Microscopic study on the effect of total cannabis extract on the developing liver of chick embryo

Total Cannabis extract was injected through the shell of fertilized chick eggs as a single dose of 1mg/egg on day 4 or day 9 of incubation. Ten days later the embryos were extracted and the liver specimens were collected and processed for light and electron microscopic examination. The results revealed that the mortality rate was higher among the younger age group [14th day after incubation] as compared with the elder one [19th day after incubation]. Disturbances in the hepatic architecture, presence of massive necrotic areas and degenerative changes associated with inflammatory infiltrative cells were the resultant effects encountered with cannabis injection on the 4th day of incubation. The liver of embryos from eggs injected by cannabis on the 9th day of incubation showed vast changes in the form of delayed development, lymphocyte infiltration, granulomatous formation and subcapsular as well as interstitial haemorrhage. The electron microscopic examination of the liver of the chick embryo injected with cannabis on the 9th day of incubation revealed histological changes in the form of hypertrophy of the microvilli of the hepatocytes, loss of combination between the fat globules and lysosomes within the hepatocytes, apparent increase in the endothelial gaps of the blood sinusoids and hypertrophy of von-Kupffer cells. Possible mechanisms of cannabis induced histopatholoogical changes in the developing liver of the chick embryo are discussed

Estimation of gestational age in human fetuses through histological assessment and morphometric study of fetal kidney

The present study deals with the problem of gestational age estimation through histological and morphometric approaches for the fetal kidney tissue. Thirty-five human fetuses that ranged from 12 to 38 weeks' of gestational age were investigated. Histological examination of the fetal kidney, including cortex and medulla, using H and E. Masson's Trichrome and P.A.S stains, allows us to define the principle modifications of the kidney during intrauterine life and to relate these to gestational age. The differentiation and maturation of the renal tubules preceded that of the glomeruli in the early developmental stages. Three distinctive developmental stages of renal glomeruli could be identified and classified: stage I, the most immature, stage II, moderately mature and stage III, the most mature, being the adult-like glomeruli. In spite of the appearance of the 3 developmental glomerular stages in the cortex of the same kidney at various periods of gestation [12-38 week], yet it was revealed that the key-element in both assessment of kidney maturation and gestational age estimation is the percentage of occurrence of mature glomeruli, stage III, as evidenced by area ratio of these glomeruli. In the medulla, a P.A.S. positive material was seen precipitated in both collecting tubules and Henle's loop, at 30 weeks gestation. Morphometric analysis for mature renal glomeruli i.e., stage III includes three parameters; mean number, mean total inner surface area and mean area ratio at various gestational periods [12-38 weeks], was carried out by means of Cell Image Analyzer System [CAS 200]. A direct proportional relationship has been found between advancement in gestational age and the mean area ratio of mature glomenuli at different gestational periods. This study validates routine histological techniques beside morphometric analysis of the human fetal kidney, being one of the products of conception, as a valuable tool for the forensic pathologist faced with the problem of gestational age assessment

Estimation of the postmortem interval an entamological basis for some fauna of the cadaver

The most common application of forensic entomology is the estimation of the postmortem interval [PMI]. The aim of the present work is to recognize the Egyptian pattern of this phenomenon. This was achieved through investigating the successive waves of insects that colonize the corpse at different periods after death, their morphological characteristics, their developmental stages in relation to postmortem interval and their sequence of arrival to the corpse. The effect of the state of the corpse whether buried or left in open air as well as the seasonal variations [temperature and relative humidity] on these faunas were also studied. Special concern was given to Sarcophaga flies, being the dominant dweller of the cadaver, to make use of their life cycle as an indicator for the time passed since death. A trial was made to find a relationship between the postmortem interval and the rates at which the studied life cycle of Sarcophaga occurs, in the corpse and in the laboratory through rearing experiments of larvae and pupae till emerging of the adult fly, under the same environmental conditions. Comparing the collected data, it was evident that similar results, concerning PMI estimation, could be documented

Evaluation of the effect of chronic oral administration of acetaldehyde on the mucosa of stomach of albino rats

In order to clarify the effect of chronic oral administration of acetaldehyde, 24 adult albino rats of both sexes divided into four groups were used in this study. The stomach was dissected and prepared for staining by Hx and E, periodic acid Schiff, alcian blue- PAS and Pritchard technique. Acetaldehyde induced hyperkeratosis in the forestomach. In glandular stomach, it induced focal discontinuity in the surface mucous cells with exfoliation and shedding of the cells into the lumen. Dilatation and irregularity of many glandular tubules were observed with vacuolation and destruction of some parietal cells. Groups of chief cells were destroyed loosing their eosinophilic granules with pyknotic nuclei. Histochemical observation has revealed increased PAS reaction in the surface and mucous neck cells. Decreased reactivity to AB stain in the mucous neck cells was evident. These findings have suggested that acetaldehyde has a toxic effect even in small dose when taken orally for a long period. It is recommended to restrict its use as a flavoring agent as far as possible