Effect of zinc-free diet from weaning through puberty on the structure of the testis in albino rats, with a special focus on the Leydig cells

Zinc is an essential trace element. Many physiological processes would be impaired if zinc is not supplied in sufficient quantities in the diet. The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of a zinc-free diet from weaning through puberty on the testicular structure of rats, with a special focus on the Leydig cells. Twenty weaned rats were divided into three groups. Group I [the control group] was fed a balanced diet. Group II [the zinc-free group] was fed a zinc-free diet for 3 months. Group III [the recovery group] was fed a zinc-free diet for 3 months, followed by a balanced diet for 1 month. At the end of the experiment, rats were weighed and blood samples were collected to measure the level of serum testosterone hormone. The testes were removed, weighed, and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic study. The zinc-free group showed a significant decrease in the mean body weight, testis weight, and serum testosterone level compared with the control group. The light and electron microscopic examination showed loss of most of the spermatogenic cells accompanied by variable degrees of degeneration in the form of karryorhexis and haphazard chromatin content. In the interstitial tissue, there was accumulation of exudate. Many Leydig cells showed dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Others cells showed accumulation of glycogen. Most of these changes were reversed after receiving the balanced diet in the recovery group. A zinc-free diet altered the structure of both the seminiferous tubules and the Leydig cells. Most of these alterations were reversed by zinc replenishment. Zinc is considered an essential element for maintaining testicular structure and spermatogenesis process

Role of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of CCL4 Induced Liver Fibrosis in Albino Rats: A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Variety of pathological factors including viral hepatitis, alcohol and drug abuse, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases and congenital abnormalities can cause hepatic injury. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver diseases, however, it faces several difficulties. So the aim of the work is to evaluate the effect of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on the liver structure in carbon tetra chloride CCL4 induced liver fibrosis in rats. MATERIALS AND RESULTS: BM-MSCs were isolated and characterized from long bones of twenty male albino rats. Sixty female rats were divided into the following two groups: Group I; thirty rats which were the control group. Group II; thirty rats were injected intra-peritoneal (IP) by CCL4 twice weekly for four weeks and was further subdivided into the following three subgroups: Subgroup IIA (CCL4 alone); included ten rats which were sacrificed after this four weeks. Subgroup IIB (CCL4/MSCs); included ten rats which were IP injected by a single dose of BM-MSCs and were sacrificed after four weeks. Subgroup IIC (CCL4/recovery); included ten rats which were left for another four weeks without any intervention. Histological examination of liver specimens showed that CCl4 caused variable pathological changes with elevated liver enzymes. Injection of BM-MSCs revealed an improvement in the histological picture of the liver and its enzymatic profile. On the other hand, most of the pathological lesion were still detected in rats of recovery group. CONCLUSIONS: BM-MSC could restore the liver structure and function in experimental model of liver fibrosis.

histological study on the possible protective role of garlic in diabetes-induced structural changes in the renal cortex of adult male albino rats

Diabetes is a common serious metabolic disorder, and it may cause nephropathy. Garlic was experimentally documented to have an antidiabetic potential. Investigate the possible protective role of garlic in the structural changes of the renal cortex in diabetic male albino rats. Rats were divided into two main groups; group I included rats that were divided equally into a control group Ia [rats were administered distilled water] and a garlic group Ib [rats were administered 100 mg/kg garlic powder]. Group II [diabetic group] included rats in which diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin; then, the rats were divided into two groups: an untreated diabetic group IIa [rats were administered distilled water] and a garlic-treated diabetic group IIb [rats were administered 100 mg/kg garlic powder]. At the end of the experiment, the rats in the untreated diabetic group showed a nonsignificant change in their body weight and a significant increase in the mean fasting blood glucose by 40.6%. Microscopic examination of the renal cortex showed structural changes in both the proximal convoluted tubules and distal convoluted tubules in the form of a luminal cast, less basal infolding, and fewer basal mitochondria with loss of its cristae. Loss of microvilli of proximal convoluted tubules, extravasation of red blood cells, and a significant increase in the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane were also observed. However, at the end of the experiment, the garlic-treated diabetic group showed a significant increase in body weight by 21.7%, a significant decrease in the mean fasting blood glucose level by 29.6%, and absence of the most of the structural changes of the renal cortex. Garlic could protect against diabetes-induced structural changes in the renal cortex

Histological and immunohistochemical study on the effect of passive smoking on the skin of adult male albino rats and the possible protective role of nigella sativa oil

Smoking is associated with many dermatological conditions, including poor wound healing and premature skin aging. Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed or black cumin, is used in folk herbal medicine all over the world for the treatment and prevention of a number of diseases. the aim of the work is to investigate the effect of smoking on the histological structure of the skin and to evaluate the possible protective role of the nigella sativa oil [NSO]. Twenty adult male albino rats were divided into four equal groups: group I [the control group] was placed 10 min twice daily for 4 weeks in a chamber without cigarette smoke exposure and was given a single dose of saline, 10ml/kg BW [body weight] orally and daily, group II [the NSO group] was given a single dose of NSO, 10ml/kg BW orally and daily, group III [the passive smoking group] was exposed to both side stream and main stream smoke for 10min twice daily for 4 weeks, and group IV [the protected group [was exposed to both side stream and main stream smoke for 10min twice daily for 4 weeks simultaneously with a single dose of NSO, 10ml/kg BW orally and daily. Exposure of male albino rats to cigarette smoke for 4 weeks produced some histological changes in the skin in the form of a significant decrease in the thickness of the epidermis and flattening of the epidermal-dermal junction. There was also a significant decrease in the collagen fibers in the dermis and an apparent decrease in the cytokeratin intermediate filaments in the keratinocytes, whereas the histological structure of the skin in the animals that received black seeds oil concomitant with smoke exposure [group IV] was almost similar to that of the control. It was concluded that exposure to cigarette smoke produced some histological changes in the skin similar to that occurring in old age, and administration of black seed oil could protect against these changes in adult male albino rats

Effect of barley [hordeum vulgare] on the liver of diabetic rats: histological and biochemical study

Type II diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes. Barley is a wonderful cereal grain. It is considered as a rich source of antioxidant and magnesium. Magnesium acts as a co-factor for enzymes involved in the glucose metabolism and insulin secretion. Is to investigate effect of barley on the structural and biochemical changes of the liver induced by diabetes. Thirty male albino rats, aged 18 months old, were divided into three groups. Group I [control group] that was fed balanced standard diet for eight weeks. Group II [positive control, barley fed group] that fed barley containing diet for four weeks. Group III [diabetic group] in which diabetes was induced by feeding the rats with high fat diet [fat constitutes 40% of its weight] for four weeks then it was subdivided into two subgroups. Subgroup I [untreated diabetic group] that was fed balanced standard diet for another four weeks. Subgroup II [barley treated diabetic group] that was fed barley containing diet for another four weeks. In untreated diabetic group, there was a significant increase in the serum fructosamine and insulin, insulin resistance and serum aspartate amino transferase AST and significant decrease in the liver glycogen. Light and electron microscopic examination of the liver of diabetic rats revealed a profound histological changes in the form of many vacuoles, ill defined rough endoplasmic reticulum r.ER and dilatation in their cisternae and swollen mitochondria with rarified matrix and loss of its cristae. These structural damage of the liver was associated with a significant increase of hepatic content of oxidative stress markers and a significant decrease in the hepatic activity of markers of antioxidant activitiy. Barley consumption could reverse most of these histological and biochemical changes in the liver of the diabetic group owing to its hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect. It was suggested that barley had a significant protective effect on the diabetic liver

role of green tea on strvation induced morphological changes in jejunal villi of male albino rat: histological, histochemical and scanning electron microscopic study

Green Tea is a naturally occurring compound. It is recognized as a very powerful antioxidant, anti inflammatory arid anti carcinogenic agent. The present work was done to investigate the role of green tea administration on morphological changes of the jejunal villi that might occur after starvation. Twenty male albino rats were used and divided into 4 equal groups, Group I [control rats]. Group II [starved rats for 7 day's], GroupIII [green tea treated rats for 7 days after 7 days of starvation,] and Group IV [recovered rats that were refed for 7 days after 7 days of starvation]. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. Jejunal villi of the starved rats were apparently thickened. There was significant increase in the meals villas thickness and a significant decrease in the mean height of the surface columnar cells as compared to that of' the control group. Tire core of the villi showed edema and cellular infiltration. There was a weak PAS positive reaction at the brush border of the columnar cells and the mean number 0/goblet ceils/villus was significantly decreased as compared to that of tire control group. with scanning electron microscope, starved rats showed loss of the microvilli at the apex of some of the villi. Poorly developed goblet cells were also observed. All these changes were improved and almost returned to normal in the green tea treated rats [group III,]. While in recovered rats [group IV] the improvement of starvation induced morphological changes of tire jejunal villi was minimum. So, it was concluded that the green tea administration could Improve and accelerate tire intestinal response to refeeding after starvation