structure of the optic nerve after the administration of interferon alpha-2a in adult male albino rats and the role of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation

Interferon alpha [IFN-alpha] therapy is used considerably in Egypt because of a high prevalence rate of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Alpha-Lipoic acid [ALA] has been found to play a neuroprotective role in many insults. The aim of this study is to observe the histological structure of the topic nerve of rats after an injection of IFN-alpha and to determine the role of ALA supplementation. Forty adult male albino rats were divided equally into four groups. Group I served as the control group. Group II included rats that received ALA alone [100mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally]. Group III included rats that received IFN-alpha alone [100000 IU/kg/three times/week, intraperitoneally]. Group IV included rats that received both IFN-alpha and ALA. After 8 weeks, the optic nerves were extirpated and processed for light and electron microscope examination. Optic nerves of the group that received IFN-alpha showed nerved damage manifested as axonal damage and changes in the myelin sheath. Neuroglia showed vacuolation in their cytoplasm and heterochromatic nuclei. Morphometric and statistical analyses showed a significant increase in the surface area of positive glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytes, indicating reactive astrogliosis. Blood capillaries were distorted with ill-defined walls and protrusion of the endothelial cells into their lumina. These changes were limited by concomitant ALA supplementation with IFN-alpha. IFN-alpha exerted a deleterious effect on the histological structure of the optic nerve in rats and ALA supplementation minimized these effects

histological study of ipsilateral testis after experimentally induced varicocele in albino rats and the role of L-carnitine supplementation

Varicocele pathophysiology and its role in male infertility are still unclear. Varicocelectomy is not an effective treatment in such cases as it failed to restore fertility after surgery in many patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the histological alterations that might occur in the structure of the ipsilateral testis after experimental varicocele, to determine whether this effect was time dependent, and to evaluate the possible role of L-carnitine on the varicocele. Thirty-six young adult albino rats were used. They were equally divided into three groups. Group 1 was the control. Group 2 was the experimentally induced varicocele [EV] that was subdivided into two subgroups, EV6 and EV18, according to varicocele duration. Group 3 [EV-carnitine] was the experimentally induced varicocele left for 18 weeks followed by an intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg L-carnitine [three times/week] for another successive 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the ipsilateral testes were extirpated and processed for light and electron microscope examinations. Epithelial height was estimated morphometrically and statistically analyzed. Testes of EV6 showed many distorted seminiferous tubules with irregular outlines, wide lumina, and disorganized epithelium including separation, sloughing, and multinucleated cells. Some areas of interstitium were wide. Acidophilic hyaline material was present in most of the interstitial spaces. Most of the tubules of EV18 were markedly distorted and were mostly lined by sertoli cells with a few spermatogenic cells. The tubular basement membrane of EV6 was relatively thick, irregular, and highly infolded and these changes were extremely obvious in EV18. Myoid cells appeared with irregular heterochromatic nuclei in EV18. Almost all sperm mid pieces in EV6 were markedly affected and no sperms were detected in most of the seminiferous tubules of EV18. Leydig cells in both subgroups showed variable-size electron-dense granules and cytoplasmic processes, which were more obvious in EV18. EV-carnitine nearly regained the normal architecture but a few tubules had a disorganized epithelium, a few affected sperms, and acidophilic hyaline material between some tubules. Leydig cells contained numerous mitochondria, a few variable-size electron-dense granules, a few lipid droplets, and no cytoplasmic processes. Estimation of epithelial height, which was statistically analyzed, confirmed the results. Varicocele led to a deleterious effect on the ipsilateral testis that increased progressively with time. L-Carnitine supplementation improved the structure of testis of long-duration varicocele

effects of experimental aflatoxicosis on the pancreas of adult male albino rats and the role of ginger supplementation: a histological and biochemical study

Aflatoxin contamination of foods is a worldwide problem, especially in developing countries. Ginger has antioxidant properties. To study the histological and biochemical changes in the pancreas of rats with experimental aflatoxicosis, and to evaluate the role of ginger supplementation. Forty-five adult male albino rats were equally divided into three groups. Group I that served as the control group. Group II that received 250 119/kg body weight/day of aflatoxin B1 dissolved in olive oil using a gastric tube for 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Group III that received both aflatoxin as in group II and 400 mg/kg body weight/day of ginger orally for 5 days/week for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, all rats were anesthetized, and their pancreases were extirpated and divided into two parts to be processed for light and electron microscopic examinations. Morphometrical analysis for area percentage of collagen fibers and biochemical analysis for glucose, insulin, and serum amylase were performed and statistically analyzed. Examination of group II revealed thick interlobular septa that contained congested blood vessels, cellular infiltration, mast, and fat cells. Pancreatic acinar cells showed decreased secretory granules, vacuolization, and dilated fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum. Few acinar cells showed rarified areas of cytoplasm. Some acinar cells had small condensed heterochromatic nuclei. Most of the islets of Langerhans were formed of cells separated by dilated congested capillaries. Most of the nuclei of beta cells were euchromatic, whereas some were small heterochromatic. The cytoplasm of beta cells had a variety of secretory granules. Most of them had an electrondense core and an electron-lucent halo, whereas others had homogenous moderate density. Some granules coalesced. A few cells had cytoplasmic areas depleted of granules. Pancreatic ducts were dilated. Examination of group III revealed that pancreatic lobules were separated by thin interlobular septa. Acini had numerous apical acidophilic secretory granules, a few vacuoles, and basal euchromatic nuclei. Beta cells of the islets of Langerhans had euchromatic nuclei and numerous secretory granules with an electron-dense core and a wide electron-lucent halo. Biochemical analysis of glucose and serum amylase showed a highly significant increase, whereas that of insulin showed a highly significant decrease, in group II in comparison with group I. The glucose and serum amylase levels were significantly decreased, whereas the insulin level was significantly increased in group III compared with group II. Aflatoxin had a deleterious effect on the histological structure of the rats' pancreas, and ginger minimized these effects