impact of barley on monosodium glutamate induced changes in duodenal villi of young mice light and electron microscopic study

Diet is an important factor in the regulation of body physiological activities especially at young ages and its maintenance in later life. Barely as high fibre diet, affects the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. In the present work, 40 young mice were used to investigate the effect of barley on the intestinal changes that might occur after monosodium glutamate [MSG] induced obesity-despite the absence of overeating. Animals were divided into 4 groups each of 10 mice, the first group served as control, fed on ordinary balanced diet and received 0.5 ml of distilled water for 21 days. The second group was fed on ground barley ad libitum for 21 days. The third group received MSG in daily oral dose of 2 mg/g body weight for 21 days. The fourth group was fed on ground barley ad libitum simultaneously with the same daily dose of MSG as in group three for the same period. Light and electron microscopic investigation of the group of animals that received MSG revealed localized loss of microvillus border and vacuolation of some enterocytes while other cells showed apparent hyperplasia. The core of the villi exhibited edema and cellular infilteration. In addition, the mitochondria revealed marked loss of cristae. Scanning electron microscopic examination [SEM] showed deformed villi in some areas while other villi exhibited sloughing of their tips. On the contrary, in animals treated with MSG simultaneously with barley, the villi revealed structure almost similar to that of the villi of control group. Consequently, based on these results, it is possible to suggest that dietary barley may have a significant importance in protection against MSG-induced perturbation in duodenal villi

Effect of Melatonin in preventing carbon tetrachloride-induced testis injury in albino rats

The possible protective effect of melatonin against CCl[4]-induced testis injury in male albino rat was investigated. Adult male rats were divided into four groups. The first group served as normal untreated group [negative control]. The second group served as positive control received i.p. olive oil. The animals of the third group were injected i.p with CC1[4] at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg b.wt. The animals of the fourth group were injected i.p. with CC1[4] as in the third group and simultaneously given gavage administration of melatonin [MLT] at a dose of 10 mg/kg b. wt. All treatments were carried out daily for two successive weeks. Treatment with CC1[4] was found to induce severe histological and ultrastructural alterations. These were represented by thickening and splitting of the basement membrane, abnormal giant cells, degeneration of most of the spermatogenic lineage, lipid and dense bodies were noticed in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells reflecting spermatogenic arrest. Moreover, severe damage of interstitial cells was manifested by the irregularity of the nuclei of Leydig cells. Simultaneous treatment with CC1[4] and melatonin showed that most of the cellular components of the testis exhibited normal appearance. The different stages of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis retained their normal structures in addition to the normal construction of the cytoplasm of the Sertoli and Leydig cells. It was concluded that melatonin apparently abrogated most of the deleterious effects of CCl[4]on rat testis