Prevalence of X-chromatin in Jordanian women

This study was conducted to evaluate the distribution of X-chromatin among Jordanian women at different age groups. Results will be compared with other studies for possible racial and environmental effect on X-chromatin distribution. Blood samples were drawn from all women subjected to this study by finger prick and stained with Wright's stain. X-chromatin positive polymorphonuclear cells were counted and corrected for percentage. Samples were taken during late 2002 and early 2003 from healthy women attending routine checkup in health centers in Northern Jordan. The number of X-chromatin was the highest [approximately 22%] in the <9-19 years age group and was the lowest [approximately 10%] >50 and above years age group. The number of X-chromatin was 14-18% in the other age groups. These results were in accordance with other studies. It seems that the racial and environmental factors are ineffective on the distribution of X-chromatin in Jordanian women. These data could be used as reference for further studies

Metallothioneim expression in human prostate gland

This study is conducted to detect metallothionein [MT] distribution in the epithelial cells of prostate gland from patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and adenocarcinoma. Prostatic tissues from patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and adenocarcinoma were processed for immunocytochemistry using indirect peroxidase antiperoxidase procedure and primary antibody against MT. The samples were collected over a period of 2-3 years and were processed at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan in the year 2002. All prostatic tissues showed a positive reaction for MT. In benign prostatic hypertrophy, MT was mainly localized in the nuclei of epithelial cells while in the adenocarcinoma; MT was mainly localized in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. Metallothionein expression may be affected by the pathological status of the prostate. In addition, these findings could be used in diagnosing and evaluating the prognosis of different pathological conditions of the prostate

Ultrastructure of the dorsal prostate gland in zinc and cadmium treated rats

Changes in the ultrastructure of the dorsal lobe of the prostate gland from cadmium and zinc treated rats were studied using transmission electron microscopy. Two groups of rats [10 in each group] were injected subcutaneously [s.c.] with 2mg/kg cadmium chloride [Cdc12] and 10mg/kg zinc sulfate[ZnSO4], respectively. A third group was injected s.c. withnormal saline and served as a control. Tissues from the dorsal lobe of the prostate gland from the three groups were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Epithelial cells of the dorsal lobe of prostate gland from the cadmium and zinc treated groups showed a considerable variation in the morphology of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi comlex, secretory vesicles, mitochondria, and microvilli as compared with the control group. These variations may be due the direct effect of zinc and cadmium, and/or due to meta llothionein [MT] synthesis induced by zinc and cadmium. Further studies will be required to identify the active factor[s]