Cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of aged garlic extract against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in adult male rats / 대한해부학회지

Adriamycin (ADR) efficacy in cancer chemotherapy is well-established. However, ADR-induced cardiotoxicity remains a significant challenge. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a natural polyphenol with high antioxidant potential. This study was planned to determine the cytoprotective and antioxidant actions of AGE against the cardiotoxic effect of ADR in rats. Six equal groups, control, ADR-treated (single dose of 10 mg/kg on day 8); AGE-treated (one dose of 250 mg/kg for 14 days); AGE plus ADR-treated (one dose of 250 mg/kg AGE for one week plus ADR injection of 10 mg/kg on day 8); ADR plus AGE-treated (single ADR injection of 10 mg/kg on day 8 plus AGE of 250 mg/kg once from 8th to 14th day); combined AGE plus ADR plus AGE-treated (one dose of 250 mg/kg AGE for 14 days plus single ADR injection of 10 mg/kg on day 8). Sera and cardiac samples were collected on day 15 and prepared for histological, ultrastructural and biochemical study. Disorganization, focal degeneration and necrosis with apoptotic changes of the cardiac myofibrils were observed in ADR-treated rats. Also, reduction in level of total creatine kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase enzymes, glutathione, glutathione- peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities and elevation in malondialdehyde concentration were detected in ADR-treated rats. However, combination of AGE attenuated most of the histopathological, ultrastructural, and biochemical changes induced by ADR. Combination of AGE attenuated the cardiotoxic effects-induced by ADR through its antioxidant and cytoprotective potentials. Therefore, AGE can use as adjunct during administration of ADR in cancer therapy.

Anatomical and radiological angiographic study of the coronary ostia in the adult human hearts and their clinical significance / 대한해부학회지

This study was carried out to investigate the morphometric parameters and variations of coronary ostia in the hearts of adult human cadavers and coronary angiographs. The hearts of 60 adult human cadavers and 400 coronary angiographs were used in this study. The root of the aorta was carefully dissected to clear aortic sinuses, coronary ostia, and sinutubular junction (STJ). Number, locations, internal diameter distance between coronary ostia and their corresponding STJ, sinus bottom, and valve commissures were investigated. The anterior aortic sinus (AAS) revealed a single ostium for right coronary artery (RCA) in 77.5% of male and 80% of female hearts. This ostium gave a common origin for RCA and third coronary artery (TCA) in 15% of male and 20% of female hearts. However, two separate ostia for RCA and TCA origin were seen in 20% of male and 15% of female hearts. Moreover, three ostia were seen in one male and one female hearts within AAS. Meanwhile, the left posterior aortic sinus showed a single ostium for left coronary artery (LCA) in 97.5% of male and 95% of female hearts and two ostia in one male and one female hearts. The ostia were commonly seen below STJ and less commonly were observed above STJ. The distance between the bottom of aortic sinus and LCA ostium was longer than that of RCA. The internal diameter of RCA ostium was significantly (P<0.05) narrower than that of LCA but with no significant sex difference. Moreover, anomalous of coronary ostia was observed in seven out 400 angiographs and in two cadaveric hearts. Knowledge the morphometric parameters and anatomical variations of coronary ostia helps the cardiac surgeons to overcome the possible difficulties that could occur during surgical and radiological coronary interventions.

Influence of age on aluminum-induced hepatotoxicity in the male albino rat

Background: aluminum is the third most common element in the earth's crust and is about 8% of its total mineral components. It is widely used in antacid drugs, food additives and tooth pastes. Moreover, it is added to the drinking water for purification purposes. It is also the metal of choice in making several household cookware and storage utensils despite its toxic effects

Aim of the work: this study aimed to describe the histological changes which occurred in liver of rats exposed to aluminum and also to clarify whether those changes were related to the age of the experimental animals or not

Material and methods: 32 male albino rats were used in this study, 16 adults and they were weighing 150-180 gm and 16 senile and they were weighing 400-450 gm. Group I: was consisted of 16 adult male rats. This group was categorized into two equal subgroups; subgroup IA and subgroup IB. Group II: was consisted of 16 senile male rats. This group was categorized into two equal subgroups; subgroup IIA and sub group IIB. Subgroups IA and IIA were served as control and received distilled water. Subgroups IB and IIB received aluminum chloride in a dose of 475 mg/kg body weight by gastric gavage once daily for three weeks. At the end of the experiment, liver specimens were collected, processed for paraffin blocks and semithin sections and examined by light microscope

Results: liver sections obtained from adult rats received aluminum chloride showed disrupted and discontinuous liver capsule, disorganized hepatic architecture, affection of the hepatocytes especially those under the liver capsule which had small darkly stained nuclei and dilated, distorted and slightly congested central veins. Most of the blood sinusoids appeared either narrow and obliterated or congested. The portal triads showed vascular congestion and dilatation, proliferation of the bile ducts with slight increase in the collagen deposition around the portal triads. Sporadic positive PAS reaction within the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes was also noticed in liver sections stained with PAS stain. Semithin sections stained with toluidine blue showed well circumscribed vacuoles of different sizes inside and outside the hepatocytes. On the other hand, liver sections obtained from senile rats received aluminum chloride showed the same previous changes that occurred in the adult group, but they were exaggerated and there were additional changes such as the presence of irregular homogenous materials and tiny vacuoles in the cytoplasm of most of the hepatocytes

Conclusion: oral administration of aluminum chloride in rats resulted in degenerations in the liver and that was conclusive of toxic hepatitis. These changes were exaggerated among the senile rats which proved that senile rats are more susceptible to the hepatoxicity induced by aluminum. Therefore, it is advised to create awareness among people especially the senile ones about the hazards of extensive use of aluminum