Histological and immunohistochemical study on the effect of noise stress on the spleen of adult albino rat and the possible role of Ginkgo biloba extract

Introduction: It is widely accepted that stress has an immunosuppressive effect. Ginkgo biloba extract has a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of noise stress on the structure of the spleen and to detect the efficacy of G. biloba extract in counteracting these effects

Materials and methods: Thirty adult albino rats were divided equally into five groups. Group I was the control group; group II was the noise group, in which rats were exposed to noise for 4 weeks; and in group III [protected], rats were exposed to noise and received G. biloba [orally 100 mg/kg/day] from the beginning of the experiment for 4 weeks. In group IV [recovery], rats were exposed to noise for 4 weeks and then allowed a recovery period for another 4 weeks; in group V [treated], rats were exposed to noise for 4 weeks and then administration of G. bilobawas continued for another 4 weeks after stoppage of noise stress. At the end of the experiment, specimens from the spleen were taken and prepared for H and E and immunohistochemical stains [CD4 and CD68]

Result: In group II, there was a significant decrease in the size of the lymphatic follicles and many of them appeared to have focal areas of cellular depletions. There was a significant decrease in the number of both CD4+ T helper cells and CD68+ macrophages in comparison with the control group. In group III, a few follicles still showed small areas of cellular depletion. In groups IV and V [recovery and treated groups], a relative improvement in the structure of the spleen was observed, but a more or less complete improvement in group V was observed. However, the number of both CD4+ and CD68+ cells was still less than that in the control group

Conclusion: Noise stress had an immunosuppressive effect. Treatment with G. biloba was found to be more effective than its protective role

Pregnancy-associated structural changes of the fallopian tube of rabbits with special reference to interstitial Cajal-like cells

The histological structure of the fallopian tube shows remarkable changes during pregnancy. Interstitial Cajal cell is known to play a key role in pacemaking motility in the gastrointestinal tract and the urinary tract. Its role in the motility of the fallopian tube is not fully explained. To describe the histological changes in the fallopian tube during early and late pregnancy, to shed light on the morphology of interstitial Cajal-like cells [ICLCs], and to localize their regional distribution in the fallopian tube in nonpregnant and pregnant rabbits. Thirty adult female rabbits were divided into three groups: group I [nonpregnant], group II [early pregnancy - day 4], and group III [late pregnancy - day 27]. The ampulla of the fallopian tube was excised and processed for histological, immunohistochemical, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy. In the nonpregnant group, it was found that the lining epithelium of the fallopian tube was composed of both ciliated and secretory cells. The ciliated cells were the major epithelial cell types; CD34-positive ICLCs were found maximally in the superficial zone of lamina propria, followed by musculosa, the deep portion of lamina propria, and least in serosa. The early pregnancy group showed a significant reduction in ciliated cells and an increase in secretory cells. In addition, there was a significant increase in the height of secretory cells and development of secretory organelles. There was a reduction in the number of CD34-positive ICLC in the superficial lamina propria compared with nonpregnant animals. The late pregnancy group showed an insignificant increase in ciliated cells and a decrease in secretory cells compared with group II. In addition, there was a decrease in the height of secretory cells and a reduction in their secretory organelles, but still more than that in group I. The structure of the fallopian tube showed histological changes during pregnancy. These changes represented a functional conditioning to the pregnancy state. ICLCs in the fallopian tube were prone to the same changes in their count and distribution

effect of pentoxifyllin in a rat model of renal ischemic reperfusion injury, light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopical study

Renal ischemic/ reperfusion injury remains a major problem in renal transplantation and anesthesia. Pentoxifylline [PTX] is commonly used to treat peripheral vascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of the work was to demonstrate the histological effect of ischemia reperfusion on the kidney and to detect the possible protective role of PTX. Adult male rats were divided into three groups. Group I was the control group, in group II, renal ischemia was induced for 30min, followed by reperfusion for 24h, and in group III, the animals received PTX 4mg/rat/day intraperitoneally for 3 days, and then an ischemia-reperfusion procedure was carried out. At the end of the experiment, the kidneys were dissected and processed for light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopical study. Group II showed focal affection of the kidney whereas some of the glomeruli appeared small and atrophic. The epithelium of proximal convoluted tubules showed vacuolation of the cytoplasm with a detached apical part and their lumena contained cellular debris. The distal convoluted tubules showed loss of the supranuclear cytoplasm of their lining cells. In the medulla, the collecting tubules were dilated and contained casts in their lumena. Transmission electron microscopy revealed disruption of the glomerular basement membrane. Proximal convoluted tubules and distal convoluted tubules showed cytoplasmin vacuolation, degenerated mitochondria, and destroyed brush borders. Scanning electron microscopy revealed glomeruli with an absence of their covering podocytes and destruction of their glomerular capillaries. The collecting tubules showed complete flattening of their lining cells. In group III, the kidney relatively retained their histological architecture. There was a significant decrease in the mean glomerular surface area in groups II and III in comparison with the control group. However, group III showed a significant increase in comparison with group II. The present study concluded that PTX could protect and reduce the severity of renal ischemic reperfusion injury

Effect of an iron-deficient diet on rat tongue with special reference to the efficacy of iron supplementation: light and scanning electron microscopic study

Iron deficiency is the most frequent nutritional deficiency worldwide. The oral cavity is one of the first sites where iron deficiency can be clinically notes. To demonstrate the histological changes in rat tongue induced by an iron-deficient diet and to study the role of a balanced diet, containing the daily iron requirements, either alone or with daily oral iron supplementation. Young rats [4 weeks old] were divided into two groups. Group I [the control group] was further subdivided into IA and IB, which the rats were fed a balanced diet for 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Group II was further subdivided into IIA, which included rats that were fed an iron-deficient diet for 6 weeks, and IIB, which included rats that were fed an iron-deficient diet for 6 weeks, followed by a balanced diet for 2 weeks. IIC included rats that were fed an iron-deficient diet for 6 weeks, followed by a balanced diet and daily oral iron supplementation for 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected to measure the levels of hemoglobin and serum iron. At the end of the experiment, specimens from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue were taken and prepared for light and scanning electron microscopic study. In subgroup IIA, the tongue papillae appeared deformed in shape, irregularly arranged, and widely separated. Vascular congestion and mononuclear cellular infiltration were observed in the connective tissue under the epithelium. In subgroup IIB, most of these histological changes were still observed. However, a marked improvement was observed in subgroup IIC. It was concluded that an iron-deficient diet induced structural changes in rat tongue. However, with 2 weeks of oral iron supplementation in addition to the use of the balanced diet, there was complete restoration of the tongue structure

Histological changes of the contralateral adrenal cortex following unilateral adrenalectomy in male albino rat

Unilateral adrenalectomy [UA] is performed not only to treat adrenal tumors but also as part of radical nephrectomy. The aim of the present study was to detect the effects of UA on the contralateral adrenal cortex, to identify the primary zone that was affected by adrenalectomy and the time at which the gland was histologically stabilized. Forty adult male albino rats with average weight 150-200 gm were used in this study. The animals were divided into 5 groups. Twelve rats were sham-operated and served as control group [group I]. The remaining 28 rats underwent right UA and were sacrificed after 3 days, 1, 2, 3 weeks [groups II, III, IV, and V respectively]. At the planned times, the left adrenal glands were excised and specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopic studies. Morphometric study was done to measure the thickness and the surface area of the cells of the three classical zones of the adrenal cortex. The results showed frequent mitotic figures in the outer zone of zona fasciculata in group II which was not evident in all other groups. In group III, the thickness and the surface area of the cells of zona fasciculata showed highly significant increase. The cells of zona glomerulosa and fasciculata showed marked cytoplasmic vacuolation more in zona fasciculata. Group IV showed gradual decrease in size and vacuolation of the cells which reverted to near normal in group V; three weeks after UA, denoting stabilization of the adrenal cortex. Electron microscopic examination revealed enlarged mitochondria, dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum and decreased lipid content in group-III, while near normal appearance was achieved in group V. These results suggested that the compensatory growth in the adrenal cortex following UA was due to both hyperplasia and hypertrophy, and that zona fasciculata is the primary zone responsible for this compensatory growth