The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of long-term grape juice concentrate (GJC) consumption, in two dosages, on the reproductive parameters of cadmium-exposed male rats. The effects of the concentrate on body mass gain, plasma testosterone levels, reproductive organ weights, daily sperm production, sperm morphology, testis histopathological and histomorphometrical parameters, and testicular antioxidant markers were investigated. Wistar rats (n 54) were distributed into six groups: CdCl 2 ; cadmium and grape juice I (1·18 g/kg per d); cadmium and grape juice II (2·36 g/kg per d); grape juice I (1·18 g/kg per d); grape juice II (2·36 g/kg per d); control. A single dose of CdCl 2 (1·2 mg/kg body weight (BW)) was injected intraperitoneally and the grape juice was administered orally for 56 d. The results indicated that cadmium changed all reproductive and antioxidant parameters. At dosage I (1·18 g/kg BW), GJC consumption did not show the effects against cadmium-induced damages. In contrast, at dosage II (2·36 g/kg BW), the GJC improved the gonadosomatic index (P¼ 0·003), serum testosterone levels (P¼0·001), the relative weight of epididymis (P¼ 0·013) and ventral prostate (P¼0·052), the percentage of normal sperm (P¼ 0·001), and histopathological and histomorphometrical parameters. In addition, at this dosage, normalisation of the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (P¼0·001) and of testicular levels of glutathione (P¼0·03) were observed. The parameters of the non-exposed rats did not depict significant alterations. In conclusion, the product was able to act as a protector of reproductive function against cadmium-induced damage. Such a property was expressed in a dose-dependent manner as the more effective dose was dosage II. The GJC acted possibly by antioxidant mechanisms. Key words: Functional foods: Reproduction: CadmiumCadmium is a metal found in nature in low concentrations (1) .However, high levels of the metal can be found in the environment due to the burning of fossil fuels, the manufacture of batteries and the production of pigments and stabilisers (2) . The consequent contamination of soil and water results in the exposure of plants and animals to the metal and its bioaccumulation (3,4) . Moreover, tobacco smoke is another major source of human exposure to cadmium (5) .In the male reproductive system, cadmium is known to impair reproductive physiology and decrease sperm quality (6,7) . In addition, in vitro studies have shown that cadmium can stimulate Sertoli cell apoptosis, leading to the disruption of the blood -testis barrier (8,9) . Endocrine disruption is another consequence of cadmium exposure, caused by Leydig cell apoptosis and decreased serum levels of testosterone, as demonstrated in animal studies (10,11) . Clinical trials haveshown an inverse correlation between high serum levels of cadmium and semen quality, including sperm DNA damage, sperm count, motility and morphology (12 -15) . Oxidative stress is related to cadmium-induced damage, increasing the...

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease is characterised by an up-regulation of the synthesis and release of a variety of pro-inflammatory mediators leading to excessive tissue injury. Flavonoids are able to inhibit enzymes and/or due to their antioxidant properties regulate the immune response. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds present in grape juice on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. A total of forty-one male Wistar rats were randomised into seven groups: negative control group; TNBS non-treated induced colitis; 2 % grape juice control group; 1 % grape juice 24 h after TNBS colitis induction; 1 % grape juice on day 7 after colitis induction; 2 % grape juice 24 h after colitis induction; 2 % grape juice on day 7 after colitis induction. The 1 % grape juice-treated induced colitis group showed marked clinical improvement when compared with the TNBS-induced colitis group. Rats that received 1 % grape juice, on day 7 after colitis induction, presented reduced intensity of macroscopic and histological scores. Statistically significant differences (P,0·05) of TNF-a and inducible NO synthase mRNA expression were detected in the groups treated with grape juice at the 1 % dose after inducing experimental colitis when compared with the TNBS group. Grape juice reduced the noxious effects induced by colitis caused by TNBS, especially at the 1 % dose.

The goal of the present study was to investigate whether subchronic treatment with grape juice concentrate is able to protect liver and peripheral blood cells against cholesterol-induced injury in rats. The effects of the grape juice concentrate treatment on histopathological changes, immunohistochemistry for cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), and basal and oxidative DNA damage induced by H 2 O 2 using a single-cell gel (comet) assay were evaluated. Male Wistar rats (n 18) were divided into three groups: group 1 -negative control; group 2 -cholesterol at 1 % (w/w) in their diet, treated for 5 weeks; group 3 -cholesterol at 1 % in their chow, treated for 5 weeks, and grape juice concentrate at 222 mg/d in their drinking-water in the final week only. The results indicated that the treatment with grape juice concentrate did not show remarkable differences regarding liver tissue in group 3 compared with group 2. However, grape juice concentrate was able to decrease oxidative DNA damage induced by H 2 O 2 in peripheral blood cells, as depicted by the tail moment results. COX-2 expression in the liver did not show statistically significant differences (P. 0·05) between groups. Taken together, the present results suggest that the administration of subchronic grape juice concentrate prevents oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood cells.

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