Myelo-Enhancement by Astragalus Membranaceus in Male Albino Rats with Chemotherapy Myelo-Suppression. Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myelo-suppression is the most common toxicity encountered in the oncology clinic today. This study was planned to investigate the possible protective and therapeutic role of the traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb; Astragalus Membranaceus (AM), on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was carried out on thirty six adult male albino rats. They were divided into: Group I Control Group (n=6) received a vehicle of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. Group II (n=12) were injected I.P. with cyclophosphamide (CY) for 3 days (gIIa n =6) and continued for one more week to receive AM orally (gIIb n=6). Group III (n=6) received CY I.P. together with AM orally for 3 days. Group IV (n=12) received AM orally for one week (gIVa n=6) and continued for extra three days receiving CY I.P. with AM orally (gIVb n=6). Blood samples were analysed for Total Leucocytic Count and Lymphocytic Count. Counting of CD34 +ve cells in bone marrow was performed by flowcytometry. Bone marrow sections were subjected to H&E stain as well as immunohistochemical staining for anti- CD20 antibody. The mean area % of cellular bone marrow regions occupied by developing haemopoietic cells, mean area of fat cells and mean number of CD20 immunopositive B lymphocytes in the bone marrow were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. AM proved to have a myelo-protective and myelo-therapeutic capacity, evidenced at both laboratory and morphological levels. CONCLUSIONS: The greatest myelo-potentiating effect of AM was achieved when supplied before and together with CY therapy.

Histological Study on Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy on Experimental Renal Injury Induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion in Male Albino Rat

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a major clinical problem with high mortality and limited treatment protocols. This study was planned to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) AKI. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was carried out on thirty adult male albino rats. Animals were divided equally into three groups. Group I (control sham-operated group) (n=10), were subdivided equally into two subgroups; Ia and Ib. The experimental group (n=20) were all subjected to I/R injury by clamping both renal pedicles for 40 minutes. Half of the I/R animals did not receive MSC therapy (group II) [non-MSC treated group]. The other half of the I/R animals received single intravenous injection of PKH26 labelled BM-MSCs immediately after removal of the clamps and visual confirmation of reflow (group III) [MSC treated group]. Animals were sacrificed 24 hrs (subgroups IIa & IIIa) and 72 hrs (subgroups IIb & IIIb) after intervention. Serological measurements included serum urea and creatinine. Kidney specimens were processed for H&E, PAS and PCNA. Mean % of renal corpuscles with affected glomeruli, mean % of affected tubules, mean area % of PAS-positive reaction and mean area % of PCNA immunoreactivity were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. MSCs-treated group exhibited protection against renal injury serologically and histologically. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study suggest a potential reno-protective capacity of MSCs which could be of considerable therapeutic promise for cell-based management of clinical AKI.