Effect of arsenic on neural tube in mouse embryo and relation to reduced folate carrier [RFC-1]

Arsenic is an important environmental toxicant which is usually found in drinking water in inorganic form

The hypothesis tested in this investigation is; arsenic exposure causes neural tube defects [NTDs] and these defects of the central nervous system are more likely related to folate deficiency during fetal life. In this study, sodium arsenate was administered via intraperitoneal route at a rate of 40 mg/kg body weight on the 6th day of gestation to every individual of 20 mated Albino mice. On the 8th [E8], 10th [E10], 16th [E16] and 19th [E19] days of the gestation, the pregnant mice in control and experimental groups were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. All embryos belonging to [E16] and [E19] were examined for external morphological neural tube defects. Histological staining techniques were haematoxylin and eosin and the immunofluorescence staining was also implemented. It was observed that, the intraperitoneal injection of sodium arsenate caused a number of morphological neural tube defects including; open fourth ventricle, exencephally, myelomeningocele and anencephaly. Difference in control and experimental specimens was significant [P<0.001] on the [E16] group. The histomorphologic changes of neural tube were significant in all of the experimental groups in comparison to the controls. Immunofluorescence study revealed reduced folate carrier [RFC-1] protein reduction in neural tissue, and these results demonstrate that the association between prenatal exposure to inorganic arsenic and NTDs is more likely related to a defect in reduced folate carrier protein?

Gross morphology, histomorphology and histomorphometry of the jejunum in the adult river buffalo

For this study the jejuni of 50 adult [2-4 years], apparently healthy Iranian river buffaloes were collected from the abattoir for gross morphology, histomorphology, and histomorphometry. Our statistical analysis revealed that, there are significant [P<0.001] differences in the lengths, external diameters, internal diameters, external circumferences, internal circumferences as well as wall thicknesses of jenjunum between all of the animals under study. Our macroscopic investigations also revealed that, in these buffaloes, jejunal Peyer's patches [jejpp] are not grossly visible in the mucosa of this part of gut. The histomorphology of submucosa revealed a pear shaped jejpp through the whole length of the jejuni at mesenteric as well as antimesenteric parts. The distributions of the jejpp in the middle and posterior parts of guts were greater than in the anterior part. The mean thickness of the mucosal glandular region was highly significant [P<0.001] between the anteriors, middle, and posterior regions. There were no significant differences [P>0.05] in lengths as well as thicknesses of jejunal villi between the 3 different regions. The mast cells distributions were highly significant [P<0.001] between the superficial and deep regions of jejunal tunicae mucosae in all buffaloes. There were also highly significant [P<0.001] differences in the distribution of goblet cells between the superficial and deep regions of jejunal mucosa, and their population was more in the superficial than in the deep region

[Histological study of thymus in Maquee sheep fetus]

For developmental study of thymus in different stages of fetal period, from thymus glands of 75 healthy fetuses, histological sections were prepared and stained by H and E, PAS, Verhoeff, Toluidine blue and Van Geisson's methods. This study revealed that, the infiltration and accumulation of lymphocytes in thymus takes place at second month. Medullae were expanded and cortices were seen as accumulation of lymphocytes around them at first half of third month. There were progression in the thymus lobulation and the thicknesses of lobules was increased at second half of the third month. At the fourth month of development, the sizes of thymic lobules were reached to their maximum diameter, but the trabeculae became very thin. In overall, it seems that the most critical period of thymus development in sheep fetus was second half of second month till the end of third month

[Evaluation of bleeding patterns in postmenopausal women under continuous or sequential hormone therapy]

The improved uterine bleeding profile in postmenopausal women receiving hormone therapy likely enhance compliance with hormone replacement therapy. To compare the bleeding patterns in post menopausal women receiving continuous or sequential hormone therapy. This quasi-experimental clinical trial was performed on 44 healthy postmenopausal women < 65 years old with intact uterus who were presented for gynecologic examination at Bouali hospital in Tehran [Iran] during 2001-2002. The patients were divided into two groups marked as group I including postmenopausal women on oral replacement with estrogen conjugate 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone 2.5 mg daily, in a continuous combined fashion, and group II composed of post menopausal women on oral replacement with estrogen conjugate 0.625 mg daily and medroxyprogesterone 5 mg during the last 14 days of each month. The patients were followed up for one year. The data on bleeding patterns and their relationship with duration of menopause and body mass index were analyzed statistically using K[2] and Fisher exact tests. The mean menopause age was 53 +/- 4.7 and 45.2 +/- 2.2 years in group I and II, respectively. There was a significant difference between two groups, statistically [p< 0.001]. The mean menopause duration was 3.8 +/- 2.8 years in group I and 1.1 +/- 0.8 in group II with a statistically significant difference between two groups [p=0.01]. The difference in body mass index between two groups was insignificant, statistically. All women in group II [22/100%] were found to have amenorrhea after one years. Among the patients in group II, one [14.3%] suffered spotting, 5 [71.4%] with regular bleeding and 1 [14.3%] with amenorrhea following the same time period. The difference in bleeding patterns between two groups was shown to be statistically significant [p=0.000]. While unexpected vaginal bleeding in women using continuous combined HRT decreased after 1 year, the degree of bleeding among those using cyclic HRT remained unchanged

Histochemical study of estradiol valerate-induced polycystic ovary syndrome in the rat

For the present study, and follow-up of histochemical changes in estradiol valerate-induced polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], 48 virgin 90-day-old female rats were used. The rats were divided into the treatment and control groups. For each rat of the treatment group, 4 mg estradiol valerate was injected through intramuscular route for the induction of PCOS. The control group was taken the same amount of sterile sesame oil. After 63 days of hormone administration, all rats were sacrificed and their ovaries were collected immediately and processed for histochemical studies. These studies were consisted of localization of carbohydrate using PAS method, saturated and unsaturated lipids using Oil-Red-O and Sudan Black B, lipase and alkaline phosphatase. The PAS reaction was seen in some structures of the atretic and cystic follicles such as on zona pellucida [ZP], basement membrane of granulosa cells, connective tissue fibers of ovarian stroma, follicular fluid and granulose cells. This reaction was enhanced in basement membrane of granulose cells of cystic follicles. The lipid droplets were seen in follicular structures of both the atretic and cystic follicles. The presence of macrophages was confirmed in cystic ovaries by this study. The lipase reactions were seen in granulose and theca cells of atretic and cystic follicles. The lipase reaction in the theca layer of cystic follicles was stronger than in the granulose cell layer of such follicles. The alkaline phosphatase reaction was seen in the theca and granulose cells of atretic and cystic follicles and by the progression of these processes and cystic follicle formation, the reaction was increased accordingly. We concluded that, during follicular atresia and cystic follicle formation, histochemical alterations are occurred in follicular structures

Histogenesis, development and atresia of ovarian follicles in different developmental stages of Makuii ewe fetuses

This study was conducted to determine the histogenesis, growth and atresia of ovarian follicles in Makuii sheep fetuses at different developmental stages. Forty fetuses in four age groups of