effect of maternal exposure to di-[2-ethylhexyl]-phthalate on the lung of albino rat offspring: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Introduction: Di-[2-ethylhexyl]-phthalate [DEHP] is present in a wide variety of medical devices. Infants are more susceptible than the general population

Aim of work: To investigate histological and immnohistochemical changes in the lung of newborn rats in response to mothers' exposure

Materials and methods: Twenty nonpregnant adult female albino rats were used. After pregnancy, on the 15[th] day of pregnancy, dams were divided into two equal groups: the control group received corn oil and the treated group received DEHP [500 mg/kg/day] from the 15[th] day of pregnancy and during the 1[st] three weeks of lactation. Fifteen offspring from each group were subdivided into three subgroups, 1, 2, and 3, which were sacrificed at the 2[nd], 7[th], and 21[st] postnatal day, respectively. Lung specimens were processed for light microscope [H and E and immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen] and electron microscope examination

Results: H and E-stained sections of treated lung on the 2[nd] day showed variable-sized saccules. Primary septa were significantly thicker than those of the control group. However, on the 7[th] day, focally dilated saccules with thin primary septa were observed. Saccules and secondary septa were fewer than those in the control group. On the 21[st] day, variable-sized alveoli and a significant increase in septal thickness were observed. Immunohistochemically, there was a significant increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells on both the 2[nd] day and the 21[st] day, whereas they decreased on the 7[th] day in comparison with the control group. Ultrastructurally, treated lung on the 2[nd] day showed a saccular wall with many layers of interstitial cells, some with shrunken nuclei, whereas on the 7[th] day, thin septa were observed. Type II pneumocytes and interstitial cells had heterochromatic shrunken nuclei, whereas on the 21[st] day, the presence of macrophages was observed in the lumen. Interstitials cells and type II pneumocytes showed heterochromatic nuclei and marked distortion of organelles

Conclusion: DEHP induced marked histological and immunohistochemical changes in the lung. Alternative plasticizers with less adverse impact could be used. Further studies on the possible protective effect of antioxidants are recommended

Nutritional assessment of nephrotic children

Nephrotic children are prone to develop malnutrition and growth retardation. Hence, the importance of nutritional assessment for such patients is clearly evident. The objectives of this study were to predict the most reliable parameters for such assessment, and to calculate the nitrogen balance for such patients. Nutritional status was assessed, in 23 nephrotic children whose ages ranged from 2 to 14 years, using relevant data derived from through clinical examination, appropriate laboratory investigations, as well as some specific calculations. The same assessment was conducted for 30 normal healthy age-matched children serving as a control group. Nephrotic children, compared to the control group, exhibited a statistically significant decrease regarding the height for age z score, the height for age percentile, the mid-arm circumference, the triceps skin fold thickness, the hemoglobin percentage, the red blood cell count, the white blood cell count, the circulating lymphocyte percentage, the serum protein level, the serum albumin level, and the blood urea nitrogen level. On the other hand, nephrotic children, compared to the control group, had a statistically significant increase in the plasma cholesterol level, the 24 hour urinary volume, the 24 hour urinary protein level, the 24 hour urinary urea level, the urinary protein/urinary creatinine ratio, and the creatinine clearance/urinary creatinine ratio. The nitrogen balance was positive in all the control group, while, it was negative in 78.3% [18 out of 23] nephrotic children. The latter correlated negatively with the circulating lymphocyte percentage, and positively with the 24 hour urinary urea level. It was concluded that nephrotic children were very prone to develop malnutrition and negative nitrogen balance. Both the mid-arm circumference, and the triceps skin fold thickness were valuable tools for nutritional assessment of such sick children. Measuring the circulating lymphocyte percentage, and the 24 hour urinary urea level might give a preliminary clue to the presence of a negative nitrogen balance

Effect of sodium valporate [SVP] on male gonads and fertility

To study the effect of SVP on both premature and mature male gonads and on male fertility via valid animal models. The study included control "non-medicated" [15 premature and 15 mature] male rats and medicated [15 premature and 15 mature] male rats on effective dose of SVP [200 mg/kg/day] via oral administration for one month and two months. Five rats of each group were sacrificed after one month of treatment together with their controls. Another five of each were sacrificed after two months. The remaining five rats in each group "premature and mature" survived for another one month without SVP intake and then sacrificed. Mating was allowed by pairing between each male rat and a female rat with normal esterous cycle for 10 days and this repeated 3 times in each group. The testes of each sacrificed male rat were dissected out, weighed and examined macroscopically. Epididymal spermatozoal examination [progressive motility of sperms, sperm cell concentration, sperm apnormalities and living sperms] and histopathological examination of testes were done. Sodium valporate reduces fertility% of male rats and this reduction increased with the duration of treatment. The weights of testes [in both premature and mature] were significantly reduced in medicated groups. The epididymal sperm characters were markedly altered in medicated mature rats while azospermia was encountered in medicated prematures and prematures recovered from treatment for one month. Also the degenerative changes of the testes were more marked in prematures. There was reversibility of these effects on stoppage of SVP. Sodium valporate reduces male fertility and induces degenerative changes in male gonads especially in premature on longer duration of treatment and these pathological effects are reversible on its stoppage

Cardiotoxic and genotoxic effects of doxorubicin in albino rats

Doxorubicin [DXR] is a potent chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment ofneoplastic diseases. To evaluate its cardiotoxicity and genotoxicity, it wasadministered orally for three successive weeks [three days a week] at a dailydose of 3.6 mg/kg body weight to a group of normal adult albino rats. At theend of the experiment, examination of the cardiac muscle of the treated ratsby light microscopic process showed areas of myocardial damage with separatedfoci of degenerated fibers, dilatation of blood vessels with increasedvasculature and areas of vascular degenerative changes between separatedirregular myofibrils. Electron microscopic study revealed, in addition to the above changes, a partial loss of myofibrils in some areas and degeneration in others, besides a disorganization of the nuclear membrane with nucleolusalternation and distension of blood capillaries. Increased vasculardegeneration and alternation of the interlocated discs were noted in manyareas with increased glycogen particles in-between the myofibrils. DXRinduced structural chromosomal aberration in the form of increased breaks andring chromosome formation, deletion of the short arm of acrocentricchromosome, and duplication of the long arm of metacentric chromosome, whilethe main numerical aberration was polyploidy chromosomal pattern

Ultrastructural features of adenohypophysis of normal and ovariectomized rats

Electron microscopic study of the control adenohypophysis revealed six different cell types. Somatotrophs were the most frequently observed cells with large, spherical, uniform electron dense secretory granules. The corticotrophs were large or medium sized cells with marginal granules. The gonadotrophs were identified with small granules, variable in size, shape, density and distributed throughout the cytoplasm. The mammotrophs were large cells with the largest secretory granules with variable heterogenecity. While the thyrotrophs were identified as small, irregular polygonal cells with the smallest marginal secretory granules. Lastly, the chromophobes were agranulated cells with little cytoplasm. In ovariectomized rats, the main ultrastructural changes were increased number of gonadotrophs with marked vacuolation of cytoplasm and the nuclei were eccentric in some cells, shrunken or dissoluted in others. The secretory granules were markedly decreased or even degranulation in some cells. Signs of activation of the cell organoids were indicated by dilated RER swollen mitochondria, increased number of lysosomes, and the nuclei were mainly formed of euchromatin.The other type of cells were less markedly involved. The previous results indicated that the gonadotrophs were the mainly involved cells in adenohypophysis regulated the ovarian pituitary function and after ovariectomy they showed hyperactivation to compensate the hormonal feed-back mechanism

Light and electron microscopy of skeletal muscle tissues of patients versus carriers of duchenne muscular dystrophy

The study included 8 male patients [5 - 10 years old]. With Duchenne muscular dystrophy [DMD], their female carriers [20 - 50 years old] and 3 healthy volunteers [2 males and 1 female, 20 - 40 years old]. Carriers were classified into obligate symptomatic [4 carriers], obligate asymptomatic [2 carriers] and possible carriers [2 carriers]. Muscle biopsy was taken from the quadriceps muscle of all the studied persons and prepared for both light and electron microscopy processes. Light and electron microscopy of muscle biopsies revealed marked dystrophic changes in all patients and mild dystrophic changes in 2 obligate symptomatic carriers, while some ultrastructural changes were detected by electron microscopy only in the other 2 obligate symptomatic carriers and one of the 2 obligate asymptomatic carriers. The other obligate asymptomatic carrier and the possible carriers showed no changes by both light and electron microscopy. So, we can conclude that carriers of DMD might show dystrophic changes by both light and electron microscopy. These changes were more frequent in obligate symptomatic carriers. Although, electron microscopy was more accurate than light microscopy in their detection, it could not detect all the carrier state

suppressive effect of green tea extract of chromosome aberrations induced by yeast killer toxin [KT 36] in rat bone marrow cells

Soil samples collected from the different sites in Zagazig area yielded isolation of yeast killer fungi [Hansenula anomala]. Yeast killer toxin [KT 36] from Hansenula anomala fungus induced chromosomes aberrations [CA] in rat bone marrow cells. The incidence of aberrant cells were at their maximum level 24 hours after toxin injection. Rats given the hot water extract from green tea [GTE] 24 h before they were injected with [KT 36] displayed considerably suppressed [KT 36] induced [CA] in their bone marrow cells. Rats administered [GTE] 2 h before or after [KT 36] induced [CA] parallel the dose of [GTE] when given in the range between 0.1 and 2 gm/kg body weight; higher doses produced no additional suppression. On the other h and, rats given the hot water extract from black tea or coffee 24 or 2 h before yeast toxin injection showed no suppressive effect

Cytogenetic study in some cases of epidermolysis bullosa [dystrophic type]

Fifteen control volunters were included in this study. Another fifteen patients suffering from epidermolysis bullosa [EB], dystrophic type attending the out patient clinic of Dermatology and Venereology and Pediatric departments were included in the present study. The diagnosis was based on clinical pictures and histological examination through light and electron microscopy. Complete family histories were analyzed to construct the pedigrees and detect the possible mode of inheritance. All patients were coincided with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Sex chromatin and chromosomal studies including karyotyping of chromosomes were done to demonstrate any aberration. No chromosomal abnormalities were observed in the parents of the patients and the control group, while aberrations were detected in six patients. These included chromosomal break in two cases, isochromatid gap, ring chromosome, dicentric and duplication of one chromosome. These chromosomal aberrations may play a role in the inheritance of the disease

Effect of prazosin treatment on sperm transport and fertility of rats

Prazosin is a new hypotensive adrenergic blocking drug. Intramuscular medication with prazosin for 6 weeks significantly reduced the fertility of male rats. Further injection for another 2 weeks produced insignificant decrease in fertility. On the other hand 2 weeks of recovery after 6 weeks medication produced significant increase in fertility. Prazosin medication decreased the response of isolated vasa deferentia of the treated rats to epinephrine and norepinephrine. The histological studies demonstrated degenerative and atrophic changes in the seminiferous tubules after 6 weeks treatment. Regeneration was observed after stoppage of treatment for 2 weeks