Effects of neonatal exposure of male rats to transient hypothyroidism, hemicastration or acute testicular irradiation on spermatogenesis at puberty

The aim of the study was to establish the profile of inhibit B in normal and in experimentally manipulated sertoli and germ cells by transient neonatal hypothyroidism [TNH], hemicastration and acute irradiation in prepubertal and pubertal rats. Material and After birth, pups were divided by sex and male pups were retained. For neonates designated as controls [group I] [10 rats]: mothers and litters remained untreated, received food and water adlibitum then pups of 21 days old were sham operated. Group II [Hypothyroid group]: neonates were made hypothyroid by the addition of 0.1% [wt/vol] propylthiouracil [PTU] to the mothers water immediately after birth from day 1 to day 21. Group III [hemicastrated group] [10 rats]: neonatal hemicastration was done on day 21. Group IV [irradiated group] [10 rats]: 21 day old rats were exposed to a low dose of 3 Grays of gamma ray. Serum was collected at prepuberty [4th week] and puberty [12th week] for estimation of inhibin B, follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and testosterone levels.Semen analysis was done for pubertal rats. Inhibin B levels significantly declined at all groups II, III and IV compared to control rats aged 4 weeks. While in rats aged 12 weeks, significant increase at inhibin B level was observed at group II, while significantly declined at both groups III and IV. Comparing inhibin B levels at both age groups, there was significant decline in both control and hemicastrated rats with advancing age. While insignificant change was observed at both hypothyroid and irradiated groups. Prepubertal inhibin B level in control group correlated positively with its pubertal level, testosterone, sperm quality and pubertal testicular weight. It was negatively correlated with FSH both prepubutaly and at puberty. The study confirms the role that inhibin plays in the regulation of FSH secretion. Measurement of inhibin B prepubertally may give clinical clues about developmental deficiencies in the gonads that otherwise only become apparent around puberty or later in life

Study of carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] in uraemic patients on haemodialysis, its relation to B2 microglobulin and arterio-Venous shunt

to assess the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] in patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] undergoing haemodialysis and to clarify the role of the various factors in its occurrence. Patients and two samples: patients sample: 20 patients with CRF undergoing haemodialysis in the main university hospital in Alexandria divided into two subgroups according to the duration of haemodialysis. subgroup A: less than 5 years and B: more than 5 years. The control sample: ten healthy persons with matched age and sex. All patients were subjected to history taking and neurological examination. Laboratory investigations included blood urea, haemoglobin and serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, sodium potassium and beta2-microglobulin concentrations. Electro-physological studies were done using Dantec Cantata machine. Motor and sensory conduction studies, and electromyography were performed to confirm diagnosis of the neuropathy. monoeuropathy in the form of CTS was diagnosed clinically in 55% of cases and electrophysiologicaly in 65% beta2M was significantly increased with prolonged duration of haemodialysis. However, there was no significant effect of age, sex, serum level of beta2M, the duration of haemodialysis or the side of the arterio-venous shunt when studied individually no the occurrence of CTS. However, there was no significant effect of the type of dialysis membranes. the presence of arteriovenous fistula was associated with the occurrence of CTS in a high% age of patients [65%]. Haemodailysis was associated with increased serum level of beta2-M especially in patients with prolonged duration of haemodialysis. No single variable is incriminated in the pathogenesis of CTs and it is more likely that many factors share in its occurrence i.e. it is multi-factorial. Electrophysiological assessment of uraemic patients on haemodialysis revealed subclinical CTS and hence early treatment may result in better prognosis

Adrenomedullin level in cirrhotic rats: relationship with renal functions and some vasoconstrictors

Purpose: to assess the role of endothelial factors as adrenomedullin [AM] and nitric oxide [NO] in modulating intrahepatic circulation and the role of NO inhibitors. Also, to investigate their relationship with some renal functions and some vasoconstrictors as norepinephrine [NE] and plasma rennin activity [PRA]. a significant increase of AM levels, plasma and urinary No was observed at both groups of cirrhosis. They significantly declined upon No inhibition. The levels were significantly elevated at cirrhosis with ascites than without ascites. PRA significantly increased in both cirrhotic groups with ascites but insignificantly changed at cirrhotic groups without ascites. NE significantly increased at cirrhotic groups [group II and III]. Both NE and PRA significantly declined upon NG nitro L-argenine methylester [L-NAME] administration. AM levels were negatively correlated to mean arterial pressure [MAP] and glomerular filtration rate [GFR]. While it was positively correlated to NE levels, PRA, plasma and urinary NO metabolites, serum Na+ level and urinary sodium excretion [UnaV]. at cirrhosis, there were significantly increased circulating levels of AM, plasma and urinary NO which could be responsible for the arterial vasodilatation. The mechanism of AM effects could be due to NO release. There were increased levels of NE and PRA due to arterial underfilling which activates a baroreceptor mediated neurohumoral response to counterregulate the vasodilatation. NO inhibition revered haemodynamic changes associated with cirrhosis. This raises the possibility of using long term NO inhibition to correct complications associated with cirrhosis and Bilharzial hepatic fibrosis [BHF]