Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract ameliorates lead-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity in rabbits

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract as an adjunct treatment on lead acetate induced hepatonephrotoxicity in rabbits. Methods: Thirty-six male New Zealand White rabbits were assigned into two main groups. The first group(14 rabbits) served as normal control. The second group(22 rabbits) was administered orally with lead acetate at a dose of 40 mg/kg/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. At the 4 th and the 8 th week of treatment, 6 animals(3 animals at each period) of the second group were sacrificed while the remaining animals(16 rabbits) were assigned randomly into 2 subgroups(8 rabbits each): treated and non-treated. The first subgroup was orally given 1 m L phosphate-buffered saline for further 4 weeks while the second subgroup was administered orally with Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day for the same period. Blood samples were collected to determine hematological and serum biochemical indices. Tissue specimens were collected from the liver and kidney for evaluation of the oxidant/antioxidant markers and for histopathological examinations.Results: Lead acetate exposure decreased the mean body weight gain, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and lymphocytes count. Moreover, it markedly increased counts of monocytes and platelets, serum enzyme activity, levels of creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Malondialdehyde level was markedly increased while the reduced glutathione content was significantly decreased in liver tissue of lead intoxicated-rabbits. Histopathological alterations were also noticed in the liver and kidney of lead intoxicated rabbits. Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract significantly improved hematological and serum biochemical parameters and histopathological structure of the liver and kidney. Conclusions: Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract ameliorates hemato-biochemical and histopathological alterations caused by lead acetate and improves hepatic and renal functions.

Anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicle count predict ovarian response in women less than 45 years following GnRH antagonist multiple-dose protocol

Objective:To speculate which of the following parameters:antral follicle count(AFC),anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)and age can be used as a predictor of ovarian response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)antagonist stimulation multiple-dose protocol in women under 45 years,and to determine the cutoff value of these parameters and their correlations for predicting low and high ovarian response.Methods:This prospective study included 462 women with the mean age of(29.3±6.5)years.All women were subjected to the GnRH antagonist stimulation multiple-dose protocol.On the second day of the menstrual cycle,ultrasonography was conducted to determine AFC in both ovaries.Peripheral blood samples were collected to evaluate the level of estradiol,FSH,luteinizing hormone,prolactin,thyroid-stimulating hormone,and AMH.The women were divided into three groups:low response(AHH<1 ng/mL,n=173),normal response(AMH=1.0-3.5 ng/mL,n=175),and high response(AMH>3.5 ng/mL,n=114).Results:A significant decrease was found in the age and FSH level in the high response group compared to other groups(P<0.001).Conversely,a significant increase was shown in AMH,estradiol on human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG)day,AFC,mature oocytes,fertilized oocytes,and embryos transferred in the high response group compared to the other two groups(P<0.001).The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves demonstrated that AFC and AMH had the highest accuracy,followed by basal FSH level and age in the prediction of low ovarian reserves(P<0.001)with cutoff values of≤4.50 and≤0.95 for AFC and AMH,respectively.Moreover,the ROC analysis showed that AFC had the highest accuracy,followed by AMH level and age in the prediction of high ovarian reserves with a cutoff value of≥14.50,≥3.63,and≤27.50 years,respectively(P<0.01).A significant decrease was observed in women's age,estradiol level,and oocyte fertilization rate in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women(P<0.001).Additionally,significant negative correlations were found between the AFC,the number of mature oocytes,fertilized oocytes,embryos transferred,and the age of pregnant women(P<0.001).Conclusions:AFC and AMH predict low and high ovarian response to GnRH antagonist stimulation multiple-dose protocol in women under 45 years.