Journal of African Association of Physiological Sciences

Rosuvastatin ameliorates anxiety but impairs skeletal muscle performance by malondialdehyde and calcium depletion in high fat diet-fed swiss albino mice

2024-02-01T11:30:05+00:00

Background: The high intake of high calorie, high fat diets (HFD) with an associated
sedentary lifestyle has been linked with a number of neurobehavioral and neuromuscular
disorders. This study aimed at investigating the effect of a lipid lowering drug -
Rosuvastatin (ROS) on anxiety-like behavior and muscle strength in HFD-fed mice.
Methods: The animals were grouped into four (n=5); Group 1 (normal chow and water ad
libitum); Group 2 (HFD ad libitum); Group 3 (HFD + ROS); Group 4 (HFD for 5 weeks
then ROS for 1 week). Thereafter, mice were subjected to elevated plus maze (EPM) test
and wire hanging test (WHT). Animals were then killed and brain samples homogenized
and assayed for neurotransmitters and antioxidants. The blood samples were assayed for
calcium, uric acid and Malondialdehyde (MDA).
Results: The HFD significantly (p<0.05) heightened anxiety in the mice which was
ameliorated by ROS. Muscle strength was however decreased with ROS. Brain levels of
dopamine and serotonin were not significantly affected (p<0.05) by ROS likewise
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase. Serum calcium and MDA were significantly
reduced by ROS.
Conclusions: High fat diet induced anxiety in the animals and improved muscle endurance
on exertion. Rosuvastatin ameliorated the anxiety but reduced muscle strength and the
proposed mechanism is suppression of MDA and Calcium functions respectively

Antidiabetic and Thrombolytic Activities of Some Selected Medicinal Plants in High Fat Diet and Dexamethasone-Induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats

2024-02-01T11:46:48+00:00

Background: Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic condition that predisposes to cardiovascular and thrombotic complications. We screened three medicinal plants (Albizzia chevalieri, Newbouldia laevis and Leptadenia hastate) for their antidiabetic and thrombolytic activities.

Methods: T2D was induced with high fat diet and dexamethasone. Following induction, rats were grouped into 6 (n=8 rats); control, untreated, treated (500mg/kg body weight (BW) metformin only) or treated (300mg/kg BW leaf extracts). The rats were treated for two weeks and euthanized. About 2ml of the collected blood was used for thrombolytic activity assay while the rest was processed, and the recovered serum utilised for biochemical and hormonal assays.

Results: Rats treated with extracts had significantly (p<0.05) lowered concentrations of serum glucose, TG, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL- cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol compared to untreated rats. Extracts also lowered (p<0.05) the serum insulin concentration on day 14 compared to untreated rats. Albizzia chevalieri, Newbouldia laevis and Leptadenia hastata showed 48.90%, 39.20% and 37.69% clot lysis activities respectively which was significantly higher (p<0.001) than distilled water, while streptokinase produced a substantial clot lysis of 93.70%.

Conclusions: The leaf extracts of Albizzia chevalieri, Newbouldia laevis and Leptadenia hastata have antidiabetic and thrombolytic activities in type-2 diabetic rats and thus, can be potentially used as combined antidiabetic and thrombolytic agents with in vivo effects in type-2 diabetic patients.

Modulatory role of N-acetyl-cysteine on gastric mucosal lesions and some biochemical changes in Wistar rats subjected to cold restraint stress

2024-02-01T12:16:12+00:00

Background: Gastric ulcer affects many people worldwide and it is caused by many factors such as stress, medications, particularly non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, infections caused by Helicobacter pylori and Cytomegalovirus. Exposure to Cold restraint stress (CRS) has been established to cause oxidative stress leading to cellular death. Nacetyl-cysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant that protects the lipid bio-membrane against oxidative stress. This study investigated the effect NAC on gastric mucosal lesion and some biochemical changes in Wistar rats subjected to CRS.

Methodology: Sixteen (16) adult male rats were divided into four (4) groups; Group I (Control): Distilled water/Kg Group II: Distilled water + CRS 3½ hrs (Ulcer group), Group III: NAC 500 mg/kg orally + CRS 3½ hrs Group IV: Ranitidine 50 mg/ kg + CRS 3½ hrs. All treatment lasted for 7 days while exposure to CRS was for 3½ hours on 7th day. Three hours after exposure of rats to CRS, rats of all groups were euthanized under diazepam and ketamine anesthesia. The stomach and blood samples were collected for physical and biochemical analysis. Data were analysed using ANOVA and p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The P index of NAC in CRS induced ulcer was found to be 66.7 %. A significant increase (P = 0.001) in body weight was observed in CRS + Ranitidine group, when compared to the control. A significant (P = 0.001) increase was observed in the INOS concentration in NAC + CRS, Ranitidine + CRS, when compared to the control.

Conclusion: We surmise that acute administration of NAC significantly increased body weight of rats subjected to CRS. The high preventive index of N-acetyl cysteine on CRS induced ulcer was as the result of the antioxidant properties of NAC which might have contributed to its’ gastro protection against gastric mucosal lesions.

Memory impairment effect of Cannabidiol Oil and Prednisolone Treatment: Alteration of Neuro-oxidant markers and Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Hippocampus of Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats

2024-02-01T12:31:07+00:00

Background: There have been conflicting reports on the effect of Cannabis products on learning and memory. Hence this study investigated CBD oil's and prednisolone treatment's cognitive impact on cadmium-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats.

Methods: Forty rats weighing between 150g to 200g were assigned into 8 groups (1-8) of five animals each. Group A control, Group B-H received 1mg/kg body weight prednisolone; 1.5mg/kg Cadmium; 1mg/kg pred+0.2mg/kg CBD-oil; 0.2mg/kg CBDoil+2mg/kg cadmium; 3mg/kg pred+2mg/kg cadmium; 0.1mg/kg CBD-oil and 0.2mg/kg CBD-oil respectively. The administration was done using gavage for 14 days. A T-maze test apparatus was used to determine the latency of object recognition before and after administration.

Results: There was a significant decrease in latency of object recognition in prednisolone, cadmium, and 0.2mg/kg CBD-oil treated groups than control after administration. Calcium ion significantly (P<0.05) increased in the cadmium+ 0.1mg/kg CBD-oil treated group and decreased in the pred+CBD-oil group compared to the control. Acetylcholinesterase significantly (P<0.05) increased in prednisolone, pred+cadmium, and 0.2mg/kg CBD-oil treated groups and decreased in cadmium, pred.+CBD-oil, cadmium+CBD-oil, and 0.1mg/kg CBD-oil treated groups compared to control. Catalase significantly increased in pred+cadmium, 0.1mg/kg CBD-oil, and 0.2mg/kg CBD-oil treated groups compared to control. SOD significantly decreased in the treatment groups than the control. Malondialdehyde significantly increased in cadmium, pred+CBD-oil, cadmium+CBD-oil, 0.1mg/kg CBD-oil, and 0.2mg/kg CBD-oil than control. Glutathione peroxidase significantly decreased in treated groups compared to control. Reduced glutathione significantly decreased across treated groups than the control. Histology of the hippocampus revealed visible pathologic changes in pred+cadmium, 0.1mg/kg CBD-oil, and 0.2mg/kg CBD-oil treated groups with cellular vacuolization, Perivascular leucocyte infiltration, and pycnotic nuclei, indicating slight inflammation and detrimental effects of the treatment in the histoarchitecture of the hippocampus.

Conclusions: CBD oil, prednisolone, and cadmium administration at different doses induced biochemical alterations, and exacerbated cognitive and neurobehavioral decline by enhancing oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase activity, and alteration in the cytoarchitecture of the hippocampus

Abstracts of the 1st East African Society of Physiological Sciences (EASPS) and Special African Association of Physiological Sciences (AAPS) Conference that was held from 29th November to 1st December, 2023 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

2024-02-01T12:51:47+00:00

No Abstract