BIOCHEMICAL

Male reproductive toxicity induced by BPA is a major public health concern due to its widespread presence and endocrine-disrupting capabilities. Although antioxidant and Phyto therapeutic agents have shown promise in mitigating general oxidative damage, there is insufficient scientific evidence on the immunohistochemical profiles of testicular tissues treated concurrently with BPA and Phyto therapeutic agents like Ginkgo biloba and Tribulus terrestris. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic compound that's known to induces reproductive toxicity in males characterized by oxidative stress, impaired spermatogenesis, and decreased testosterones levels. This research was aimed to assess the Morphological and Biochemical effects of Ginkgo biloba and Tribulus terrestris on BPA- induced reproductive toxicity in male wistar rats. A total of 40 healthy adult male wistar rats, initial body weight -150-250 g, were used for this work and were divided into five separate groups (Negative control, BPA- exposed, BPA + Ginkgo biloba, BPA + Tribulus terrestris and BPA Phytotherapeutic (Ginkgo biloba Tribulus terrestris). Parameters evaluated were sperm analysis, the following parameters were measured as indices of oxidative stress (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Catalase, Malondialdehyde. Immunohistochemical analysis/ histological techniques on testes, prostates, epididymis and seminal vesicles, was performed to evaluate markers of apoptosis and tissue integrity. Findings clearly demonstrated that BPA exposure induces significant reproductive toxicity, primarily targeting the testes and epididymis, while phytotherapeutic intervention especially combined Ginkgo biloba and Tribulus terrestris-attenuated many of these adverse effects, One of the most striking findings of this study was the significant reduction in sperm count, progressive motility, and normal morphology in the BPA-exposed group, alongside a corresponding increase in non-motile and non-progressively motile spermatozoa, Superscript letters (a,b,c) indicates significant difference between groups based on Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at p<0.05, groups sharing the same subscript letter are not significantly different from each other, F- values are from one-way ANOVA. P<0.001 indicates highly significant difference among groups. Immunohistochemical detection of y-H2AX revealed increased DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in germ cells of BPA-exposed rats, predominantly localized to the basal germinal epithelium. DNA DSBs are among the most severe forms of genetic damage and can lead to meiotic arrest or germ cell loss if unrepaired. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that bisphenol A induces significant male reproductive toxicity, primarily affects the testes and epididymis through oxidative stress, histological degeneration, and DNA double-strand breaks, leading to impaired sperm quality. Although endogenous antioxidant defenses were upregulated following BPA exposure, they were insufficient to prevent tissue damage, Treatment with Ginkgo biloba and Tribulus terrestris, particularly in combination, significantly attenuated BPA-induced reproductive toxicity, preserving tissue architecture, reducing DNA damage, and improving sperm parameters.

he bacteriological and biochemical quality of fish feeds used by fish farmers in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government area in metropolis were evaluated in this study. A total of twelve (12) samples were assessed from both locations. Questionnaires were administered to the farmers to get their informed consent. Samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory within 1-5 hours after collection, standard microbiological analysis involving total heterotrophic count of the fish feeds, total coliform bacteria count of the fish feeds, Identification of the bacteria most prevalent in the feeds and antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates. The results revealed that the mean value of total heterotrophic bacteria count for fish feeds obtained from Ikpoba-Okha was 1.72±7.02x10 2 cfu/ml while Egor had a mean value of 5.20±2.13x10 2 cfu/ml. The total coliform bacteria count for Ikpoba-Okha was 0.2±0.82x10 2cfu/ml and Egor, 0.78±3.16x10 2cfu/ml. The prevalence of bacteria isolates in fish feeds obtained from both Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas revealed that Escherichia coli was most prevalent with a percentage value of 20.00% while Actinobacter was least prevalent with a percentage value of 2.50%. Salmonella, Klebsiella sp, Citrobacter, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Chromobacterium, Proteus vulgaris and Shigella sp. Were also present. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all Gram positive bacteria identified in this study was susceptible to gentamycin and ofloxacin, meanwhile all bacteria identified in this study were resistant to ceftriaxone/ceftrazone