ABSTRACT
The present study investigated the role of the neural cell adhesion molecule [N-CAM] in maintaining the integrity of the neuromuscular junction. Immunohistochemical localization of this molecule in muscle tissue of the rat was examined through double immunostaining of longitudinal cryostat sections for synaptophysin [a synaptic vesicle marker] and N-CAM. In addition, immunoelectron microscopy was performed to view the localization of N-CAM at the ultrastructural level. The results showed that N-CAM immunoreactivity at the neuromuscular junction was exclusively restricted to the contact area between the terminal Schwann cells and the nerve terminals. No reaction product could be seen between the pre-and postsynaptic membranes. Such localization of NCAM implies that this molecule is not adequately positioned to play a role in maintaining the integrity of the neuromuscular junction, but rather mediates the axon-Schwann cell interactions
ABSTRACT
One of the major health problems is the wide incidence of cancerous diseases as a result of air, water and food pollution. Endoxan is a widely used anti-cancer immunosuppressive drug that affects' fertility in men. The aim of the present work was to study the side effects of endoxan on the testis. Ten adult white male rats were divided into two groups, the first group [consisted of 4 rats] was given normal saline and used as controls. The second group [consisted of 6 rats] was treated with 100mg/kg/day endoxan intraperitoneally for one week. The rats were sacrificed and prepared for electron microscopic examination. The treated testis showed irregular basement membrane either in thickness or in its outline. The cytoplasm of Sertoli cells showed lysosomes and vacuoles. The spermatogenic cells revealed vacuoles in its cytoplasm. Its mitochondria became swollen and lost their cristae and were arranged peripherally near the cytoplasmic membrane. Degeneration of chromatin was detected. The spermatid revealed abnormalities in the fonn of irregular acrosomal vesicles, appearance of vacuoles in its head, in addition to the presence of abnormal heads
ABSTRACT
In this work thirty patients with chronic C virus positive for ELISA 3rd generation, class A child classification were classified into three groups according to HCV viraemia. The first group formed of 15 patients with mild viraemia, which HCV-RNA or viral load [25-50 X10 3 geno / ml]. The second group formed of 9 patients with moderate viraemia, which HCV-RNA or viral load [50-100 X 10 3 geno / ml]. The third group formed of 6 patients with high viraemia, which HCV-RNA or viral load [100-200 X 10 3 geno / ml]. All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examinatioh and ultrasonography. The histological changes were present in the form of fatty changes with vacuoles of lipid between liver cells, lymphocyte cell infiltration and aggregation in the portal tracts. These histological changes increased parallel to increase HCV viraemia. The ultrastructural changes of the nucleus were in the form of chromatinic condensation on the inner surface of the nuclear membrane, irregularity of nuclear membrane and the nucleoli were prominent and eccentric in position. The mitochondria were swollen and elongated with decrease in number of cristae. T here were prominent proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and there was focally diffusely dilatation. There were interruption and fragmentation of endothelial cells lining the sinusoids. There was a reduction of hepatocyte microvilli projecting towards the sinusoids. The bile canaliculi showed dilatation and decrease in their microvilli lumen. Also, there was a dilatation in the intercellular Space. All histological and ultrastructural changes in all organelles of liver cell increased parallel to increase HCV viraemia