn2-xNix system (x = 1⋅25-1⋅50)

The present communication deals with the hydrogen storage characteristics of C15 laves phase ZrMn2–xNix system tailored within the x values of 1·25 to 1·50. Drastic variations in thermodynamics of the hydride phase is observed for any little changes of concentration x within this narrow range. The most promising room temperature hydrogen storage materials are found to be formed within the range of 1·35 to 1·45 where ~ 2·5 to 2·9 H/F.U. can be reversibly stored under the ideal operating conditions. The heat of the reaction is found to be ~ 17 kJ/mol, which means these are promising candidates for stationary and short range mobile applications. The phase structural features and the thermodynamic aspects of all the materials are discussed in detail.