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

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

Ultrastructural changes in the pre- and post-synaptic elements of the neuromus cular junction of the adult albino rat following nerve crush lesion

Using electron microscopy, the morphological changes in the presynaptic and postsynaptic elements [nerve terminal, terminal Schwann cells and the post-synaptic folds] of the neuromuscular junction of the rat, induced by nerve crush lesion, have been investigated. Adult albino rats were used in this study. The sciatic nerve was crushed, and denervated gastrocnemius muscles were dissected at different intervals following the crush lesion. The results were given