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

Structural effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on certain internal organs in mice

This study aimed to explore the structural changes in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and kidneys of mice exposed for three [group II] and six weeks [group III] to 20 mT 50 Hz-EMF two hours daily. The study found an increase in the weight of both the liver and the spleen which was significantly different from controls only in mice exposed for six weeks. However, the weight of the kidneys was not significantly affected in both groups. In group II mice, the hepatocytes showed marked degeneration with compensatory cell division and regeneration. Increased activity of heniatopoiesis was seen in the spleen which may compensate the hypocellularity found in the bone marrow. The kidneys were slightly affected with vacuolation in the tubules but with normal glomerulus. The group III mice appeared to be more affected with evident heniatopoietic activity in the liver also thrombus formation was seen in radicals of hepatic artery. The spleen showed increased cell density especially in the lymphatic follicle with central necrosis and deposition of fibrinoid material. In the bone marrow, marked hypocellularity was seen with increased fat cells. The kidneys were more affected, while, the tubules had flattened epithelium and contained acidophilic cast

Morphometric and histological study of the kidney in healthy and diabetic egyptians

In the present study sonographic renal dimensions were recorded in 76 normal male and female Egyptian subjects to assess the normal sonographic renal dimensions in the Egyptian population. The correlation between the renal length and volume with the subject's age, sex, height, weight and body surface area [BSA] was also studied. The renal length, width, thickness and renal volume of the left kidney were found to be larger than the right one. The renal length of the left kidney in females was found to be significantly smaller than that in males. A positive correlation was found between the renal length and renal volume with the body surface area [BSA], the height and the weight of the subject. The increase of the BSA, the height or the weight of the subject was associated with an increase in his renal length and volume. However, the age of the subject does not correlate significantly with his renal length and volume. Moreover from the present work standard graphs were plotted correlating the renal length with the subject's height; these graphs could be of help to estimate the ideal sonographic renal length in an Egyptian subject according to his height. A comparison between the sonographic renal length for Egyptians and the international values cited in the textbooks, revealed a statistically significant difference being smaller in the Egyptian males and females. The renal length in 20 diabetic patients was significantly smaller than in normal subjects. The size and the number of glomeruli in 2 groups of large and small cadaveric kidneys were compared in histological sections. Although there was a highly significant difference in the size of glomeruli between the 2 groups however, their number didn't show significant difference. The present work concluded that the height, weight and BSA of the subject must be put into consideration during ultrasonographic examination, and that the glomerular size should be correlated with the renal length during microscopical examination of the renal biopsy