[Quantitative study of the histopathological effects of sodium arsenite on kidney stracture in rats]

Sodium arsenite is an environmental pollutant which its amounts in industrial cities are more than other places because of its use in chemical industry. Human populations are exposed to this chemical compound through food, soil, air and water which has toxic and histopathological effects on different body organs including kidney. The aim of this investigation is to study the quantitative histopathological effects of sodium arsenite on the kidney structure of rats. 12 male Wistar rats with mean body weight of 200 +/- 20 g were randomly divided into 2 groups [n=6]. One treated with sodium arsenite [8 mg/kg/day in drinking water] and the other one [the control group] received drinking water only. 2 months after treatment the rats were weighed, anesthetized with ether and dissected. The left kidney was taken out, cleaned, weighed and then fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution. After obtaining 1mm thick slices, tissue processing was carried out, then 5 micro m thick sections were prepared and stained using H and E method. Slides were finally studied stereologically and data was statistically analyzed using paired samples t-test and the means were considered significantly different at p<0.05. The results of this investigation indicated significant reduction in the total mean volume of kidney [p<0.001] and cortex [p<0.001] and medulla [p<0.003] in sodium arsenite treated group compared to the control rats. The mean volume of tubules and interstitial tissue as components of cortex reduced significantly compared to the control group [p<0.003].The mean volume of glomeruli and Bowman's capsule significantly reduced in treated group [p<0.001]. While the other components did not show a significant reduction in volume. A significant reduction was also found in the kidney [p<0.002] and the body weight [p<0.01] in the treated group compared to the control ones at the end of the experiment. We concluded that exposure to sodium arsenite leads to histopathological changes in kidney structure however more studies are needed to determine the effects of these structural changes on the kidney function

[Effect of prenatal Morphine exposure on the Basal Ganglia development in rat embryo]

Investigations has showed that prenatal exposure to Morphine causes drug dependency and behavioral complications in new born rats. In this study effect of prenatal Morphine on the deveopment of basal ganglia in rat embryos is investigated. In this experimental study 36 female rats with body weight between 250-300 grams were selected. After crossing with male rats they were divided into six groups of 12 days control-Morphine, 14 days control-Morphin and 17 days control-Morphine groups. Morphine groups received 0.01mg/ml Morphine through their drinking water until the 12, 14 and 17[th] day of pregnancy [20 ml each rat]. Then rats were anesthetized and embryos were taken out and fixed. Their body weight and crown-rump length were measured. Then 5 micrometers sections were provided and stained using H and E method which were then evaluated using mutic program. Body weight and length of embryos were reduced significantly in the 12 and 14[th] day of Morphine group rats in compare to their controls. The significant reducation of Basal Ganglia thickness was also found in all Morphine groups compared to their controls. Results showed that prenatal Morphine exposure may cause impairment in change development of Basal Ganglia