Study of the genotoxic effect of cyclophosphamide on albino mice bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes -and the protective effect of captopril

Cyclophosphamide [CYP] is widely used as an antineoplastic and an immunosuppressive drug. However, it has been found to cause DNA damage in normal tissues as well. Captopril [CAP], an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, was reported to have a potential protective effect on the genotoxic effect of CYP possibly through its antioxidant effect. The aim of the present work is to experimentally detect the genotoxic effect of cyclophosphamide using in vivo micronuclei assay in albino mice bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes and to test the protective effect of captopril on reducing the genotoxicity of CYP. In the present study thirty adult male albino mice were equally divided into six groups. Group I [control group] animals received single physiological saline, group II mice received single injection of captopril [CAP] [50mg/kg], group III animals received single injection of 25mg/kg cyclophosphamide [CYP] dissolved in physiological saline, group IV mice received single injection of 50 mg/kg CYP dissolved in physiological saline, and groups V and VI were the same as group III and IV but CYP injection was preceded by CAP [50mg/kg] injection. The number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes [MNPCEs] was determined in 1000 polychromatic cells from bone marrow smears obtained after sacrificing the animals 24 hrs from exposure to CYP or the control substance. Statistical comparison of the different groups showed that the difference between group I and II was not statistically significant [P=0.106], indicating that CAP does not induce genotoxicity. Whereas, comparing Groups III, IV to group I showed that the difference was statistically significant [P=0.013, 0.00021] It was observed that CYP increased the number of MNPCEs in a dose dependent way. Comparison of groups V and Vito groups III and IV respectively showed a significantly lower number of MNPCEs confirming a protective effect of CAP when administered prior to CYP. The results of the present study confirm a protective role of CAP and support the possibility of administration of captopril prior to cyclophosphamide to ameliorate its genotoxic effect and the possibility to develop secondary cancers

Effect of natural antioxidants on lead toxicity in rats

The present study was conducted on 40 male albino rats to study the effect of combined oral administration of three natural antioxidants [vitamin E, A and C] on different parameters during one month oral lead intoxication. The animals were divided into four groups: Group one and two were considered as controls as they received sodium acetate 400 mg/kg/day in group one or sodium acetate plus 2% gum acacia + 1 ml distilled water in group two, group three received lead acetate and group four received lead acetate plus a combination of the three vitamins. It was observed that administration of the combination of the three vitamins significantly improved the toxic manifestations of lead in group three

Studies on the histopathological and histochemical changes in oral lichen planus and the apparently healthy nearby areas

Biopsy specimens from 20 patients affected with lichen planus [L.P] were taken from diseased oral mucosa [gingival, lip or cheek] and nearby areas. Control biopsies were taken from similar situation from 3 healthy volumteer persons. All biopsies were studied histologically using HX and E and Mallory stains and histochemically using PAS, methyl green pyronin, toluldine blue and mercury-bromophenol blue stains. Histologically it was found that parakeratosis, acanhosis, irregular downward txtension of the epithelium and hydrpic degeneration in stratum basale and stratum spinosum were prominent in the epidermis of the diseased areas. The nearby areas, showed similar epidermal affection but to a lesser degree. In the lesion areas, the underneath connective tissue [C.T.] showed wide band of cellular infiltration with dilated blood capillaries. These changes were not evident in the nearby areas but fibrosis was evident. Istochemically, the basement membrane [B.M.] was thick and irregular with rare interruptions in both diseased and nearly areas. The DNA decreased in germinal layer and increased in parakeratolic and inflammatory cells compared to the controls. The RNA was high in stratum spinosum of the diseased area only. Mast cells increased obviously in the underneath C.T. of the diseased area and to a lesser degree in the nearby area. Protein contents was decreased in hydropic cells only, but increased in parakeratotic areas. It was concluded that in L.P. the actual lesion incidence both the visible disease and the apparently normal looking nearby areas