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Objective To observe the effect of astragaloside IV (A) and SB203580 antagonize cadmium (Cd) toxicity on expression of associated protein and blood-testis barrier(BTB) in rats and to study the protective mechanism of A on it.Methods Totally 21 SD male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, 3 rats per group:Cd [ intraperitoneally injected with 0.1%CdCl2,1mg/(kg?d)],Cd+A [at the above dose of CdCl2,at the same time with A,10mg/(kg?d)], and Cd +SB203580 [at the above dose of CdCl2,at the same time with SB203580,100μg/(kg?d)], each of the above groups was further divided into continuous five and ten days treatment groups .The control group was intraperitoneally injected with equal dosage of normal saline .The testes were studied by light , electron microscopy , immunohistochemistry and Western blotting .Results In the control group ,irregular and lightly stained nuclei of Sertoli cell ( Sc) in seminiferous tubules were observed by HE staining .A continuous electron density line of tight junction ( TJ) and normal ultrastructure of BTB were observed .After Cd treatment ,the vesicular formation in the Sc was observed .The ultrastructural damage of Sc and TJ was observed .Compared with the corresponding time point of Cd group ,these were weakened in morphology of testis and ultrastructure of TJ after Cd +A or Cd +SB203580 treatment .The positive products of zonula occludens-1 ( ZO-1 ) and claudin-11 were localized mainly in the base of the seminiferous tubule .After Cd treatment , the average absorbance (AA) of ZO-1 and Claudin-11 was decreased significantly compared with that of the control group (P<0.05).After Cd +A or Cd +SB203580 treatment,AA of ZO-1 and Claudin-11 were increased significantly compared with that of the Cd group(P<0.05),though lower than that of the control group .The result of Western blotting showed that phosphorylation-p38MAPK in Cd group was increased significantly compared with that of the control group (P<0.05).After Cd +A or Cd+SB203580 treatment, it was decreased significantly compared with that of the Cd group (P<0.05).Conclusion Cd decreases ZO-1 and Claudin-11 expression and damages ultrastructure of TJ in BTB , asⅣhas protective effect on it , and is related to inhibiting activation of p 38 MAPK pathway .
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Objective To investigate the destructive effect of cadmium (Cd)and the protective effect of astragaloside ( Asd) on TM3 cells.Methods The best protective concentration of Asd on TM 3 cells after Cd treatment was selected by MTT cell viability experiment .The apoptosis rate of TM3 cells was measured by flow cytometry .The expression of connexin 43(Cx43) was detected by immunohistochemistry .The morphological changes of TM3 cells were observed by electron mi-croscopy .Results The viability of TM3 cells in both control and Asd-treated group was not significantly different after 24 h or 48 h,but it was significantly decreased in Cd group .However , the viability of TM3 cells in Cd +As group was higher than that in Cd group .Flow cytometry showed that there was no significant difference in the apoptosis rate of TM 3 cells be-tween the control and Asd-treated group after 24 h,but it was obviously increased with the Cd concentration .The apoptosis rate of Cd+Asd group was lower than that in Cd group (P<0.01).Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the average optical density (AOD) of the positive product of Cx43 in Cd-treated TM3 cells was obviously decreased (P<0.01), but the average gray value (AGV) was significantly increased when compared with the control group (P<0.01).The ultra-structural changes in TM3 cells were obvious after Cd treatment ,but those in Cd+Asd group were improved when compared with Cd group.Conclusion Cd reduces the expression of Cx 43 and damages the morphology of TM 3 cells.Asd has protec-tive effect on Cd-induced TM3 cell injury.
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Objective To investigate the toxic effect of cadmium (Cd) on the ultrastructure ,expression of related protein and the signal molecule phosphrylated P38 mitogen-actived protein kinase(P-P38MAPK) of primary cultured rat sertoli cell(Sc) ,and the protective effect of astragaloside (A ) on it .Methods The primary cultured rat Sc were divided into the control group ,Cd (50 mol/L)group and Cd(50 mol/L) plus A(10 mg/L) group ,they were used for the electron microscope observation and the im-munohistochemistry detection of vimentin ,E-cadherin ,-catenin and P-P38MAPK .Results The Sc ultrastructural changes included that the swelled mitochondria ,abundant lipid droplets and dilated endoplasmic reticulum were found in the Cd group .Further ,apop-tosis occurred in some Sc .However these ultrastructure changes above mentioned were slighter in the Cd plus A group ;the immu-nohistochemistry showed that the positive products of vimentin ,E-cadherin and-catenin were obviously decreased in the Cd group (P<0 .05) ,and those in the Cd plus A group were higher compared with the Cd group(P<0 .05);the expression of P-P38MAPK in cytoplasm was increased in the Cd group ,and showed the trend to move from cytoplasm to nucleus ,meanwhile ,the positive prod-ucts expression in the Cd plus A group was lower than that in the Cd group (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Cadmium can cause the injury of the Sc ultrastructure ,damage of cytoskeletal protein and fibronectin ,and increase of P-P38MAPK level ;astragaloside can antago-nize the toxicity of cadmium on Sc ,the protective effect maybe related with the decrease of P-P38MAPK in Sc .
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Objective To examine the pathological changes in the liver of an AIDS patient with complicated infection of Pneumocystis carinii(PC). \ Methods\ A liver biopsy was made. The tissue was stained with HE, PAS, Giemsa, GMS, and acid\|fast staining, and examined under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. \ Results\ Granulomas (acid\|fast negative) in the tissue and numerous pathogens (PAS positive) in hepatic sinusoids were detected. Giemsa and GMS staining and electron microscopy all confirmed that the pathogen was Pneumocystis carinii. \ Conclusion\ The pathological findings revealed a diffuse extrapulmonary infection of Pneumocystis carinii in the patient of AIDS.
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20m, hypertrophy of nuclei, dilatation of T tubules, mutiple intercalated discs and increase of mitochondria and myofibrils. But the atrial cardiac muscle cells with degeneration showed myofibrillar lysis, abnormal Z bands, mitochondrial swelling and extramembranous disruption, sarcoplasmic reticulum proliferation and dilatation,myelin figures formation and interstitial fibrosis These results suggested that the degree of hypertropy and degeneration of atrial cardiac muscle cells was related to the types, injuried size of congenital heart disease and the age, cardiac functional state of patients
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The 2450 MHz microwave irradiation was applied to the scrotal area of the rabbit and the temperature of the scrotal skin was maintained to 41—42℃ for 20 minutes. Ultrastructural alterations of the mucosa and muscularis of the seminal vesicles were studied by transmission electron microscopy at different intervals from 1 hour to 45 days after treatment. Both the principal cells and the smooth muscle cells were sensitive to microwave irradiation. Ultrastructural changes were detected in a few principal cells and smooth muscle cells after 1 hour. Later, the degeneration became serious 3 to 7 days following exposure, but appeared to be alleviated after 45 days. The main alterations in principal cells were dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Gelgi complex, many myelin figures and accumulation of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm, swelling of microvilli and degeneration of nuclei. There were many vacuoles and myelin figures in the degenerative smooth muscle cells. Some basal cells also underwent degeneration. In addition, thickening and irregular infolding of the lamina propria were noted. The significance of the effects of microwave on the seminal vesicles was discussed.
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This paper presents the ultrastructural studies of the immediate and delayed effects of Cadmium (Cd) on rat testes and the protective effects of Zinc (Zn) on Cd induced injury. Forty-two rats were divided into three groups: 1) treatment with Cd (2mg/kg body weight); 2) treatment with Cd combined with Zn (80mg/kg body weight); and 3) the controls.The ultrastructural changes of some spermatids, spermatogonia primary spermatocytes and peritubular tissue were detected within 10—30 minutes after Cd treatment. The morphlogical alterations of spermatids and primary spermatocytes appeared first. However, after 1 hour, the changes of testicular capillaries were observed, and those of the Leydig cells were found within 2—4 hours. After 3—7 days, the seminiferous epitheium, peritubular tissue and interstitial tissue were totally necrosed. These results suggest that both seminiferous tubules and testicular capillaries are damaged directly by Cd treatment, but the ultrastructural alterations of the capillaries appear later than those of the seminiferous tubules. The protective effect of Zn on the testicular injury induced by Cd is prominent. However, this effect on the early spermatids is weaker than that on the other germ cells.