6 research outputs found
Immunocytochemical evidence of histamine 1 and histamine 2 receptors on mice sperm
No full textHistamine is a biogenic amine which is synthesised by L-histidine decarboxylase enzyme (HDC). The histamine 1 and 2 antagonist administrations have been highly reported to cause detrimental effect on sperm parameters, which arisen the speculation of histamine 1 (H1R) and histamine 2 (H2R) receptors might be present in sperm. The present study was aimed to provide evidence on the localisation of H1R and H2R on mice sperm through immunocytochemistry. The sperm was harvested from cauda epididymis. After one hour of incubation, sperm suspension was smeared onto a poly-lysine-coated slide and allowed to dry before fixation and permeabilisation processes. The primary antibody encoded for receptors was exposed to the fluorescently tagged antibody; fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugate followed by nuclear staining with 4, 6-diamino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). The testis, stomach, and skin were used as the positive controls. Our data showed that both receptors have been expressed on the midpiece and acrosome of mice. The present result was the first discovery of the presence and immunolocalisation of H1R and H2R on mice sperm. Therefore, present study proposes that these receptors could be involved in calcium regulatory mechanism and protein phosphorylation which are responsible for fertilisation-related processes
Androgen Receptor and Ultrastructural Features of Nigella sativa Oil and Nicotine-Treated Male Rat Reproductive Glands
No full textNicotine is claimed to increase free radicals, DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in male reproductive organs. Nigella sativa has been identified to ameliorate these adverse effects due to nicotine intake. This study was conducted to evaluate potential protective effects of N. sativa oil on the adverse effects of nicotine on androgen receptors (AR) and ultrastructural features of rat seminal vesicles and prostate glands. Twenty four Sprague Dawley male rats, 7-9 weeks of age and 200-250 g body weight (BW) were randomly divided into; Group 1 Saline (S), forced fed with 0.1 mL/100 g BW of 0.9% normal saline; Group 2 Nicotine (N), intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mg/100 g BW of nicotine; Group 3 N. sativa (NS), forced fed with 6.0 μL/100 g BW of N. sativa and Group 4 Nicotine-N. sativa (NNS), co-administered with 0.5 mg/100 g BW of nicotine and 6.0 μL/100 g BW of N. sativa. The seminal vesicles and prostate glands were extracted after 100 days of treatment. The seminal vesicle and prostate gland were processed for ultrastructural study and androgen receptor detection. The epithelial cells in prostate gland and seminal vesicle of the N group showed weaker brown staining intensity as compared to that of in the NS and NNS groups. This was consistent with the presence of some ultracellular changes observed in the prostate gland and seminal vesicle tissues of the N group. Findings from this study suggested that administration of N. sativa results in ameliorating effects on both the prostate gland and seminal vesicle structures and functions of the nicotine-treated rats
Panthera tigris jacksoni Population Crash and Impending Extinction due to Environmental Perturbation and Human-Wildlife Conflict
No full textThe critically endangered Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni), with an estimated population of less than 200 individuals left in isolated rainforest habitats in Malaysia, is in an intermediate population crash leading to extinction in the next decade. The population has decreased significantly by illegal poaching, environmental perturbation, roadkill, and being captured during human–wildlife conflicts. Forty-five or more individuals were extracted from the wild (four animals captured due to conflict, one death due to canine distemper, one roadkilled, and 39 poached) in the 12 years between 2008–2019. The Malayan tigers are the first wildlife species to test positive for COVID-19 and are subject to the Canine Distemper Virus. These anthropogenic disturbances (poaching and human–tiger conflict) and environmental perturbation (decreasing habitat coverage and quality) have long been identified as impending extinction factors. Roadkill and infectious diseases have emerged recently as new confounding factors threatening Malayan tiger extinction in the near future. Peninsular Malaysia has an existing Malayan tiger conservation management plan; however, to enhance the protection and conservation of Malayan tigers from potential extinction, the authority should reassess the existing legislation, regulation, and management plan and realign them to prevent further population decline, and to better enable preparedness and readiness for the ongoing pandemic and future threats
Thymoquinone enhances sperm DNA integrity in nicotineinduced infertile male rats
No full textPurpose: To assess the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on the integrity of sperm DNA in nicotineinduced sperm impairment in rats.
Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into four equal groups: control group received normal saline orally for 60 days; nicotine group was subcutaneously injected with 5 mg/kg/day nicotine for 30 days and then given normal saline for the next 30 days; TQ group was given normal saline for 30 days followed by TQ at 5 mg/kg/day for 30 days; and nicotine-TQ group received 5 mg/kg of nicotine for 30 days and 5mg/kg of TQ for another 30 days. Sperm DNA breakages were evaluated using Comet assay. The expression levels of protamine 1 (PT1) and transition nuclear protein 2 (Tnp2) genes which are essential for the proper compaction of the sperm DNA were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
Results: Thymoquinone significantly decreased DNA fragmentation in the sperm of nicotine-treated rats. However, there was no change in PT1 gene expression. Tnp2 was downregulated in the nicotine group and slightly upregulated in nicotine-TQ group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results demonstrate the potential benefits of TQ in improving sperm DNA quality of nicotine-induced male infertility
Data on diet and growth by giant panda in zoo Negara, Malaysia
No full textIn this data article we present the determinations of the diet preference and growth of a pair of the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (David, 1869) from Zoo Negara Malaysia. Once considered as endangered, the captive giant pandas were given with nine species of local bamboo in separate indoor enclosures. We recorded data between May 25, 2014 and December 31, 2016 and analysed it based on food preference, the pattern toward food consumption and body weights using SPSS v25.0 (IBM, USA). Data on the bamboo preference, daily average bamboo provided and consumed, and factors predicting of body weight per individual are reported in this article. The data highlight correlation between panda growth (kg) to the part of bamboo consumed (kg) and exhibit the pattern of preferred part of food (i.e.: either the leaf, culm or shoots of bamboo variety) for panda consumptions. The food consumption toward the body weight was modelled using logistic regression analysis to help determine the pattern of food consumption and body weight of giant panda in the future and based on regression model 1, only consumed variable is significance to the model
