This study was performed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RES) against CdCl2-induced toxicity in rat testes. Seven experimental groups of adult male rats were formulated as follows: A) controls+NS, B) control+vehicle (saline solution of hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin), C) RES treated, D) CdCl2+NS, E) CdCl2+vehicle, F) RES followed by CdCl2 and M) CdCl2 followed by RES. At the end of the protocol, serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured in all groups, and testicular levels of TBARS and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Epididymal semen analysis was performed, and testicular expression of Bcl-2, p53 and Bax was assessed by RT-PCR. Also, histopathological changes of the testes were examined microscopically. Administration of RES before or after cadmium chloride in rats improved semen parameters including count, motility, daily sperm production and morphology, increased serum concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone, decreased testicular lipid peroxidation and increased SOD activity. RES not only attenuated cadmium chloride-induced testicular histopathology but was also able to protect against the onset of cadmium chloride testicular toxicity. Cadmium chloride downregulated the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 and upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax. Resveratrol protected against and partially reversed cadmium chloride testicular toxicity via upregulation of Bcl2 and downregulation of p53 and Bax gene expression. The antioxidant activity of RES protects against cadmium chloride testicular toxicity and partially reverses its effect via upregulation of BCl2 and downregulation of p53 and Bax expression.

SUMMARY1. The renal effects of acute and chronic progesterone and prolactin administration were investigated in rats.2. Acute progesterone treatment caused a reduced urinary potassium excretion compared to controls (0-80 + 0±03 vs. 1-30 + 0 04 molee min-; P < 0 01). No other renal changes were apparent.3. Acute prolactin administration produced no significant changes in renal function.4. Chronic progesterone treatment reduced urinary potassium output by increasing tubular reabsorption. Absolute reabsorption moleoe min-) for controls was 4 70 + 0-42 and for progesterone treatment, 6-40 + 0 57 (P < 0.05 comparing the two).No other renal changes were apparent. 5. Animals made pseudopregnant by chronic prolactin administration showed a significant (16 %) elevation in glomerular filtration rate, similarly enhanced fluid and solute reabsorption, and a significant (16 %) increase in proximal tubule length. This would imply a role for prolactin in early rat pregnancy and pseudopregnancy when similar renal changes are evident and circulating hormone levels high.

Total tocopherols and alpha-tocopherols were estimated in the plasma of children with severe malnutrition (14 marasmus; 11 marasmic kwashiorkor; five kwashiorkor) and related to the total plasma lipids and different plasma lipid classes. If the mere plasma concentrations were taken as an index of the vitamin E status, five children with marasmus, five children with marasmic kwashiorkor, and two children with kwashiorkor would have been regarded as deficient (less than 500 micrograms/dl). However, if total tocopherols and alpha-tocopherols were related to the total plasma lipids, all malnourished children--except one--showed values within the limits found in healthy American children. The study shows that low tocopherol/lipid ratios are not a constant feature in severely malnourished children.

Diabetes is a global health care problem with an estimated 347 million people around the world has diabetes (Danaei et al. Lancet 2011) that clams the life of about 3.4 million every year (Global health risk, World Health Organization 2009). Diabetes has been found to be associated with increased risk of hip fracture as well as fracture of other sites (Schwartz 2003). People with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes (T1DM) tend to have mild osteopenia as adults, with bone marrow density (BMD) values around 10% lower than normal (Bouillon 1991).

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