histological and histochemical study of the gender variability of albino rat submandibular glands at different postnatal ages

The present work was done to study the histological, histochemical and morphometric gender changes in the rat submandibular salivery glands [SMG] at different ages including young adult and elderly. Histological study of the SMG of young male age showed secretory units [acini] and striated ducts. In young female glands, there were two types of acini, one with lightly stained cytoplasm and nuclei, while the other with darkly stained cytoplasm and nuclei. In adult age group, the male SMG showed larger and more frequent granular convoluted tubules [GCT], whereas, the acinar cells were smaller and less frequent in comparison with the adult female SMG. With aging, the acini and ducts showed signs of degeneration as distortion in the shape and reduction in the size. Their cells showed pyknotic nuclei and vacuoles in the cytoplasm. The morphometric study of the SMG revealed that the count of the GCT cells in males was significantly higher than that in females in the adult and elderly age groups. With aging, the collagen fibers increased while the elastic fibers decreased. Collagen fibers were much more in the female SMG than in the male SMG at all ages studied. Histochemically, mucosubstance in the acini was mainly of the neutral type in young and adult age groups of both sexes. It became of the type and reduced with aging, the intensity of the reaction for the mucosubstance was relatively less in the male acini than that in the female acini. The intensity of the alkaline phosphatas reaction was relatively more in young female SMG than that in the male. In adult and elderly groups, the intensity of the reaction was relatively the same in both sexes and it was reduced with aging

histological study of the effect of verrucarin J-toxin on the kidney and spleen of adult male mice

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of verrucarin J-toxin [which is one of the metabolic products of fungi that naturally contaminate cereal crops] on the structure of the kidney and spleen of adult male mice. Thirty male mice were used in this study. The animals were divided into three groups [10 mice each]. Group I was injected with saline and served as control. Groups II and III were injected intraperitoneally with single dose of 0.5 mg/kg and 0.9 mg/kg of verrucarin.J toxin respectively. Animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks of administration. Specimens from both kidney and spleen were taken and prepared for both light and electron microscopic examination. The changes observed in the structure of both kidney and spleen were dose dependent. In the kidney, there was extensive vacuolation of the tubular lining cells. The nuclei were dense and irregular. Large focal areas of cellular infiltration were frequently observed. Ultrastructurally, the proximal tubular cells showed disruption in the apical microvilli. Large vacuoles and myelin-like figures were also observed. The distal tubules showed exfoliation of some cells into the lumen. In the spleen, some cells showed degenerative changes in the form of demise irregular nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. There were large cells with irregular nuclei and voluminous cytoplasm scattered among the splenic cells in the red pulp. Electron microscopic examination revealed giant cells with electron dense cytoplasm and irregular nuclei with clumps of chromatin granules. The cytoplasm was so dense that the organelles were hardly identified

role of quercetin in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats

This work was carried out to investigate the effect of quercetin on cisplatin [CDDP] induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. Forty eight animals were divided equally into 6 groups. Group I served as control and was injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 1 ml saline. Group II was treated with cisplatin in a single dose of 5 mg /kg i.p. Group III was used as control and was treated by oral ingestion of 1 ml gum acacia [5%] daily for 7 days.Group IV was treated by ingestion of quercetin dissolved in gum acacia in a dose of 50 mg /kg /day for 7 days .Group V was given quercetin, 50 mg / kg /day for 7 days followed by cisplatin in a single dose of 5 mg / kg .Group VI was injected with single cisplatin dose [5 mg / kg] after which quercetin was given orally, 50 mg /kg /day for 7 days. The nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic effects of cisplatin as well as its modification by quercetin were assessed either by biochemical or histopathological studies. Biochemical methods included measurements of urinary activity of N -acetyl - beta -glucosaminidase [NAG]; serum creatinine, urea as well as albumin. Glutathione [GSH] was measured in liver and kidney homogcnates while lipid peroxidation [Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TEARS] and nitric oxide [NO]] was measured in both serum and homogenates of the liver and kidney. Histopathological studies were performed using light and electron microscopic techniques as well as alkaline phosphatase in the brush border of the proximal and distal renal tubules. A single dose of cisplatin [5 mg/Kg i.p] produced a significant elevation in serum urea and creatinne, a decrease in serum albumin and marked increase of urinary NAG. Renal and hepatic toxicity was also confirmed by a significant decrease of glutathione in kidney and liver homogenates and a significant increase of serum and tissue Lipid peroxide and nitric oxide [NO]. Histopathological changes of the kidney show evidence of destruction mainly involving the proximal convoluted tubules and manifested by weak alkaline phosphatase reaction. Ultrastructurally, there was disruption of apical microvilli, swelling and vacuolation of mitochondria and many lysosomes. Cisplatin induced hepatotoxicity evidenced by mitochonehial injury and hepatocytes damage. Administration of querectin [50mg/kg] 7 days before and after cisplatin injection produced significant protection against nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by cisplatin. The amelioration of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity was evidenced by significant reduction in serum urea and creatinine concentration. In addition quercetin tended to normalize the decreased levels of serum albumin and the increased levels of urinary NAG. Quercetin prevented the rise of NO and lipid peroxides in plasma and in kidney and liver tissue homogenates and also prevented the reduction of kidney and liver GSH Histopathologically kidney cells and hepatocytes nearly returned to normal. Enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase in the brush border of the proximal tubular cells also returned to normal. These results suggest that quercetin has a protective effect on nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by cisplatin

Effect of a bradykinin potentiating peptide isolated from the Egyptian scorpion, buthus occitanus, venom on the mouse testis

The effect of an isolated peptide, with bradykinin potentiating activity, from the venom of the Egyptian scorpion, Buthus Occitanus, on the mouse testis was studied. Thirty premature healthy male mice [3 weeks age] were used in this study. The animals were divided into 3 groups [10 animals each]. Group I served as control and was injected with saline. Group II was injected with the peptide at a dose of 40 micro gm/mouse. Group III was injected with the peptide at a dose of 80 micro gm/mouse. The animals were injected intraperitonially with 6 doses of the prepared peptide at successive time intervals of one week each. Specimens of testis were taken and prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. Serum levels of testosterone were determined using direct ELISA kit. Administration of this peptide at low dose revealed some morphological changes in the germ cells. Many mitotic figures were shown in the spermatogenic cells. More advanced stages of the seminiferous cycle showed increase in the number of the germ cells. Some cells showed dense irregular nuclei with acidophilic cytoplasm. The interstitial cells showed proliferation and some of them had dense nuclei. On the other hand, administration of higher dose of this peptide resulted in marked reduction in the number of germ cells. Some tubules showed large vacuoles and dense irregular nuclei. Electron microscopic examination showed that, some cells had massive vacuolations and irregular electron dense nuclei. Numerous apoptotic bodies were observed among the germ cells. Spermatids of abnormal and irregular shapes were encountered. The serum levels of testosterone in treated animals [G II, G III] were significantly higher than corresponding levels in control group. Group III showed significantly higher serum level of testosterone than group II

Histological and histochemical change in the liver and kidney of male albino rats treated with carbamazepine [Tegrelds] at different postnatal ages

The present work was done to study the effect of chronic administration of carbamazepine [CBZ] on the structure of liver and kidney of the male albino rat. This drug was administrated to male albino rats at different postnatal ages [three weeks, three months and nine months] through intragastric metal tube in a gradually increasing single daily dose. These animals received CBZ for a total duration of one and half month 6 mg/kg b. w. for one week, 12 mg/kg b. w. for another week, then 24 mg/kg b. w. for one month. Some animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last dose; others were left for one month after the last dose to study the effect of drug withdrawal. Histological and histochemical methods were used. In the liver, some degenerative changes of hepatocytes in the form of small dense irregular nuclei with either pale or deep acidophilic cytoplasm, localized cellular infiltration, mainly lymphocytes and neutrophils and dilatation of blood sinusoids in some areas were observed. A weak positive PAS reaction was detected in most areas of the liver. There was also an obvious increase in the amount and density of reticular fibers in between the liver cells and in the portal tract. Renal changes were in the form of vacuolation of the cytoplasm of some tubular cells with dense irregular nuclei, extensive cellular infiltration between the tubules with dilatation and congestion of the peritubular blood capillaries, loss of positive PAS, reaction and decrease in the intensity of the positive reaction for alkaline phosphatase enzyme were observed in the kidney tubules. Withdrawal of CBZ led to a marked improvement in the structure of liver and kidney. The regression of the above-mentioned changes was more obvious in the older age groups

Effect of plant growth promoting substance [2,4 - dichlorophenoxy acetic acid] on the structure of the rat kidney at different postnatal ages

Thirty adult mated females albino rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into two groups: One served as a control and the other received a daily dose of 15 mg/kg of 2, 4-D starting form the sixth day of pregnancy till delivery. At one week, proximal and distal tubules exhibited degenerative alterations which varied in severity and extent. The lining epithelium showed an increase in number and size of lysosomes and the mitochondria became swollen with destructed cristae. The renal corpuscle showed marked reduction of the urinary space with fusion of the podocytic feet processes. With progress of development, there was more degenerative changes in the convoluted tubules. Some cells of the proximal convoluted tubules showed marked reduction in most of the cell organelles. Other cells showed large bodies of moderate electron density and numerous lysosomes. The cells of the distal tubules showed numerous vacuoles of variable sizes and shapes, some of them contained myelin-like figures. The urinary space of the renal corpuscles was no longer obliterated and the podocytic feet processes were regularly spaced

Histological and biochemical study of the effects of cadmium alone or associated with selenium in the rat

This work was carried out to investigate the effect of cadmium [Cd] given alone in a subacute dose or in association with selenium [Se] on the structure of the rat liver, kidney, heart and cerebellum. In addition, the levels of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase [GBH-Px] and reduced glutathione [GSH]as lipid peroxidation were assessed biochemically in both cases. Ten days after Cd treatments, the effect extended to involve all the investigated organs. However, the liver was the least affected one. It showed clumping of the cellular organelles mitochondrial inclusions and accumulation of cytoplasmic fibrillar material. The effect on the kidney was highly destructive mainly involving the proximal convoluted tubules and to a lesser extent the distal convoluted tubules. The heart showed mitochondrial destruction and degeneration of the myofilaments. In the cerebellar cortex, there was loss of the organelles particularly in the peripheral part. These changes were correlated with the oxidative stress induced by Cd. This was confirmed by the marked depletion of GSH, reduction of GSH-Px and increased lipid peroxidation detected biochemically

Postnatal development of the testes of rats exposed to the auxin [plant growth promoting] 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid

2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid [2, 4-D] is one of the active synthetic auxins that are widely used to control plant growth. The toxic effect of this plant growth regulator on the development of the testes of rats was investigated in this study on the histological basis. Fifty adult mated female albino rats were used in this study. Twenty animals served as controls and thirty received a daily oral dose of 15 mg/kg of 2, 4-D starting from the sixth day of pregnancy till four weeks after delivery. Specimens were taken from the offsprings of animals at one day, one week, two weeks and four weeks postnatal and examined using light and electron microscopy. Abundant interstitial connective tissue was observed in the testes of one day rats. With progress of development, there was loss of organization of the lining epithelium of the seminiferous tubules with gradual appearance of signs of degeneration and desquamation of the spermatogenic cells to the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. The effect of 2, 4-D on mammalian reproduction could be through estrogen hormone agonistic action which impaired the pituitary testicular axis by inhibiting the neonatal gonadotrophin secretion. The deleterious effect of this synthetic growth promoting hormone on the testes of the new generation must be kept in consideration during its use as plant growth promoting hormone and care must be taken about the food supply exposed to this synthetic hormone