Sensory nerve endings in the human female umbilical skin: light and electron microscopic study

Sensory innervation consists of free nerve endings and endings terminated with corpuscular structures. Cutaneous innervation is closely associated with major skin functions such as wound healing, thermoregulation, and hair growth. Diminution in erotic sensation has been reported by some women after abdominal lipectomy. Hence, the lack of knowledge about the normal sensory distribution in the umbilical skin has been a problem. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to map the sensory innervation of the human umbilical skin using histological, immunohistochemical [S-100 protein], and ultrastructural techniques. Umbilical skin biopsies were obtained during surgical procedures for abdominal lipectomy in female participants. The specimens were processed for light and electron microscopic examinations. With light microscopy, abundant Meissner's, Ruffini, and innervated Merkel cells were observed. Numerous free nerve endings, comparable with those observed in male and female external genitalia, were observed surrounding the ducts and the acini of sweat glands. Pacinian corpuscles were also observed, but less frequently. Neurovascular bundles, closely related to those observed in female external genitalia, were also observed. The relatively dense sensory innervation in the umbilical skin that was comparable with that in lip, as well as in male and female external genitalia, can be correlated with the observed retardation in the erotic sensation in clinical studies after removal of a part of the umbilical skin. The frequently observed innervated Merkel cells and the widely scattered Meissner's corpuscles in the umbilical skin could explain the relatively high tactile sensation in this skin

Hepatoprotective effect of melatonin in carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4] hepatic intoxication model in rat

An enormous amount of data has been published in recent years demonstrating melatonin's defensive role against toxic free radicals. The protective effect of melatonin on experimental oxidative hepatic impairment in rats was studied in this investigation. The hepatic toxicity model in rats was successfully induced by subcutaneous [sc] injection of carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] [0.5ml/kg/day] for 6 weeks. Meanwhile, at the beginning of injection of carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]], melatonin [25mg/kg] was subcutaneously [sc] administered to the rats in treatment group daily for 6 weeks and rats in normal and melatonin control groups were injected by olive oil or melatonin only, respectively. The hepatoprotective effects of melatonin were assessed by examining the hepato-histological changes and by measuring serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and total bilirubin as well as white blood cell [WBCs], red blood cell [RBCs] and hemoglobin [HB%] values. In addition, immunohistochemical labeling of proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA] was used for detection of hepatocytes proliferation. Concomitant administration of melatonin preserved the normal histological structure of liver and significantly ameliorated the CCl[4]-treated rats. Moreover, melatonin supplement could also reduce the elevated serum levels of ALT, AST and total bilirubin, the increased WBCs count as well as the overexpression of PCNA in rats with hepatic injury caused by CCl[4]. In conclusion, melatonin co-treatment could effectively protect against the oxidative hepatic impairment in CCl[4]-induced rats as evidenced by decreasing both the structural and functional injury of hepatocytes and may be a therapeutic choice in cirrhotic patients

Morphological changes induced by cyclophosphamide on the testis of adult albino rats

Cyclophosphamide [CP] remains a necessary treatment for severe neoplastic and non neoplastic disorders. Recently it is also used in the control of organ rejection after transplantation as an Immunosuppressive chemotherapeutic agent. For patients receiving chemotherapy containing CP, the major concern is gonadal dysfunction with, impaired reproductive capacity. To assess how CP exposure produces testicular toxicity, the present study, try to show the morphological and ultrastructural effects induced by CP treatment on the rat testis and the possible reversibility of these effects with rehabilitation. Thirty adult male rats were treated intraperitoneally for five successive weeks with saline or CP dissolved in 5% dextrose [100mg/kg/week]. Semithin and ultrathin sections from testicular tissue were examined one week and 6 weeks [rehabilitation period] after stopping the treatment. Atrophic shrunken seminiferous tubules with markedly distorted shape were revealed in semithin sections of CP treated rats. Many vacitoles and areas of separations between the spermatogenic cells were detected in the tubules which were more numerous towards the basement membrane. The interstitial spaces showed increase in its mount with moderately dilated blood vessels. Different degenerative changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm could be seen in the form of disruption of cell and nuclear membranes, malformed nucleus with condensed chromatin or vacuolization of the cytoplasm, degenerated mitochondria and accumulation of lipid droplets in the germinal cells of CP treated seminiferous tubules by electron microscopy. Type A spermatogonia were predominantly affected that they were rarely seen or replaced by degenerative muoles, Spermatids were severely suffered as they showed loss of integrity, marked irregularity and intense degenerative structural changes. Leydig cells were also suffering from some changes in the form of distorted shape nucleus, multiple vacuoles and damaged mitochondria. With rehabilitation there was different degrees of improvement in the shape of some seminiferous tubules and arrangement of their germinal epithelial cells with decrease in signs of degeneration. Other tubules were still suffering from the damaging effects of CP. This current study confirms the toxic effect of CP on the testicular tissue in the form of morphological and degenerative alterations in the germ cells and supported the reversibility of these effects. In addition, the present data proved that a potential recovery in spermatogenesis and testicular function levels to normal is appreciated with time of rehabilitation period after stopping the drug treatment

Histochemical and enzymatic characterization of perineuronal nets in the retrosplenial cortex of adult albino rat

The extracellular matrix [ECM] in the central nervous system [CNS] is found dispersed in neuropil or preferentially organized into fenestrated or reticular coats, the so-called perineuronal nets [PNs], around the somat initial dendrites and axon proximal segment of certain neuronal subsets. These coatings have been shown to characterize the microenvironment of individual neurons and the chemoarchitecture of some brain regions including the retrosplenial cortex [RSC]. In the present study, the histochemical characteristics of retrosplenial ECM in the adult albino rats was described with a canonic iron colloid [CIC] for sulfated glycoconjugates [proteoglycans, PGs] and certain plant lectins from Vicia villosa agglutinin [VVA], Wisteria floribunda agglutinin [WFA] or Glycine max agglutinin [SBA] for N-acetylgalactosamine containing glycoconjugates [glycoproteins, GPs]. The PNs were detected on the surface of some neurons distributing throughout the cortical layers II-V which might presented direct interconnections with each other. In addition to hyaluronan and link proteins, the PNs were enriched with sulfated PGs and/or GPs with terminal N-acetylgalactosamine. The perineuronal coats were differentially identified as belonging to three types depending upon their molecular composition together with stainability to the CIC-lectin double technique. First, coats exclusively formed of PGs that stained blue with iron colloid and digested with hyaluronidase but not erased by endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase; second, coats formed of GPs that stained yellow with plant lectins and erased by endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase but not abolished with hyaluronidase; and third, complex coats that formed of PGs networks decorated with glycoprotein molecules which stained greenish to dark-brown with the CIC-lectin double staining. This type of perineuronal coating was digested with hyaluronidase/endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. The findings of present investigation would be contribute as baseline for future experimental studies searching for biological significance of net-associating neurons and enzymatic or pharmaceutical regulation of ECM molecules in the CNS. In conclusion, the differential distribution of protein containing substances [GPs and/or PGs] in the microenvironment of some rptrosplenial neurons might reflect certain functional aspects concerned with processing of navigation or episodic memory. In addition, the present data would be expanding for other mammalian species including the human

Ultrastructural developmental study of bronchial epithelium in one-humped camel

The putative respiratory epithelium lining of the bronchial tree of 20-60 mm crown-rump length [CRL] camel fetuses displayed the staggered nuclear organization characteristic of single cilium on their apical surfaces. The bronchial epithelium revealed a clear evidence of ciliogenesis, which occurred as early as 70 mm CRL, starting in the main bronchi and gradually proceeding distally, along the developing bronchial tree. The ciliogenic cells were gradually increased with gestational age. in fetuses of 70-370 mm CRL, the bronchial epithelium displayed a myriad of disintegrating sloughed apoptotic cells intermingled with ciliated and ciliogenic cells together with few non-ciliated microvillus types. Mitochondrial swelling, dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, vacuolation of the of the cytoplasm, distortion of the intercellular junctions, together with clumping of the nuclear chromatin were the early signs of cellular apoptosis. With time, the regressing apoptotic cells tended to detach themselves from their neighbors and underlying basement membrane moved upwards and sloughed into the airway lumen. These morphological alterations, concerning the disintegrating sloughed apoptotic cells, were first observed in the main bronchi and gradually proceeded by age towards the bronchiolar branches. In adult camels the bronchial epithelium was formed mainly of ciliated and non-ciliated microvillus cells; however, that at term of gestation was composed of ciliated cells, non-ciliated microvillus cells; however, that at term of gestation was composed of ciliated cells, non-ciliated microvillus types together with some cells possessing surface microplicae