Estimation of postmortem interval based on the third component of complement [C3] cleavage in the blood of albino rats

To estimate postmortem interval [PMI], the spontaneous conversion of the native third component of complement [C3] to its derived fragments in whole blood was studied by immunodiffusion method. Thirty adult albino rats with average weight ranging from 380-400 g were used in this experiment. Immediately after death by decapitation, the collected blood samples were incubated at 37°C, 23°C and 14°C. Sera from each sample were removed every 12 h at 37°C until 60 h, every day at 23°C until the fifth day, and every two days at 14°C until tenth days. The percent age of cleavage of the third component of complement [C3] were assayed. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the incubation of whole blood at a higher temperature led to a faster conversion of beta IC [native C3] to beta IA [C], the cleavage% age at 37°C was about 3 times as that at 14°C [360 mg%. 258 mg% respectively]. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the percent ages of C3 cleavage and PMI, at the temperatures of [37, 23, 14°C], the correlation coefficients [r] were 01981, m 01.99436, 0.9549 respectively. Therefore, the percent age of C3 cleavage could be used as a marker for estimation of the time passed since death, and this unusual approach could be a step towards the development of an accurate method for determining PMI

Some hematological features of lead - intoxication

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the effect of exposure to lead on some hematological parameters. The study was carried out on twenty male rats exposed to different doses of lead acetate [one and two mg/kg body weight respectively]. Blood samples were taken after intraperitoneal injection for one week [acute effect] and eight weeks [chronic effect]. With low dose and after one week exposure statistically significant elevation were encountered with respect to blood lead level, Hb A[2]% and Hb F%. After eight weeks exposure significant reduction of erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte delta amino-levulinic dehydratase and pyrimidine -5-nucleotidase were detected, with significant elevation of erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin. Rats exposed to higher dose had obvious significant effect on the above mentioned parameters specially after prolonged exposure, with significant increase of Hb A[2]%

Evaluation of the effect of soybean on bone metabolism in the rat model with ovariectomized osteoporosis

Soybean is well known to have a wide variety of beneficial biological effects. In the present work we demonstrate another new beneficial action of soybean on bone metabolism. The effects of soybean on bone metabolism and skeletal growth were studied in mature intact and ovariectomized [Ovx] female rats. Experiment I was designed to observe the effect of soybean on bone metabolism in intact rats and included two groups: [1] intact control group [2] intact feeded on soybean. Experiment II was designed to investigate the effect of soybean on Ovx rats and included another two groups: [3] ovariectomized rats [4] ovariectomized feeded on soybean. After eight weeks, ovariectomy perse produced a significant increase in serum free calcium, alkaline phosphatase, parathormone hormone [PTH], osteocalcin and active vitamin D [1,25[OH]2D] with significant increase in urinary excretion of calcium and deoxypridinoline. Supplementation of Ovx rats with soybean reduced the increased serum ionized calcium, alkaline phosphatase, PTH while osteocalcin and 1,25 [OH]2D still increased accompanied with significant decrease in urinary excretion of calcium and deoxypridinoline. Alkaline phosphatase and serum osteocalcin significantly increased in intact rats supplemented with soybean while the other parameters showed insignificant changes. Our findings indicate that soybean is an estrogen agonist affecting bone metabolism in Ovx rats, however, its effect in intact rats is less