The aim of this study was to assess the effects of DL-homocysteine (DL-Hcy) and DL-homocysteine thiolactone (DL-Hcy TLHC) on selected serum biochemical parameters, markers of oxidative stress and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)) in the plasma, as well as on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the cardiac tissue homogenate in the rat. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups as follows: control group (1 mL 0.9% NaCl, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection), DL-Hcy group (8 mmol/kg body mass (b.m.), i.p.) or DL-Hcy TLHC group (8 mmol/kg b.m., i.p.). One hour after administration, the rats were euthanized, whole blood was collected for biochemical analysis, and the heart was excised. Following the i.p. administration of DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were mostly significantly increased, while plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased. Administration of DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC significantly inhibited AChE activity in rat cardiac tissue. Our findings suggest that DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC exerted prooxidant effects; however, the decrease in MDA points to an inverse response to the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities. While both substances inhibited AChE activity in rat cardiac tissue, DL-Hcy TLHC induced stronger effects than DL-Hcy.

Vinclozolin is one of the environmental contaminants, that has been shown to induce reproductive abnormalities in male rats. The aim of this study was to explore the adverse effects of vinclozolin on testicular oxidative stress in rats. Adult (100 day old) Wistar rats were injected inperitoneally with 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg bw vinclozolin on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 and maintained up to 50 days. The animals were killed by cervical dislocation at the end of maintainance period. Testes were isolated, cleared from adhering tissue/fluid and used to analyze oxidative status. A significant increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation was observed in the testis of vinclozolin exposed rats when compared with control rats. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes such as, superoxide dismutase, catalase was observed in the testis of vinclozolin treated rats when compared to control rats. The results were indicated that exposure to vinclozolin induces oxidative stress in the testis by increasing lipid peroxidation and decreasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in rats. Our findings are consistent with a major role for accumulated free radical damage in the disruption of spermatogenic process in vinclozolin exposed rats thereby affects reproduction.

Vinclozolin (3-(3-5-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-oxazolidine-2,4-dione) is extensively used in the viticulture, agriculture and commercial horticulture to control several fungal pathogens and has been shown to induce reproductive abnormalities in male rats, causing reduced fertility. The mechanism of action of vinclozolin on male reproductive system is not clear. In the present study we investigated whether prenatal administration of vinclozolin induces oxidative stress in the testes and changes in sperm quality and quantity in epididymis in adult male rats. Pregnant rats were injected with 1, 5 and 10 mg vinclozolin/Kg body weight on 1st, 7th and 14th day of pregnancy and allowed to deliver. Male pups were maintained up to postnatal day 100 and used for assessing testicular and epididymal toxicity. Embryonic exposure to vinclozolin significantly decreased in the sperm density, number of motile sperm, viable sperm and HOS tail coiled sperm in adult rats. Significant increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation with a significant reduction in the activity levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in testis was observed in rats exposed to vinclozolin during embryonic development. It can be concluded that prenatal exposure to vinclozolin induced oxidative stress in testis of adult rats thereby decreases the sperm quantity and deteriorates sperm quality.

The research was carried outgrowing individuals of white laboratory outbred rats. Proportional age ratio of investigated objects and age periods of human was made. Carrying out morphological research on animals with subsequent transferring these data on human purposely to realize the analysis of features of body systems' formation during prenatal and postnatal periods of ontogenesis is obviously possible.
O.A.Gelashvily VARIANT OF PERIODIZATION OF BIOLOGICALLY SIMILAR STAGES OF HUMAN AND RAT’S ONTOGENESIS // Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research, Vol. 4, Issue 4, 2008, pp. 125-126