Several causes of infertility have been identified, and several papers have documented some compounds that cause infertility. One of the compounds reported to be toxic to the reproductive system is cyanide. In the management of infertility, various mechanisms ranging from synthetic drugs, natural products and supplements have been employed. Quercetin is an antioxidant supplement that has been used in the treatment of a variety of ailments. This work is aimed at investigating the role of quercetin in attenuating spermato-toxicity and testicular-histopathology induced by cyanide.
Seventy-two (72) male wistar rat (weight 190 g ± 10 g) were divided into nine groups (n = 8) except for groups 4 and 5 with (n = 16). Group 1 (control) received physiological saline while Groups 2 and 3 received 0.5 and 1 mg/kg body weight (bwt) cyanide respectively for 56 days, groups 4 and 5 received 0.5 and 1 mg/kg bwt cyanide respectively for 30 days. At day 30, eight animals were sacrificed from Groups 4 and 5 and the remaining eight (8) rats were subdivided into groups (6 and 7) and were given 20 and 40 mg/kg bwt of quercetin respectively for twenty-six days. Co-administration of cyanide and quercetin at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg cyanide +20 mg/kg quercetin and 1 mg/kg cyanide +40 mg/kg quercetin were given to group 8 and 9 respectively for 56 days.
Significant decreases in sperm parameters (count, motile and normal sperm) and increases in malondiadehyde concentration were observed in the cyanide treated groups. Testicular histoarchitecture showed few to no spermatozoa in the lumen of rats treated with cyanide. All these effects were attenuated by quercetin.
In conclusion, quercetin regulates testicular histopathology induced by cyanide in Wistar rats. Data from this work suggests potential preventive or therapeutic applications of quercetin for individuals subjected to cyanide environmental pollution.
Introduction: Like smoking, sedentary lifestyle is an issue of great concern because of its deleterious health challenges and implications. Given the global spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), social isolation regulations and laws have been implemented in many countries to contain the spread of the virus and this has caused a drastic shift from the usual physically demanding life to a sedentary lifestyle characterized by significantly reduced physical activities and prolong sitting.
Methods/Data Source: Human and nonhuman primate literature was examined to compare experimental and clinical modulation of inflammatory cytokines by exercised-induced myokines.
Data synthesis: Experimental and clinical evidence was used to examine whether exercised-induced myokines can prime the immune system of the elderly population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion: The immune system changes with advancement in age which increases the likelihood of infectious disease morbidity and mortality in older adults. Several epidemiological studies have also shown that physical inactivity among geri- atric population impacts negatively on the immune system. Evidences on the importance of exercise in priming the immune system of elderly individuals could be an effective therapeutic strategy in combating the virus as it may well be a case of “let those with the best immune system win”.
Keywords: Exercise; immune system; sedentary lifestyle; myokines.
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