Samuel G. Olukole

Sperm Motility and Viability in West African Dwarf Rams Treated with Euphorbia hirta

Cuatro carneros enanos adultos de Africa Occidental sexualmente maduros y clinicamente sanos, con edades comprendidas entre los 24 y 30 meses, fueron utilizados para este estudio. Los carneros fueron utilizados como control y, mas tarde, como animales de experimentacion al ser medicados por via oral con extracto de Euphorbia hirta en 400mg/kg peso corporal durante 14 dias. Se recogieron muestras de semen de los carneros un dia despues de la administracion de la planta y siete dias despues. El objetivo del estudio fue investigar el efecto de Euphorbia hirta en las imagenes de esperma de carneros enanos Africa Occidental. Hubo diferencias significativas (P <0,05) en la imagen del semen como reflejo de una reduccion de la motilidad espermatica del 80% al 47,5% y un ratio de vivos-muertos de 90,75% a 32,5% en la etapa control y despues de las fases experimentales del estudio, respectivamente. Esto indica que la capacidad de fertilizacion y calidad de vida de los espermatozoides fueron afectados negativamente. No hubo diferencias significativas en los valores de los parametros corporales medidos a traves de las etapas del estudio. La planta por tanto no es recomendable para fines medicinales en los animales machos.

Histomorphometry of the Testes and Epididymis in the Domesticated Adult African Great Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

Fueron realizados examenes histomorfo-metricos de los testiculos y del epididimo en la gran rata africana adulta de cana demetica (Thryonomys swinderianus), tambien conocido como grasscutter. El promedio del peso y de la edad de las ratas de cana fueron 1,93±0,42 kg y 18,80±1,39 meses, respectivamente. El volumen relativo del epitelio germinal, intersticio y lumen de los tubulosseminiferos de las ratas de cana fueron 68,54±1,63%, 8,86±0,85% y 21,40±1,12%, respectivamente. El diametro de los tubulos seminiferos fue 183,0 ± 11,06 µM. El diametro ductal de la cabeza, cuerpo y cola del epididimo fue 207,4±7,41 µM, 237,8±10,15 µM y 274,2±9,00 µM, respectivamente, siendo estadisticamente diferentes (p<0,05). El diametro luminal del epididimo fue 95,8 ± 11,52 µM, 126,8 ± 8,35 µM y 221,0 ± 4,05 µM, respectivamente para la cabeza, cuerpo y cola. La cabeza, cuerpo y cola del epididimo tuvieron alturas epiteliales de 63,6 ± 2,23 µM, 59,20 ± 3,38 µM y 28,60 ± 9,23 µM, respectivamente. Hubo una alta correlacion negativa (-0,7958) entre la altura epitelial y el diametro del lumen, lo que significa que con una disminucion en la altura del epitelio, el lumen aumento apreciablemente. Este trabajo proporciona una base de datos histomorfometricos de los testiculos y el epididimo de la gran rata africana de cana (Thryonomys swinderianus).

Sperm Morphological Studies of the West African Dwarf Buck Treated with Pumpkin Plant (Cucurbita pepo)

Cuatro cabras de la raza enana del oeste de Africa, con edades comprendidas entre los 24 y 30 meses, fueron utilizadas para este estudio. Las cabras sirvieron primero como control y, posteriormente, como animales de experimentacion los que se alimentaron diariamente con aceite de planta de calabaza por un periodo de seis meses. El objetivo del estudio fue investigar el efecto de la planta de calabaza sobre la morfologia de los espermatozoides de las cabras. Hubo diferencias significativas (p <0,05) entre los valores control y experimental en las anomalias morfologicas primarias y secundarias de los espermatozoides: la cabeza tuvo un valor de control de 6 (0,42%) y post alimentacion valor 0 (0%), el movimiento de la cola un valor de 14 (0,97%) y 2 (0,16%) para el control y post alimentacion, respectivamente. La curvatura media: valores de 17 (1,18 %) y 1 (0,08 %) para el control y post-alimentacion, respectivamente. La inclinacion media tambien diferia significativamente (p <0,05), con un valor entre 16 (1,11%) el control y 3 (0,23%) post-alimentacion. Hasta el final de las etapas del estudio, hubo una reduccion significativa en el numero de celulas de esperma con anomalias como consecuencia de la alimentacion diaria de los animales con la planta de calabaza. Por lo tanto, la planta se recomienda para la prevencion y el tratamiento de la infertilidad en hombres y otros animales.

Melatonin ameliorates bisphenol A-induced perturbations of the prostate gland of adult Wistar rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that has been demonstrated to induce alterations in reproductive organs while melatonin (ML), an antioxidant, present in plants and animals, is capable of protecting against EDC-induced alterations. Adult male Wistar rats (average weight, 240 + 10 g) were divided into four groups of ten animals each: Rats in group I (control) received oral 0.2 ml 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/99% canola oil as vehicle; group II received intra-peritoneal 10 mg/kg BW/day ML. Group III received oral BPA dissolved in DMSO and solubilized in canola oil at 10 mg/kg BW/day. Group IV were treated with same dose of BPA as group III with a concomitant intra-peritoneal 10 mg/kg BW/day ML. All treatments lasted for 14 days. BPA significantly increased the prostatic index of the rats while ML ameliorated it. BPA significantly increased serum levels of estrogen as well as prostate-specific antigen but decreased serum testosterone in the rats while concomitant treatment with ML ameliorated these alterations. Also, BPA caused vascular congestion, hyperplasia (functional, reactive and atypical) of prostatic epithelium as well as tubular atrophy the rats while ML attenuated the observed lesions. Decreased localization of αSmooth muscle actin, vimentin and S100 proteins were observed in the BPA-treated rats while these decreases were ameliorated by ML. The present study has shown that sub-acute oral administration of BPA induced alterations in prostatic index, serum hormone levels, down-regulated protein localization and induced morphological lesions of the prostate gland in rats while concomitant treatment with intra-peritoneal ML ameliorated these conditions. Hence, low dose of ML can protect against BPA-induced toxicity of the prostate gland of rats.

Anatomical and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of the Prostate Gland in the Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

This study examined the morphology and immunohistochemical features of the prostate gland in 15 captive‐reared male greater cane rat of known reproductive and medical history. Samples of the glands were taken after gross examination and routinely prepared for both histological and ultrastructural analysis. Immunohistochemistry was also carried out on paraffin‐embedded sections of the glands using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against oestrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) and mouse monoclonal antibody for the progesterone receptor (PR). The prostate, which constitutes 0.04% of the body weight, was a paired, lobulated, brownish gland having three left and four right lobes that partly cover the pelvic urethra. Based on the amount and arrangement of the secretory epithelial folding and relative to their distances to the urethra, two histological zones, the central and peripheral, were identified. However, the epithelium of both zones was lined by predominantly simple cuboidal cells with occasional basal cells. The main ultrastructural features of these cuboidal cells were the presence of several nuclear pores on the nucleus, moderately well‐developed, short microvilli and bleb‐like apical projections, as well as inter‐cellular lacunae seen between these cells and the basal cells. The cuboidal epithelial cells also showed positive nuclear staining for ERα and ERβ but not for PR. It is however interesting that the ERα‐positive staining was more at the epithelial cells, which is uncommon. These findings highlight the peculiarities in the structure and ultrastructure as well as the unique expression of the oestrogen receptors in the prostate gland of the greater cane rat.

Gross, Histological and Ultrastructural Features of the Bulbourethral Gland in the Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

The present study examines the structure and ultrastructure of the bulbourethral glands in 10 sexually matured male greater cane rats raised in captivity. Following anaesthesia, the rats were perfusion‐fixed transcardially and the bulbourethral glands dissected out. Upon morphologic and morphometric analysis, the Cowpers glands were observed to have an average volume of 0.24 ± 0.08 ml, a diameter of 6.3 ± 0.6 mm and weighs 0.199 ± 0.06 g. The paired, gourd‐shaped tubuloalveolar glands were surrounded by dense connective tissues and separated into lobules by capsular septae. Each lobule consists of endpiece/secretory units and excretory ducts lined by simple glandular epithelium and pseudo‐stratified epithelium, respectively. The round end pieces consisted of 8–10 pyramidal to columnar epithelial cells with flattened, basally located nuclei and granule‐filled cytoplasm that bounded a narrow glandular lumen. The striking ultrastructural features of these secretory cells were the presence of some granules with uniform electron density and those with regions of lesser density as well as the absence of secretory vacuoles. Another unique characteristic of these secretory granules is the presence of electron dense strands radiating from their surfaces. The apical surfaces of the cells were also studded with abundant microvilli. From the findings, the structure of bulbourethral glands in the greater cane rat shows more resemblances to that of humans than to its rodent phylogeny. These findings serve as additional knowledge in the structural interpretation of the bulbourethral gland and its secretory products.

Spermatogenic cycle of the African sideneck turtle Pelusios castaneus (Schweigger, 1812) (Reptilia: Testudines)

Abstract We describe the spermatogenic cycle of the African sideneck turtle (Pelusios castaneus) (Reptilia: Testudines). We further classify the pattern of spermatogenesis in the species, generating new comparative baseline data on the spermatogenic cycle of freshwater turtles in the tropics. Seventy-two adult male P. castaneus collected at different times from various river drainages in Ibadan, Nigeria, were used for the study. The average body weight of the turtles was 723 ± 23.36 g while the curved carapace and plastron lengths of the turtles were 24.4 ± 1.47 cm and 15.7 ± 1.23 cm, respectively. Histology of the testis and epididymis, gonadosomatic index, epididymal mass index, seminiferous tubule diameter and epididymal ductal diameter all suggest the postnuptial pattern of spermatogenesis. Sperm production in P. castaneus starts in May and peaks in September. It is thereafter released into the epididymis, and the degree of sperm packing of the epididymis increases from October, reaching its peak in January. Spermatozoa were found in the epididymis of the turtles all through the year. The study shows that the postnuptial pattern of turtle spermatogenesis is not unique to turtles in the temperate regions of the world and that the spermatogenic cycle of P. castaneus is similar to those of other chelonians with minor variations. This report, the first of its kind for a pelomedusid turtle, therefore serves as baseline information for the family in comparative studies of the spermatogenic cycle of turtles.

Gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves of the domesticated adult African greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

Gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves were determined in twenty sexually matured domesticated African greater cane rats. Mean (+/-SD) sperm numbers in testes and epididymides were 150.40+/-12.93x10(9) and 259.33+/-13.68x10(9), respectively. The mean epididymal distribution of spermatozoa was found as follows: 67.53+/-12.43x10(9) in caput, 89.10+/-13.20x10(9) in corpus, and 102.70 +/-13.71x10(9) in cauda. This study provides baseline data essential for effective selection of male cane rats for breeding purposes.

Gallic acid protects against bisphenol A-induced alterations in the cardio-renal system of Wistar rats through the antioxidant defense mechanism

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a small molecular weight endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that is used in the production of plastics with deleterious effects on various body systems while gallic acid (GA) is a known antioxidant capable of ameliorating EDC-induced perturbations. In this study, adult male rats (180 ± 5 g) were divided into four groups of eight rats each: Group A (Control rats): 0.2 ml of corn oil; Group B (GA-treated rats): 20 mg/kg/day GA (dissolved in distilled water); Group C (BPA-treated rats): 10 mg/kg/day BPA suspended in 0.2 ml corn oil; Group D (BPA + GA-treated rats): BPA (10 mg/kg/day) with a concomitant GA (20 mg/kg/day). All treatments were orally administered for 14 days. BPA induced significant decrease in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure while causing a significant (p < 0.05) increase in heart rate in the rats. It significantly (p < 0.05) raised both renal and cardiac reactive oxygen species and depleted the antioxidant system. There were also significant (p < 0.05) increases in serum myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, urea and creatinine in the BPA-treated rats. Lesions of the heart and kidney including inflammation, vascular congestion and erosion of epithelial cells were also observed in the BPA-treated rats. However, the concomitant treatment with GA ameliorated all the BPA-induced alterations of the cardio-renal system. Hence, low dose of GA serves a protective function against BPA-induced toxicity of the heart and kidney.

Morphometric investigations on the horns of uda rams in Nigeria: implications in veterinary clinical practice

Se llevaron a cabo estudios morfometricos en los cuernos de 60 carneros Uda. Los valores promedio para el peso relativo de los cuernos y el peso de los cuernos derecho e izquierdo fueron: 0,67%, 219,5g y 208g, respectivamente. Los valores medios de las longitudes de los cuernos derecho e izquierdo y la circunferencia de la base del cuerno fueron: 25,6cm, 27,4 cm y 17,4 cm, respectivamente. Hubo diferencias significativas (p <0,05) entre la longitud de los cuernos y entre los pesos de los cuernos derechos e izquierdos. Tambien hubo fuertes correlaciones positivas entre el peso corporal de los animales y la longitud de los cuernos. Un grafico de la longitud del cuerno derecho contra el peso corporal de los animales con una desviacion significativa de cero al 95% de confiabilidad arrojo un valor pendiente de 0,4535, que es un indice que se puede utilizar para estimar el peso corporal aproximado de un carnero una vez que la longitud del cuerno derecho se conoce. Este indice, es el primero de su tipo en la literatura. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio serviran como una herramienta valiosa en la estimacion del peso de los animales y en la gestion de la administracion del farmaco en la practica clinica veterinaria. Tambien proporciona una informacion de referencia sobre los cuernos de los carneros Uda y una plantilla para la anatomia comparativa regional de los cuernos de los rumiantes.