Background: The application of pyrethroid pesticides to control pests has been widely implemented both domestically and industrially in Nigeria. Excessive and unregulated usage of pesticides can have toxic effects on the male reproductive system. Objectives: This study investigated the toxicological impact of Cypermethrin on the testes, as well as the potential mitigating effects of single and combinatorial administration of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in adult male Wistar rats. Methods: Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats weighing between 180 and 200g were randomly assigned to five groups of five rats each. Group I was the unexposed control group, while Group II was the Cypermethrin (10mg/kg/bw) exposed group. Groups III-V were exposed to Cypermethrin at standard doses of 10 mg/kg/bw and orally administered with ascorbic acid (5000mg/kg/bw), Alpha-tocopherol (3000mg/kg/bw), and coadministration of Ascorbic acid and Alpha-tocopherol respectively for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the rats were euthanized, and their testes were harvested and processed for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Results: The findings revealed elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) activities (p < 0.05). There were no visible histological changes in the testes, and co-administration of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol restored biochemical parameters better than single administration. Conclusion: Coadministration of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol reduces cypermethrin-induced oxidative stress better than single administration, possibly due to their complementary antioxidant properties.

The epileptic power supply in Nigeria has caused a surge in the production of energy from other sources, including gasoline generator sets. The air pollution caused by the exhaust from these engines has been implicated in a variety of metabolic disorders and diseases, including cancer. This study aims at understanding the genotoxic and histopathological effects of gasoline generator exhaust exposure on the DNA and lungs of adult male wistar rats. Forty- eight (48) adult wistar rats were divided into four categories, each with 12 rats. The control rats were not exposed to gasoline generator exhaust while the test groups were exposed at 2, 4, and 8-hour intervals for a duration of 4, 8, and, 12 weeks respectively. Animals were euthanized using cervical dislocation and blood samples were obtained for genotoxic analysis via cardiac puncture while the lungs were preserved for 72 hours in 10% neutral buffered formalin and further processed for histological studies. The Olive Tail Moment (OTM) of the exposed rats showed significant variation across the exposure time points when compared to the unexposed control, indicating that exposure to gasoline generator exhaust negatively impacts the DNA. Additionally, histological investigations also indicated some cytopathic characteristics, such as peribronchiolar and perivascular infiltration by inflammatory cells, congestion, and thickening of blood vessels. The findings of this study showed that exposure to gasoline generator exhaust induces genotoxic damage with the severity of the damage occurring in a time/exposure-dependent manner. Keywords: Air pollution; Nigeria; Gasoline; Generator; Genotoxicity.

The unrestricted and unsystematic use of cypermethrin pesticides has detrimental effects on the organs, ranging from short-term sickness to long-term effects. The ameliorating effect of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate was investigated singly and in combination with cypermethrin-induced oxidative stress using murine models. Additionally, the livers and kidneys of rats were histologically evaluated. Twenty-five (25) adult male Wistar rats with an average weight of 190 g were allocated randomly into five groups consisting of five rats each. Group I consists of the unexposed control rats, while rats in groups II-V were the test group exposed to cypermethrin at standard doses of 10 mg.kg-1 bw. While rats in group II were exposed and untreated, group III-V was administered with ascorbate (5000 mg.kg-1 bw), alpha-tocopherol (3000 mg.kg-1 bw), and co-administered with both vitamins at their standard doses, respectively. Regimen administration was by gavage for 28 days, and while the vitamins were administered daily, cypermethrin exposure was done twice a week. At the end of the experiment, rats were euthanized, and blood obtained via cardiac puncture was used for biochemical analysis, while the liver and kidneys excised were processed for histopathological evaluation. Results revealed elevated aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and creatinine levels. At the same time, a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities was observed in the test group (p<0.05). Additionally, treatment with ascorbate and alpha-tocopherol co-administration reversed the biochemical parameters in the exposed rats. Conclusively, ascorbate and alpha-tocopherol ameliorate oxidative damage associated with cypermethrin exposure. Keywords: Cypermethrin, Histopathology, Pesticides, Toxicity, Vitamins.

Petroleum-powered generators are commonly used in many developing countries as an alternative to meet utility demands. Generator exhaust emission significantly contributes to air pollution, which remains a constant threat to human health due to the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons and other harmful gases. This study assessed oxidative stress parameters in response to exhaust emission from gasoline generator engine in adult male wistar rats. Forty-eight (48) adult wistar rats weighing between 180-200g were randomly allocated to four (4) groups (A-D) of twelve (12) rats each. After the acclimatization period, the control group (A) were kept unexposed, whereas rats in groups (C-D) were exposed daily at 2, 4, and 8-hour intervals for 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. Tissue samples were obtained at four weeks intervals. Fresh lung tissues weighing 1g were rinsed twice in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 8.0), homogenized and centrifuged at 3000 revolutions per minute for 20 min at 4°C. Supernatant levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were determined using standard protocols. The findings revealed elevated oxidant levels of MDA, NO, and H2O2, whereas SOD, GPX, GST, GSH, CAT, and TAS were significantly reduced across the exposure time points compared to the unexposed control rats (p < 0.05). The research findings revealed that exposure to emissions from gasoline generators induced oxidative stress in the exposed rats, with the extent of disruption to their oxidative balance dependent on the duration and length of exposure time.

Background: Human activities continually impact the environment negatively. Some activities are particularly linked to river pollution, and this constitutes a major problem in certain regions of Nigeria. This is a result of economic development, anthropogenic human activities, and agricultural practice that have the potential for adverse health effects. This study evaluated the ...