Effect of unilateral hind limb immobilization on ipsilateral soleus muscle morphology of adult male albino rats

Clinically, limb immobilization has been extensively used during recovery of musculoskeletal injuries despite the fact that this technique causes functional deficits in the skeletal muscle. This work aimed to study the morphology of ipsilateral soleus muscle after left hindlimb immobilization in the shortened position in adult male albino rats. Ten healthy adult male albino rats were divided equally into two groups: a control group and an immobilized group. Immobilized animals were anesthetized and their left hindlimbs were fixed for 2 weeks keeping the soleus muscle in the shortened position. Animals of the control group were anesthetized without carrying out any procedures for soleus muscle fixation and then were kept freely moving in their cages for the same period. Left soleus muscles of all animals were dissected out and processed for examination by light and electron microscopy. Immunoreaction experiments for desmin were carried out. The left soleus muscles of immobilized rats showed that most of the muscle fibers were shrunken with widened endomysium, deeply stained nuclei, and lighter-stained foci. The affected myocytes contained distorted Z-lines, thinning or focally destroyed myofibrils, loss of myofilaments, and undulating sarcolemmae. Sarcosomes were bizarre shaped, amorphous, and giant. Desmin immunoreactivity appeared weak. Immobilization led to muscle fiber structural alterations in the form of thinning or focally destroyed myofibrils, loss of myofilaments, Z-line distortion, and disorganized desmin distribution. These changes can produce muscle fiber weakness, which consequently affects motor performance

Effect of excess iodide on the structure of the thyroid gland of prepubertal male albino rats: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Excessive iodine intake is emerging as a new healthcare-related concern. Excess iodine is associated with a spectrum of effects on the thyroid. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of excess potassium iodide [KI] on the histological and immunohistochemical structure of the thyroid gland and evaluate the biochemical changes in thyroid hormones. Forty prepubertal male albino rats aged between 4 and 6 weeks were classified into two equal groups: group 1 [the control group], which was given distilled water, and group 2 [the KI-treated group], which was further subdivided into two equal subgroups. Subgroup 1a was given 0.1 mg KI/kg/day for 4 successive weeks and subgroup 1b was given 0.1 mg KI/kg/day for 8 successive weeks. At the end of the period, the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were collected for measurement of serum T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Thyroid glands were dissected out and processed for examination using light and electron microscopes. For light microscopic examination, the sections were stained with H and E and immunohistochemical analysis was carried out for localization of Fas. H and E-stained sections of the KI-treated subgroups showed highly significantly enlarged follicular cavities that were distended with vacuolated colloid. Most of the follicles were lined with flattened follicular cells with flattened nuclei. Follicular epithelial height was highly significantly decreased. Ultrastructurally, follicular cells showed dilatation of the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial swelling, many electron-lucent zones, and collagen fibers in the interstitial spaces. Also, most of the nuclei were heterochromatic. Immunohistochemically, there was a highly significant increase in staining for Fas in the follicular cells of the treated subgroups. Biochemical assessment detected a nonsignificant decrease in T3 and T4 and a highly significant increase in the thyroid-stimulating hormone levels of the treated group. Excessive iodine intake affects thyroid structure and function. Hence, public iodine intake should be regulated to make sure that it is within optimal levels. Proper monitoring of the salt iodization program is essential. Also, drugs with high iodine content should be administered with caution

Effect of unilateral obstruction of vas deferens on ipsilateral epididymis of adult albino rats

Epididymis acts as an active contributor toward the formation of fertile ejaculate. Persistent infertility after vasectomy is common. This study aimed to determine the possible histological changes that might occur in the ipsilateral rat epididymal caput secondary to left sided vas deferens ligation. Twenty healthy adult albino rats were equally divided into a control group [I] and vasectomized group [II]. Group I was further subdivided into a nonoperated group Ia and a sham-operated group Ib. The left vas deferens of sham-operated rats [group Ib] was only exposed, whereas in group II, it was ligated and transected. Left epididymal caputs of both groups were extirpated after 8 weeks and were processed for light and electron microscopic examinations. Bax immunoreaction was carried out to detect apoptosis. The diameter and epithelial height of epididymal tubules were determined morphometrically and analyzed statistically. In the vasectomized group, the epithelial lining of some tubules showed discontinuity. Principal and clear cells showed many ultrastructural changes. Many halo cells came in close contact with the lumina and many basal cells were observed. Some tubules contained sperm, exfoliated, and inflammatory cells. Widened interstitium with cellular infiltrations, collagen fibers, and multiple peritubular layers of smooth muscle cells were observed. Tubular epithelial cells showed a positive Bax immunoreaction. The estimated and analyzed epithelial height/diameter of the epididymal tubules showed a highly significant decrease/increase compared with the control group. In conclusion, vasectomy induced epididymal morphological changes with evidence of an inflammatory response. These changes may lead to epithelial dysfunction and consequently improper sperm maturation

Histological study of experimental hyperprolactinemia on the prostate lateral lobe of adult albino rats

Prolactin, besides androgens, plays an important role in the regulation of prostatic function. This study aimed to demonstrate the influence of experimental hyperprolactinemia on the structure of the prostate lateral lobe in adult albino rats. Twenty healthy adult albino rats were equally divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group. Rats of the experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with metoclopramide at a dose of 2.2mg/kg for 14 successive days to induce hyperprolactinemia. The control group was injected with saline in the same manner. Hormonal assays for serum prolactin and testosterone levels were carried out. Prostate was extirpated and the lateral lobes were processed for examination by light and electron microscopy. Epithelial height of the prostatic lateral lobes acini was determined morphometrically and analyzed statistically. In the experimental hyperprolactinemic group, numerous prostatic acini were lined by multiple layers of epithelial cells [hyperplasia]. Acinar epithelium had different ultrastructural features. Some acini had pleomorphic nuclei, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and residual bodies. Others were packed with extensive cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and secretory vesicles. Others had few secretory vesicles and the majority of them had centrally located flocculent material surrounded by electron-lucent zones. Some epithelial cells contained lipofuscin pigments. The prostatic epithelial lining was infiltrated by inflammatory cells. Stromal thickening was found in between some acini that was surrounded by prominent smooth muscle cells and may connective tissue cells. Hormonal assays showed increased serum prolactin and decreased testosterone as compared with the control group. The estimated and analyzed epithelial height of the prostatic acini showed a highly significant increase compared with the control group. Hyperprolactinemia altered the morphology of epithelium and stroma of the prostate lateral lobe. It played a significant role in inducing a prostatic hyperplasia and an inflammatory response that triggered the abnormal growth of prostate

Morphological study of retinal neurons after continuous exposure to fluorescent light in adult male albino rats

Retinal function depends on light trapping. However, continuous exposure to light may cause damage to the highly vulnerable retinal structure. This study aimed to investigate the possible histological alterations that might occur in the retinal neurons as a result of continuous exposure to fluorescent light in adult male albino rats. Ten healthy adult male albino rats were equally divided into two groups: a control group and a light-exposed group. Rats of control group were kept in 12 h light/1 2 h dark for 12 weeks. Rats of light-exposed group were put in top-opened cages illuminated by white fluorescent bulbs continuously for 1 week and then were kept in 12 h light/12 h dark for the following 11 weeks. The retina was extirpated and processed for examination by light and electron microscopy. The thickness of outer nuclear, inner nuclear, outer plexiform, and inner plexiform layers was estimated morphometrically and was statistically analyzed. Fluorescent light-exposed neural retina revealed that photoreceptor outer segments were markedly disorganized and inner segments were short and less condensed. Outer nuclear layer containeo few photoreceptors with marked intercellular spaces. Inner nuclear layer showed wide spaces between its neurons, with some of them having shrunken nuclei and others having disintegrated nuclei. Muller cells with deeply stained bodies and processes were seen in inner and outer nuclear layers. Many ectopic neurons were detected in the inner plexiform layer. Ganglion cell layer mostly contained deeply stained glial cells and few ganglion neurons. Nerve fiber layer showed an apparent increase in thickness. The estimated and analyzed thickness of the outer nuclear, inner nuclear, outer plexiform, and inner plexiform layers confirmed the results. Continuous exposure to fluorescent light triggered retinal remodeling, including neuronal loss, reactive gliosis with neuronal and glial cells migration. This may lead to visual impairment

histological study of ipsilateral testis after experimentally induced varicocele in albino rats and the role of L-carnitine supplementation

Varicocele pathophysiology and its role in male infertility are still unclear. Varicocelectomy is not an effective treatment in such cases as it failed to restore fertility after surgery in many patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the histological alterations that might occur in the structure of the ipsilateral testis after experimental varicocele, to determine whether this effect was time dependent, and to evaluate the possible role of L-carnitine on the varicocele. Thirty-six young adult albino rats were used. They were equally divided into three groups. Group 1 was the control. Group 2 was the experimentally induced varicocele [EV] that was subdivided into two subgroups, EV6 and EV18, according to varicocele duration. Group 3 [EV-carnitine] was the experimentally induced varicocele left for 18 weeks followed by an intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg L-carnitine [three times/week] for another successive 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the ipsilateral testes were extirpated and processed for light and electron microscope examinations. Epithelial height was estimated morphometrically and statistically analyzed. Testes of EV6 showed many distorted seminiferous tubules with irregular outlines, wide lumina, and disorganized epithelium including separation, sloughing, and multinucleated cells. Some areas of interstitium were wide. Acidophilic hyaline material was present in most of the interstitial spaces. Most of the tubules of EV18 were markedly distorted and were mostly lined by sertoli cells with a few spermatogenic cells. The tubular basement membrane of EV6 was relatively thick, irregular, and highly infolded and these changes were extremely obvious in EV18. Myoid cells appeared with irregular heterochromatic nuclei in EV18. Almost all sperm mid pieces in EV6 were markedly affected and no sperms were detected in most of the seminiferous tubules of EV18. Leydig cells in both subgroups showed variable-size electron-dense granules and cytoplasmic processes, which were more obvious in EV18. EV-carnitine nearly regained the normal architecture but a few tubules had a disorganized epithelium, a few affected sperms, and acidophilic hyaline material between some tubules. Leydig cells contained numerous mitochondria, a few variable-size electron-dense granules, a few lipid droplets, and no cytoplasmic processes. Estimation of epithelial height, which was statistically analyzed, confirmed the results. Varicocele led to a deleterious effect on the ipsilateral testis that increased progressively with time. L-Carnitine supplementation improved the structure of testis of long-duration varicocele