Structural study on cultured isolated fetal rat pancreatic islets

To perform a morphometric and structural study of the cultured isolated fetal rat pancreatic islets. Islets of the fetal rat pancreas, aged 22 days were isolated by the standard procedure of collagenase digestion and culture technique. The islets were cultured for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days. The islets were counted under a dissecting microscope and islet diameter and purity were measured under a phase contrast microscope fitted with a calibrated grid. The islet specimens were fixed in buffered neutral formalin, dehydrated in alcohol and embedded in parablast. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. This study was conducted in King Fahd Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdul-Aziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during 2003 and 2004. The purity of the cultured islets gradually increased with time and was significantly different between the cultured groups. The number of the cultured islets gradually decreased with time. The islet diameter gradually increased with culture period. The islet purity and diameter were significantly different between the cultured groups. Parablast sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed that the shape and histological structure of the cultured islets were intact. The results of the present work represent an extensive morphometric structural study of isolated cultured fetal islets. The culture islet diameter and purity showed gradual increase with culture period, while the islet number showed gradual decrease

Maximum activities of some key enzymes of glucose metabolism in livers of schistosoma mansoni infected mice

The effects of infection with Schistosoma mansoni [Saudi strain] on the maximal activities of glucose utilization pathways were studied in livers of mice during 16 weeks post-infection. The maximal activities of 6-phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase were significantly increased from week 4 indicating the increased capacity of the liver to utilize glucose, whereas the activity of glycogen phosphorylase was decreased as early as week 2, suggesting diminished hepatic glycogen break-down. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were significantly decreased from week 2 and 4, respectively. This suggested decreased flux through the pentose phosphate pathway in livers of infected animals. A significant decrease in the activities of citrate synthase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase was observed at week 10 and 6, respectively, indicating diminished maximal capacity of the Kreb's cycle. All enzymatic changes [except Kreb's cycle enzymes] were detected prior to egg deposition [2-4 weeks] and are related, therefore, to the toxic products of growing worms. Such changes became more evident following egg deposition. Hepatic necrosis was observed at week 4 prior to egg deposition, which provides further evidence that factors released by worms can adversely affect the hepatic parenchyma. Necrosis, however, became more marked with the onset of egg deposition. The significance of these enzymatic changes, pathological findings and the underlying mechanisms are discussed

Normal spirometry values in Saudi nationals in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

The spirometric normal values of Saudi males [n = 222] and females [n = 172] were measured. FEV, and FVC values of males and females were lower than those of North Americans and Europeans but higher than those of North Indians. Males had higher values than females of the same age group with FEV, and FVC values decreased progressively with age. FEV[1]/H[3] ratios, which correlate with small airway function, were greater in males than in females and decreased with advancing age. Regression equations incorporating sex, age and height were derived for the population studied to be used in the prediction of the pulmonary function values of Saudis in the Western region