Histological study on the effect of aflatoxin B1 on the renal tubules of adult rats

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of the fungi Aspergillusflavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These species are prevalent in food crops, particularly in maize, groundnuts, and oilseeds. Chronic aflatoxin exposure is associated with damage to the kidney. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aflatoxin B1 on the renal tubules of female albino rats using light and electron microscopy. Thirty adult female rats were used in this study. They were divided into two groups. The first group was considered the control group. The second group was given 0.05 microg/kg aflatoxin orally every week for 8 consecutive weeks. At the end of the experiment the animals were sacrificed and specimens of the kidneys were extracted and processed for light and electron microscopy. In the aflatoxin-treated group there were necrosis and sloughing of the proximal convoluted tubules in some areas; other areas showed mitotic division and cell crowding. Ultramicroscopic results revealed cytoplasmic vacuolations, scanty mitochondria, and widely spaced microvilli. The distal convoluted tubules showed loss of cell polarity and basolateral infoldings. The interstitium was wide, edematous, and contained congested blood capillaries and a few mononuclear cells. Aflatoxin had a cytotoxic effect on the renal tubules of albino rats. Regulations should be implemented to avoid the presence of aflatoxins in high concentrations in human food and minimize their negative effects on agriculture and health

Effect of aluminum chloride on the hippocampus of adult rats and the possible protective role of Nigella sativa: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Aluminum is among the most abundant elements on earth and it is associated with the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. The hippocampus plays an important role in short-term memory and decision making. The Nigella sativa was reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. To investigate the histopathological effects of aluminum chloride on the hippocampus of adult male albino rat and the possible protective role of N. sativa. Twenty-five adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into five groups [each group included five rats]: group I [control] received no treatment and group II [N. sativatreated] received N. sativa oil daily at a dose of 1 ml/kg orally for 8 weeks. Group III [aluminum chloride treated] received aluminum chloride daily at a dose of 320 mg/kg/l added to the drinking water for 8 weeks. Group IV [aluminum chloride + N. sativa] received N. sativaoil with aluminum for 8 weeks at the same dose as the two previous groups. Group V [withdrawal] received aluminum only without N. sativa oil at the same previous dose for 8 weeks and then the animals were left without treatment for another 4 weeks. Specimens from the hippocampus were processed for light and electron microscopical examination. Also, the immunohistochemical technique was used with glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]. Group III showed apoptotic changes in many pyramidal cells. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the number of pyramidal cells. These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in GFAP-positive astrocytes. In group IV, minimal apoptotic changes were detected in pyramidal cells, with a significant increase in their number. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in GFAP-positive astrocytes. In group V, many pyramidal cells still showed degenerative changes, with a significant decrease in their number. GFAP-positive cells showed a significant increase. Gliosis was marked in the pyramidal cell layer. One-month withdrawal of aluminum chloride was not sufficient to gain a normal histological appearance of the hippocampus. N. sativa could be used to protect the hippocampus against aluminum chloride-induced damage

Aging changes of the olfactory bulb of albino rats

The olfactory bulb plays a central role in relaying olfactory information from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory cortex. Olfactory loss is a common age-related complaint that may be caused by changes in the anatomy of the structures required which are required for olfaction [for example, change in the olfactory bulb]. The aim of the work is to study the structural changes which occur during aging in the olfactory bulb of albino rats. Twenty albino rats were used. The animals were subdivided into two age groups: adult and aged [24 months]. The animals were anaesthetized, perfused with appropriate fixative solution, then the animals were killed and brains were extracted and specimens of olfactory bulbs were dissected. For each group, some specimens were fixed in Bouin's fluid and after routine histological technique were embedded in paraffin. Other specimens were sectioned and stained with Einarson's Gallocyanine solution to study the cellular histology and morphology of the olfactory bulb. Other specimens were fixed in Golgi-Cox solution and embedded in cellodin and dendritic organization of the neurons of the olfactory bulb was examined. Also other specimens were fixed in 5% buffered glutaldehyde and electron microscopic technique was made, semi thin and ultra thin sections were obtained and examined to show the ultra structure of the neurons of olfactory bulb. The results revealed that aging induced reduction in the thickness of the layers of olfactory bulb, decreased neuronal density of the mitral cells with decreased dendritic arborization of the neurons. Also elecrtomicroscopic feature of the aged olfactory bulb revealed evidence of nuclear damage, perinuclear vacuolation, dilated Golgi and cisternia of rough endoplasmic reticulum with destructed mitochondria

Effect of sildenafil on the blood vessels [angiogenic effect] of adult rat striatal neurons

Sildenafil [Viagra] is a selective inhibitor of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate [cGMP] specific phosphodiesterase 5 [PDE5] used for the oral treatment of male erectile dysfunction of organic, psychogenic or mixed aetionlogy. The corpus striatum is the largest component of the basal ganglia which is located within the depth of each cerebral hemisphere and have a diverse function ranging from movement control, cognitive function and regulation of emotional behaviour. The study aimed to study the effect of sildenafil citrate on the striatal neurons of adult albino rats. Fifteen adult male albino rats would included in the study, ten of them were given 2mg/kg sildenafil citrate orally on alternate days for one month and five rats would taken as a controls. The animals were anaesthetized with ether and perfused with fixative solution, then the animals were decapitated and the brains were extracted. Slices of striatal neurons were carefully dissected and fixed in 5% buffered glutardehyde and electron microscopic technique was made and semithin and ultrathin sections were obtained and examined by light and electron microscopically. The results revealed severe dilatation and congestion of the blood vessels of rat striatal neurons compared to controls. This may be mediated through enhancement of nitric oxide [NO]-mediated effects. Sildenfil citrate induced angiogenic effect of adult male striatal neurons which may suggest that sildenfil may have a role in treatment of some neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and cerebrovascular stroke which may need further investigation

Protective role of folic acid against iron induced nephrotoxicity in rat female offspring

Pregnancy exhibits increased susceptibility to oxidative stress that may resulting in potential damage. Supplementation with iron is recommended during pregnancy to meet the demands of both the mother and rapidly growing foetus however excess free iron may induced oxidative stress and through cascade of iron release and free radical production causing extensive cell damage. Folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy has been associated with decreased occurrence and recurrence of neural tube defects. The aim of this work was to study the histological changes that was induced by iron supplementation of pregnant female rats in the kidney of rat offsprings and potential protective role of folic acid administration. Thirty [30] pregnant female albino rats was included in the study and was divided into three groups. Group [1] was included [10] rats and taken as a control, Group [2] was included [10] rats and was given iron gluconate in a dose of 50 mg/kg during the period of 6-16 days of pregnancy and Group [3] was included [10] rats and was given iron gluconate as well as folic acid 4 mg/kg during the same period. The off springs of pregnant female rats were anaesthetized with ether and perfused with fixative solution. Then the kidneys were extracted. Slices of renal tissues were carefully dissected and fixed in 5% buffered glutardehyde and electron microscopic technique was made and semithin and ultrathin sections were obtained and examined by light and electron microscopice. Results revealed reduction of mean glomerular diameter, mean diameter of both proximal convoluted tubules [PCT] and distal convoluted tubules [DCT] in offsprings of group [2] of iron treated group, also there was dark cells with deep pyknotic nuclei of the glomerulr mesangial matrix. electron microscopic study revealed also that the brush border of proximal convoluted tubules was disrupted with vacuolation of cytoplasm and degeneration of mitochondriae, on the other hand of folic acid administration druing pregnancy in group [3] revealed that these changes were improved markedly in the newlyborn off springs. Iron induced renal oxidative stress in the off springs of pregnant female rats and routine use during pregnancy shouldn't advised and should e reserved only to anemic women - folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is recommended to protect against oxidative stress that was induced by iron or other oxygen free radicals

Carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in adult mice and potential protective role of honey

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on dietary and medical natural products that inhibit, reverse or retard diseases caused by oxidative and inflammatory process. Honey has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore the aim of the present work is to investigate the possible protective role of honey on carbon tetrachloride-treated mice, a model of liver injury. In chronic hepatotoxic mice, liver damage was studied by using some histological, histochemical methods and morphometric analysis. The experimental animals were divided into four groups treated as follows: Group [I] was kept as control; Group [2] was injected daily subcutaneously with carbon tetrachloride [CCL4] for 30 days; Group [3] was treated with CCL4 and honey at the same time for 30 days: Group [4] was given CCL4 for 30 days then stopped and was given honey for another 30 days. Cell shrinking, chromatin condensation, fatty infiltration, marked decrease in glycogen, fibrosis, and dilatation of central vein and blood sinusoid were observed in group [2] The observations of the present study provide evidence for apoptosis of hepatocytes in the necrotic zone. These changes were reduced when CCL4and honey were given simultaneously. In contrast, there was no improvement of hepatic changes when honey was given after withdrawal of CCL4. Based upon these results, honey may play a preventive and protective role in hepatic cellular injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and it is advisable to be given in patients with chronic liver diseases

Injurious effect of X-ray irradiation on albino rat enterocytes and potential radio protective effect of melatonin [histological and morphometric study]

Radiation enteritis is a significant clinical problem in patients receiving ionizing radiation directed at the abdomen or pelvis. Although radiation therapy is aimed to be directed against the malignant tissue, adjacent healthy tissues are also affected and the small intestine is the most sensitive organ to radiation. Melatonin has been documented as a direct free radical scavenger and an indirect antioxidant, as well as an important immunomodulatory agent. The aim of the research is to study the histological and ultrastructural changes of X-ray irradiation on rat jejunal mucosa and possible radioprotective role of melatonin. Thirty six adult male albino rats were included in the study and were divided into three groups, the first group was included twelve rats and was served as controls, the second group was included 12 rats and was exposed to a whole body X-ray irradiation dose of 8 Grays [Gy]. The third group was included twelve rats and was subjected to intraperitoneal injection of melatonin [10 mg/kg body weight melatonin one hour before irradiation]. The animals were anaesthized at 48 hours after X-ray irradiation and perfused with fixative solution and laparotomy was performed. Immediately after laparotomy, the small intestine [jejunum] was removed. Some specimens of jejunum were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Other specimens were fixed in 5% buffered glutardehyde and electron microscopic technique was made and semithin and ultrathin sections were obtained and examined to show the ultrastructure of small intestine. The results revealed that X-ray irradiation resulting in loss of architecture and disarrangement of cells of the microvilli which have pale cytoplasm and degenerated nuclei with a reduction of mean villous height, mean crypt diameter and mean number of villi per cross section. Also electromicroscopic feature revealed lack of parallel arrangement of microvilli, loss of glycocalyx covering, desquamation of microvilli, vacoulation of apical part of the cells, dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and damage of mitochondrial cristae. In group of irradiated animals pretreated with melatonin [group three], these changes were improved and the intestinal mucosal structure was preserved. Administration of melatonin prior to irradiation can protect the intestine against X-rays destructive effects