Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Aging markedly increases vulnerability to cardiovascular disorders, including acute coronary syndrome and coronary artery disease. Although melatonin (M) and nicotinamide mono-nucleotide (N) have each shown cardioprotective properties, their combined effects on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in the aged heart remain unclear. This study investigated co-administration of M and N enhances cardiac functional recovery and reduces inflammatory responses following myocardial IR injury in aged rats. Forty adult male Wistar rats (n = 8/group) were randomly assigned to five groups: Sham, IR, M (IR + M), N (IR + N), and N + M (IR + N + M). Cardiac function was evaluated after IR by measuring coronary flow, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and left ventricular developed pressure. Melatonin was administered at 50.00 µM in the reperfusion solution for 15 min after 30 min of ischemia, N was administered intraperitoneally at 100 mg kg-1 every other day for 28 days. Creatine kinase and inflammatory markers, including interleukin IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nuclear factor kappa B, were also assessed. IR significantly impaired coronary flow and heart rate, both of which were improved by M and N treatment. These agents also reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and improved left ventricular developed pressure recovery, with the combined therapy producing the greatest effect. Likewise, creatine kinase and inflammatory marker levels were significantly elevated in the IR group but markedly reduced by treatment, especially by combined administration. These findings suggest that M and N exert additive cardioprotective effects against IR injury in aged rats.

Abstract The current study was conducted to analyze the dose-dependent effects of liraglutide against the diabetes-induced detrimental impact on sperm parameters and fertilization potential. For this purpose, 42 adult male mice were randomly divided into control (with no intervention) and experimental groups. Next, the experimental group was subdivided into diabetic, 1.20 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received diabetic, 1.80 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received diabetic, 1.20 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received non-diabetic and 1.80 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received non-diabetic groups. All chemicals were administrated subcutaneously. Following 42 days, the animals were euthanized, and sperm samples were collected. The sperm count, motility, viability, DNA integrity, and maturity were analyzed and compared between groups. Moreover, the sperm fertilization potential was investigated by in vitro fertilization (IVF). For this purpose, the preimplantation embryo development at 2-cell, 4-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages was investigated and compared. Observations revealed that diabetes significantly diminished sperm count, motility, viability, chromatin condensation, and DNA integrity percentages versus a control group. On the other hand, 1.20 mg kg^-1 and 1.80 mg kg^-1 of liraglutide did not improve sperm motility and viability, while ameliorated sperm count and chromatin condensation and DNA integrity in diabetic animals. The diabetic animals represented diminished preimplantation embryo development, which was not altered in liraglutide-received groups. In conclusion, at least in administrated doses, liraglutide could not improve the sperm viability and motility and, via this mechanism, could not induce an appropriate/beneficial effect on IVF outcome.