Effect of partial bladder outlet obstruction on the histological structure of adult male rat urinary bladder and the role of L-arginine supplementation

Bladder outlet obstruction [BOO] is one of the most common urological problems in elderly men. l-Arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide synthesis, is thought to play an important role in the lower urinary tract function. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of partial BOO on the structure of the urinary bladder in adult male albino rats and to test the possible protective role of l-arginine. Twenty-seven adult male albino rats were divided into three groups: rats in group I served as controls. Rats in group II were subjected to partial BOO. In group III, the obstructed rats were injected intraperitoneally with L-arginine [at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight/day] for 6 weeks. Specimens were processed for H and E and Mallory trichrome stains, desmin immunoreaction, and electron microscopic study. Morphometric results were statistically analyzed. Examination of the urinary bladder of obstructed rats showed an observable reduction in the urothelium thickness with focal sloughing of the mucosa as well as cytoplasmic vacuolation of some cells. Cellular infiltration and dilated congested blood vessels of the lamina propria were also encountered. Most smooth muscle cells were distorted with wide separation of muscle bundles and significant increase in the optical density of desmin expression. An increase in collagen fiber deposition was detected in the lamina propria. Ultrastructurally, the superficial urothelial cells showed electron-lucent vacuoles and large electron-dense granules, whereas the myocytes had irregular sarcolemmae. L-Arginine was able to prevent most of the observed alterations. L-Arginine showed a potential protective role against the altered urinary bladder structure induced by partial outlet obstruction. Further physiological studies on the detrusor muscle under the effect of l-arginine are recommended

histological study on the effect of noise on the adrenal cortex of adult male guinea pigs and the possible role of combined vitamin [A, C, and E] supplementation

Noise exposure is considered a stressful factor that causes changes in many organs, including the endocrine system. Timing of intervention by antioxidants obviously has a key role in the success of the therapeutic regimen. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of noise exposure on the histological structure of the adrenal cortex in adult male guinea pigs and evaluate the role of postnoise treatment with vitamins A, C, and E. Thirty adult male guinea pigs were divided equally into three groups. Group I [the control group]; group II [the experimental group], which was exposed to noise 4 h/day for 30 days; and group III, which was exposed to noise in the same manner as group II and then administered vitamins A, C, and E once daily for 5 successive days, starting 1 day after noise exposure. Specimens of the adrenal cortex were processed for study by light [H and E stain] and electron microscopy. Morphometric study was also performed. The adrenal cortex of the noise-exposed group [group II] showed loss of architecture of the zona glomerulosa and fasciculata with cellular infiltration. In addition, zona fasciculata cells showed marked cytoplasmic vacuolation, whereas zona reticularis cells appeared with condensed nuclei and congested blood sinusoids. Ultrastructurally, zona glomerulosa and fasciculata cells revealed swollen mitochondria, dilated cisternae of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and a few lipid droplets. Animals treated with combined vitamins [group III] revealed restoration of the normal adrenocortical structure, whereas zona reticularis showed increased proliferative activity. Morphometric study revealed a significant increase in the mean thickness of the cortex and surface area of both zona glomerulosa and fasciculata of the exposed animals, whereas group III revealed nonsignificant difference from the control. Exposure to noise caused histological alterations in the structure of the adrenal cortex. Postnoise treatment with vitamins A, C, and E could markedly reduce these alterations

effect of fluoxetine on the structure of adult rat parotid glands and the possible role of pilocarpine with nizatidine: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Hyposalivation is an important clinical side effect related to the use of antidepressants. Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Nizatidine, an H2 blocker, has a saliva stimulatory effect. The aim of the study was to investigate the histological and immunohistochemical changes resulting from chronic use of fluoxetine in adult rat parotid glands. The possible role of pilocarpine with nizatidine as an additional treatment to fluoxetine was also investigated. Thirty-six adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I was the control group; group II received fluoxetine with tap water; group III received fluoxetine with pilocarpine; and group IV received fluoxetine, pilocarpine, and nizatidine. At the end of the experiment, after 60 days, samples from parotid glands were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. The optical density of Fas expression and the area percentage of alpha smooth muscle actin [alpha-SMA] and collagen fibers were measured morphometrically and statistically analyzed. Examination of the fluoxetine-treated group revealed disfigurement, coalescence, and vacuolation of the serous acini. The interstitium showed collagen deposition and cellular infiltration. Ultrastructurally, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, numerous vacuoles, and granules of low electron density were noticed. Statistically, the area percentage of alpha-SMA and the optical density of Fas immunoreactivity showed a significant increase in group II when compared with other groups. Pilocarpine in group III offered a degree of recovery from the adverse effects of fluoxetine. In contrast, group IV showed a relatively normal parotid structure when fluoxetine was used together with pilocarpine and nizatidine. Fluoxetine adversely affected the histological structure of parotid glands. Nizatidine might be recommended as a combined form of treatment with pilocarpine in cases of hyposalivation caused by fluoxetine

green tea have an ameliorative effect against cabergoline-induced cardiotoxicity in adult male albino rats? A histological and biochemical study

Cabergoline is an ergot alkaloid derivative with dopamine agonist activity. The use of cabergoline was associated with significantly increased frequency of heart disease. Green tea has been found to prevent many cardiovascular diseases. To determine whether green tea could have an ameliorative effect against myocardial and valvular injury induced by cabergoline toxicity in rats or not. Thirty-six adult albino rats were used in this study. Medications were administered 6 days/week for 3 months by an oral gavage. The animals were divided into three groups; group 1 served as a control. Group II was given 0.5mg/kg cabergoline dissolved in corn oil. In group III, the rats received green tea 1000mg/kg, dissolved in 3ml distilled water along with cabergoline. Venous blood samples were collected. Cardiac enzymes including serum cardiac troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase-MB were estimated. All rats were sacrificed and their hearts were dissected out and processed for light and election microscopic examination. Cabergoline administration caused significant increases in the studied cardiac enzymes compared with the control groups. Histologically, evident myocardial lesions were revealed in group II in the form of widely separated and split muscle fibers. Ultrastructurally, the sarcoplasm contained irregular nuclei and bizarre-shaped mitochondria of different sizes. Localized areas of edema, corrugated sarcolemma, and interstitial collagen fibers were observed particularly in areas of myocardial damage. Alterations in the intercalated disc were also revealed. The mitral valve leaflets showed shortening and thickening of their leaflets. Coadministration of green tea with cabergoline caused a significant decrease in the mean troponin-I serum level compared with the cabergoline-treated group, whereas lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase -MB levels did not show any significant changes. Structurally, improvements in most myocardial and mitral lesions in the treated group were detected, except for some bizarre-shped mitochondria and interruption of the intercalated discs. Cabergoline has a deleterious effect on the histological structure of cardiac muscle and valves. Green tea could ameliorate some of these effects

Effect of experimentally induced diabetes on adult albino rats' ventral prostate gland and role of selenium: histological and biochemical study

The relationship between the occurrence of benign hyperplasia and prostatic cancer with diabetes is a controversial issue. Selenium has been found to alleviate diabetic complications in many organs. To clarify the impact of diabetes on the histological structure of the albino rats' ventral prostate gland and the possible role of selenium supplementation. Thirty adult male albino rats were divided equally into three groups. Group 1 served as control. Group 2 was given a single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin. Group 3 in which the rats, 1 week after diabetes induction, received 2 mg/kg body weight/day sodium selenite orally. Thirty days after diabetes induction, all rats were weighed, anesthetized, and sacrificed. The ventral prostatic lobes were dissected out, weighed, and processed for light and electron microscope examinations. The area percentage of collagen fibers, epithelial height, and acinar diameter were morphometrically measured. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS program. Examination of the ventral prostate gland of rats from group 2 revealed that the diameter of most acini was highly significantly increased when comparing it with group 1. The epithelial height of their acini was highly significantly decreased when comparing with group 1. Acini were lined by flat-to-low cuboidal cells with few papillary projections. The acinar lining showed focal areas of stratification. Few acini had columnar epithelium. Most cells had irregular-shaped nuclei, a dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, numerous electron-lucent vacuoles, and few secretory granules. Areas of irregular basement membrane were seen. Thick bundles of collagen fibers and cellular infiltration were seen. Examination of group 3 revealed that it nearly regained its normal architecture. Most acini had many papillary projections and were lined by columnar cells. Acinar cells had euchromatic basal nuclei, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and secretory granules of different sizes and densities, which might seem almost vacuolated with minimum secretory content. The body and prostatic weights were highly significantly lowered in group 2 in comparison with groups 1 and 3. Diabetes mellitus had a deleterious effect on the histological structure of the ventral prostate gland, and selenium could ameliorate diabetic effects on the prostate

Effect of caloric dietary restriction on the structure of aged skin and liver in male mice: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Caloric restriction [CR] exerts beneficial effects on most age-related degenerative changes throughout the body. However, its effect on aged skin and liver has not been thoroughly explored. To document the histological alterations of aged mouse skin and liver and to investigate the effect of CR on these changes. Thirty male mice, aged 1 month, were used in this study. They were equally divided into three groups. Group I [adult-ad libitium group] mice, fed an ad-libitum diet and sacrificed at 6 months of age, served as the control group. Group II [aged-ad libitum group] mice were fed an ad-libitum diet and were sacrificed when they reached the age of 1 8 months. Group III [aged-ad libitum group] mice were fed a calorie-restricted diet and were sacrificed at 18 months of age. Specimens from dorsal mouse skin and liver were dissected out and processed for light and immunohistochemical study. Epidermal thickness, area percentage of collagen, elastic fibers of the skin, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]-positive cells of the liver were all morphometrically measured and statistically analyzed. Thin skin of aged animals [group II] showed a significant reduction in the mean thickness of nucleated epidermal keratinocytes as compared with the control group [group I]. Most epidermal cells appeared with small, deeply stained nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. The dermis showed a few disorganized collagen bundles and thin, short elastic fibers. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a reduction of bcl2 expression in the basal keratinocytes of aged animals. Group III showed signs of improvement of aged skin manifested by a significant increase in the thickness of nucleated keratinocytes and area percentage of collagen fibers. Most keratinocytes regained their characteristic histological appearance with increased bcl2 expression in basal keratinocytes. Regarding liver results, the aged animals [group II] showed many hepatocytes with pyknotic nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. A highly significant decrease in the percentage of PCNA-positive nuclei was estimated. CR animals [group III] showed preservation of the histological structure of many hepatocytes and more reduction in the percentage of PCNA-positive nuclei. Various histological alterations were observed in the skin and liver of aged animals. Beneficial effects of CR on these changes were recorded. In addition, CR protects basal keratinocytes from early apoptosis, permitting the renewal potency of skin epidermis. CR also induced suppression of hepatocyte proliferation, and is thus considered as an effective tool to suppress tumor genesis in the liver

Effect of sodium fluoride-induced toxicity on the renal cortex of lactating mice and their offspring: a light and electron microscopic study

Fluoride is commonly added to drinking water for its clarification and to reduce tooth decay. However, fluoride was shown to have cumulative toxic effects on various organs, including the kidneys. To investigate the impact of sodium fluoride toxicity of drinking water on the histological structure of the renal cortex of lactating mice and their suckling offspring. Forty mice [20 mothers and 20 of their offspring] were used in this study and divided equally into four groups: group I [control mothers]: allowed ad libitum access to tap water without any added sodium fluoride during pregnancy and lactation, group II [treated mothers]: drinking tap water containing NaF [0.5 g/L] from day 15 of pregnancy until day 14 after parturition, group III: [suckling offspring of control mothers] and group IV: [suckling offspring of treated mothers]. All mice were killed on postnatal day 14. Specimens were prepared for light microscope examination [hematoxylene and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff] and electron microscope examination. In addition, tubular epithelial height and tubular diameter were measured morphometrically and analyzed statistically. Examination of the renal cortex of treated mothers [group II] showed atrophic glomeruli with widened glomerular spaces. Tubules appeared dilated with decreased epithelial height as proved morphometrically. Tubular cells had a vacuolated cytoplasm and pyknotic nuclei. The apical brush border of many proximal tubules showed a weak and disrupted periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Ultrastructurally, some proximal lining cells showed heterochromatic nuclei, numerous cytoplasmic vacuolation of variable sizes and small scattered rounded mitochondria associated with loss of basal infoldings. However, the distal tubules maintained their basal infoldings and organized mitochondria. Podocyte foot processes were distorted and rested on a thickened glomerular basement membrane. The suckling offspring of the treated mothers showed less severe tubular injury than observed in their mothers as the tubular dilatation and the epithelial height were not affected significantly. Sodium fluoride induced various degrees of damage to the structure of renal cortex. The lactating mice renal cortices were severely affected compared to those of their suckling offspring. Thus, it is recommended to adjust the fluoride content in the municipal water supply and to avoid excess fluoride intake especially for lactating mothers

Histological study on the role of testosterone administration on thiamphenicol induced testicular damage in adult albino rats

Thiamphenicol [TAP], a class of chloramphenicol antibiotics, is still applied to control infections in medical and veterinary clinics despite its known side effects. To study the histological alterations that may occur in adult albino rat testis after TAP administration and stoppage and to evaluate the role of testosterone [TES] supplementation. 32 adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were equally divided into four groups. Group I was a control. Groups II, III and IV received orally once daily dose of TAP 200 mg/kg b.w. for successive 4 weeks after the first week group III were injected intramuscular with testosterone 10 mg/kg b.w once per week for 3 weeks whereas group IV was left without treatment for another 8 weeks. At the time of sacrifice, the testes were carefully dissected out and processed for light and electron microscope examination. The testes of TAP treated rats [Group II] showed many disorganized seminiferous tubules lined with vacuolated germinal epithelium and contained desquamated germ cells with darkly stained nuclei. Sertoli cells were lying on thick electron dense basement membrane. They contained large, irregular nuclei and their cytoplasm contained many vacuoles, some destroyed mitochondria and multiple electron dense granules. Transverse sections in the mid pieces of the sperms showed marked affection of mitochondrial sheath. The testes of TAP-TES treated group showed non significant improvement of the TAP hazardous effects. In group IV the seminiferous tubules were lined with spermtogonia and Sertoli cells. Multinucleated cells were also noticed. Some Sertoli cells had irregular electron dense nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. Others contained numerous swollen mitochondria and granules of different sizes and electron densities. In all experimental groups, the interstitial spaces showed abundant collagen fibres around blood vessels and there was no observable changes in the Leydig cells. The results of the present work revealed that TAP induced serious histological alterations in the testes of adult albino rats. Neither stopping TAP administration nor TES supplementation ameliorate the damaging effect of TAP. in clinical practice, TAP adverse effects must be taken into consideration for fear of infertility. So, further researches are suggested