Effect of Lepidium meyenii(maca)roots on spermatogenesis of male rats

Aim:To determine the effect of oral administration of an aqueous extract from the roots of Lepidium meyenii(maca)on spermatogenesis in adult male rats.Methods;Male rats received an aqueous extract of the root(66.7 mg in onemL)twice a day for 14 consecutive days.Results:Treatment with Lepidium meyenii resulted in an increase in theweights of testis and epididymis but not the seminal vesicle weight.The length and frequency of stages IX-XIV seminif-erous tubules,where mitosis occurred,were increased and stages I-VI were reduced in rats treated with Lepidiummeyenii.Conclusion;The Lepidium meyenii root invigorates spermatogenesis in male rats by acting on its initialstages(IX-XIV).

Effect of alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on testicular function in male rats

Aim: To evaluate the effect of the alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on the spermatogenesis in male rats. Methods: In Holtzman rats, Maca alcoholic extract (5%) was given by oral route at doses of 48 mg/day or 96 mg/day for 7 days, 14 days and 21 days. Testicular function was assessed by measurements of lengths of different stages of seminiferous epithelia and by epididymal sperm count. Results: Ethanolic extract of Maca increased the length of stages IX-XI of seminiferous epithelium at treatment day 7, day 14 and day 21. Progression of spermatogenesis was evident only after day 21 when lengths of stages XII-XIV of seminiferous epithelium were increased; at day 7 and day 14, no important change in spermatogenesis was observed. Epididymal sperm count was increased with 48 mg/day at all times. With 96 mg/day an increase in sperm count was observed at day 7, but it was reduced at day 14 and day 21 of treatment. Serum testosterone levels were not affected. Conclusion: The alcoholic extract of Maca activates onset ant progression of spermatogenesis at 48 mg/day or 96 mg/day in rats.

Cycloheximide prevents production of arresting,a fraction of 30-50 kDa obtained from seminiferous tubule conditioned medium

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide on arresting activity in spermato-genesis and sperm count in male rats. Methods: The study used seminiferous tubule (ST) segments from adult rats cultured in vitro with or without cycloheximide to condition culture media, which have been concentrated, size fractioned (30-50 kDa) and administered 7 days to adult rats by intraperitoneal injections. The effects on testicular and epididymal weights, spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm count were determined. Results: The fraction (30-50 kDa), named arresting, obtained from the culture without cycloheximide decreased testicular and epididymal weights (P<0.01) and reduced the epididymal sperm count significantly. Study of the spermatogenic cycle by transillumination showed spermatogenic arrest at stage VII in rats treated with arresting compared to that observed in controls. The length of stage VII in the group receiving the seminiferous tubules culture media with cycloheximide (30-50 KDa CHX-STCM fraction) was similar to control. Conclusion: The difference in the effect may be the result of the presence or absence of arresting, a protein secreted by the tubules.

EFFECTS OF SPECTRAL DEPENDENCE IN PASS-THROUGH PHOTON-BASED BIOMEDICAL TRANSILLUMINATION

We have proposed an interferometric setup for biomedical analysis in transillumination modality.Wavelength dependence of optical properties must be considered for selecting source and sample.An expansion of the sample optical properties,around the central wavelength of emission,serves to account for spectral effects.Expected spectral values depend on the central moments of the source,and specific constants associated to the optical properties of the sample.By matching wavelength characteristics of source and sample,a first-order approximation is applicable.In such case,the expected values are exactly the optical properties evaluated at the central wavelength.Furthermore,in the first-order approximation,the transillumination interferometer yields the integrated attenuation of the sample at the central wavelength of emission.We verify the latter assertion by performing a wavelength-dependent Monte Carlo analysis to calculate the response of the transillumination interferometer.Recovered attenuation coefficients,for imaging and characterization scenarios,are in agreement with the value computed at the central wavelength of the source.

Intraocular tumours imaging with transpalpebral near-infrared LED transillumination:Pilot study

Purpose:To determine the possible use of near-infrared(NIR)light-emitting-diode(LED)radiation for imaging intraocular tumours by transpalpebral transillumination.Methods:This study was a pilot,open-label,prospective and non-interventional.Thirty patients(30 eyes;age 30–72 years)with uveal melanomas located in the iris,ciliary body,or choroid were under our observation.A biomicroscopy,ophthalmoscopy,transpalpebral NIR transillumination,and ultrasound examination were performed in all cases.Results:In all cases,NIR transillumination with transpalpebral approach enables visualization of the ciliary body and accurately estimates the projection of the pars plicata and ora serrata onto the sclera.In all patients,transpalpebral NIR transillumination made it possible to image the shadow of intraocular melanoma,estimate its dimensions and location concerning the ciliary body structures.Conclusions:We recommend the non-invasive transpalpebral NIR transillumination technique,together with traditional ultrasound imaging,to improve the accuracy of assessing the size and location of intraocular tumours.