Comparative histological, histochemical and ultrastructural study on the effect of ochratoxin A and ochratoxin B on the liver of rat

The present work was designed to investigate the possible histological, histochemical and ultrastructural changes in the rat liver under the effects of each of ochratoxin A and ochratoxin B. Sixty male albino rats were divided into three groups, each of 20 animals. The first group served as control. The animals of the second group were orally given 1/100 LD50 of ochratoxin A /3 times/week for one or two months and the animals of the third group were orally given 1/100 LD50 of ochratoxin B /3 times/week for one or two months. In rats given doses of ochratoxin A equivalent to 1/100 LD 50/3 times per week for one month, foci of coagulative necrosis appeared in the liver. Vacuoles of different sizes were shown in some liver cells. Apoptotic bodies were frequent. In rats subjected to the same treatment for two months the liver manifested hepatoma. Some liver cell nuclei showed bizarre shapes. Electron micrographs of liver cells of these rats revealed the increased accumulation of glycogen particles. The mitochondria displayed marked increase in size. A number of mitochondria were U- or ring shaped; the latters are often referred to as doughnut mitochondria. Besides, autophagic vacuoles were frequent in the cytoplasm of the liver cells. In rats given oral doses of ochratoxin B in doses equivalent to 1/100 LD50/ 3 times/ week for one month, some hepatocytes were vacuolated and showed mitotic activity. In rats subjected to the same treatment for two months, the liver tissue showed coagulative necrosis. Many liver cell nuclei were pyknotic. The electron micrographs of liver ultrathin sections of such rats revealed that many mitochondria were enlarged in size and the peroxisomes increased in number. Besides, there were deterioration of liver cell cytoplasm and distortion of microvilli of the bile canaliculi. In animals given ochratoxin A or ochratoxin B [1/100 LD50/3 times/week for one or two months] the histochemical study showed that glycogen in the liver cells appeared more densely aggregated if compared with the untreated material. The present study shows that exposure to ochratoxin A or ochratoxin B is undoubtedly harmful to the liver, and this fact raises the alarm about reflections of ochratoxicosis on the body metabolism. Also, the present study shows that ochratoxin A is more hepatotoxic agent than ochratoxin B, and that hepatoma, mitochondrial transformation are among the most important diagnostic criteria of ochratoxicosis A besides the frequency of the apoptotic bodies in the early stages of poisoning

side effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID] ketoprofen on histological and ultrastructural aspects of the kidneys of albino rats

The present work deals with the effect of the therapeutic dose of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ketoprofen on the microscopic structure of the kidney of the albino rat. The present study also sheds light on the risk of using over-dosage either by mistake or in an unwise attempt at quick relieving the body pain. The intramuscular therapeutic dose of ketoprofen to albino rat was calculated and was found to equal 13.5 mg /kg body weight. Fifty adult male albino rats, Rattus norvegicus were used in the present study. The rats were equally allocated to five groups, each of 10 rats. Rats of the first group were kept as control. Rats of the second and third groups were injected daily with the therapeutic dose of ketoprofen for four and eight successive weeks respectively. Rats of the fourth and fifth groups were injected daily with double the therapeutic dose of ketoprofen for four and eight successive weeks respectively. In rats given the therapeutic dose of ketoprofen daily for four weeks and sacrificed 24 hours after the last dose, light microscope examination showed that Malpighian corpuscles and the kidney tubules revealed signs of degeneration. In rats given the therapeutic dose of ketoprofen daily for eight weeks the histological changes were in progression. A few numbers of glomeruli were increasingly congested and shrunken into dense masses of unrecognized structural details. The luminal borders of the cells lining the proximal convoluted tubules together with their microvilli were damaged. The electron micrographs of ultrathin sections of kidneys of rats given the therapeutic dose of ketoprofen daily for eight weeks showed that the glomerular capillaries were disorganized and occasionally their lining endothelium showed degeneration. The podocytes showed deteriorated and rarefied cytoplasm; and their primary processes were fragmented. Also, the foot processes appeared occasionally broad. In some cells of proximal convoluted tubules the microvilli completely disappeared. Occasionally, these cells gave broad blebs into the tubule lumen which became almost obliterated. The cytoplasm of few cells lining the distal convoluted tubules became moderately rarefied and vacuolated. In animals given double the therapeutic dose for four weeks many kidney glomeruli were fragmented and showed marked congestion and increased mesangium. The parietal walls of Bowman's capsules were damaged. The kidney tubules showed generalized hyalinization. A few numbers of t he tubule lining cells displayed pyknotic nuclei; some nuclei were karyolysed and even vanished. In animals given daily double the therapeutic dose of ketoprofen for eight successive weeks, the glomeruli were sclerotic and necrotic and the kidney tubules showed generalized hyalinization. In EM micrographs of kidney ultrathin sections, the configuration of the primary processes and the pedicels was greatly interrupted and disorganized. The capillary endothelium displayed signs of degeneration and disarray. The capillary basement membrane of the glomeruli exhibited regional attenuation or deformity. In some lining cells of the distal convoluted tubules, the cell organelles including mitochondria and lysosomes were noticeably electron dense, whereas the Golgi apparatus as well as the endoplasmic reticulum elements was degenerated

Hisological changes in the kidneys after cadmium chloride intoxication

Adult male albino rats were subcutaneously injected with doses of cadmium chloride equivalent to 1/20 LD [50] or 1/10 LD [50] [6 days/week] for one, two and four weeks. The present study showed that the kidneys displayed degenerative changes that were mainly localized in the proximal convoluted tubules and Malpighian corpuscles. The histological changes in the proximal convoluted tubules included sloughing of apical portions of their epithelia, development of apoptotic bodies and the appearance of cell casts in their lumina. Besides, the cells of the epithelia of such tubules exhibited the development of cytoplasmic vacuoles, cloudy swelling and shrinked or pyknotic nuclei. The glomeruli showed variable pictures of degeneration including segmentation and fragmentation. Besides, some glomeruli showed glomerulonephritis or partial infarction. Also, some Bowman's capsules displayed marked degeneration. Many intrarenal venules appeared congested. The current results indicate the augmentation of histopathological signs with higher doses of cadmium chloride and with longer duration of use