ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Estrogens has traditionally been known as the female hormone, but this idea has been challenged in early 1990’s and an essential physiological role for estrogen in male fertility was identified. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring non-steroidal plant chemicals that can act like the female hormone estrogen. The herbs ( anise alfalfa and vervain ) chosen in this study contain phytoestrogens. OBJECTIVE: Previous studies demonstrated controversy of the effects of phytoestrogens on the rat testes .Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to investigate the influence of typical dose of herbs containing phytoestrogen on the rat testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four apparently normal mature male rats were divided into four groups of 6 animals each. The first "control" group received only 4ml of distilled water as a placebo. The second group received 40mg/kg of anise seed; the third group received 53.3 mg/kg of dried herb of vervain and the fourth group received 400 mg /kg of alfalfa seeds. All experimental groups received the doses through orogastric tube daily for fourteen days. Testicular histology was evaluated by light and enzyme histochemistry. Plasma FSH and testosterone concentrations were taken to support our results. RESULTS: Histological examination of anise, alfalfa and vervain – treated groups showed an increase in the height of germinal epithelia. There was marked lipoprotein lipase activity in the whole of the interstitial tissue which is more in amount in experimental groups than that in control group. Acid phosphatase granules were infiltered the seminiferous epithelia mildly in control group , moderately in anise and vervain groups and markedly in alfalfa group. The number of interstitial cells showing marked acid phosphatase activity was higher in all experimental groups than that in control group. Alkaline phosphatase exhibited intense activity in the boundary tissue of the seminiferous tubules in testes of control and experimental groups but it appeared thicker in the latter. CONCLUSION: The low dose and short duration of treatment used in our study made these phytoestrogen – containing herbs to have a stimulatory effect on leydig cell steroidogenesis. This study also demonstrated that aniseed being the most potent of the three herbs followed by alfalfa in stimulating testosterone synthesis. This is possibly attributed to the coumarin constituent of aniseed and alfalfa. KEY WORDS: phytoestrogen-containing herbs, testis, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lipoprotein lipase
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This work includes the synthesis of new ester compounds containing two 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings, 15a-c and 16a-c. This was done over seven steps, starting with p-acetamido-phenol 1 and 2-mercaptobenzoimidazole 2. The structure of the products was determined using FT-IR, 1H NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of some prepared compounds was achieved against four types of bacteria (two types of gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, and two types of gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. Coli), as well as against one types of fungus (C. albino). The results show moderate activit against the study bacteria, and the theoretical analysis of the toxi
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Due to increasing cost of asphalt binder, significant economic savings can be realized by using the amount from reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the production of new hot mix asphalt (HMA). Moreover, this is an environmentally friendly option as it reduces the demand for virgin materials. It has to be remarked that in Iraq RAP is not used in the production of HMA and this valuable material is mostly degraded for use in lower value applications. Four mixtures were designed, which contains three different percent RAP, it is (0%, 5%, 15%) with asphalt grade (40-50) and (25%) with asphalt grade (60-70), it has been changed the grade of asphalt when adding RAP (25%) to compensate for the aged binder in the RAP when adding to mixture. All type
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This study involves the design of 24 mixtures of fiber reinforced magnetic reactive powder concrete containing nano silica. Tap water was used for 12 of these mixtures, while magnetic water was used for the others. The nano silica (NS) with ratios (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3) % by weight of cement, were used for all the mixtures. The results have shown that the mixture containing 2.5% NS gives the highest compressive strength at age 7 days. Many different other tests were carried out, the results have shown that the carbon fiber reinforced magnetic reactive powder concrete containing 2.5% NS (CFRMRPCCNS) had higher compressive strength, modulus of rupture, splitting tension, str
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This study was designed to know the effect of Diclofenac sodium (voltaren) drug on the histological composition of kidney in domestic rabbits . Twelve adult males with (1.4) kg weight . The first group of animals administrated orally by 1 ml of Voltaren with 6 mg/kg , while the second group with (1) ml of distal water (as control group ) . the administrated continue for (60) days sequentially. The treatment with voltaren showed pathological cases in tissues and cells of kidney including necrosis, infilteration ,congestion in blood vessels edema.Also epithelial separation in kidney tubules in comparison with control group Conclusion from the above results, revealed that voltaren had negative effects on the kidn
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In this study, the effects of blending the un-branched acrylate polymer known as Poly (n-decyl acrylate), and the branched acrylate polymer known as Poly (iso-octyl acrylate), on the viscosity index (VI), and the pour point of the Iraqi base stocks 40, and 60 respectively, were investigated. Toluene was used as a carrier solvent for both polymer types. The improvement level of oils (VI, & pour point) gained by blending the oil with the acrylate derived polymers was compared with the values of (VI, and pour point) gained by blending the oil with a commercial viscosity index, and pour point improver. The commercial lubricant additive was purchased and used by Al-Daura Refineries. It consisted of an un-known olefin copolymer dissolved i
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This study investigates the influence of silver oxide (Ag2O) concentration on the optical characteristics of phosphate bioactive glasses (PBGs). PBGs have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional silicate glasses in the medical field due to their excellent bioactivity and chemical resistance. Samples with varying Ag2O concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75g) were sintered at 780°C for 2 hrs in an electric furnace. The samples were subjected to Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) tests to assess their functional groups and optical properties. By analyzing the FTIR spectrum of phosphate bioactive glass containing different amounts of Ag2O, it is
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