Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences最新文献

The study was aimed at providing a pattern of blood pressure decrease after an acute bout of exercise in normotensive subjects. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 138 apparently normotensive subjects (83 males and 55 females; age range 18-30 years), and the mean age was 22.28±0.52 and 19.84±0.28 in males and females, respectively. All participants were indigenes and undergraduate students of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The mean BMI was 23.29±3.80 kg/m and 19.07±2.42 kg/m in males and females, respectively. The mean resting SBP (118.65±1.52 and 105.6±2.14 in males and females, respectively), DBP (74.44±1.48 mmHg and 70.04±1.42 mmHg in males and females, respectively), and HR (83.92±2.63 bpm and 87.00±2.76 bpm in males and females, respectively) were recorded on their arrival. The mean SBP (145.28±2.67 mmHg and 123.64±1.97 mmHg in males and females, respectively), DBP (82.68±1.70 mmHg and 75.84±1.36 mmHg in males and females, respectively), and HR (112.96±3.08 bpm and 127.44±4.01 bpm in males and females, respectively) were recorded at 10 minutes of exercise. The study observed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) BMI in males than in females. Though BMI was positively associated with SBP at the end of 60 minutes into the recovery in males, the HR was negatively associated with BMI in females at 60 minutes into the exercise recovery. Meanwhile, such association was not seen in other parameters. The mean SBP, DBP, & HR at 10 minutes of exercise were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the resting state in both males and females. The decrease in the mean SBP, DBP, & HR after exercise was plotted against time for 60 minutes into the exercise recovery. A positive percentage change of SBP (22.56% and 17.18% in males and females, respectively), DBP (11.04% and 8.66% in males and females, respectively) and HR (34.41% and 45.37% in males and females, respectively) was seen at 10 minutes of exercise. A curvilinear pattern of SBP, DBP, and HR decline was observed at the end of 60 minutes. At the 3rd minute, the SBP in both males and females was already on baseline; DBP in males was slightly above baseline with a 2% positive change, while SBP in females was slightly below baseline. The SBP of male and female participants after the 3rd minute fell below baseline and remained persistently negative till the end of 60 minutes, with the female curve being far away from the baseline compared to male. The DBP in both males and females was on the baseline at the 14th and 15th minutes, respectively; the curve fell below baseline and remained persistent, but very close to the baseline. The curvilinear pattern of HR in both males and females showed a positive percentage but was above the baseline in both males and females. The study concluded that a typical curvilinear pattern of SBP crossed the baseline at the 3rd minute in both males and females, the magnitude of which is higher in females than in males; the DBP crosse

This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of long-term consumption of calabash chalk on ulcer scores in Albino Wistar rats. Fifty (50) male adult Albino Wistar rats weighing between 160g - 180g were used for the experiment. The rats were randomly divided into ten (10) groups of 5 rats each consisting of five (5) control and five (5) test rats. Group 1 was the control group and was administered 1ml of distilled water daily while group 2 was the test group and was administered 1ml of calabash chalk suspension orally daily. They were allowed food and water ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 28 days, thereafter, basal gastric acid secretion, gastric pepsin secretion, gastric pH, gastric mucous output, and gastric ulcer scores were measured. The mean basal gastric acid secretion for the control and the test group was 0.58 ± 0.22 and 0.61 ± 0.37uMol/10min respectively. The result showed that the mean basal gastric acid secretion was not significantly higher in the test group when compared with the control group. The mean gastric pepsin secretion for the control and the test group was 0.46 ± 0.02 and 0.57 ± 0.02mg/100ml respectively. The results showed that the mean gastric pepsin secretion in the test group was significantly higher (P<0.01) when compared with the control group. The mean gastric pH for the control and the test group was 4.10 ± 0.37 and 2.94 ± 0.14 respectively. The pH of the test group was significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared with that of the control group. The mean gastric mucous output in the control and the test group was 0.14 ± 0.014g and 0.08 ± 0.01g respectively. The results showed that the gastric mucous output in the test group was significantly reduced (p<0.01) when compared with the control group. The mean gastric ulcer score in the control and the test group was 3.70 ± 0.30 and 7.50 ± 1.25 respectively. The results showed that the ulcer score in the test group was significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared to the control group. In conclusion, the long-term consumption of calabash chalk predisposed to peptic ulceration in Albino Wistar rats.

Introduction: Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Meliaceae) is a popular medicinal plant widely sought for its antipyretic, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties, among others.

Methods: Cold-pressed oil from neem seed (NOil) and its cyclohexane-methanol extract (NOHM) were evaluated for their effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities in vitro. Also, NOil (75, 150, and 200 mg/kg) and NOHM (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) were orally administered to normal experimental rats for 30 days, following which the lipid profile, antioxidant status, and serum and tissue indices of hepatic, renal, and cardiac damage were evaluated.

Results: NOHM caused significantly higher (p<0.05) α-glucosidase inhibition than NOil. Respectively, the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of NOil (IC50 = 4.88 ± 0.38 µg/mL and 74.54 ± 25.26 µg/mL) and NOHM (5.00 ± 0.22 µg/mL and 14.17 ± 5.14 µg/mL) were superior to that of acarbose (9.67 ± 0.09 µg/mL and >150 µg/mL). NOHM produced a stronger hypoglycemic effect than NOil. However, no biochemical alteration of toxicological importance was caused by either following subacute administration to animals as the organ-body weight ratio and serum and tissue indicators of organ damage were not adversely altered.

Conclusion: The present findings support the safety of NOil and NOHM at the evaluated dosages. The effect of both oil and extract on key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes could partly explain the biochemical rationale underlying the popular ethnomedicinal application of the seed in diabetic management.

There is paucity of information on the relationship between resistin and cardiometabolic outcome among non-diabetic obese in Africa, especially Nigeria with a growing prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular events. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between serum resistin and insulin resistance among non-diabetic obese patients. This is a cross-sectional study, involving 100 non-diabetic obese and 100 non-obese Nigerians. Participants waist circumference, abdominal circumference and waist-hip ratio were measured alongside fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, remnant cholesterol and blood pressure. Serum resistin and insulin were determined with ELISA technique. Insulin resistance was assessed using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) formula. Data was analyzed with Manny-Whitney test to compares the median of the observation between the two groups and chi-square for association test.  Although FBG, serum insulin level and HOMA-insulin resistance (p<0.001) were significantly higher in the obese group, ditto for total cholesterol, LDL and remnant cholesterol, blood pressure and myocardial oxygen demand (MOD). However, circulatory resistin level in  the obese group 1.63 (1.45-1.74)  was comparable with the non-obese groups  1.63(1.52-1.70), and there was no correlation between  resistin and insulin resistance and any anthropometrics indices Conclusion: Put together, resistin may not be a constant factor in the development of insulin resistance or obesity-related metabolic dysfunction in some obese subsets, hence the need to explore other potential adiponectin factors contributing to cardiometabolic outcomes in non-diabetic obese individuals in Nigeria.

This study investigates the relationship between bone-related markers and dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women in Owo metropolitan, recognizing the critical role of lipids in physiological functions and the heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases with menopause-induced lipid metabolism changes. A total of 100 subjects were enrolled, including 60 postmenopausal (PMP) women, 20 premenopausal (PRM) women, and 20 reproductive women aged (RWA). Fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed for various parameters using standard laboratory procedures. Statistical analysis revealed significantly elevated levels of Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, and LDL-C in both PMP and PRM subjects compared to the RWA (p<0.05). In contrast, ALP, inorganic phosphate, and uric acid levels were significantly higher in PMP and PRM subjects, while FBS, calcium, and vitamin D levels were lower (p<0.05). Furthermore, inorganic phosphate had a strong positive association with TC, TG, and LDL-C among PMP women. These data emphasize the considerable difference in lipid profiles between premenopausal and postmenopausal women, as well as the higher prevalence of dyslipidemia after menopause.

This study evaluated gastroprotective biochemicals in Wistar rats exposed to both Bisphenol A and either Garcinia kola or its biflavonoid, kolaviron. Fifty-six rats (140-160g) divided into 7 groups (n=8), and treated orally for 28 days as follows; Group I was the control (distilled water, 1.5mL/kg) while group II (vehicle control) received corn oil (1.5mL/kg), groups III-V were exposed to BPA (50mg/kg) only and treated with distilled water (1.5mL/kg), Garcinia kola (200mg/kg) and kolaviron (200mg/kg), respectively. Animals in groups VI and VII received Garcinia kola (200mg/kg) and kolaviron (200mg/kg) only, respectively. Thereafter and under anaesthesia, the stomach was dissected out, estimated for mucin (n=3), homogenized (n=5), centrifuged, and the clear supernatant obtained was analyzed for malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, nitrites, myeloperoxidase, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, respectively.Gastroprotective biochemicals were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in animals exposed to BPA while values in animals exposed both BPA and either Garcinia kola or kolaviron were elevated. Exposure to Garcinia kola and kolaviron alone also showed a potentiation of gastric antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study shows that Garcinia kola and especially its biflavonoid, kolaviron, protects the gastric mucosa against Bisphenol A induced impairment by potentiating gastroprotective biochemicals in male Wistar rats.

Sucrose and saccharin are prevalent sweeteners in today's diet, playing crucial roles in global food and beverage consumption. The intake of sucrose, a natural sweetener, alongside saccharin, an artificial alternative, has raised various health concerns related to their effects on reproductive health. This study specifically focuses on how these sweeteners influence male reproductive parameters, including sperm quality, hormonal levels (such as Follicle Stimulating Hormone {FSH}, Luteinizing Hormone {LH}, and Testosterone), reproductive gene expressions, as well as the functionality of reproductive organs, utilizing animal models (in vivo). By conducting a thorough review of existing literature and experimental studies, this project seeks to assess whether exposure to sucrose and saccharin poses risks to male reproductive functions, while also identifying the mechanisms through which these substances impact male reproductive health. The investigation centers on the effects of sucrose and saccharin on reproductive function in male Wistar rats. Thirty male albino Wistar rats, each weighing between 180-200 grams, were randomly assigned to three groups: Group One served as the control, Group Two received sucrose (100 mg/kg), and Group Three was administered saccharin (5 mg/kg). The findings indicated that levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone, Testosterone, and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR) significantly decreased in the sucrose and saccharin groups compared to the control group. Additionally, the testicular antioxidant Malondialdehyde levels increased relative to the control, while Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase levels were significantly decreased. Furthermore, sperm profile-including sperm count, motility, and viability-showed significant alterations when compared to the control group. These results suggest that both sucrose and saccharin can negatively impact reproductive function by diminishing testicular antioxidant activity, altering sperm characteristics (count, motility, and viability), and inhibiting StAR, ultimately leading to testicular damage. Keywords: Sucrose, Saccharin, Sweeteners, Hormonal levels, Sperm quality. Wistar rats.

Hydrocephalus, the aberrant enlargement of the brain's ventricles, is caused by a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid that stretches the periventricular white matter and may disrupt the connections between the pyramidal neurons in the cerebral cortex. Using an intra-cisternal kaolin injection hydrocephalic rat model, we aimed to determine if the effects of hydrocephalus on the white matter will subsequently impact the dendrites of cortical pyramidal neurons, which are the synaptic sites for the white matter fibres, particularly the afferent fibres. Three-week-old hydrocephalic rats were compared with controls after 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Dendritic arborisations of the pyramidal neurons were evaluated using a modified Golgi stain. Haematoxylin and Eosin, and Cresyl violet stains were used to measure cortical thickness and pyramidal neuronal count. The hydrocephalic rats' cerebral cortex and corpus callosum were thinner (p<0.0001) than the controls. Rats with hydrocephalus had a similar pyramidal neuron count to the controls, with no significant decline. After two weeks of hydrocephalic induction, the pyramidal neurons' dendritic branching changed due to basal dendritic reduction and denudation. Reduced thickness in the corpus callosum and sensorimotor cortex was observed in the hydrocephalus animals. The pyramidal cell population remained unaffected, but the basal dendrites of the cells were substantially weakened. Ventricular enlargements during the juvenile developmental stage may harm dendritic arborization, which could obstruct neurological maturation.

When Severe Acute Respiratory human Coronavirus 2 (SARS-hCOV 2) infection began in December 2019, detailed knowledge about the virus was lacking. This included non-availability of anti-viral treatment or vaccine, no knowledge of virus-human interaction, and lack of prognostic factors for stages of illness among others. A publication in Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences (2020). 35: 20-25 titled "Immune Responses During Human Coronavirus Infection: Suggestions For Future Studies" adduced investigations into immune parameters of COVID-19 patients so as to throw more light on the immunopathogenesis of SAR-CoV-2 infection, in order to create avenue for the development of vaccines or herd immunity. This present publication is a review of studies carried out on COVID-19 patients in one Infectious Diseases Center (I.D.C), Ibadan, Nigeria as a response to the gaps in knowledge raised in above mentioned publication. Cummulatively, immune-metabolic studies from this IDC revealed mild, age- and sex-dependent status of COVID-19 in patients admitted into this center. Thus, explaining the basis for the effectiveness of adopted re-purposed drugs (chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, zinc, vitamins C and D and or antibiotics), physiotherapy and nutritional support used for the management of admitted COVID-19 patients. Also, this paper vindicated that inflammation was heightened during SARS-CoV 2 infection; therefore therapeutic interventions to control the inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, antibodies against structural and non-structural proteins or blocks receptor sites were proposed. In addition, development of herd immunity and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines (Astrazeneca and Moderna) were elucidated in general population. However, study to determine host genetic factors in hCoV infection was lacking. This review concluded that interdisciplinary collaborative approach will be useful in the management of future emerging or re-emerging infection.

This study was designed to investigate the modulatory effect of ethanol root extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius (SL) on the fertility of hypertensive Wistar rats induced by Nw-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester. Fifty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups A-E. The rats in group A (Control) were administered with distilled water while Groups B-E received L-NAME at 40 mg/kg, Groups  C, D, were co-administered SL at dosage of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively, and group E was co-administered with Captopril 20 mg/kg once daily for 28 days. L-NAME caused a significant increase in blood pressure (mmHg) with Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (159.08±2.89), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (114.67±3.83) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) (120.90±4.65) values when compared with their respective control of (115.00±2.81, 80.91±2.76 and 91.9±2.68) in Group B. The high blood pressure was however lowered im groups co-administered with SL and Captopril. Higher morphological alterations of sperm cells were observed in hypertensive rats and hypertensive rats medicated with captopril in this study, It was noticed that the right testicular weight and right testicular length in group C were affected significantly when compared to the left testicular parameter in groups A and B. Semen characteristics showed a decrease in sperm motility and livability in hypertensive rats group compared to the control and extract treated groups. This decrease fell below acceptable 60 % minimum sperm motility recommended for breeding animals and percentage of the abnormal sperm cell in group B is higher than 20% maximum acceptable limit in normal breeding animals.  Hypertension altered the reproductive indices in rats used for this study and could result in infertility but ethanol extract of S. latifolius ameliorated the reproductive organ damage in hypertensive rats. Keywords: Hypertension, Infertility, rats, Sarcocephalus latifolius, Nw-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester.