[Study of anatomical, histological and biochemical changes of liver in the mice exposed to phenol]

Liver is one of the most important body's organs which metabolize many of substances such as phenol. This study was done to investigate the probable effects of phenol administration on the histo-anatomical structure and also biochemical functions of the liver. In this experimental study, eighty male Balb/C mice were selected and randomly divided into one control group and three experimental groups. Distilled water was administered through gavage method on the control group and experimental groups received 80, 180 and 320 mg/kg/day of phenol, respectively, for one month. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized by chloroform and the liver was removed from body. Then, absolute and relative weights of liver were recorded. Hepatic tissue samples were taken and histological changes were examined using optical microscopy. Blood samples were also collected and after separating the sera, liver enzyme activities were analyses. Administrating phenol caused significant elevation in absolute and relative liver weights. Also, phenol treatment induced significant increase of hepatocyte diameter, hepatocyte's nuclear diameter and hepatic sinusoid size [P<0.05]. Furthermore, phenol treated animals had leukocyte infiltration, necrosis, congestion and bile duct hyperplasia in comparison with the control group. Phenol treatment caused significant elevation in the serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP [P<0.05]. The present study showed that exposing to the different concentrations of phenol can cause severe damages in the mice's liver

Correlation of serum lipid profile with histological and seminal parameters of testis in the goat

The lipid composition of a mammal's spermatozoa and seminal plasma vary in both structure and function. Evidence exists to suggest that dietary supplementation with the appropriate polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs] affects spermatogenesis, semen quality and sperm motility. Therefore, this study has been conducted to evaluate the correlations between serum lipid profile and histological, anatomical and seminal parameters of testes in clinically healthy goats. In this analytic, cross-sectional study, we chose a total of ten mature Iranian male goats that comprised a homogenous group through simple random sampling. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein; the sera were separated and subsequently used for measurement of serum lipids, lipoproteins and testosterone levels. In addition, we collected semen from the animals and evaluated the seminal characteristics. We also performed histological and anatomical assessments of the testes. The findings demonstrated that serum levels of high density lipoprotein [HDL-c] had a significant positive correlation with interstitial testicular tissue area [r=0.73; p<0.001], seminiferous tubule area [r=0.61; p<0.01], the number of Leydig cells [r=0.53; p<0.05], the diameter of the Leydig cell nuclei [r=0.54; p<0.05], scrotal circumference [r=0.83; p<0.001], testis weight [r=0.72; p<0.001], the number of live, normal sperm [r=0.94 ; p<0.001] and serum testosterone levels [r=0.88; p<0.001]. Significant but negative correlations were found between serum triglyceride concentration and seminiferous tubule area [r=-0.53; p<0.05], the diameter of the Leydig cell nuclei [r=-0.55; p<0.05], testis weight [r =-0.64; p<0.01], total sperm number [r=-0.82; p<0.001], number of live, normal sperm [r=-0.55; p<0.05] and serum testosterone levels [r=-0.79; p<0.001]. In addition, a significant negative correlation was observed between serum very low density lipoprotein [VLDL-c] concentration and the percent of live sperm [r=-0.67; p<0.01], and serum testosterone levels [r=-0.65; p<0.01]. The present results indicated that among serum lipids only the levels of HDL-c positively correlated with testicular parameters. High serum triglyceride levels exerted direct adverse effects at the testicular level, which was mainly observed in the seminiferous tubules [STs], characterization of Leydig cells and semen quality

[Correlation of serum levels of testosterone, and anatomical and histomorphometrical indices of the testis with lipids and lipoproteins profile in the mice]

The previous studies have suggested that dietary supplementation ingredients and its appropriate polyunsaturated fatty acids can increase spermatogenesis and improve sperm quality in the domestic mammals and the chickens. In this study, Correlation of serum levels of testosterone, and anatomical and histomorphometrical indices of the testis with lipids and lipoproteins profile in the mice were evaluated. In this experimental study, 60 adult male mice were randomly selected. After animal euthanasia, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. The serum concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride were measured by enzymatic method, lipoproteins were determined by precipitation method and testosterone was measured by radio immuno assay. Anatomical indices, including weight, scrotal circumference, length and width of the testis, were recorded. For histomorphometric study, the 5micro- sections were made and stained with Hematoxyline- Eosin. Data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation tests. The serum levels of HDL-c were significantly correlated with the diameter of the leydig cells, testicular tubular area, germinal epithelium height, scrotal circumference and as well as serum levels of testosterone. Serum triglyceride and VLDL-c values were inversely correlated with the diameter of the leydig cells and germinal epithelium height. Furthermore, the serum triglycerides levels had significant positive correlation with the testis weight. Based on this study, anatomical and histomorphometrical indices of the testis correlate positively with serum levels of HDL-c and also inversely correlate with the triglycerides and VLDL-c values in the male mice

effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. on placental histomorphology and survival of the neonates in mice

Carthamus tinctorius L. [Safflower] is a member of the asteraceae family which is used as a food additive but also has medicinal applications. This study investigated its effects on placental histomorphology and survival of mice neonates. Eighty Balb/C pregnant mice were randomly distributed into one control and three experimental groups [n=20]. The control group received only distilled water, whereas experimental groups were administered intraperitoneally C. tinctorius extract at doses of 0.7, 1.4, and 2.8 mg/kg during the organogenesis period [6[th] to 16[th] day of gestation]. On the 17[th] day of gestation, half of the animals were euthanized; their fetuses and placentas were removed and histomorphological study was performed. In the rest of the animals after parturition, the number of neonates was counted. Survival rates were periodically calculated for neonates within days 5, 15, 25, and 42 after birth. The results were evaluated by one-way ANOVA. The results showed that treatment with 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg C. tinctorius extract caused reduction in the trophoblastic giant cells ratio and increasing in the proportion of labyrinthine interhemal membrane [LIM]. Moreover, the size of the labyrinthine zone per whole placenta, weight, diameter, and thickness of the placenta in the mice administered with 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg C. tinctorius extract became lower than those of controls [p<0.05]. In addition, in the treated mice with 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg C. tinctorius extract, the number of neonate was drastically decreased on days 5, 15, 25, and 42 after birth. It is concluded that treatment with C. tinctorius extract in doses of 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg induces toxic changes in the placental structure so caution should be paid to popular consumption of this plant both as an alternative medicine and as a food additive