Protective role of onion juice on maternal dexamethasone induced alterations in reproductive functions of female offspring of Wistar rats. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Protective role of(onion) juice on maternal dexamethasone induced alterations in reproductive functions of female offspring of Wistar rats.
Curr Res Physiol. 2021 ;4:145-154. Epub 2021 Jun 7. PMID: 34746834
S O Jeje
Maternal treatment with dexamethasone induces oxidative stress in the reproductive structures of offspring. Consumption ofimproves antioxidant status. This study was designed to evaluate the protective role ofjuice on maternal dexamethasone induced alterations in reproductive functions of the female offspring of Wistar rats. Twenty lactating dams (180-200 g) were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 5) on the day of parturition and treated as follows during lactation for 21 days: Control (5 ml/kg BW distilled water); Dexamethasone (60 μg/kg BW);(5 ml/kg BW); Dexamethasone + (60 μg/kg BW + 5 ml/kg BW). The female offspring were separated at birth. Days of vaginal opening and first oestrus cycle, length and frequency of estrous cycle as well as serum hormonal profiles were assessed as measure of reproductive functions. Ovarian superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured as indices of oxidative stress. Oestrous cycle length, frequencies of diestrus as well as the Ovarian MDA were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in dexamethasone (DEX) group relative to control group. Serum 17β-oestradiol and corticosterone level in addition to SOD and catalase activities were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in DEX group relative to control. Co-administration of Dex withjuice reduced the oestrous length, frequency of diestrous as well as ovarian MDA. There was also a significant increase in serum 17β-oestradiol, ovarian SOD and catalase activity. The results suggest thatcould protect against alterations in reproductive functions of offspring induced by maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation in Wistar rats. The flavonoid constituent of onion may also help in reducing oxidative stress in the offspring.