Vitamin A against the acetaminophen- induced toxicity in the renal cortex of albino rats

Acetaminophen [paracetamol; APAP] - induced toxicities have been a major problem in clinical practice. There is no specific treatment for paracetamol poisoning. Vitamin A has shown to have an assisting role in the management of renal inflammatory disorders in animal models as it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant as well as cytoprotective effect on various renal cell types. To evaluate the possible protective effect of vitamin A against APAP -induced acute renal toxicity in rats. Forty adult male albino rats were used and divided into five groups including control untreated, control vitamin A [12000 IU/kg b.wt, oral], APAP [Ig/kg b.wt, intraperitoneally], APAP+ vitamin A [3000 IU/kg b.wt, oral] and APAP+ vitamin A [12000 IU/kg b.wt, oral]. One week after APAP administration, all rats were anaesthetized. Venous blood was collected; serum and plasma were separated for biochemical assessments. The kidneys were also removed and the renal specimens were submitted to biochemical analysis as well as the microscopic examination using both the light and electron microscopy. Acetaminophen treatment induced increased lipid peroxidation in the plasma and renal tissue. Additionally, increased serum BUN and creatinine levels as well as decreased antioxidant catalase activity were detected indicating a possible involvement of oxidative stress in acetaminophen-induced nephropathy. Microscopic examination revealed massive proximal tubular degeneration, luminal cellular debris associated with partial loss of the luminal brush border. Additionally, cortical interstitial vascular congestion and extravasation of red blood cells were observed. Vitamin A treatment markedly reduced paracetamol- induced renal cortical damage in a dose - dependant manner, as evidenced by the improvement of the biochemical measurements and the marked amelioration of renal pathology. Vitamin A may be a choice of preventive treatment against paracetamol- induced renal damage. The mechanism of protection is probably due to its antioxidant properties and the repairing effect on the damaged tubular cells

Age-related changes in the urinary bladder of the female albino rats

Disturbances of the urinary bladder functions are common in elderly people particularly women. So, it was the aim of the present work to detect the age-associated changes in the urinary bladder that might play a role in the bladder dysfunctions. Twenty albino rats were used in the present work and divided into two equal groups, each consisted of ten rats. The first group included the adult rats [aged 3 months] and served as control group, while the second one was the senile rats aged [aged 24 months]. Specimens of the urinary bladder were taken, processed and examined using the light microscope [LM]] as well as the scanning electron microscope [SEM]. Light microscopic examination of the urinary bladder of the aged rats showed marked mucosal damage, ranging from degeneration of the epithelial cells to complete denudation of the mucosa with exposed lamina propria. Cellular infiltration and increased dilated and congested blood vessels of the lamina propria were also encountered. The smooth muscle cells of the musculosa showed variable degrees of degeneration with wide separation of the muscle bundles. Massive increase in the collagen fibres deposition was detected in the lamina propria, muscle layer and adventitia. SEM examination revealed loss of the polygonal cell pattern appearance of the superficial epithelial cells and increased the collagen fibres deposition in all the portions of the mucosa. It was concluded that the observed age related changes might be contributing factors in the urinary bladder disturbances in elderly population

comparative study on the protective role of testosterone and multivitamins with minerals against the toxic effect of glucocorticoids on the testis and bone of albino rat

The present study was designed to clarify the toxic effects of glucocorticoids on both testis and bone. This work also compared the possible protective role of multivitamins with minerals and testosterone. Thirty-five adult male albino rats were used in the present work. They were divided into seven groups of five rats each; two controls [negative and positive], multivitamins with minerals, testosterone, glucocorticoid, glucocorticoid with multivitamins and glucocorticoid with testosterone groups. The animals were sacrificed after two weeks and blood samples were collected for estimation of blood testosterone. For histological study, one testis and tibia were obtained from each animal. Examination of the glucocorticoid treated testiculsr specimens revealed severe damage of the seminiferous tubules with degeneration of all the spermalogenic cells and depletion of them. Leydig cells necrosis was also observed. Osteoporotic changes were detected in both tibia1 metaphysis and diaphysis. Combined administration of glucocorticoid with multivitumins showed restoration of the general architecture of the seminiferous tubules but most of the germinal epithelial cells as well as the Leydig cells remained degenerated. Reappearance of bone trabeculas of tibia1 metaphysis as well as increased cortical thickness of tibial diaphysis were also noticed. On the other hand, concomitant administration of glucocorticoid with testosterone proved to have a much protective effect as revealed by the normal appearance of the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells. Restoration of the norma1 trabecular pattern and cortical thickness was also evident. The study recommends the combined use of multivitamins with minerals and testosterone in patients with low blood testosterone level, especially in longterm glucocorticoids therapy

study of age associated changes in the mouse colon

The aim of the present work was to demonstrate any age associated changes in the colon. Forty mice were used in this study with different ages. The mice were divided into four groups aged 1, 2, 12 and 24 months. Light microscopic [LM] and scanning electron microscopic [SEM] examination as well as statistical analysis of the results were done. It was found that in old aged mice [12 and 24 months], there was an apparent decrease in the number of goblet cells and a marked increase in the amount of collagenous fibres compared to the young aged mice [1 and 2 months]. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in the outer diameter and length of the crypts in old aged mice. In addition, a significant decrease in the nerve cell number of Auerbach' s plexus was also recorded. Using SEM many black spots as well as epithelial denuded areas were also observed in old mice. It was concluded that the observed decrease in goblet cells number, number of neurons and in muscle wall thickness with an increase in deposition of collagen fibres in old-aged mice probably contribute to colon dysfunctions in elderly

Morphometry of the coraco-acromial arch in correlation with chronic impingement syndrome

The coracoacromial arch [C-A] was examined in 100 human adult dry scapulae for the presence and shape of degenerative changes [enthesopathy]. Morphometric measures were applied on the parts constituting the C-A arch, then the results were statistically analyzed and tabulated. The correlation between the values of each measure and the incidence of acromial enthesopathy were tested. The latter was found in 22% of scapulae and showed a significant correlation with the increase in the acromial length, slope and angle of the acromion consequently. Coracoid enthesopathy [spur] was present in only 5% of the specimens and showed a correlation with the increased coracoid prominence and the narrow coracoglenoid space