Histological study on the effect of haematopoietic stem cells on the adriamycin model of nephropathy in albino rats

End-stage renal disease is a major health problem. Recent studies have reported the efficacy of stem cell therapy in nephropathy animal models. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of stem cells on renal structure and functions in nephropathy rat models. Thirty male albino rats were divided into three groups: control [I] and nephropathy [II, III] groups. Nephropathy was induced by an intravenous injection of adriamycin. Animals that were found to be nephropathic were divided into two groups: group II [animals were not subjected to treatment] and group III [animals were treated with an intravenous injection of stem cells]. Five weeks after the start of the experiment, urine and blood samples were collected for biochemical investigation and kidney tissue was used for histological examination. The percentages of affected renal tubular cells were calculated, in addition to the area percentage of periodic acid-Schiff-positive material and collagen and their results were statistically analyzed. Adriamycin produced a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine and urinary proteins, with a significant decrease in creatinine clearance and serum albumin. Histological examination showed acute focal tubular necrosis, the renal corpuscles showed thickened membranes, changes in Bowman's capsule parietal cells and effacement of podocyte foot processes and the interstitium showed mononuclear cellular infiltration. A significant increase in damaged tubular cells, area percentage of periodic acid-Schiff-positive material and collagen was also detected. The use of stem cells produced a significant amelioration of all these results. Stem cell transplantation is effective in improving both the structure and the function of kidneys in nephropathic rat models

Selenium administration improves lipid profiles and hemodynamic parameters in immobilized rats

Immobilization stress is thought to increase pro-oxidants that may contribute to the development of lipid peroxidation, atherosclerosis and hypertension. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of oral administration of selenium [Se] on fasting serum lipids [triglycerides; TG, total cholesterol; TC, low-density lipoproteins; LDL, and Highdensity lipoproteins; HDL] and some hemodynamic [systolic blood pressure; SBP and vascular reactivity of aortic strips to norepinephrine; VRNE] and blood parameters [serum sodium; Na [+] and potassium; K [+]] in rats exposed to immobilization stress. Forty adult male albino rats were used in this study and divided into 5 equal groups [n = 8]; Normal nontreated group [NNT] served as control and given daily distilled water orally for 3 weeks [wks]; Normal Se-treated group [NST] given distilled water for 1 wk, then oral sodium selenite [Se; 1.5 mg/kg] daily for another 2 wks; Immobilized non-treated group [INT] given distilled water for 3 wks, and concomitantly immobilized [6 hs/d for 1 wk] during wk 2; Immobilized Se pre- and concomitant-treated group [ISPC] given Se for 2 wks and concomitantly immobilized during wk 2, then given daily distilled water during wk 3; Immobilized Se concomitant- and post-treated group [ISCP] daily given distilled water for 1 wk, then Se during the last 2 wks with concomitant immobilization during wk 2. INT group showed significant increase of TG, TC, LDL, SBP, VRNE, and Na [+] levels, but significant decrease of HDL and K [+] levels when compared to the corresponding parameters in NNT group. Se supplementation to normal rats did not change significantly any of the tested parameters. On the other hand, ISPC rats revealed significant lower levels of TG, TC, LDL, SBP, VRNE, and Na[+], but significant higher levels of HDL and K[+] when compared to the corresponding parameters in INT group. Moreover, ISCP rats revealed significant lower levels of TG, TC, LDL, SBP, VRNE, and Na[+], but significant higher levels of HDL and K[+] when compared to the corresponding parameters in INT and ISPC groups. From this study, it is concluded that selenium administration in cases of immobilization stress can improve the accompanied state of hyperlipidemia and hypertension specially if supplemented concomitantly and after the immobilization period