Effects of insulin and metformin on fetal kidney development of streptozotocin-induced gestational diabetic albino rats / 대한해부학회지

Gestational diabetes mellitus is one of common medical complications of pregnancy. Hyperglycemia in utero impairs renal development and produces renal anomalies. Metformin has antioxidant properties and better glycemic control. Aim: assessment insulin and metformin effects on renal development of streptozotocin-induced gestational diabetic albino rats. Sixty virgin female albino rats were used. Once pregnancy confirmed, animals were randomly assigned into control, metformin, diabetic, diabetic plus insulin, diabetic plus metformin and diabetic plus insulin and metformin treated groups. Rats were sacrificed on the 20th day of gestation; fetuses were extracted and weighted. Fetal kidneys were extracted prepared for light, morphometric and electron microscopic examination. Diabetic followed by diabetic plus metformin treated groups revealed retardation of glomerular development in the cortical and Juxtaglomerular zones with a significant increase in the early immature glomerular stages and immature to mature glomerular ratio compared to other groups. Diabetic group also showed morphometric changes, shrunken and empty glomeruli, vacuolar degeneration and hemorrhage. Diabetic plus metformin group showed minimal improvement while diabetic plus insulin and diabetic plus insulin and metformin groups showed developmental, histopathological and morphometric improvement with best results in the combination group. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) possess deleterious effects on fetal kidney development. Insulin improves the glycemic state and decreases GDM effects on fetal kidneys. Metformin produces mild protection while the combination of insulin and metformin produces the best glycemic control and protect fetal kidneys.

Protective role of green tea extract against tamoxifen induced liver injury in albino rats

Tamoxifen [TAM] is a synthetic antiestrogen commonly used to treat breast cancer in women. TAM-induced hepatotoxicity has been described, including toxic hepatitis, massive hepatic steatosis, or multifocal hepatic fatty infiltration. Tea is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. Some studies indicated that green tea prevents hepatotoxicity and has antitumorigenic effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the protective effects of green tea extract [GTE] against TAM-induced liver injury in rats. Forty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups [10 rats each]: the control group; the green tea group, administered 1.5% GTE orally for 18 days; the TAM group, treated with 45 mg/kg/day of TAM for 7 days; and the TAM and green tea group, administered 1.5% GTE 4 days before and 14 days after TAM treatment. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. The livers were removed and processed for light microscopic examination. The TAM-treated group showed loss of normal architecture of hepatic lobules, hemorrhage, cholestasis, ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes, steatosis, inflammatory cells infiltration, Kupffer cells hyperplasia, and dilated and congested sinusoids and portal venules. Liver sections of the TAM and green tea-treated group showed normal architecture of hepatic lobules, portal triad, hepatocytes, central vein, and blood sinusoids. Green tea has protective effects against TAM-induced hepatotoxicity

Role of fish oil in gasoline vapor-induced lung damage in adult male albino rats

Background: Exposure to gasoline vapor is known to produce oxidative stress and induce pulmonary diseases. Fish oil was found to play a role in the prevention of chronic lung diseases through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Aim of the study: To study the role of fish oil in lung changes induced by gasoline vapor inhalation in male adult albino rats

Materials and methods: Eighty adult male albino rats were divided randomly into four groups of 20 rats each: control, gasoline-exposed, gasoline+fish oil-concomitant, and fish oil-treated groups. The rats of the control group were subjected to fresh air, whereas rats of the gasoline-exposed group were exposed to gasoline vapor for 10 weeks. Rats of the concomitant group received 0.5 ml/kg fish oil orally daily while being exposed to gasoline vapor. Rats of the fish oil-treated group only received fish oil. Right and left lungs were processed for light and electron microscopic examination, respectively

Results: Lung tissues of gasoline vapor-exposed rats showed collapsed alveoli, thick interalveolar septa, inflammatory cell infiltration, intra-alveolar exudates, hemorrhage, fibrosis, and hypocellularity. Rats of the concomitant group showed a marked reduction in these pathological features

Conclusion: There is evidence that fish oil can ameliorate lung changes induced by gasoline vapor inhalation

Influence of low frequency electric and magnetic fields exposure on albino rat placentation following maternal exposure during early and late periods of embryogenesis

Background: with the phenomenal growth in the use of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields EMFs, there has been a surge of interest concerning the possible harmful biological effects of electromagnetic fields EMFs with a frequency of 50-60 Hz on the human body

Aim of the work: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the histological changes in the placenta after exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields during two different critical periods of embryogenesis

Methods: twenty-four pregnant albino rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: control, early exposed and late exposed. Both exposed groups were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field of intensity 1.5G and a strong electric field of intensity 10KV/m. The EMFs exposure started from gestational day 6 through day 10 in the early exposed group and from gestational day 11 through day 15 in the late exposed group. Twenty day full term placenta were then collected and examined histological through light microscopy using hematoxylin and Eosin stains

Results: The present study indicated that 50Hz EMFs exposure the low frequency EMFs exposure in the early and late period affect the placentation of albino rats. Also EMFs exposure in the early period cause changes in rat placenta more than that occurred in the late exposure except the deciduas was more affected in late exposure

Conclusions: So it is suggested that exposure to appliances that producing EMFs must be limited especially during pregnancy

Craniofacial bones development in albino rat fetuses following maternal exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields during early and late periods of embryogenesis

Background: With the progressive development of the electrical industry, several workers have studied the effects of electromagnetic fields on cells, organs and tissues through animal studies to investigate the possible harmful biological effects on the human body

Aim of the work The aim of the present study is to evaluate the frequency and pattern of craniofacial bones ossification of 18 and 20-day albino rat fetuses, following maternal exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields in the early and late periods of embryogenesis

Methods: Forty eight pregnant albino rats were randomly divided into two age groups [18 and 20 day] each of them was subdivided into three equal groups: control, early exposed and late exposed. Both exposed groups were exposed to 50Hz magnetic fields of intensity 1.5G and a strong electric field of intensity 10KV/m. The EMFs exposure started from gestational day 6 through day 10 in the early exposed group and from gestational day 11 through day 15 in the late exposed group. 18 and 20-day fetuses were then collected and their skeletons were stained with Alizarin red for their evaluation

Results: The present study indicated that 50 Hz EMFs exposure decreased the craniofacial bones development either in the early or late exposed groups but more marked and more delayed in the early exposed group in 18-day fetuses. The early period of embryogenesis was the most critical period for ossification of craniofacial bones

Conclusion: So it is suggested that exposure to appliances that producing EMFs must be limited especially during early period of pregnancy