Effect of Nigella sativa oil on paracetamol-induced renal cortical damage in rats: light and electron microscopic study

Paracetamol or acetaminophen [IV-acetyl-p-aminophenol; APAP] is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug. Unfortunately, it is now reported as the most common cause of toxic ingestion in the world. Nigella sativa oil [NSO] is an extract of N. sativa having antioxidant properties. This study aimed to assess the possible role of NSO in ameliorating the toxic effect of APAP overdose on the rat renal cortical structure. Thirty male albino rats were divided into three equal groups. Group I was the control group. Group II comprised rats treated with APAP [750 mg/kg/day] orally for 7 days. Group III received NSO [2 ml/kg/day orally] 30 min before oral administration of APAP at the same dose as that of group II for 7 days. Kidney specimens were processed for light and electron microscopic study of the renal cortex. Plasma renin activity and arterial blood pressure were estimated. APAP-treated rats showed marked structural changes in the proximal convoluted tubules with dense nuclear staining, cytoplasmic vacuolization, increased peroxisomes, and partial loss of apical brush border and basal striations. Renal corpuscles revealed focal fusion of podocyte foot processes and irregular thickening of glomerular basement membranes. Juxtaglomerular cells contained few renin granules, reflecting an increase in renin exocytosis that coincided with increased plasma renin activity and increased arterial blood pressure. Concomitant administration of NSO with APAP revealed a noticeable amelioration of these histological and physiological changes. NSO exerted a protective effect against APAP-induced renal cortical damage

Effects of green tea on azathioprine - induced liver injury in adult male albino rats: light and electron microscopic study

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug that is used inhuman medicine and veterinary medicine to treat different diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. There is evidence that it causes hepatotoxicity. These days, applying antioxidants in order to prevent diseases can play a protecting role in liver tissue. So, the present work aimed at a morphological and morphometric evaluation of the role of green tea to protect against azathioprine-induced liver injury in rats. 30 adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups; each group consisted of 10 rats. Control group, treated group given azathioprine in a dose of 25mg/Kg body weight dissolved in 0.9% NaCl orally via intragastric route 6 days a week for 8 weeks. Protected group given green tea extract in a dose of 175mg/Kg body weight dissolved in water orally simultaneously with azathioprine in the same previous dose, 6 days a week for 8 weeks. The liver specimens were processed for both light and electron microscopic examinations. Morphometric analysis were also carried out. Aza induced degenerative changes manifested at LM; hislological changes in structure of the liver. At EM; manifestations of oxidative damage of hepatocytes. At morphometry; significant changes as regards size of hepatocytes and glycogen content. The protected group showed at LM; improvement of structure of liver. At EM; improved histological changes of hepatocytes. At morphometry; significant improvement of size and glycogen content of hepatocytes. The negative effects of azathioprine could be ameliorated by addition of green tea to the therapeutic regime of patients who may suffer liver injury due to azathioprine treatment

Effect of experimentally induced hypothyroidism during pregnancy and lactation on the retina of juvenile and adult albino rats and the possible role of thyroid hormone supplementation

Nervous system growth and differentiation are closely correlated with the presence of thyroid hormones in initial development stages. Hypothyroidism during the fetal and postnatal life results in an irreversible mental retardation syndrome. At the cellular level, T3 is known to act on neuronal, neuroretinogenesis, and glial lineages. In this study, we aimed to study the influence of hypothyroidism on retinal development in juvenile and adult rats and the effects of thyroid hormone supplementation on both periods of development. This study was conducted using 56 male albino rats. They were divided into three groups: group 1 [control group] included 24 animals, group 2 [juvenile group] included 16 animals whose mother received carbimazole [NeoMercazol] antithyroid drug at a dose of 0.02 mg/day/pregnant female during gestation and lactation, this group was further subdivided into subgroup 2a [hypothyroid juvenile animals] and subgroup 2b [thyroid hormone-supplemented juvenile animals], and group 3 [adult group] included 16 animals, this group was also further subdivided into subgroup 3a [hypothyroid adult animals] and subgroup 3b [thyroid hormone-supplemented adult animals]. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed. Retinal specimens from all groups were processed for light and electron microscopic studies. Biochemical analysis was carried out to measure the serum levels of triiodothyronine, T4, growth hormone, and insulin growth factor-1. In addition, estimations of lipid peroxidation, catalase activity, and antioxidant enzymes were made. Statistical analysis was carried out to measure the retinal thickness. Light and electron microscopic studies showed that thyroid hormone deprivation altered the organization of the retina in juvenile and adult rats. These changes were apparent in the form of significant reduction in the retinal layer thickness. In addition, degenerative changes in some layers were observed. The group with thyroid hormone supplementation showed recovery of both structural changes and retinal thickness, this recovery was apparent in the juvenile group. Adult animals showed minimal recovery. Biochemical analysis of the serum of hypothyroid animals showed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation products and decease in the serum levels of antioxidants, growth hormone, and insulin growth factor-1, comparable with the controls. Administration of thyroid hormone significantly restored their levels especially in the juvenile group. Gestational and lactational hypothyroidism induced marked changes in the developing retina in juvenile and adult rats. These changes were mostly normalized by thyroid hormone administration especially in the juvenile group

Comparative study on the effect of long-term administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs meloxicam and ketoprofen on the structure of the kidney and gastric mucosa in the adult albino rats

Ketoprofen is a widely used drug related to the group of the traditional non selective non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs [NSAIDs]. Meloxicam is related to the group of the cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2] selective inhibitors which is a newer version of NSAIDs. To demonstrate and compare the effects of long-term administration of meloxicam and ketoprofen on the structure of the kidney and gastric mucosa in the healthy adult rats. A total number of 36 adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were equally divided into three groups. Group I was considered as a control. Group II included the rats treated with ketoprofen in a dose of 1mg/kg orally once daily for 10 weeks by a gastric tube, Group III included the rats treated with meloxicam in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg orally once daily for 10 weeks via gastric tube. At the end of the experiment animals were sacrificed and specimens of the kidney and stomach were processed for light and scanning electron microscopic studies. Some kidney specimens were also processed to be studied by transmission electron microscopy. The diameter of renal corpuscles was measured in the three studied groups and statistically analyzed. In ketoprofen treated rats [group II] the renal corpuscles exhibited marked shrinkage of glomeruli. Many renal tubules appeared to be lined with damaged epithelium. Ultrastructural study of the lining cells of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules revealed that the degenerative changes involved both the nucleus and the cytoplasmic organelles. The interstitial tissue had focal areas of fibrosis. In the meloxicam treated rats [group III], there was little shrinkage of the glomeruli. However, the interstitial tissue showed heavy cellular infiltration. SEM study revealed an enlargement of the processes of the podocytes with loss of their pedicles. The gastric mucosa in group II showed an extensive damage to the surface epithelial cells in the form of ulcers while in group III there was patchy areas of epithelial destruction. This study demonstrated that long-term administration of COX-2 selective inhibitors exerted deleterious effects on the kidney comparable to those exerted by the nonselective NSAIDs. However, their damaging effect on the gastric mucosa appeared to be less than the nonselective NSAIDs but it was not abolished