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R esearch
(Published
online:
30-12-2015)
15.
Can
Urtica dioica
supplementation attenuate mercury
intoxication in Wistar rats? -
Wafa Siouda and Cherif Abdennour
Veterinary World, 8(12): 1458-1465
doi:
10.14202/vetworld.2015.1458-1465
Wafa Siouda:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Animal
Ecophysiology, University Badji Mokhtar-Annaba,
Annaba 3000, Algeria; sioudawafa@gmail.com
Cherif Abdennour:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Animal
Ecophysiology, University Badji Mokhtar-Annaba,
Annaba 3000, Algeria; cherifabdennour@yahoo.fr
Received: 22-06-2015, Revised: 21-10-2015, Accepted: 29-11-2015,
Published online: 30-12-2015
Corresponding author:
Cherif Abdennour, e-mail: cherifabdennour@yahoo.fr
Citation:
Siouda W, Abdennour C (2015) Can
Urtica dioica
supplementation attenuate mercury intoxication in Wistar rats?
Veterinary World 8(12):
1458-1465.
Abstract
Aim:
The objective of this study was to investigate the possible
protective role of nettle
Urtica dioica
(UD)
against Hg-induced toxicity.
Materials and Methods:
A
total of 28 rats were equally divided into four groups: the
control, the Hg (0.8 g HgCl2/kg in the diet), the UD (1.5 ml UD/rat
by gavage), and the Hg+UD group. HgCl2 was daily dissolved in
distilled water and immediately mixed with the standard diet. A
solution of daily infused fresh nettle leaves in boiling water
(16 g in 25 ml) was obtained and then it was administrated by
gavage. Biochemical and reproductive markers, in addition to
glutathione (GSH) level (liver, kidney and testis) and the
histological profiles (testis and epididymis) were evaluated
after 1 month exposure.
Results:
Compared to the control, the levels of glucose, triglycerides,
urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were
significantly raised in the Hg group. In the latter group, the
concentrations of Mg, Fe, and Ca were significantly decreased.
Besides, Hg+UD group has only showed raised AST activity and
reduced Mg level. Concerning the fertility markers, Hg has
provoked a significant decrease in the spermatozoa’s
concentration and motility and in plasma testosterone level as
well. Furthermore, hepatic, renal and testicular GSH
concentrations have declined significantly in the Hg treated rat
compared to the control. A remarkable enhancement of the GSH
level was observed in all organs of the UD group. The
histological examinations of the Hg group have revealed marked
testicular degeneration of the most seminiferous tubules, and
showed few sperms in the lumen of epididymis ducts. However, the
Hg+UD rats have demonstrated an improved histological structure
with the presence of important numbers of
sperms in the lumen. In addition, a clear stabilization of
organized seminiferous tubules and an increased sperms’ numbers
were noted in the UD supplemented rats.
Conclusion:
Nettle leaves have not only played a clear protective role
during Hg intoxication, but it also enhanced hepatic, renal and
testicular GSH level of Wistar rats.
Keywords:
biochemical markers, fertility, glutathione, mercury,
Urtica dioica,
Wistar rats.
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