Effect of prolonged period of starvation on the structure of the testis of albino rat

The adult male albino rats with an average weight of 300 gm were subjected to complete food removal for 7, 11 and 15 days. The testes were then examined histologically and histochemically. The first effect of starvation on the testes was progressive shrinkage of the seminiferous tubule. However, each stage in the maturation process was still evident, especially after 7 days of starvation. After 11, 15 days of starvation there was increased destruction of the luminal cells and the tubular sizes were diminished. These changes were accompanied with progressive thickening of both basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules and the testicular capsule. Additionally there was a marked fibrosis of the interstitial connective tissue. The interstitial Leydig cells were gradually shrank and became masked by the fibrosis

postnatal development of the visual cortex of albino rat and inorganic lead

Albino rats were used in the present study. Two groups of pregnant female animals, one served as control and other as experimental. The experimental mothers were fed with chow, tap water and libitum and 1% lead carbonate, from the first day of parturition. The pups from both groups were taken at the postnatal ages of 3, 9, 12, 15 and 21 days from both groups. Brains were extracted and fixed in 10% neutral formalin. The primary visual cortex was located according to Krieg [1946] map. It was processed for histological technique. Sagittal sections were cut at 10 u thick and stained with Einarsons gallocyanine. This study showed that the development of rat visual cortex is competed about day 21, when the neurons achieve their mature appearance as indicated by the increased size of cell body and nuclei; differentiation of the cells; the nuclei became vesicular with prominent nucleoli and increase Nissl's granules and there was also an increase in thickness of the cortex and a decreased packing of the neurons. The offsprings of rats fed on the inorganic lead starting from day 89, had an extensive changes compared to age matched control. Stratification of the visual cortex comes less distinct all over the ages used. Maturation of layer V and layer II/III is delayed. There is also cavitation, and neurocytic chromatolysis which is pronounced at day 12 and is clearly distinct at day 15. Pericapillary and capillary dilatation are noticed

Cyclophosphamide induced diabetes and histological changes of the endocrine pancreas in mice

This experimental study was done on thirty mice of both sexes. Twenty mice were given the therapeutic dose of cyclophosphamide which was 0.08 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection weekly for six weeks. The other ten mice were used as controls and were injected with saline. It was found that administration of cyclophosphamide induced hyperglycemia and pancreatic islet changes in eight mice, while the other mice seemed to be unaffected. Microscopical findings in the affected animals revealed hydropic degeneration of the cells islet of Langerhans. Diminution in the amount and marked atrophy of beta cells were also observed. Moreover, there was lymphocytic infiltration in the parenchymatous tissue of the pancreas