Immunohistochemical Overexpression of nNOS, S100 Protein, and α-Synuclein in Myenteric Plexus of AS/AGU Rats

Objective: There are four currently motor features characterizing Parkinson's disease (PD). These includerigidity of muscles, bradykinesia, tremors at rest, and instability of posture. Along the course of PD, theimpairment of motor functions is commonly preceded by nonmotor symptoms (NMS) such as olfactory deficit,difficult swallowing (dysphagia), drooling (sialorrhea), constipation, urinary bladder dysfunction, depression,and sleep disorder. It was suggested that the enteric nervous system could be the initial site for the pathologicalprocess leading to PD. Materials and Methods: Six male adult control AS rats (normal control) and six maleadults AS/AGU rats (model of PD) were sacrificed. A rectangular strip from the body of the stomach and across-section from the duodenum were dissected and processed for histological staining with hematoxylin andeosin, and immunohistochemical staining for detection of nNOS (neuronal NOS), S100 protein (astrocytemarker), and alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein). Results: The histological analysis of the stomach and duodenum ofAS/AGU rats demonstrated necrotic smooth muscle cells of muscularis externa. The immunohistochemicalanalysis of AS/AGU rats showed a statistically significant increase in the expression of nNOS, S100 protein, andα-synuclein expression of myenteric plexuses compared to the control strain AS rats. Conclusion:Gastroduodenal tract of AS/AGU rats showed marked histopathological changes and immunohistochemicaloverexpression of nNOS, S100, and α-synuclein.

Hypoglycemic effects of date seed extract. Possible mechanism of action, and potential therapeutic implications

To investigate the possible mechanism, by which an extract from date seeds exert its hypoglycemic effect. This study was performed at the Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May to December 2012. Eighty rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 received no treatment. Group 2 received daily ingestions of 10 ml of date seed extract for 8 weeks. Animals of groups 3 and 4 were made diabetic by streptozotocin injection, and were given daily subcutaneous injections of 3 IU/day of insulin for 8 weeks. Group 4 received, in addition, daily ingestions of 10 ml of seed extracts. Rats were sacrificed, and the sera were separated for estimation of serum C-peptide levels. Pancreatic tissues were processed for histological study of the islet cells, immunohistochemical study for insulin secretion and image analysis for insulin quantification. Mean serum C-peptide level was significantly higher in group 4 compared to group 3. Pancreatic islets from rats of group 3 showed weak immunoreactivity for insulin, while those of group 4 showed strong immunoreactivity in some hypertrophied beta cells. Immunopositive cells were detected in the wall of interlobular ducts and in centroacinar cells of pancreas only in group 4. Quantification of insulin immunoreactivity showed a marked reduction in islet size and extent of insulin immunoreactivity in diabetic compared to control groups. Date seed extracts may stimulate endogenous insulin secretion through extra-islet sources

extract from date seeds having a hypoglycemic effect

To investigate the safety of date seed extract administration, and to compare between toxic effects of diabetes on rats treated with insulin versus rats treated with insulin-seed extract. This study was performed in the Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from August to December 2010. One hundred rats were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 served as control. Group 2 was given daily ingestions of 10 ml of date seed extract. Animals of groups 3 and 4 were made diabetic by streptozotocin injection, and were given daily subcutaneous injections of 3 lU/day of insulin for 8 weeks. Group 4 received, in addition, daily ingestions of 10 ml of seed extract. Group 5 were made diabetic with streptozotocin and then given the seed extract only. At the end of experiment, rats were decapitated, and the sera were separated for estimation of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels. Livers and kidneys were processed for light microscopic study. The mean values of all tested serum levels were significantly higher in Group 3 compared to Groups 1, 2 and 4 [with the exception of ALT in the case of Group 4]. There was no significant change when comparing the mean values of Groups 1, 2, and 4. Livers and kidneys of rats in Groups 1, 2, and 4 showed normal histology, while those of Group 3 showed histopathological changes. Date seed extract administration is safe on the liver and kidney. In addition, insulin-date seed extract combination minimizes the toxic effects of diabetes on these organs

Hypoglycemic effect of an extract from date seeds on diabetic rats

To investigate the efficacy of an aqueous extract from date seeds on diabetic rats. The study was performed in the Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between November 2008 and December 2009. Eighty adult albino rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was used as healthy control. Group 2 was given daily ingestions of 10 ml of the date seed extract. Animals of groups 3 and 4 were made diabetic by injection of streptozotocin. Diabetic rats of group 3 received daily subcutaneous injections of 3 IU/day of insulin for 8 weeks while group 4 received ingestions of 10 ml of extract in addition to insulin. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured once weekly. Glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] was also estimated. There is a significant change in the mean blood glucose levels between group 3 and group 4 from week 2. The mean blood glucose levels of group 4, every 2 consecutive weeks, showed a significant decrease until week 6. The HbA1c was significantly lower in group 4 compared to group 3. The hypoglycemic effect of date seed extract combined with insulin, decreases the blood glucose level significantly toward normal when compared to the effect of insulin administered as a single drug for treatment of diabetes

effect of intraneural injection of 5% phenol, glycerol and 5% phenol in glycerol in the albino rat sciatic nerve: a comparative histological and immunocytochemical study

The aim of the present study was to perform a comparative histological study on the effects of neuroblocking agents, namely 5% phenol, glycerol and combined 5% phenol in glycerol, injected intraneurally in the rat sciatic nerve. Twenty adult male albino rats were divided into 4 groups, 5 animals each. The right sciatic nerve of each animal was exposed and an intraneural injection of 0.1 ml of normal saline for the first group, 5% phenol for the second, glycerol for the third and 5% phenol in glycerol for the fourth group. Animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks and a part of the sciatic nerve distal to the site of injection was excised. Paraffin sections were prepared and processed for hematoxylin and eosin and for immunocytochemical staining to demonstrate S-100 protein. The results showed that the effect of intraneural injection of 5% phenol was directed primarily towards endoneurial blood vessels that appeared dilated and congested. Intraneural oedemna together with mononuclear cellular infiltration resulted in degeneration and destruction of nerve fibers. In case of intraneural injection of glycerol, axonal damage was more severe due to a direct toxic effect resulting in a massive destruction of nerve fibers. Intraneural injection of 5% phenol in glycerol caused intraneural oedema with minimal axonal damage. The present study showed that intraneural injection of combined 5% phenol in glycerol caused less endoneurial damage than injection of each agent separately

Amelioration the effect of sciatic nerve transection in the dorsal root ganglia in albino rat by methylprednisolone acetate

The present study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of methylprednisolone [MP] acetate on the cells of the dorsal root ganglia [DRG] following transection of the sciatic nerve in albino rats. Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were allocated into 4 groups. Animals of group II were injected with a single dose of normal saline. Animals of group II were injected with a single dose of MP acetate. Animals of both groups were subjected to surgical Sham's operation prior to the injection. Animals of both groups III and IV were subjected to transection of the right sciatic nerve. Those of group IV were injected with a single dose of MP acetate following transection. After 2 weeks, all animals were sacrificed and the fifth lumbar DRG were excised and processed for light microscopy. The results showed marked pathological lesions in the cells of DRG of animals of group III in the form of chromatolysis, eccentric position of nuclei, appearance of intracytoplasmic vacuoles, necrosis and disappearance of some DRG neurons. Inflammatory mononuclear cells were observed in the vicinity of degenerating and necrotic cells. The cells of DRG of animals of group IV showed a picture almost similar to that of the cells of DRG of animals of both control groups I and II. In conclusion, the present study has proved the neuroprotective effect of MP acetate in experimental model of peripheral nerve crush injury