Structural alterations induced by botulinum toxin injection in juvenile versus adult rat muscle

To investigate whether botulinum neurotoxin type A [BoNT-A] injections produce the same structural changes in juvenile and adult muscle. The present study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from October 2010 to May 2011. A total of 32 adult and 32 juvenile rats were used. Electron microscopy and immuno-histochemical techniques were used to conduct the morphological study. Neurofilament immunohistochemistry method was used. The results indicate that the use of BoNT-A injections induced morphological changes in the form of muscle fiber atrophy, disorganization of the muscle fiber structure, extension of nerve terminal sprouts, and formation of new neuromuscular junctions. The same set of structural changes took place in both groups. However, the time scale of these changes occurred earlier in juvenile rats than adult muscle. The injection of BoNT-A leads to morphological changes in juvenile and adult rat muscle. These changes were the same in both groups

Alterations in the ultrastructure of the liver in chronic lead intoxication in the adult albino rats

In the present work, the effect of chronic lead intoxication in two doses [5 mg/kg body weight, as therapeutic dose and 10 mg/kg body weight as sublethal dose] on the ultrastructure of the rat liver was studied. The rats were classified into three groups: one control group [10 rats], experimental group A [20 rats] who received a therapeutic dose of lead acetate orally for six months, and experimental group B [20 rats] who received a sublethal dose of lead acetate orally for six months. Ten rats of both groups A and B were sacrificed one month after the last given dose [recovery rats]. Small slices of the liver of the rats of all groups were processed for electron microscopic examination. The livers of group A rats showed a few pathological changes in the form of proliferation of both rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, multiple areas of glycogen depletion with a few lysosomes and fat droplets. The liver of group B rats showed marked pathological changes in both hepatocytes and Van Kuppfer's cells. The cytoplasm of the hepatocytes showed intracytoplasmic vacuoles and a few degenerative granules. The Von Kuppfer's cells showed pale degenerated cytoplasm, intra-cytoplasmic and degenerated electro-dense granules. The recovery animals of group A showed good recovery, while those of group B showed only partial recovery

Ultra-structural changes induced in rat kidney by chronic administration of lead acetate

Lead is a widespread environmental contaminant, found in air, canned food, drinking water and paints, creating environmental pollution. Lead is capable of damaging vital organs especially the kidneys because it is the main route of lead excretion. The purpose of the present work was to determine the ultra-structural effects of lead acetate on the kidneys of albino rats, who are given lead acetate in their drinking water through orogastric intubation in both therapeutic [group A] and sub-lethal [group B] doses for 6 months.The glomerular capillary wall in the kidneys of group A rats showed mild changes in the form of partial fusion of the secondary foot processes of podocytes, while the kidneys of group B rats showed marked changes in the form of diminution of fenestrated endothelia and marked reduction of secondary foot processes of podocytes. The proximal convoluted tubules in the kidneys of group A rats showed mild changes in the form of absence of both basal striations and brush border with disorientation of deep basal infoldings of the cell membrane. The proximal tubules in the kidneys of group B rats showed marked changes in the form of multiple intracytoplasmic vacuoles, multiple lysosomes, multiple degenerated mitochondria and irregular thickened basement membrane. Kidneys of animals left to recover in group A showed complete recovery, while only partial recovery was detected in group B

Histochemical and ultrastructural effects of phytic acid on the mucosa of rat ileum treated with meloxicam

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] cause gastrointestinal damage both in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. New anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed in an attempt to improve their gastrointestinal side-effect profile. In spite of the numerous therapeutic advantages of meloxicam, it has, however, damaging effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Inositol hexaphosphate [IP6], also known as phytic acid, is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate that is particularly abundant in cereals and legumes. It has antioxidant, antimitotic, hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of phytic acid administration on the injurious effects of meloxicam on the mucosa of rat ileum. Thirty albino rats were divided into 3 groups; the first group [control] was put on a normal diet for 4 weeks; the second group received a diet containing 200 mg/kg meloxicam per day for 4 weeks; the third group received a diet containing 200 mg/kg meloxicam per day followed by orally intubated IP6 three times/week for 4 weeks, at a total dose of 40 mg/kg. Slices of ileum of all groups were taken and subjected to histological, histochemical and ultrastructural investigation. The results confirmed the damaging effects of meloxicam on the ileum mucosa and revealed the ameliorative effects of phytic acid against these lesions

Protective effect of zinc against cadmium-induced kidney damage in rats: histological, histochemical and ultrastructural study

The health risks to humans from acute and chronic cadmium [Cd] exposure have been well documented. The kidney is considered the critical organ for Cd toxicity following long-term exposure in humans and experimental animals. There is considerable information in the literature regarding the protective effect of Zn against the cellular toxicity caused by Cd. The present study was undertaken to examine the morphological alterations of the kidney after cadmium exposure, and to evaluate the potential benefit of Zn co-treatment on cadmium-induced tissue injury. Thirty male albino rats were divided into three groups. The first [control] group was injected subcutaneously with normal saline, the second group was injected subcutaneously with cadmium chloride solution [2.5 mg/kg b.w] 5 days/week for six weeks, and the third group was injected with zinc chloride solution [2.2 mg/kg b.w] one hour before the dose of cadmium chloride, 5 days/week for six weeks.Histological, histochemical and ultrastructural investigations of the kidney tissue confirmed the damaging effects of cadmium and revealed the beneficial effects of zinc pre-treatment on Cd-induced structural damage

Light and ultrastructural microscopic changes of liver in rats following cadmium chloride administration

Cadmium chloride [CdC1[2]] is an environmental risk factor having various toxic effects both in animals and humans. Occupational and environmental cdcl[2] exposure can result in nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and skeletal damage and several types of cancer, The objective of this study was to determine the changes of Cadmium chloride on the liver of rats for light and ultrastructural microscopic examination. Fourty adult male rats were used in this study with average weight 250-300grarns were divided into four groups and Cadmium chloride solution was received subcutaneous injected in the interscapular region of the rat in sublethal dose [2.5 milligrams/kg of body weight, 5 days/week]. The first group: was a control group. The second group: injected with [dcl[2] for two weeks. The third group: injected with [dcl[2]] for four weeks. The fourth group: injected with [cdcl[2] for six weeks. The animals of each group were anaesthetized with inhalation of ether; the liver was excised and cut into small pieces for light and ultrastructural microscopic examination. Changes in the liver treated groups for light microscopic examination of present study showed congested and dilatation of the central vein with blood sinusoids, Hepatocytes showed multiple vaculated cytoplasm and presence of inflammatory cellular infiltration and areas of hyaline degeneration in the hepatic lobules. Changes in the liver treated groups for electron microscopic examination showed, the cytoplasm of hepatocytes contains swollen mitochondria with ill-defined-cristae, and decreased the glycogen granules, with some vacuoles. Administration of cadmium chloride produced significant toxic pathological changes in the liver of the rat

Histological study on the human gubernaculums in descended and undescended testis

The gubernaculum is a fibrous cord connecting the caudal pole of the testis with the scrotum. The regression of the extra-abdominal part of the gubernaculum in prenatal and early stage of postnatal life plays an integral role in testicular descent. Researchers claim that the undescended testis is a condition caused by failure of the gubernaculum to function, particularly in infants suffering from neuromuscular diseases and myopathies. To provide more information on the role of the gubernaculum in testicular descent, the structure of the gubernaculum was examined in cases of descended and undescended testis. The study was performed at both the light and electron microscopic levels. The gubernaculum biopsies were taken from 20 children with undescended testis, the control biopsies were obtained from 5 children [3 and 5 years old] who suffered from inguinal hernia but with descended testis. The specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. The histological examination revealed that the gubernaculum in 75% of undescended testis contained large amount of fat cells, a small amount of collagen fibers, and wide interstitial spaces, compared to the control group. The results suggest that the lack of testicular descent is probably caused by loss of retractibility of the gubernaculum

Basic fibroblast growth factor-immunoreactivity in the peripheral nerve and motor endplate of the rat

Using immunohistochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy, the distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] in the peripheral nerves and motor endplates of the adult rat was investigated. The study concluded that the localization of bFGF in the peripheral nerve and motor endplate, as seen in the present study, was compatible with the functions ascribed for this protein in the peripheral motor system