Abstract. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective role of curcumin against renal damage caused by administration of cyclosporine A (CsA) in adult male rats. For this purpose, 27 adult male albino rats were used and divided into three equal groups. Group I (control group) and group II (CsA-treated group) received a daily subcutaneous injection of CsA at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. Group III (prophylactic group) received a daily oral curcumin at a dose of 15 mg/kg b.w. simultaneously with CsA. After 21 days, all the animals were anaesthetized and the kidneys were rapidly removed and processed to prepare paraffin sections stained with H&E, PAS and Masson's trichrome. In addition, the glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme was detected immunohistochemically. The optical density and the area (in %) of positive GST immunoreactions were measured in the cytoplasm of renal tubules and glomeruli and the data were statistically analyzed. Examination of sections from CsA-treated group showed renal tubules with vacuolated cytoplasm and others with darkly stained pyknotic nuclei. Apical brush borders of proximal tubules were undefined and PAS positive granules were noticed in their cytoplasm. The renal corpuscles contained shrunken glomeruli with widening of their Bowman's spaces. Inflammatory cellular infiltrate and increase in the collagen fibers were observed between the renal tubules. In prophylactic group, the structure of renal tubules and corpuscles were preserved except few tubular darkly stained pyknotic nuclei. Numerous blood vessels, few cellular infiltration and thin collagen fibers were observed between the renal tubules. Statistical analysis of morphometric data showed significant increase in the optical density of GST immunoreactivity in the cells of renal tubules and glomeruli of CsAtreated group when compared with the control or prophylactic groups. However, a significant decrease in the area of GST immunoreactivity in sections from prophylactic group was observed when compared with control or CsA-treated groups. In conclusion, protective effect of curcumin against cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity in rats was proven based on the study of histological changes and GST immunoexpression. This study supposes the possible therapeutic applications of curcumin in CsA-treated patients.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been reported to improve sperm quality, primarily by enhancing sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity. In this study, crossbred (75% LWY x 25% Zovawk) boars' semen samples were collected and diluted with GEPS extender containing different concentration (control, 5, 10 and 15%) of BSA at 24 hours of preservation and recorded for sperm motility, per cent live sperm, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity. The results showed that supplementation of BSA showed significantly (P<0.01) higher in sperm parameters compared to control. Interestingly we have found that 10% BSA level group was significantly (P<0.01) higher sperm motility, per cent live sperm, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity which was followed by 5% BSA, 15% BSA and control group at 24 hours of preservation at 17°C. Taken together these results suggested that BSA had a positive role in the regulation of crossbred (75% LWY x 25% Zovawk) boar sperm quality.

A total of 36 ejaculates were collected from three indigenous bulls (Zobawng) of Mizoram. The semen samples were evaluated to find out the effects of fructose i.e. Tris egg yolk citric acid fructose glycerol (TEYCAFG) and Egg yolk sodium citrate glycerol (EYSCG) extenders on freezability of indigenous bulls' (Zobawng) semen of Mizoram in terms of sperm motility, per cent live sperm, HOSST reacted spermatozoa and acrosomal integrity. The mean sperm motility, per cent live sperm, HOSST and acrosomal integrity in TEYCAFG extender at pre and post freezing were (69.53±0.31 and 45.36±0.59%), (76.36±0.35 and 53.03±0.45%), (67.91±0.45 and 44.92±0.56%) and (75.17±0.58 and 63.25±0.56%) respectively, and in EYSCG extender were (45.67±0.48 and 33.08±0.36%), (54.56±0.41 and 38.08±0.28%), (47.86±0.44 and 34.61±0.40%) and (57.22±0.31 and 45.89±0.48%) respectively. The mean motility, live sperm, HOSST and acrosomal integrity in both TEYCAFG and EYSCG extenders were significantly (P<0.01) higher at pre-freezing when compared to post freezing and the mean values of the said parameters were significantly (P<0.01) higher in TEYCAFG extender than EYSCG. In conclusion, the Tris egg yolk citric acid fructose glycerol (TEYCAFG) is good for freezing of indigenous bulls' (Zobawng) semen of Mizoram.