Prostaglandin F receptor expression in intrauterine tissues of pregnant rats

In this investigation, we studied the expression and localization of rat prostaglandin F (FP) receptor in uterine tissues of rats on gestational Days 10, 15, 18, 20, 21, 21.5 and postpartal Days 1 and 3 using Western blotting analysis, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry. A high level of immunoreactivity was observed on gestational Days 20, 21, and 21.5 with the most significant signals found on Day 20. FP receptor protein was expressed starting on gestational Day 15, and a fluctuating unsteady increase was observed until delivery. Uterine FP receptor mRNA levels were low between Days 10 and 18 of gestation (p < 0.05). The transcript level increased significantly on Day 20 and peaked on Day 21.5 just before labor (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between FP receptor mRNA expression and serum estradiol levels (rs = 0.78; p < 0.01) along with serum estradiol/progesterone ratios (rs = 0.79; p < 0.01). In summary, we observed an increase FP receptor expression in rat uterus with advancing gestation, a marked elevation of expression at term, and a concominant decrease during the postpartum period. These findings indicate a role for uterine FP receptors in the mediation of uterine contractility at term.

Effects of green tea and vitamin E in the testicular tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

To investigate the possible therapeutic or protective effects of green tea in diabetic rat's testicular tissue, either as a single agent, or together with vitamin E. The present study was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey from May to August 2011 for 10 weeks. Forty-eight adult male Wistar albino rats, weighting 250-300 g, were divided into 8 groups: control; nondiabetic vitamin E [0.4 mg/kg/NG]; nondiabetic green tea [300 mg/kg/NG]; nondiabetic vitamin E plus green tea administered groups; diabetic group [60 mg/kg/IV streptozotocin]; diabetic vitamin E; diabetic green tea; and diabetic vitamin E plus green tea administered groups. Proliferative and apoptotic indexes were determined using anti-PCNA antibody immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assays respectively. Tubule degeneration was evaluated using the Johnson's score and also seminiferous tubules diameters, epithelial thickness were measured. Histopathological examination in diabetic group revealed degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules together with a statistically significant decrease in PCNA positive cells, in epithelial thickness, diameter of the tubules and in Johnson's score, while exhibited an increase in the number of apoptotic cells. When all these findings are considered together, the most successful protective effects in diabetes were obtained in the combined antioxidant group. Combined therapy of vitamin E and green tea in diabetes was more effective than monotherapy. Therefore, these antioxidants may be use as a supporting therapy for reproductive dysfunction

Morphometric study of a horseshoe kidney

To describe a horseshoe kidney, a congenital anomaly of the upper urinary tract. A case study of horseshoe kidney harvested from a 62-year-old cadaver at Gazi University Medical School is presented. The right and left kidneys were fused at their lower poles by a parenchymal isthmus located ventral to the abdominal aorta and formed a U-shape with two unequal arms. The isthmus of the ectopic kidney was placed obliquely to the left at the level of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebra. The left kidney was larger and longer than the right one. The kidneys were supplied by three renal arteries arising from the abdominal aorta. Two arteries on the right side supplied blood of the two kidneys, while the third artery that directly originated from the aorta, above the origin of inferior mesenteric artery, supplied the isthmus. Venous drainage of the both kidneys and the isthmus were drained by three veins that opened independently into the inferior vena cava. The right ureter was duplicated in origin. This report shows that knowledge of anomalies such as this is very important in planning and conducting surgical procedures

Dose-dependent ultrastructural changes in rat cornea after oral methylphenidate administration

To investigate dose-dependent ultrastructural changes in rat cornea after oral methylphenidate [Ritalin] administration. This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey between March and May 2005, with a total of 27 female prepubertal Wistar albino rats, divided into 3 different dose groups [5mg/kg, 10 mg/ kg, 20 mg/kg], and their control groups. They were treated orally with methylphenidate, and eye tissue was removed to process for electron microscopic studies. We observed that all cells, and prominently basal cells of the corneal epithelium show dose-dependent degenerative changes such as apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and ondulation in their nuclei and crystolysis of the mitochondrion. In the stroma, the most evident finding was the increase of the collagen fiber. In addition to dose-dependent changes related to the apoptotic process, which is chromatin condensation in their nuclei, electron dense material accumulation, and pericellular edema in the cytoplasm were also seen. In the endothelial cell lines, disruption of the junctional complexes, vacuolization in the cell cytoplasms, and crystolysis of the mitochondrion's with rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae activity were observed. Ritalin is inducing an evident degeneration, especially in epithelium cells with increasing doses. Ultrastructural cell organelle composition degeneration with stromal fibrosis has a negative effect on cornea dehydration. In light of these findings, we believe that the Ritalin treatment doses need to be kept to a minimum to maintain healthy cornea ultrastructure and related physiology

Innervation of the rate anterior abdominal wall as shown by modified Siher's stain

The purpose of this study was to use the modified Sihler's staining technique to demonstrate detailed distribution of the rat anterior abdominal wall nerves and test the value of Sihler's technique in demonstrating such a complex muscle-nerve relationship. The anterior abdominal walls of 5 Wistar rats were isolated by making a deep incision from the costal arches on each side down to the inguinal region and processed using a modified Sihler's stain technique. This technique was successfully applied to visualize the innervation of the anterior abdominal wall muscles of the rat. The segmental nerves of T6-L1 and their terminal branches were shown and possible motor and sensory fibers identified. This technique is valuable in understanding the complex nature of final branching of the nerve endings, and it may be useful for studying experimental nerve models

immunohistochemical approach to determine the origin and possible function of the juxtaoral organ in dogs

In this study, we applied immuno- histochemical techniques on the functionally little known organ of Chievitz [juxtaoral organ [JOO]] in dogs to determine its origin and possible function. The term abortive materials of 6 Doberman dogs were used for experimental procedures in July 2002 to June 2003 at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, after routine light microscopic tissue preparation, the sections were stained with Masson's trichrome stain. In order to elucidate the function-related origin of the organ, we used epidermal growth factor [EGF-r], transforming growth factor [TGF-alpha] and nerve growth factor [NGF-beta] immunohistochemical stains. We observed a very strong and widespread immunoreactivity of EGF-r and TGF-alpha on simple squamous capsular cells. We detected nerve growth factor-beta positivity in granular form both in simple squamous capsular cells and in neighboring connective tissue. However, we did not detect EGF-r reactivity on parenchymal cells except a weak immunoreactivity on central ones. We noticed transforming growth factor-alpha in most of the parenchymal cells while we observed NGF-beta strongly in all the parenchymal cells. These results may point out that the JOO may be of mesothelial or epithelial origin. Having NGF-alpha positive granules and close relationship with blood vessels may imply a neurosecretory function. We believe that our study may add new perspectives to the function of the JOO