Aim:This study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa (NS) treatment on toxic effects induced by lead acetate (LA) on the reproductive hormones, spermiogram and gonadal histology of rats.Materials and Methods:A total of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group 1 (negative control [NC]) was the NC and was given distilled water, Group 2 served as the positive control (PC) and was administered 10 mg/kg/day of LA per overall survival (OS), Group 3 (T1) was administered 200 mg/kg/daily of NS per OS for a month, and Group 4 (T2) was pretreated with 200 mg/kg/daily of NS per OS for 1 month, followed by 10 mg/kg/daily of LA alone per OS for another. The rats were euthanized at the end of the experimental period for collection of blood and the right caudal epididymis and testis. Serum was used for determination of reproductive hormones by using radioimmunoassay kits. The epididymal segment was cut and homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline, and the homogenate was used for determination of the spermiogram parameters such as sperm concentration, sperm viability, percentage of live sperm, motility and abnormality. Both the epididymis and testis were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histological processing.Results:The sperm concentration, general, and individual motilities were higher (p<0.05) in the NC and T1 animals, while the T2 had intermediate and the PC had lower (p<0.05) values of each parameter. The percentage sperm viability was higher (p<0.05) in the T1 and lower (p<0.05) in the PC group. However, percentage abnormality was lower in T1, comparable in NC and T2, and higher (p<0.05) in PC. Spermatogenic cell population and epididymal sperm reserve (ESR) were optimal in control and pretreated animals, while the PC had lower spermatids and ESR. The concentration of estradiol (EST) was lower (p<0.05) in the PC and T2, while leuteinizing hormone (LH) concentration was lower (p<0.05) in the PC, and comparable (p>0.05) between control and T2. The concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was comparable (p>0.05) in all groups, while testosterone (TS) hormone concentration was lower (p<0.05) in the PC and higher in the control and T1 groups.Conclusion:This study showed the preventive effects of NS administration against alterations in reproductive hormnes, sperm parameters and gonadal histology caused by LA in rats.

| This study was aimed to evaluate the influence of injection of hatching eggs with inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine (ND) and two doses of Cod liver oil (CLO) on hatchability, some biochemical, productive traits and immune response of broiler chickens. Two hundred fertilized eggs of broiler breeders Ross 308 strain were incubated in automatic incubator machine. They were divided into four groups (50 eggs per group) with two replicates. The first group was injected in amniotic fluid with 0.1ml of Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) /egg which was considered as control, the second group was injected with 0.1ml of inactivated oil emulsified ND vaccine /egg, the third group was injected with 0.1ml of inactivated oil emulsified ND vaccine and 0.1 ml of CLO /egg, the fourth group was injected with 0.1ml of inactivated oil emulsified ND vaccine and 0.15ml of CLO/egg. The eggs were returned to incubator till hatching date. Hatched chicks were reared in the hall of the Veterinary Medicine College/University of Baghdad after distributed into four groups with two replicates according to the previously treated groups until the fifth week of age. The results showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased of the treated groups in hatchability, body weight and improvement in feed conversion ratio as compared with second group and control, also fourth group showed significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) in antibody titers against ND virus at age of 21 and 35 day as compared with the other treated groups and control.

Lead acetate (LA) toxicity can occur either by ingestion or inhalation from contaminated surfaces or from the environment. Nigella sativa is a natural product with immense pharmacological properties. In this study, the effects of N. sativa pre-treatment on lead acetate induced hematological and biochemical changes were evaluated. A total of 20 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups with 5 rats each. Group 1 (NC) was the negative control, group 2 was the lead acetate control (PC) and was administered 10 mg/kg/per day of lead acetate (LA) per OS for 30 days, group 3 (T1) was administered 200 mg/kg/daily of Nigella sativa orally for a month and Group 4 (T2) was pre-treated with 200 mg/kg/daily of Nigella sativa orally for one month, followed by administration of 10 mg/kg/daily of lead acetate (LA) orally for another month. At the end of the experiment, whole blood and serum were collected to evaluate the complete blood profile and serum biochemistry. The haemogram showed lower (p < 0.05) level of hemoglobin, packed cell volume and prothrombin in the PC group, while total white blood cell count, band neutrophils, segmented neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes counts were higher (p < 0.05) in the PC group than the treatment groups. However, eosinophil count was higher in T2, while no changes were observed in RBC and MCV values. Both alanine and aspartate aminotransferase enzymes were higher in the PC as compared to other groups. Similarly, the levels of alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, urea and creatinine were all higher (p < 0.05) in the PC group and comparable (p > 0.05) in the control, T1 and T2 groups. The level of SOD and GSH were lower (p < 0.05) in the PC and T2 groups. In summary, this study showed the prophylactic potential of N. sativa extract in modulating both hematological, biochemical and anti-oxidant enzymes alterations induced by sub-chronic lead acetate administration in rats.

Sixty sheep of three local breeds (Awassi, Hamdani, Karadi) of age, 6-8 months were divided to two groups, the first fed on low level of nutrition. Each group then divided into Two subgroups, the first was infected with 500 larvae / Kg Haemonchus contortus & the second was used as a control. Egg G. fecal sample, staple length, P. c. v. Hb; weight gain were recorded weekly for 13 week post infection. Results revealed that all sheep traits of low level nutrition were significantly (P<0.01) more affected than high level nutrition group. Awassi breed was more reistant to infection with H. contortus than Hamdani & Karadi breeds.

Four hundred, one day old chicks, of four hybrids, were divided into four groups, reared on the floor for ten weeks. The hybrids were vaccinated with live IBD vaccine at 14, 35, 56 days. Maternal antibody titers, antibody titer after each vaccination and bursa index were measured. Results revealed that the Barred local hybrid showed a highest maternal antibody titer and antibody titer after each vaccination, more bursa index lowest mortality. Highly significant correlation (P<0.01) & more linear regression between antibody titer & maternal antibody titers were observed in the barred hybrids.