Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Increased Body Weight (increased + body_weight)
Selected AbstractsHeteropterys aphrodisiaca Infusion Reduces the Collateral Effects of Cyclosporine A on the TestisTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Juliana C. Monteiro Abstract Cyclosporine A (CsA) is known to have testicular toxicity, leading to male infertility. Stimulant and aphrodisiac properties have been attributed to the plant, Heteropterys aphrodisiaca. Thus, the present work was undertaken to evaluate the association of the drug and the medicinal herb in Wistar rats, applying testicular morphometry and ultrastructure. Twenty-four rats were used, divided into four groups: I, control; II, CsA; III, simultaneous use of CsA and H. aphrodisiaca; IV, H. aphrodisiaca. Daily administration by gavage was carried out, during 56 days, of water (sham), CsA in a dose of 15 mg/kg per day and/or H. aphrodisiaca in a dose of 0.5 ml of the infusion prepared with 25 g of roots/100 ml of boiling water. Increased body weight was observed for all groups, but the animals that received only CsA showed the smallest body weight gain. Morphometry showed increased connective tissue volumetric proportion and decreased Leydig cell volumetric proportion in CsA-treated rats. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to ascertain that CsA caused seminiferous epithelium degeneration, resulting in Sertoli cell vacuolization, abnormal round and elongated spermatids and large accumulation of residual cytoplasm at the epithelium border next to the lumen. Expanded intercellular spaces between germ cells were still observed in H. aphrodisiaca -treated rat testes. The administration of H. aphrodisiaca infusion to CsA-treated rats diminished nearly all the CsA-induced damage to the testis ultrastructure, suggesting that H. aphrodisiaca infusion may be used combined with CsA to reduce CsA-induced injuries in the testis. Anat Rec, 291:809-817, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Impaired contractile function and mitochondrial respiratory capacity in response to oxygen deprivation in a rat model of pre-diabetesACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2009M. F. Essop Abstract Aim:, Obesity is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and is closely associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This study tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial respiratory capacity of the pre-diabetic heart is decreased leading to impaired contractile function and tolerance to ischaemia/reperfusion. Methods:, Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were fed a high caloric diet for 16 weeks after which anthropometric, metabolic, cardiac and mitochondrial parameters were evaluated vs. age-matched lean controls. Cardiac function (working heart perfusions) and mitochondrial respiratory capacity were assessed at baseline and in response to acute oxygen deprivation. Results:, Rats fed the high caloric diet exhibited increased body weight and visceral fat vs. the control group. Heart weights of obese rats were also increased. Triglyceride, fasting plasma insulin and free fatty acid levels were elevated, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were reduced in the obese group. Contractile function was attenuated at baseline and further decreased after subjecting hearts to ischaemia-reperfusion. Myocardial infarct sizes were increased while ADP phosphorylation rates were diminished in obese rats. However, no differences were found for mtDNA levels and the degree of oxidative stress-induced damage. Conclusions:, These data show that decreased mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity in pre-diabetic rat hearts may impair respiratory capacity and reduce basal contractile function and tolerance to acute oxygen deprivation. [source] The Effects of Exogenous Bovine Growth Hormone and Placental Lactogen on Juvenile Striped Bass Morone saxatilis Feed and Growth EfficiencyJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2000Amy S. Hunt Striped bass Morone saxatilis under normal pond-reared conditions usually requires 14,18 mo to grow out to market weight. This includes a winter of comparatively slower growth which could possibly be overcome through hormonally induced acceleration of growth. Thus, the objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that bovine growth hormone and bovine placental lactogen increase growth in striped bass in a dose dependent manner. A secondary objective was to determine the effect of these hormones on body composition. Variables tested were weight gain, length gain, condition factor, feed conversion, and body composition. Fish injected biweekly with 10 ,g/g body weight, bovine placental lactogen (P < 0.09) or bovine growth hormone (P < 0.11) increased body weight. Fish injected with 1 or 10 ,g/g body weight bovine placental lactogen (P < 0.10) or bovine growth hormone (P < 0.10) increased body length during the 12-wk study period. Proximate analysis indicated that bovine growth hormone increased protein content (10 ,g/g; P < 0.10) and decreased fat content (1 and 10 ,g/g; P < 0.10). No significant differences occurred in feed conversions. We conclude that bovine growth hormone and bovine placental lactogen are effective in increasing body growth in striped bass. [source] Pharmacokinetics of valerenic acid after single and multiple doses of valerian in older womenPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2010Gail D. Anderson Abstract Insomnia is a commonly reported clinical problem with as many as 50% of older adults reporting difficulty in falling and/or remaining asleep. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a commonly used herb that has been advocated for promoting sleep. Valerenic acid is used as a marker for quantitative analysis of valerian products with evidence of pharmacological activity relevant to the hypnotic effects of valerian. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of valerenic acid in a group of elderly women after receiving a single nightly valerian dose and after 2 weeks of valerian dosing. There was not a statistically significant difference in the average peak concentration (Cmax), time to maximum concentration (Tmax) area under the time curve (AUC), elimination half-life (T1/2) and oral clearance after a single dose compared with multiple dosing. There was considerable inter- and intra-subject variability in the pharmacokinetic parameters. Cmax and AUC deceased and T1/2 increased with increased body weight. The variability between the capsules was extremely low: 2.2%, 1.4% and 1.4%, for hydroxyvalerenic acid, acetoxyvalerenic acid and valerenic acid, respectively. In conclusion, large variability in the pharmacokinetics of valerenic acid may contribute to the inconsistencies in the effect of valerian as a sleep aid. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||