ABSTRACT
Aim: Arsenic (As) alters the spermatogenic process as well as testicular histology has been reported in different species of domestic, wild, aquatic life, and laboratory animals. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of toxicity of arsenic poison on the spermatogenesis of the Black Bengal goat at the most arsenic polluted area of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh by using histopathological techniques. Methods: A total of 12 adult Black Bengal male goats (Capra hircus) were used in this study.Among these, 6 were selected from the arsenic polluted area, and the rest were from the less contaminated area as control. Goats were sacrificed by using conventional animal killing method adopted in the laboratory. Both the right and left testes were collected aseptically. Testicular tissues were cut perpendicular to the long axis of the testis and preserved in Bouin’s solution. Paraffin block was made and tissue sections were cut at 5-μm in thickness. Tissues were processed for routine hematoxylin and eosin and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS)-hematoxylin stains. Thickness of tunica albugenia, spermatigenic cell layer, diameters of the seminiferous tubules, number of spermatogenic, sertoli, and leydig cells were counted and tabulated. Apoptotic spermatogenic cells were detected by using Apoptosis Detection Kit. The data collected was statistically analyzed for any significant differences between the arsenic exposed and control goats. Results: Our results revealed comparatively increased thickness of the tunica albugenia, wide intertubular spaces, low height of the spermatogenic cell layer, decreased diameter of the seminiferous tubules, decreased spermatogenic, sertoli, and leydig cell counts, and marked increased of apoptotic spermatogenic cells in the arsenic affected goats. The data differences between the arsenic affected and control goats were statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: Our histopathological study revealed alteration of testicular tissues in arsenic affected goats. This morphological changes of testes significantly affected on the spermatogenic processes. But it was not possible to determine the possible stage of the spermatogenesis was interrupted by the arsenic. Decreased number of spermatogenic, sertoli, and leydig cell counts, and distinctly increased number of apoptotic spermatogenic cell indicates high toxic effects of arsenic poisoning on the male gonad. The mechanism of action of toxicity of the arsenic could not be understood clearly. It is suggested here that the Black Bengal goats can be experimentally used as animal model in the laboratory for investigating the role of arsenic on the reproduction of the domestic animals.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Sex-dependent differences in kidney histology have been observed in different species of the laboratory animals. The present study was conducted to evaluate the sex and strain-dependent changes in DBA/2CrSlc mouse kidney morphology by using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Methods: A total of 12 DBA/2CrSlc male and female mice of 2 months of age were used in this study. Mice were sacrificed by exsanguination under anesthesia using a mixture of Ketamine and Medetomidine. Both right and left kidneys were removed aseptically and central slices including hilum were cut perpendicular to the long axis of the organ and preserved in Zamboni solution. Paraffin blocks were made and tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and PAS stains to observe the general morphology of the kidney glomerulus. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect renin positive sites, expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS). Number of renin, COX-2 and nNOS positive sites were counted and tabulated. The data were statistically analyzed for any significant differences between male and female mice. Results: Our results reveal that the glomerular capsule of male mouse kidney was consisted of a single layer of simple cuboidal epithelium whereas it was a single layer of simple squamous epithelium in the female kidney. PAS-positive granules (small and giant granules) were observed in PST epithelium and collecting ducts in female kidney, but this feature was absent in male kidneys. Strong nNOS positive reaction for PST epithelium and collecting ducts was observed in female, but this character was absent in male kidney. The total number of glomeruli, renin, COX-2, and nNOS positive sites was comparatively higher in female kidneys then that in male. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences of the areas of renin, nNOS and COX-2-positive sites between the male and female kidneys (P<0.05). Conclusion: Light microscopic and immunohistochemical study revealed sex-dependent histological morphology of the DBA/2CrSlc mouse kidney. DBA/2CrSlc female mouse kidney revealed renin, COX-2 and nNOS -positive reactions in the present study but male mice showed nNOS-negative reaction. The reason for nNOS-negative reaction in male is not clearly understood. It is suggested that this species can be experimentally used in the laboratory for investigating kidney function and related pathological studies.
ABSTRACT
The increase of industrial activities in the Angul-Talcher area, Orissa resulted in indiscriminate disposal of waste into the environment leading to the deterioration of the quality of the environment, which affects the health of the workers as well as the community people. Considering the magnitude of the problem, the pulmonary function study had been carried out in one of the largest aluminium producing plant of the country as well as surrounding community people. Aluminium is produced from oxides of alumina by Hall-Heroult smelting process. The electrolysis called as aluminium smelting is carried out in an electrolytic cell (pot) having anode, cathode and electrolyte. The aluminium is deposited in the cathode and the oxygen moves towards anode is released. The workers working at the captive power plant (CPP), which is necessary to meet the power demand of the smelter plant were also investigated. 180 smelter plants workers (non-smoker 129, smoker-51) of different sections and 37 captive power plant workers (non-smoker 29, smoker-8) had undergone pulmonary function tests. Besides these, 85 persons from the surrounding community (non-smoker-66, smoker-19) were also investigated. The workers were all male. Spirometric assessments of Vital Capacity (VC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) were done by Spirovit-sp-10 (Schiller Health Care Ltd, Switzerland) and Wrights Peak flow meter (Clement and Clarke, UK). Different lung volumes like FEV1, FEV1%, and flow rates like FEF200-1200ml, FEF25-75% and FEF75-85% were calculated from the same tracings pulmonary function test (PFT) results of the workers according to different age groups, duration of exposures and smoking habits. The mean values of SVC, FVC and FEV1 of smelter plant workers were found higher compared to the community people but the values of captive power plant workers were very much close to the values of the community people. A gradual decrement of the PFT values was found as duration of exposure increased. Lung volumes and the flow rates were decreased as age increases but in some age groups that trend was not followed. It has been found that in each category of subjects, smokers have the higher mean pulmonary function values compared to the non-smokers. Except the community people in all other cases the different flow rates were found higher in nonsmokers compared to smokers. The restrictive, obstructive and combined restrictive and obstructive types of impairments among the subjects were noticed. The respiratory impairment among the workers as a whole was found higher in smelter plant workers (9.44%) followed by the captive power plant workers (5.40%) and the community people (2.35%). In smelter plant workers both the restrictive and obstructive impairments were found higher compared to captive power plant and the community people.