ObjectiveHeavy metals are major elements polluting our universe. The inhalation, ingestion or even contacting human body with these elements results in huge health problems. The most common pollutant in our surrounding is mercury. Therefore, the present study aimed to elucidating the protective ability of hot water extracts of dandelion (DA), coriander (CO), date palm seeds (DS), probiotic supernatant (PS) and their combined mixture against mercury-induced neurotoxicity and altered testosterone levels in male rats.MethodsFifty six male rats were randomly allotted into seven groups (n = 8 rats/group). Group1 (negative control; NC) animals were fed on the basal diet only, group2 (positive controls; PC) animals were fed on the basal diet and given an aqueous solution of mercuric chloride (25 ppm mercuric) in drinking water. Animals of the antioxidant-treated groups (3–7) were fed on the basal diet and given an aqueous solution of mercuric chloride (25 ppm mercuric) in drinking water together with the herbal antioxidant extracts and probiotics (25 ml/rat/day) throughout the experimental period. Where, group3 (Hg/CO) given coriander extract, group4 (Hg/DA) given dandelion extract, group5 (Hg/DS) given date palm seeds extract, group6 (Hg/PS) given probiotic supernatant, and group7 (Hg/Mix) given mixture of equal quantities of probiotic supernatant together with the three herbal extracts. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. Blood testosterone, enzyme activity and histopathological sections were performed.ResultsThe obtained data exhibited that mercury intoxication revealed increases of lactic dehydrogenase and decreases of glutathione-s-transferase and testosterone. Light microscopic investigations of the brain cortex and cerebellum were suggestive of multiple foci of inflammation, cellular infiltration, gliosis and degeneration. Moreover, decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity and potential astrocyte toxicity both reflected impaired neuro-protective function of astrocytes necessary for maintaining the brain structure and function.ConclusionAdministration of the herbal extracts and their mixture with probiotics enhance the body defense and contain protective factor against mercury neurotoxicity and for maintaining normal testosterone levels in male rats. Also, treatment restored the normal control levels of biochemical attributes and histological architecture.

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Une épreuve chimique permettant de déterminer la teneur totale en glycogène des muscles de différents animaux domestiques est décrite. La différenciation dépend de la variation de l'intensité de la couleur mesurée au colorimètre. L'épreuve peut être utilisée pour la diagnose de la viande foetale (non comestible) et de toutes les autres variétés de viande. Elle peut également permettre de différencier très bien la viande de buffle de celle du boeuf, et cette dernière de celle du chameau. La différenciation entre la viande de chameau et de buffle devra être confirmée par d'autres méthodes. Les résultats obtenus avec la viande de mouton et celle de chèvre sont presque semblables et se superposent à ceux obtenus avec la viande de veau. L'analyse statistique des valeurs obtenues à la suite des mesures effectuées sur différentes régions du corps et chez différents animaux est enregistrée

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