The necessity to minimize adverse effects of tuberculosis chemotherapy requires a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of antituberculosis drugs on the reproductive system and testicular cell macromolecules. The epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Central and Eastern Europe is getting worse. Data on adverse effects of antituberculosis drugs are scare concerning particularly their effects on the reproductive system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effect of ethambutol, rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide co-administration on lipid peroxidation, glutathione content and protein SH-groups, DNA fragmentation levels, the reproductive capacity of Wistar male rats and the antenatal development of their posterity. The rats (150–170 g) were divided into two groups: group I – received antituberculosis drugs suspended in 1% starch gel per os: ethambutol – 155 mg/kg b.w./day, rifampicin – 74.4 mg/kg b.w./day, isoniazid – 62 mg/kg b.w./day, pyrazinamide – 217 mg/kg b.w./day, group II (control) – received only starch gel in corresponding volumes. The contents of TBA-active compounds, glutathione and protein SH-groups in testis and sperm were determined spectrophotometrically, the DNA-fragmentation was determined using an UV transilluminator (BIORAD, USA), reproductive system indices were measured by standard methods. The co-administration of therapeutic doses of ethambutol, isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide to male rats during the period of spermatogenesis caused an increase in the rate of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation in testis and sperm, decrease of testis glutathione and protein SH-group contents, significant changes in DNA fragmentation, fatal decrease of male fertilizing capacity and fertility, and increase of pre- and post-implantation embryo lethality. The changes in reproductive indices could be the result of direct or indirect effects of one or more drugs investigated.

CYP isoform expression rates and glutathione system were greatly violated with MS. The greater changes were observed in pubertal rats with MS.

Objectives:To investigate the effects of diabetes on the reproductive system and extracellular matrix proteins of diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino male rats, body weight (BW) 160-200 g, were divided into two groups: Istreptozoticin diabetes, IInormal non-diabetic animals. The content of amino acids in rat type I collagen was determined using an amino acid analyzer. Morphological analyses of gonadic structures were carried out by an optic microscope. Results: The study of the effects of diabetes on type I collagen amino acid content, testis cells morphologic and morphometric parameters and spermatogenesis demonstrated the presence of diabetes-mediated quantitative and qualitative changes in male rat reproductive organs, spermatogenetic epithelial cells and extracellular matrix proteins in comparison with normal. Conclusions: Observed collagen molecules changes could hence affect the properties and correct functioning of spermatogenetic epithelium and of other tissues of reproductive organs. They could be caused by diabetes via deficiency of insulin which is involved in collagen synthesis regulation at different stages of this process, cytochrome P450-2E1 induction and reactive oxygen species effects on protein biosynthesis processes.

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The World Health Organization announced on March 11, 2020 that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. The data of studies confirming that cardiovascular diseases are a common concomitant pathology among patients with COVID-19 and cardiological patients have a more severe course and high mortality are presented. The mechanism of interaction between COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases has been identified. First, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), a key enzyme in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is recognized as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Secondly, it was proved that SARS-CoV-2 through the cytokine mechanism causes direct damage to the myocardium and can disrupt the function of the cardiovascular system. This review highlights the need for continued use of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in the treatment of patients with arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and heart failure, as well as recommendations for urgent and emergency care for cardiac patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.