[Evaluation of lead acetate side effects on rat hippocampus and the effects of vitamin C on these]

To investigate the effect of ascorbic acid against lead-induced neurotoxicity in the rat hippocampus. The heads of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: normal, control, lead-treated and lead plus ascorbic acid-treated. Lead acetate [20mg/kg] was administered intraperitonealy to rats for 7days in third and fourth groups. During this period, rats in the fourth group received 500 mg ascorbic acid, in drinking water daily. At the end of the treatment, all rats were sacrified and their hippocamps were excluded. Using TEM the samples were examined in terms of natural and apoptotic cells. Histopathological evaluation showed that apoptosis was attenuated significantly in the ascorbic acid group but not in the lead group. Simultaneous administration of ascorbic acid and lead increased the level of Bcl-2 and decreased Bax protein compared with lead-treated only. It seems that ascorbic acid may reduce the lead-induced toxicity in central nervous system

rare variation of axillary artery

The axillary artery, a continuation of the subclavian artery, begins at the outer border of first rib, and ends nominally at the inferior border of teres major muscle where it becomes the brachial artery. During the dissection of a 30-35-year-old man cadaver, according to classical anatomy method [Grant's method], we found an unusual branching in the second part of the axillary artery on the right side. The second part of axillary artery had a common branch, from which a lateral thoracic and subscapular artery was originated. This is an infrequent variation that has not been reported in the anatomy references, as yet. The increasing use of invasive diagnostic and interventional procedures in cardiovascular diseases, as well use of branches of upper limb arteries for coronary bypass and flaps in reconstructive surgery. Therefore, accurate knowledge of normal and variant arterial pattern of the upper extremities, for example axillary artery, is very important for medical specialists particularly anatomists and surgeons. Awareness of such variations can help surgeons to reduce the postoperative complications

Morphine effects on mouse seminiferous epithelium by lectin histochemistry

Morphine causes disorders in testis and fertilization in animals. On the other hand they have shown important role of glycoconjugates in spermatogenesis. Lectins can detect glycoconjugates with specific terminal sugars. This study was conducted to assess possible effects of morphine on testicular glycoconjugates. One hundred and two BALB/c male mice [2-4 months] were assigned in three groups. One group received morphine, second treated with normal saline and third remained intact. After preparing paraffin blocks from testes, 5 micro m sections were obtained and incubated with different lectins by means of lectin histochemistry. Testicular cells reactions were assessed and graded with light microscope. Then results analyzed by variance test. Statistical test showed that there was a significant difference [p<0.05] in reaction to wheat germ agglutinin [WGA], specific for sialic acid, between experimental and control groups. About other lectins, which were employed for galactose, fucose and galactose- N acetyl galactosamine, there were no significant differences. Changing in reaction to WGA in significant reduction form in morphine treated samples, means sialic acid content reduction. Considering sialic acid importance in spermatogenesis, we can predict that adverse changes in spermatogenesis and reduction in fertilization rate due to sialic acid deficiency was resulted by morphine administration