Immunohistochemical study of leydig cells in the testicular interstitial tissue of rats treated with tribulus terrestris using P450scc

Tribulus terrestris has been commonly used in folk medicine to energize, vitalize and improve sexual function and physical performance in men and laboratory rats. To study the effect of Tribulus terrestris on the number of Leydig cells. Tribulus terrestris was given to mature male rats as an oral single herbal suspension in a dose of 2.0mg /1000gbody weight for 14 days to stimulate spermatogenesis. Formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections were performed for histological, immunohistochemical and morphometrical studies. Histological study revealed wider seminiferous tubules and increased spermatocytes population with an increased sperm density inside the lumen of the tubules. Morphometrically, the diameters of seminiferous tubules and thickness of the germinal epithelia were significantly increased in Tribulus terrestris treated rats than that of the control group. There was no significant difference between the number of Leydig cells in the control and experimental groups. The activity of Leydig cells, manifested by the increments in the diameters, thickness of germinal epithelia and the density of the sperms inside seminiferous tubules, was increased but their number remain unaffected in spite of using the aphrodisiac agent, Tribulus terrestris

Herbal activation of mammary gland; a comparative morphometrical and biochemical analysis

Seventy five adult virgin female Norway rats [60 experimental and 15 controls] were used to evaluate the effect of seeds of three herbs [Fennel, Cumin and Garden cress] on their mammary glands. Experimental animals were fed with these herbs [each type of herb seeds was given to twenty experimental rats] for fourteen days. Rats were sacrificed and mammary gland sections were obtained, stained then morphometrically assessed. Serum prolactin level was performed too. Results revealed that Garden cress seeds are the strongest lactogenic agent among the three. Both Fennel and Cumin seeds were shown to be very weak galactagogues

Garden cress seed could be a factual galactagogue

Trivial number of books, concerning traditional medicine, had mentioned a galactagogual role of Garden cress seeds. Others ignore that. This controversy, in addition to the steroid [family of sex hormones] contents of the seeds, directed us to evaluate the role of this herb in mammogenesis and lactogenesis. Twelve parameters were used to assess the effect of Garden cress seeds on the mammary gland of young adult virgin rats. These parameters comprise gross assessment, histological examination [routine/ haematoxylin and eosin stain and special stain/ PAS], enzymatic histochemical study [alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and lipoprotein lipase cytochemical localization], biochemical estimations [hormonal assay of FSH, LH, prolactin, estrogen and progesterone] and morphometrical measurements. All parameters significantly exhibited a strong mammotrophic and lactogenic effects of Garden cress seeds on the non-primed mammary gland of adult virgin rat. Garden cress seeds are most probably a real galactagogue and might be useful in induction of lactation

demonstration of B-esterase in the dorsal gery horn of the rats spinal cord during pain and analgesia

The B-esterase technique has been utilized as a cheaper and less sophisticated technique than the immuno-histochemical method for the demonstration of substance P prevalence sites at the dorsal grey horn of the spinal cord of rats. B-esterase reaction product was abundant at laminae I and II of dorsal grey horn during the induction of pain while analgesia reduced the activity of this enzyme at the same sites