Retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles improves spermatogenesis in scrotal hyperthermia in mice / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#High temperatures can trigger cellular oxidative stress and disrupt spermatogenesis, potentially leading to male infertility. We investigated the effects of retinoic acid (RA), chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs), and retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (RACHNPs) on spermatogenesis in mice induced by scrotal hyperthermia (Hyp). @*Methods@#Thirty mice (weighing 25 to 30 g) were divided into five experimental groups of six mice each. The groups were as follows: control, Hyp induced by a water bath (43 °C for 30 minutes/day for 5 weeks), Hyp+RA (2 mg/kg/day), Hyp+CHNPs (2 mg/kg/72 hours), and Hyp+RACHNPs (4 mg/kg/72 hours). The mice were treated for 35 days. After the experimental treatments, the animals were euthanized. Sperm samples were collected for analysis of sperm parameters, and blood serum was isolated for testosterone measurement. Testis samples were also collected for histopathology assessment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluation, and RNA extraction, which was done to compare the expression levels of the bax, bcl2, p53, Fas, and FasL genes among groups. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining was performed. @*Results@#Treatment with RACHNPs significantly increased stereological parameters such as testicular volume, seminiferous tubule length, and testicular cell count. Additionally, it increased testosterone concentration and improved sperm parameters. We observed significant decreases in ROS production and caspase-3 immunostaining in the RACHNP group. Moreover, the expression levels of bax, p53, Fas, and FasL significantly decreased in the groups treated with RACHNPs and RA. @*Conclusion@#RACHNPs can be considered a potent antioxidative and antiapoptotic agent for therapeutic strategies in reproductive and regenerative medicine.

Vitamin C restores ovarian follicular reservation in a mouse model of aging / 대한해부학회지

Ovarian aging is related to the reduction of oocyte quality and ovarian follicles reservation leading to infertility. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant which may counteract with adverse effects of aging in the ovary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of vitamin C on NMRI mice ovarian aging according to the stereological study. In this experimental study, 36 adult female mice (25–30 g) were divided into two groups: control and vitamin C. Vitamin C (150 mg/kg/day) were administered by oral gavage for 33 weeks. Six animals of each group were sacrificed on week 8, 12, and 33, and right ovary samples were extracted for stereology analysis. Our data showed that the total volume of ovary, cortex, medulla and corpus luteum were significantly increased in vitamin C group in comparison to the control groups (P≤0.05). In addition, the total number of primordial, primary, secondary, and antral follicles as well as granulosa cells were improved in vitamin C group in compared to the control groups (P≤0.05). No significant difference was observed in total volume of oocytes in antral follicles between control and vitamin C groups. Our data showed that vitamin C could notably compensate undesirable effects of ovarian aging in a mouse model.

Effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium on tibial partial osteotomy model of fracture healing in hypothyroidism rats

Background: Hypothyroidism is associated with dysfunction of the bone turnover with reduced osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. Mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] secrete various factors and cytokines that may stimulate bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of MSCs-conditioned medium [CM] in hypothyroidism male rats after inducing bone defect

Methods: In this study, 24 male rats were randomly assigned to three groups: [I] hypothyroidism + bone defect [HYPO], [II] hypothyroidism + bone defect + CM [HYPO + CM], and [III] no hypothyroidism + bone defect [control]. Four weeks after surgery, the right tibia was removed, and immediately, biomechanical and histological examinations were performed

Results: The results showed a significant reduction in bending stiffness [32.64 +/- 3.99], maximum force [14.63 +/- 1.89], high stress load [7.59 +/- 2.31], and energy absorption [12.68 +/- 2.12] at the osteotomy site in hypothyroidism rats in comparison to the control and hypothyroidism + condition medium groups [p < 0.05]. There was also a significant decrease in the trabecular bone volume [3.86 +/- 3.88] and the number of osteocytes [5800 +/- 859.8] at the osteotomy site in hypothyroidism rats compared to the control and hypothyroidism + condition medium groups [p < 0.01 and p < 0.02, respectively]

Conclusion: The present study suggests that the use of the CM can improve the fracture regeneration and accelerates bone healing at the osteotomy site in hypothyroidism rats

Application of stereological methods for unbiased estimation of sperm morphology in the mice induced by busulfan / 대한해부학회지

Busulfan is an anticancer drug, which causes the apoptosis germ cells and azoospermia in humans and animals. Abnormal morphology of spermatozoa related to the male infertility. The sperm morphology is evaluation of sperm size, shape and appearance characteristics should be assessed by carefully observing a stained sperm sample under the microscope. Evaluation of sperm morphology has been considered as one of the most important factors for a successful fertilization and determining sperm quality. The mice were assigned to tow experimental groups: control and busulfan. Each group included six mice that were housed under standard conditions. The volume was estimated using the nucleator method. The sperm's flegellum and mid-piece length was estimated by counting the number of intersections between the tails and Merz grid test line in an unbiased counting frame, superimposed on live images of sperms. Our results demonstrated a significant different in the volume and surface of the sperm's head and the length of the sperm's flagellum in the control and busulfan groups. Busulfan can effect on the volume of the sperm's head and the length of the sperm's flagellum in rat.

Evaluation of sHLA-G levels in serum of patients with prostate cancer identify as a potential of tumor marker / 대한해부학회지

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer type in men and is the second cause of death, due to cancer, in patients over 50, after lung cancer. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a widely used tumor marker for prostate cancer. Recently, PSA is discovered in non-prostatic cancer tissues in men and women raising doubts about its specificity for prostatic tissues. PSA exists in low serum level in healthy men and in higher levels in many prostate disorders, including prostatitis and prostate cancer. Thus, a supplementary tumor marker is needed to accurately diagnose the cancer and to observe the patient after treatment. Recently, soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) has been introduced as a new tumor marker for different cancer types, including colorectal, breast, lung, and ovary. The present descriptive-experimental study was carried out including patients with malignant prostate tumor, patients with benign prostate tumor, and a group of health men as the control group, as judged by an oncologist as well as a pathologist. After sterile blood sampling, sHLA-G was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in each group. The data was then analyzed using one-way ANOVA. P≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results showed that the mean of sHLA-G level was high in patients. Also, it was found that there was a significant difference in sHLA serum level between the three groups. The data revealed that sHLA-G can be a novel supplementary tumor marker in addition to PSA to diagnose prostate cancer.

Recognition of a rare intrathoracic rib with computed tomography: a case report / 대한해부학회지

One of the uncommon congenital variations is intrathoracic rib which a normal, a bifid, or an accessory rib lies within the thoracic cavity that is founded accidentally. Clinically, in most cases they are without symptoms; however, it may cause intrathoracic problems therefore it is important for radiologists and physicians to identify to prevent of excessive intervention and treatment during imaging diagnostic techniques of thoracic problems. In this report, we provide the case of a rare presentation of an intrathoracic rib in a 3-year-old boy arising from the inferior portion of a second rib based on findings from computed tomography. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case of this type of intrathoracic rib that demonstrated with computed tomography.

Erratum to: Evaluation of sHLA-G levels in serum of patients with prostate cancer identify as a potential of tumor marker / 대한해부학회지

No abstract available.

Stress Changes the Spatial Arrangement of Neurons and Glial Cells of Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Sertraline and Curcumin Prevent It

OBJECTIVE: The present study explored the three-dimensional spatial arrangements of the neurons and glial cells within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats. METHODS: It evaluated the arrangement for differences after stress with or without treatment with curcumin and sertraline using second-order stereology. Orientator method was applied to obtain isotropic uniform random sections of mPFC. The pair correlation g(r) and cross-correlation functions were estimated by counting dipole probes superimposed on histological sections of mPFC. RESULTS: The mean total volume of neurons and glial cells was 0.80 (0.05) and 0.40 (0.07), respectively in the control group. The corresponding values decreased by 50% in the stressed group. The curve of g(r) for the neurons and glial cells showed a wider gap between the stressed rats' mPFC. Theses indicate a negative correlation (repulsion) between the neurons and glial cells in the stressed rats. Evaluation of the cross-correlation function of the neurons and glial cells also showed a negative correlation in the stressed group. The estimated values of the global degree of order in the spatial point pattern for neurons and glial cells were 0.62 and 0.20 in control and stressed animals, respectively. Curcumin and sertraline protected the spatial arrangements of the cells after stress induction in rats. In addition, the volume of the neurons and glial cells remained unchanged after stress. CONCLUSION: Dissociation of the neurons and glial cells can is seen at some places in the stressed rats' cortex. However, the spatial arrangement of the cells was remained unchanged in curcumin+stress and sertraline+stress rats.

case report: rare communication of Ansa Cervicalis

During the past few years, researchers and practitioners have developed novel techniques, using ansa cervicalis to innervate muscles of the larynx paralyzed due to surgical procedures carried out in the chest and neck areas. During routine dissection of a middle-age male cadaver, an unusual course of the superior root of the ansa cervicalis was observed. In this case, the superior root of the ansa cervicalis fused with the vagus and ran within the carotid sheath, and then joined the inferior root forming the ansa cervicalis in the anterior wall of the carotid sheath. The study of this case will add to our current knowledge of ansa cervicalis and thus aid prevention of injury to the nerve during various surgical procedures

Stereological Comparison of the Effects of Pentoxifylline, Captopril, Simvastatin, and Tamoxifen on Kidney and Bladder Structure After Partial Urethral Obstruction in Rats

PURPOSE: Limited studies have shown antifibrotic effects of pentoxifylline, captopril, simvastatin, and tamoxifen. No comparisons are available of the effects of these drugs on prevention of renal and bladder changes in partial urethral obstruction (PUO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were divided into six groups (n=7). The sham-operated rats (group I) only underwent laparotomy and did not receive any treatments. The PUO groups (group II-VI) received normal saline (PUO+NS), pentoxifylline (100 mg/kg/d; PUO+PEN), captopril (35 mg/kg/d; PUO+CAP), simvastatin (15 mg/kg/d; PUO+SIM), or tamoxifen (10 mg/kg/d; PUO+TAM) by gavage for 28 days. Then, the volume and/or length of the kidney components (tubules, vessels, and fibrous tissue) and the bladder components (epithelial and muscular layers, fibrous tissue, fibroblast and fibrocyte number) were quantitatively evaluated on the microscopic sections by use of stereological techniques. RESULTS: The volume of renal and bladder fibrosis was significantly ameliorated in the PUO+PEN group, followed by the PUO+CAP, PUO+SIM, and PUO+TAM groups. Also, the volume and length of the renal tubules and vessels and bladder layers were more significantly protected in the PUO+PEN group, followed by the PUO+CAP, PUO+SIM, and PUO+TAM groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of PUO with PEN was more effective in the prevention of renal and bladder fibrosis and in the preservation of renal and bladder structures.

Curcumin prevents the structural changes induced in the rats' deep cerebellar nuclei by sodium metabisulfite, a preservative agent

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the the possible neurotoxic effects of sulfite and the protective potential of curcumin on the deep cerebellar nuclei using stereological methods.@*METHODS@#The rats were randomly divided into five experimental groups (n=6): Group I: distilled water, Group II: Olive oil, Group III: Curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), Group IV: Sodium metabisulfite (25 mg/kg/day), and Group V: Sodium metabisulfite+curcumin. At the end of 56 d, the right cerebellar hemispheres were removed and assigned to stereological studies. The total volume and total neuron number of deep cerebellar nuclei were assessed using Cavalieri and optical disector methods, respectively.@*RESULTS@#The data showed ∼20% and ∼16% decrease was respectively observed in the total volume and the total neuron number of the deep cerebellar nuclei of the sulfite-treated rats in comparison to the distilled water group (P<0.04). However, no significant change was observed in the total volume and neuronal number of the deep cerebellar nuclei in sulfite+curcumin-treated rats and curcumin played a protective role against sulfite. Curcumin or its vehicle (olive oil) did not induce any significant changes.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Curcumin, the main part of the turmeric, could prevent the structural changes induced in the deep cerebellar nuclei by sodium metabisulfite, a preservative agent, in rats.

Curcumin prevents the structural changes induced in the rats' deep cerebellar nuclei by sodium metabisulfite, a preservative agent

Objective: To evaluate the the possible neurotoxic effects of sulfite and the protective potential of curcumin on the deep cerebellar nuclei using stereological methods. Methods: The rats were randomly divided into five experimental groups (n=6): Group I: distilled water, Group II: Olive oil, Group III: Curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), Group IV: Sodium metabisulfite (25 mg/kg/day), and Group V: Sodium metabisulfite+curcumin. At the end of 56 d, the right cerebellar hemispheres were removed and assigned to stereological studies. The total volume and total neuron number of deep cerebellar nuclei were assessed using Cavalieri and optical disector methods, respectively. Results: The data showed ~20% and ~16% decrease was respectively observed in the total volume and the total neuron number of the deep cerebellar nuclei of the sulfite-treated rats in comparison to the distilled water group (P<0.04). However, no significant change was observed in the total volume and neuronal number of the deep cerebellar nuclei in sulfite+curcumin-treated rats and curcumin played a protective role against sulfite. Curcumin or its vehicle (olive oil) did not induce any significant changes. Conclusions: Curcumin, the main part of the turmeric, could prevent the structural changes induced in the deep cerebellar nuclei by sodium metabisulfite, a preservative agent, in rats.

Curcumin Can Prevent the Changes in Cerebellar Structure and Function Induced by Sodium Metabisulfite in Rat

Sulfites are used as anti-microbial and anti-oxidant agents in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Curcumin, a flavonoid, is an Asian spice that shows neuroprotective activities. The current study aimed to stereologically assess the rats' cerebellar cortex and rotarod performance following sulfite exposure and determine the possible neuroprotective potential of curcumin. The rats were divided into five groups: distilled water, olive oil, curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), sodium metabisulfite (25 mg/kg/day), and sodium metabisulfite+curcumin. At 56 days after treatment, rotarod performance was tested, and then the cerebellum was removed for stereological analysis. The study results revealed 31%, 36%, 19% and 24% decrease in the total volume of the cerebellum, cortex, the total number of the Purkinje cells and length of the nerve fibers in the cortex per Purkinje, respectively in the sodium metabisulfite-treated rats compared to the distilled water group (p<0.01). The pre-trained animals on the rotarod apparatus were tested first on the fixed speed rotarod protocol followed by the accelerating rotarod protocol two days later. The results showed a significant decrease in the latency to fall in both test in sulfite-treated rats. The sulfite effects on the structural parameters and rotarod performance were significantly protected by the concomitant curcumin treatment (p<0.001). Sulfite can induce structural and functional changes in the rats' cerebellum and concomitant curcumin prescription plays a neuroprotective role.

Curcumin, the Main Part of Turmeric, Prevents Learning and Memory Changes Induced by Sodium Metabisulfite, a Preservative Agent, in Rats

Sodium metabisulfite is used as a disinfectant, antioxidant, and preservative agent in the food, beverage, and drug industries. Neurons are highly sensitive to sulfite toxicity. Curcumin is the main part of turmeric and has neuroprotective effects on a variety of nervous system damages. The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective role of curcumin in learning and memory after exposure to sulfite in rats. The rats were divided into five groups receiving distilled water (solvent of the sulfite), olive oil (solvent of the curcumin), sodium metabisulfite (25 mg/kg/day), curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), and sulfite + curcumin. All the animals received daily gavages for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8th week, learning and memory were assessed in a partially-baited eight arm radial maze. The animals treated with sulfite showed fewer correct choices and more reference and working memory errors during the learning phase, at the end of the learning phase, and during the retention testing (p<0.001). The study results demonstrated that sulfite-exposure was associated with impaired learning and memory in rats. Adding curcumin to the rat nutrition plays a protective role in learning and memory after exposure to sulfite.

Protective Effects of Curcumin and Sertraline on the Behavioral Changes in Chronic Variable Stress-Induced Rats

Behavioral characteristics of the animal models and humans are impaired in chronic stress. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the protective effects of sertraline and curcumin on stress-induced learning and memory impairment, anxiety and anhedonia in rats. Male rats were divided into seven groups: stress+water, stress+olive oil, stress+curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), stress+sertraline (10 mg/kg/day), curcumin, sertraline, and control groups. The rats were exposed to chronic variable stress for 56 days. At the end of 40 days and while the previous treatments were continued, the rats were tested in the eight radial maze, elevated plus maze, and sucrose consumption for learning and memory, anxiety, and anhedonia, respectively. In comparison to the non-stressed group, stress+water and stress+olive oil groups revealed a significantly lower percent of correct choices and higher reference and working memory errors during learning and retention phases (p<0.001). In addition these stress groups showed a significant lower percent of the open arms time and open arms entries in the elevated plus maze and consuming less sucrose solution. In addition, the stress+curcumin and stress+sertraline groups showed a better performance in the evaluated parameters of the radial arm maze, elevated plus maze, and sucrose consumption tests. It appears that curcumin and sertraline have the similar effectiveness on behavioral changes in chronic variable stress-induced rats.

[Comparing bone marrow mesenchymal cells and mesothelial cells of peritoneal fluid in expressing molecules of major histocompatibility complex [MHC]]

Mesothelium is composed of a single layer of mesothelial cells attached to a thin basement membrane supported by subserosal connective tissue; it plays an important role in homeostasis, wound healing, fluid transport and inflammation. The introduction of peritoneal dialysis [PD] as a modality of renal replacement therapy has provoked much interest in the biology of peritoneal mesothelial cell. This study was conducted to investigate the nature and plasticity of mesothelial cells isolated from peritoneal dialysed fluid [PDF], from patients on dialysis. Cell populations from peritoneal fluid of dialysed patients showing no evidence of peritonitis, and mesenchymal cells isolated from the bone marrow were cultured and screened for dominant surface markers by cell culture and immunofluorescence; MHC II, [DR, DQ], and MHC I were detected by flow cytometry method. Our results showed both bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal cells obtained from peritoneal fluid do not express MHC II; also, peritoneal mesothelial cells have limited expression of MHC I. The use of peritoneal mesothelium as an option for grafting and regenerative therapy needs to be investigated in intensive research