Histochemical and ultrastructural effects of phytic acid on the mucosa of rat ileum treated with meloxicam

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] cause gastrointestinal damage both in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. New anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed in an attempt to improve their gastrointestinal side-effect profile. In spite of the numerous therapeutic advantages of meloxicam, it has, however, damaging effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Inositol hexaphosphate [IP6], also known as phytic acid, is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate that is particularly abundant in cereals and legumes. It has antioxidant, antimitotic, hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of phytic acid administration on the injurious effects of meloxicam on the mucosa of rat ileum. Thirty albino rats were divided into 3 groups; the first group [control] was put on a normal diet for 4 weeks; the second group received a diet containing 200 mg/kg meloxicam per day for 4 weeks; the third group received a diet containing 200 mg/kg meloxicam per day followed by orally intubated IP6 three times/week for 4 weeks, at a total dose of 40 mg/kg. Slices of ileum of all groups were taken and subjected to histological, histochemical and ultrastructural investigation. The results confirmed the damaging effects of meloxicam on the ileum mucosa and revealed the ameliorative effects of phytic acid against these lesions

Protective effect of zinc against cadmium-induced kidney damage in rats: histological, histochemical and ultrastructural study

The health risks to humans from acute and chronic cadmium [Cd] exposure have been well documented. The kidney is considered the critical organ for Cd toxicity following long-term exposure in humans and experimental animals. There is considerable information in the literature regarding the protective effect of Zn against the cellular toxicity caused by Cd. The present study was undertaken to examine the morphological alterations of the kidney after cadmium exposure, and to evaluate the potential benefit of Zn co-treatment on cadmium-induced tissue injury. Thirty male albino rats were divided into three groups. The first [control] group was injected subcutaneously with normal saline, the second group was injected subcutaneously with cadmium chloride solution [2.5 mg/kg b.w] 5 days/week for six weeks, and the third group was injected with zinc chloride solution [2.2 mg/kg b.w] one hour before the dose of cadmium chloride, 5 days/week for six weeks.Histological, histochemical and ultrastructural investigations of the kidney tissue confirmed the damaging effects of cadmium and revealed the beneficial effects of zinc pre-treatment on Cd-induced structural damage