Cyclosporine A (CsA) is the most widely used immunosuppressive drug for preventing graft rejection and autoimmune disease. However, the therapeutic treatment induces several side effects such as nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to assess the protective role of lipoic acid (LA) on kidney toxicity of male albino rats induced by cyclosporine (CsA). Forty adult male rats were allocated into four groups: Group (I) served as a control group. Group (II); received treatments orally with CsA (25 mg/kg b.w.), daily for 3 weeks. Group III: (Recovery CsA group):  treated orally with CsA (25 mg/kg b.w.), daily for 3 weeks, then recovered for another 3 weeks. Group IV (LA and CsA group):  received LA (100 mg/kg b. w.) orally 1 h before treatment by CsA (25 mg/kg b. w.) daily for 3 weeks. The results indicated that treatment of CsA caused a significant elevation in the concentrations of serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid which indicate injury to the kidney function. Renal malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was markedly increased reflecting increased lipid peroxidation, whereas, reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly decreased.  On the other hand, LA plus CsA dose-dependently inhibited activities of serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid. The administration of LA plus CsA exhibited significant reduction in lipid peroxidation while GSH content and SOD activity were enhanced significantly which reflect an improvement in renal toxicity. In conclusion, the results indicated a negative role of CsA on kidney function and oxidative stress in induction toxicity, suggested Thus, Lipoic acid play a positive role on toxicity of kidney induced by cyclosporine A.

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ʎ-cyhalothrin (LCT) is pyrethroid insecticide that is used worldwide for pest control in agriculture and household use. Cleome droserifolia extract (CDE) is a potential antioxidant protecting cells from oxidative stress. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to generate multiple distinct cell lineages. The present study investigates the protective and therapeutic effect of CDE and MSCs, separately on LCT-induced changes in male rats. Seventy adult male albino rats were divided into seven groups: group I: served as control; group II: received LCT i.p. only (6.2 mg/kg b.wt.); group III: received CDE only (100 mg/kg b.wt., p.o.) for eight weeks; group IV: received CDE as a protective agent daily for eight weeks, then followed by the administration of LCT (i.p.) three times a week for two weeks; group V: exposed to LCT (i.p.) three times a week for two weeks, then treated with the CDE daily for 8 weeks; group VI: rats injected (i.v.) with a single dose of MSCs (1x10 6 cells/cm 2 saline), then received dose of LCT (i.p.) three times a week for two weeks and group VII: rats received dose of LCT (i.p.) three times a week for two weeks, then injected (i.v.) with a single dose of MSCs. Results showed that, LCT caused significant reduction in the body and testis weight, and markedly impaired sperm quality (a count, viability, motility and abnormality). Also, LCT elicited significant declines in serum testosterone, whereas, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly increased. Compared to LCT-treated animals, CDE in the protective group markedly restored the alteration of body and testis weights, sperm indices and sexual hormones. However, CDE in the curative group was found to be less effective in restoring LCT induced morphological and biochemical alterations. Transplantation of MSCs as being a therapy after LCT intoxication showed significant improvement in the activity of all parameters rather than their protective effect which showed minimal protection against LCT. In conclusion, data of this study revealed that the protective by CDE and therapeutic by MSCs are more effective than therapeutic by CDE and protective by MSCs in ameliorating LCT-induced testicular damage and improvement of male fertility and reproductive functions.

Pyrethroid cyhalothrin (PC) is an insecticide that is used worldwide for pest control in agriculture and household use. Samoa extract (SE) is a potent antioxidant protecting cells from oxidative stress. The present study investigates the protective and therapeutic effect of SE on PC-induced changes in sperm quality in male rats. Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: group I: served as control; group II: received PC i.p. only (6.2 mg/kg b.wt.); group III: received SE only (100 mg/kg b.wt., p.o.) for eight weeks; group IV: received SE as a protective agent daily for eight weeks, then followed by the administration of PC (i.p.) three times a week for two weeks; group V: exposed to PC (i.p.) three times a week for two weeks, then treated with the SE daily for 8 weeks. Results showed that PC caused markedly impaired sperm quality (a count, viability, motility, and abnormality). Compared to PC-treated animals, SE in the protective group markedly restored the alteration of sperm indices. However, SE in the curative group was found to be less effective in restoring PC-induced alterations. In conclusion, the data of this study revealed that the SE as a protective agent is more effective than as a therapeutic agent. Keywords: Samoa; Pyrethroid; Sperm quality; Rat

Vinyl cyanide (VCN) is an aliphatic nitrile product which is extensively used in various synthetic chemical industries. VCN is known to exert toxic actions to human beings as well as experimental animals. The present study was designed to examine the ability of β-cryptoxanthin, a naturally occurring antioxidant, to attenuate VCN-induced testicular toxicity in adult albino rats. Daily oral administration of VCN at a dose level of 30 mg/kg b.w. (7.2mg/ animal) to male rats for a period of 5 days significantly reduced the levels of serum testosterone (T), androsterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) which indicates injury to the testis function. Compared to VCN-treated animals, pretreatment with β-cryptoxanthin and its co-administration with VCN once daily at a dose of 40 mg/kg b.w. (9.6mg/ animal) for 30 days induced a remarkable degree of improvement in the levels of endocrine parameters including T, androsterone, FSH and LH. In conclusion, the present results clearly demonstrate the protective role of β-cryptoxanthin against VCN-induced physiological changes in the testis of rats.