Evaluation of the beneficial efficacy of curcumin on experimental lung fibrosis of adult male albino rats: a light and electron microscopic study

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is one of the major types of potentially lethal lung diseases. Curcumin, a natural phenolic compound of Curcuma longa Linn, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. It is a potent inhibitor of reactive oxygen-generating enzymes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial efficacy on curcumin on experimental lung fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride [CCl [4]] on adult male albino rats. A total of 32 adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I [four rats] was the control group. Group II [eight rats] was further subdivided into two equal subgroups; subgroup IIA was given corn oil [1 mg/kg orally] and subgroup IIB was given curcumin [100mg/kg orally, daily]. Group III [10 rats] was given CCl[4] [1ml/kg twice a week by intraperitoneal route] and group IV [10 rats] was given curcumin 1 week before and concomitantly with CCl[4] injection. Half of the rats of each group were sacrificed after 2 weeks [subgroup A, for short-term study] and the other half were sacrificed after 5 weeks [subgroup B, for long-term study] Lung tissues were processed for light microscope [L/M] and electron microscope [E/M] studies. Moreover, morphometric study was carried out. Subgroup IIIA [short-term study] showed a nonsignificant increase in the mean area percentage of collagen fibers and a nonsignificant decrease in the number of type II pneumocytes. Lung sections revealed local areas of interstitial inflammatory reaction, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, edema, and congestion of pulmonary vessels. Subgroup IIIB [long-term study] revealed a highly significant increase in the mean area percentage of collagen fibers and a significant decrease in the number of type II pneumocytes. Lung sections showed diffuse interstitial inflammatory reaction, foci of necrotic alveolar walls, and diffuse interstitial accumulation of collagen. E/M examination revealed degenerative changes and necrosis of type I and II pneumocytes. The alveolar macrophages showed signs of activation. For 2 weeks the curcumin-supplemented group [subgroup VIA] showed an improvement in their histological findings, as revealed by the significant increase in the number of type II pneumocytes that appeared activated. Type I pneumocytes appeared healthy. After 5 weeks [subgroup VIB], there was more improvement as revealed by the highly significant decrease in the mean are percentage of collagen fibers, highly significant increase in the number of type II pneumocytes, and very minimal inflammatory reaction. Curcumin has an ameliorating effect against lung damage induced by CCI[4]. Thus, this study introduces curcumin as one of the natural herbal remedies that could act as a potential preventive agent against interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Addition of this compound to the food of those individuals who are vulnerable to interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is recommended

Histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric study of adult male albino rat's lung following exposure to air pollution

Exposure to air pollution is associated with increased respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Thus the way of assessing the effects of inhalation of whole mixtures from defined sources as tobacco smoke and car exhaust need lobe considered more. To investigate using histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric study, the harmful effects of tobacco smoke and car exhaust on adult male albino rats' lung and the influence of arrest of these air pollutants. Thirty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, tobacco exposed group, and car exhaust exposed group. Rat's general condition and behavior were noticed and they were weighed at the beginning of research and at the time of sacrific, Paraffin sections were prepared for histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical using marker CD44 and morphometric study and statistical analysis were done. Rats exposed to tobacco smoke or car exhaust showed significant decrease in body weight more intensified after car exhaust which remained significantly less than control rats after arrest of exposure. Histological. histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric changes were more exaggerated after car exhaust than after tobacco exposure. Rats showed pulmonary congestion, extravasation of blood in lung alveoli, perivascular infiltration and thickened interalveolar septa, obliteration of most alveoli and subsequently compensatory emphysematous changes. There was increased deposition of collagen fibers and apparent increase in niucopolysaccharides and immunohistochemical reaction CD44. Arrest of exposure to either tobacco smoke, or car exhaust caused partial recovery which was less ameliorated after car exhaust. These results provide evidence that air pollution from either tobacco smoke or car exhaust are risky factors for parenchymal lung damage and marked thickening of the interalveolar walls. Partial recovery was observed after arrest of tobacco smoke better than after car exhaust

Effect of aspirin versus aspirin and vitamin C on gastric mucosa [fundus] of adult male albino rats. histological and morphometric study

Acetyl salicylic acid [Aspirin] is almost the most widely used drug both therapeutically [to reduce pain, inflammation and fever] and prophylactically [to prevent thrombotic events]. Aspirin [ASA] represents an important risk factor for gastric mucosal injury. The roles of active oxygen metabolites and anti-oxidative defenses in aspirin [ASA]-induced gastric damage and their amelioration still needed to be clarified. Vitamin C is an ideal antioxidant to increase tissue protection due to its easy, effective and safe dietary administration in large range of concentration without harmful side effects. To investigate through histological examination by light and electron microscope and morphometric study the effects of aspirin with or without ascorbic acid [Vitamin C] for 2 weeks on fundic mucosa of adult male albino rats. Twenty eight adult male albino rats were used and randomly divided into four equal groups: Control group; vitamin C group was given 200 mg/kg body weight; ASA group was given 100 mg/kg body weight of aspirin; the fourth group was given both vitamin C and aspirin. Animals treated daily for 2 weeks then sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Stomach tissues were excised for macroscopic, light and electron microscopic study and morphometric analysis. Oral administration of aspirin induced marked changes in gastric mucosa detected by both light and electron microscope ranging from simple hemorrhagic streaks to marked damage with severe erosions, exfoliation and presence of wide areas of epithelial discontinuity [ulcer formation]. This was accompanied by significant decrease in the count of lining cells except parietal cell count. Ulcer Index [UI], showed high significant increase. The addition of vitamin C significantly attenuated gastric damage and could protect gastric mucosa against the injurious effect of aspirin as evidenced from decreased UI and parietal cell count together with restoration of mucosal appearance. These results concluded that ASA combined with vitamin C in comparison with ASA induced less gastric mucosal damage and this protective effect might be due to the attenuation of oxidative stress and decreased count of parietal cells and consequently decrease of gastric acidity