possible protective effect of vitamin A on cyclophosphamide induced changes in pneumocyte type II in adult male albino rats. histological and DNA electrophoretic pattern study

Cyclophosphamide is one of the widely used antineoplastic and immunosuppressive drugs. Clinically, respiratory complications were noticed following cyclophosphamide treatment. Vitamin A was known to preserve and maintain the lung parernchyma and also the function of pneumocyte type II. It has an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant as well as cytoprotective effect in various lung disorders. Studying the possible protective effect of vitamin A administration on cyclophosphamide induced changes in pneumocytc type II. Twenty four adult male albino rats were divided into four groups, 6 animals each. Group I was the control group. Group II: Each rat was given 900 IU of vitamin A orally, daily, for two weeks. Group III: Each rat was given cyclophosphamide in a single intraperitoneal [l.P.] dose of 150mg/kg B.W. Group IV: Each rat was given 900 IU of vitamin A orally, daily, for one week before and one week after the single dose of cyclophosphamide. At the end of the study, all animals were sacrificed and their lungs were dissected out and prepared for light, electron microscopic examination and nucleic acid [DNA] electrophoresis. Cyclophosphamide induced pulmonary inflammatory, fibrotic and DNA damage. The interalveolar septa were focally thickened and showed mononuclear cellular infiltration together with collagen fiber deposition. Ultrastructuratly, changes in pneumocyte type II were evident in the form of depleted lamellar bodies, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum as well as nuclear indentation, lobulation and presence of peripheral condensed clumped chromatin. Group IV animals showed that protection with vitamin A was successful in ameliorating the histological and DNA changes induced by cyclophosphamide. The ultrastructure of pneumocyte type II was preserved to a great extent and became more or less, similar to that of control. Vitamin A reduced lung damage induced by cyclophosphamide

Ultrastructural study on the effect of prednisolone and vitamin E on the follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid gland subjected to amiodarone in albino rats

Amiodarone is a well known antiarrhythmic medicine which has been suspected to induce cytotoxic effect on the thyroid gland. The ultrastructural picture of such potential toxicity has been studied on the follicular cells of thyroid gland and an attempt to preserve its normality has been achieved through administration of the corticosteroid [prednisolone] with or without antioxidant element [vitamin E]. Thirty adult albino rats were selected and divided into two main groups [15 animals each]. The first group represented the control group. The second was the experimental group, which was further subdivided into three subgroups [5 animals each]. The first experimental subgroup received intramuscular doses of amiodarone [2.7 mg each daily] for 75 days. The second experimental subgroup received oral doses of prednisolone [0.4 mg each daily] by intragastric intubation concomitant with the intramuscular injections of amiodarone daily for 75 days. The third experimental subgroup received oral doses of vitamin E [1.8 mg each daily] concomitantly with prednisolone by intragastric intubation together with the intramuscular injections of amiodarone daily for 75 days. At the expected date, animals were sacrificed under ether anaesthesia and their thyroid glands were dissected out and processed for E.M. study. The results showed changes in the nuclear shape and condensation of its chromatin together with extensive dilatation of rER associated with cytoplasmic protrusions in the lumen. When amiodarone was concomitantly administered with prednisolone, more or less preservation of normality in the follicular cells has been observed. Such preservation has been more positive when both prednisolone and vitamin E together were concomitantly provided with amiodarone

Electron microscopic changes in spermatozoa of albino rats, induced by dithiothreitol [DDT], a protective reagent for - SH group

Disulfide bonds formation plays an important role in many chemical reactions. The maturity of the heads and tails of spermatozoa are highly dependent on such bonds. Prevention of these chemical bonds would certainly affect such maturity. This has been achieved through the administration of dithiothreitol [DTT], a chemical compound which prevents the formation of such chemical bonds by maintaining the - SH group of the amino acid cysteine. Thirty adult male rats were employed, divided to 10 control received saline and Tris buffer and 20 experimental groups received 0.2 ml of 9 mM solution of dithiothreitol in 0.05 M Tris buffer, pH 8,0 injected subcutaneously daily for thirty days. All animals were killed after 30 days except ten experimental animals that retained for 15 more days to recover. The testes were dissected out and processed for preliminary examination with light microscopy and for electron microscopy. Due to the limited magnification of the light microscope, no major changes were visible. The electron microscope did show variable changes, specifically there have been many deformities in the nuclei, and disruption of the normal configuration and arrangement of the miotchondria; decondensation of the nuclear chromatin in some samples has also been detected. This would emphasize that DTT when maintained the - SH group from being oxidized, had interfered with the integrity of the spermatozoa, which consequently affected their maturity. Depending upon this result, one could speculate that compound of this nature and this mode of action could be considered when a male antifertility agent, is thought of

Effect of alcohol on the pancreatic acinar cells of albino rats, an ultrastructural study

Alcohol abuse has been and still is a rejected social habit. Its consumption is becoming an increasingly society concern based on the potential adverse effect that it causes. Hence this study has been conducted aiming to shade more light on such issue. Seventy five adult male albino rats were employed and divided between the control, experimental and recovery groups. The experimental animals have received 2cc of 10% ethanol provided through intragastric tube daily for one, two and three months respectively. The recovery groups were left for one month. The control groups have received 2cc saline, with the same route of administration and the same periods. All animals were sacrificed at the end of the experimental periods and the pancreas was dissected out and processed for semithin sections, stained with toluidine blue for preliminary light microscopical examination, and ultrathin sections for ultrastructural investigation. The results obtained have demonstrated the adverse effects of ethanol as compared with the control. Specifically, there have been an increase of interacinar connective tissue together with congested blood vessels, acinar cell cytoplasmic vacuolations, depletion of zymogen granules and pyknosis of some cellular nuclei, these changes have become even worse after two and three months of ethanol intake. At the electron microscopic level; it has been demonstrated the depletion of zymogen granules, increase in the number of secondary lysosomes, dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, degenerated mitochondria and the appearance of fat droplets. The recovery groups did demonstrate mild to moderate improvement expressed of regaining of their cellular structural normality. The study suggests that the changes that occurred are multifactorial. The direct toxic effect of ethanol or its metabolites on various body organs and the malnutrition that is common in alcohol intake as it interferes with many nutritional elements are always considered. The study also explains that the improvement is related either to the dose administered, incomplete loss of cellular inherent machinery of regeneration or to an increased tissue resistance

Effects of ultrasound waves on the skin of albino rats: Light and scanning electron microscopy study

Recently, the skin is considered as one of the most respectable routes of drug introduction into the body. It forms a safe way in by passing organs suffering from chronic serious illness that interferes with drug metabolism. Overcoming of the skin barrier to facilitate easy and safe drug penetration is the target of many researchers working in this field. Application of ultrasound waves to the skin has made a revolution in penetration of many drugs across its barrier. The present study investigated the structural changes in the rat skin after ultrasound exposure by using light and scanning electron microscopes. Fifteen young albino rats were used in this study. Five of them were managed as control, while the other ten were classified as two experimental groups, five rats each. Animals of the first experimental group were exposed to ultrasound waves at a frequency of 48 KHz and intensity 0.5w/cm[2] for 5 minutes, While those of the other experimental group were exposed to the same dose for 10 minuets. The skin surface was examined by light and scanning electron microscopes comparing the findings with the skin samples of control rats. Variable degrees of skin damage included fractures of hair shafts, shedding of stratum corneum, destruction of stratum lucidum and partial separation of stratum granulosum, spinosum and basale. Also, the damage reached the papillary layer of the dermis that was removed leaving the reticular layer bared and produced wide clefts in particular areas and large carter like openings in other sites of the skin surface. The removal of the straum corneum together with the other epidermal changes and the formation of the wide clefts and crater openings could spot lights on the hidden structural changes of the skin and might explain the mechanism of transdermal drug penetration with ultrasound exposure