Assessment of the protective role of vitamine E in atrazine toxicity on the testis of adult albino rats: a histological and biochemical study

Atrazine [ATZ] is one of the most commonly used herbicides that adversely affect the reproductive system in rats. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of vitamin E [Vit E] on subchronic exposure to ATZ in testicular tissue. Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: the negative control group; the positive control group, which received 1 ml of corn oil/day, orally; the Vit E group, which received Vit E at 100 mg/kg/day, orally; the ATZ group, which received ATZ at 300 mg/kg/day, orally; and the ATZ+Vit E group, which received both ATZ and Vit E at the previously mentioned doses. Treatments were given for 6 days/week for 45 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken to measure serum testosterone level. Semen analysis and estimation of oxidative stress markers catalase, superoxide dismutase, and tissue malondialdehyde were carried out. The testes were processed for light and electron microscopic examination. An immunohistochemical study was performed for detection of Bcl2. ATZ caused a decrease in serum testosterone level and in superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities, whereas malondialdehyde content increased. There was also a decrease in sperm count, viability, and motility in comparison with the control groups. Light microscopic examination of seminiferous tubules revealed degeneration of the germinal epithelium. The lumen contained sloughed cells and homogenous acidophilic material. Ultrastructurally, there was separation of the germinal epithelial cells with small dense nuclei and phagocytic remnants. Sertoli and Leydig cells were also affected. Bcl-2 immunolocalization revealed weak reaction in the cytoplasm of the germinal epithelial cells and Leydig cells. Concomitant use of Vit E caused partial improvement. ATZ induced detrimental effects in the testicular tissue that were attenuated by concomitant administration of vitamin E

Effects of perinatal nicotine exposure on the development of albino rat's alveoli with special reference to the role of the vascular endothelial growth factor

Nicotine is one of the most toxic and addictive agents in cigarette smoke. Maternal cigarette smoking may affect lung development and maturation of the fetus. Recently, it has been reported that blood vessels promote alveolar growth during development and contribute toward the maintenance of alveolar structures throughout postnatal life. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of perinatal nicotine exposure on the histological structures of the developing alveoli of offspring with special reference to the role of vascular endothelial growth factors [VEGF]. Ten healthy pregnant rats were divided equally into control [I] and treated [II] groups. Rats of group II were subjected to a daily subcutaneous injection of 1 mg/kg of nicotine from the seventh day of gestation until the end of the experiment. Their offspring were subdivided into two subgroups at 2 and 21 postnatal days. At the time of sacrifice, all rats were anesthetized with ether and lung samples were processed for light and electron microscopic examination. Also, an immunohistochemical study was carried out for VEGF. The alveolar diameter, thickening of interalveolar septa, number of vacuolated interstitial cells, and the surface area of VEGF immunoexpression were determined and analyzed statistically. In the nicotine-exposed groups, widening in alveoli and thinning of interalveolar septa in the offspring were observed. Also, the same offspring showed a reduction in VEGF immunoexpression. All these results were confirmed statistically especially at 3 weeks of age or at the time of weaning. Also, swelling in pneumocyte type I and deformed blood air barriers with a subsequent statistical increase in the number of vacuolated interstitial cells [pneumocyte type II] were observed. In the current work, it was found that perinatal exposure to nicotine altered lung development, an effect that may be mediated by decreased VEGF. Thus, avoidance of maternal smoking during pregnancy and lactation is highly recommended

Postnatal development of the albino rat renal cortex [histological study]

Renal development involves 2 basic processes: morphologic formation and acquisition of function. The aim of the present study was to obtain histological information about the postnatal development of the filtration barrier and to throw more light upon the concomitant developmental changes of the convoluted tubules in albino rat's renal cortex. Ten pregnant female rats were utilized. Fifteen of their off springs were taken and divided into 3 groups: Group A: studied at the 2[nd] day postnatal. Group B: studied at the 10[th] day postnatal. Group C: studied at the 21[st] day postnatal. Kidneys were removed then 5 micro m thick paraffin sections were obtained and stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain for light microscope study. Renal cortex was cut into minute pieces and prepared for electron microscope study. Light microscope examination of 2 days renal cortex exhibited two cortical zones. The subcapsular zone contained immature forms of the renal developmental stages; the juxtamedullary zone contained mature renal corpuscles. While, electron microscope examination showed podocytes with flat cytoplasmic sheets and foot processes. Endothelial cells had few fenestrations. The filtration barriers revealed double basement membrane. The lining cells of proximal tubules had few short apical microvilli, mitochondria randomly oriented and few basal infoldings. Also, those of distal convoluted tubules appeared with randomly oriented mitochondria and some basal infoldings. The light microscope examination of 10 days renal cortex showed disappearance of all immature forms and maturing glomeruli were observed. Electron microscope examination showed podocytes with its primary processes and foot processes. The endothelial cells showed numerous fenestrations. The filtration barriers revealed fused basement membranes with presence of outpockets. The lining cells of proximal tubules had numerous tall tightly packed apical microvilli. Mitochondria appeared lodged in the basal infoldings in both proximal and distal tubules. The light microscope examination of 21 days renal cortex revealed mature renal corpuscles with lobulated glomeruli. Electron microscope examination demonstrated mature glomeruli showing podocytes with numerous foot processes. The filtration barrier showed regular basement membrane with no outpockets. The endothelial cells appeared attenuated with numerous fenestrations. Proximal and distal tubules showed mature picture. It has been proposed that adult renal diseases may be determined by events that occurred during fetal development. Therefore, results of studies on renal development in experimental models need to be interpreted and correlated carefully with the concomitant functional changes