Carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in adult mice and potential protective role of honey

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on dietary and medical natural products that inhibit, reverse or retard diseases caused by oxidative and inflammatory process. Honey has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore the aim of the present work is to investigate the possible protective role of honey on carbon tetrachloride-treated mice, a model of liver injury. In chronic hepatotoxic mice, liver damage was studied by using some histological, histochemical methods and morphometric analysis. The experimental animals were divided into four groups treated as follows: Group [I] was kept as control; Group [2] was injected daily subcutaneously with carbon tetrachloride [CCL4] for 30 days; Group [3] was treated with CCL4 and honey at the same time for 30 days: Group [4] was given CCL4 for 30 days then stopped and was given honey for another 30 days. Cell shrinking, chromatin condensation, fatty infiltration, marked decrease in glycogen, fibrosis, and dilatation of central vein and blood sinusoid were observed in group [2] The observations of the present study provide evidence for apoptosis of hepatocytes in the necrotic zone. These changes were reduced when CCL4and honey were given simultaneously. In contrast, there was no improvement of hepatic changes when honey was given after withdrawal of CCL4. Based upon these results, honey may play a preventive and protective role in hepatic cellular injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and it is advisable to be given in patients with chronic liver diseases

Histological and electron microscopic studies of gills of Nile tilapia oreochromis niloticus from two wetlands differing in water quality

Histological and electron microscopic studies of gill tissue were carried out in specimens from two wild populations of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, the first from River Nile and the other from a pond located in south Egypt [Assiut Governorate]. These two wetland ecosystems differ in. water quality. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the arrangement of microridges on the pavement cell surfaces of gill epithelia was variable among two populations. From River Nile, pavement cells of gill filament and secondary lamnellae were similar for their surface architecture. Also, these cells of both filament and secondary lamella exhibit numerous long microridges with a fingerprint-like pattern. From the pond, Pavement cells of filament may vary from cells on which microridges form a complex pattern of concentric whorls to cells with a smooth central part without microridges, while pavement cells from the secondary lamellae are smooth surfaced with clearly defined cell boundaries by a long microridge. On the other hand, the transmission electron microscopy revealed that the pavement cells of secondary lamellae from the pond are thinner than those from River Nile. Differences in morphology of the pavement cells from two populations may be related to structural rather than functional differences

effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate on the structure of adrenal cortex [zona fasciculata] of adult female albino rat. Light and electron microscopic studies

The injectable contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA] is an internationally established option of birth control. To evaluate the possible effects of MPA on the structure of zona fasciculata cells, the adrenals of forty adult female albino rats were used. The experimental animals were divided into four groups treated as follows: group I was kept as control, groups II and III were injected intramusculary with MPA for 2 and 4 months respectively. Animals of group IV were injected for 4 months and sacrificed one month after the last injection. Specimens from the adrenal gland were taken and processed for light and electron microscopic examination. It has been found that MPA caused an increase in the thickness of zona fasciculate and activation of the cells when administered for 2 months. The cells showed numerous lipid droplets, large number of mitochondria and prominent smooth endoplasmic reticulum. However, MPA administration for 4 months resulted in reduction in the thickness of zona fasciculata with degenerative changes in its cells. The cells appeared small and separated from each other and exhibited many lysosomes and intracellular vacuolar spaces. After withdrawal, most of the cells appeared more or less normal and few cells showed some structural changes. These findings indicated that MPA at first caused activation of fasciculata cells and increased steroidogenesis, but prolonged use of MPA induced inactivation and degenerative changes in these cells. However some of these changes were reversible on withdrawal of the drug. Therefore precaution and follow up must be considered with prescribing this drug for prolonged periods

comparative scanning electron microscopic study on the tongue of the African beauty snake [psammophis sibilans] and Schokari sand snake [psammophis Schokari] [peptilia, serpents, colubridae]

The morphological characteristics of the tongue of the African beauty snake [Psammophis sibilans] collected from Beheira and the schokari sand snake [Psammophis schokari] collected from Mattrouh and Sinai were compared by scanning electron microscopy. The surface morphology, location and regular distribution of the epithelial cells on the dorsal side of the fork are relatively the same among both species. These cells are covered by microstructures in the form of microfacets, micropores, microvilli and microridges. The function of microfacets might be for the absorption of chemical substances, secretion of granules and protection of the epithelium. The microvilli in the unforked portion are predominant in all species, while microridges and cilia are less pronounced. The microridges were observed only in Psammophis schokari collected from Mattrouh, while cilia were observed in Psammophis schokari collected from Sinai and Psammophis sibilans. The presence or absence of cilia and microridges may be related to the external environment rather than a conservative character of snake tongue