Anoctamin 1 and c-Kit immunohistochemical study of interstitial cells of Cajal in the muscularis externa of human gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are widely distributed in human gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially in the layer of muscularis externa between neurons and smooth muscles. They play a very important role of coordination of GI tract motility. The aims of this research were to study the morphology and distribution of ICC in the muscularis externa of the GI tract, using immunohistochemistry staining methods, to determine the distribution of immune reactivity of anoctamin 1 (Ano1) compared with c-Kit, and to determine if Ano1 is a reliable marker for ICC in human GI tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens from the wall of stomach, small intestine, and colon were taken from human cadavers and processed for histological and immunohistochemical study using c-Kit and Ano1 primary antibodies. RESULTS: Interstitial cells of Cajal appeared as bipolar cells, not forming network, in both the circular and longitudinal muscle layers, while in the myenteric area they appeared as multipolar interconnected cells. They were unevenly distributed in and between the muscle layers of the muscularis externa of human GI tract. They were more numerous in the stomach followed by the colon then the small intestine, and more numerous in the myenteric area followed by the circular muscle layer then the longitudinal muscle layer, in the three organs. Our results also showed that Ano1 is a more reliable marker for human ICC than c-Kit. CONCLUSIONS: Interstitial cells of Cajal differed in morphology and were unevenly distributed between muscle layers of muscularis externa and between different parts of human GI tract.

An extremely rare complete bilateral duplication of inferior vena cava in a male cadaver: anatomy, embryology and clinical relevance.

The study presented an extremely rare case of real complete bilateral duplication of inferior vena cava (IVC) in a male cadaver which has never been reported before. Both IVC had approximately the same diameter. The right IVC drained into the right atrium; the left IVC continued as hemiazygos vein and drained into the superior vena cava. Three anastomotic venous channels, a cranial preaortic, a middle and a caudal retroaortic, joined both vessels. Multiple variations in the way of drainage of posterior intercostal veins, on both sides, were also present. The present report invalidates an old classification defining the two vessels when joined at the level of the renal veins as complete bilateral duplication of IVC. Although the presence of combination of venous variations is extremely rare, awareness of such variations is essential for clinical and surgical procedures to avoid misdiagnosis and surgical complications.

Thymoquinone and curcumin modify inducible nitric oxide synthase, caspase 3, and thioredoxin immunohistochemical expression in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is characterised by an extensive oxidative stress due to depletion of glutathione (GSH), which results in massive lipid peroxidation and subsequent liver injury. The current paradigm suggests that mitochondria are the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which impair mitochondrial function and are responsible for cell signalling resulting in cell death. This study was designed to compare the potential impact of thymoquinone (THQ), and/or curcumin (CURC) on liver injury induced by APAP toxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, and total protein were measured. In addition, liver nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated. Moreover, these biochemical parameters were confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations for the expression of thioredoxin, iNOS and caspase 3. RESULTS: Acetaminophen toxicity elevated most of the above-mentioned parameters but decreased GSH, SOD, and total protein levels. Histologically, liver sections demonstrated liver injury characterised by hepatocellular necrosis with nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis and karyolysis. Immunohistochemical study revealed increased expression of iNOS and caspase 3 proteins, while the thioredoxin protein expression was decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with the THQ and CURC regulated the biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by APAP toxicity. It was concluded that the combination strategy of THQ and CURC might be considered as a potential antidote in combating liver injury induced by APAP with minimal side effects.

Adrenal medulla of AS/AGU rats: a histological and immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of the autograft therapy for Parkinson's disease including autologous cells from adrenal medulla was disappointing. This could be attributed to the pathological process in Parkinson's disease affecting cells of the adrenal medulla. This study was performed to investigate the histopathological changes in the adrenal medulla of AS/AGU rat, a model of Parkinson's disease, in comparison with Albino Swiss (AS) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 male AS rats were divided into four groups, each of 6 animals: AS W1 - AS rats aged 1 week; AS adult - AS adult rats; AS/ /AGU W1 - AS/AGU rats aged 1 week; and AS/AGU adult - AS/AGU adult rats. The rats were sacrificed and the adrenal glands were dissected and processed for histological staining with haematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff and for immunohistochemical staining for S100 protein, ubiquitin and tyrosine hydroxylase. RESULTS: The histological investigation of the adrenal medulla of AS/AGU rats showed vascular congestion, inflammatory cellular infiltration, pyknotic nuclei, necrotic chromaffin cells and medullary inclusion bodies. The immunohistochemical investigation of AS/AGU rats showed a statistically significant decrease in the expression of S100 protein, ubiquitin and tyrosine hydroxylase compared to AS rats. CONCLUSIONS: The histological and immunohistological changes in the adrenal medulla could explain the failure of outcome of adrenal autograft therapy in Parkinson's disease.

Curcumin ameliorates experimental autoimmune acute myocarditis in rats as evidenced by decrease in thioredoxin immunoreactivity.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of curcumin on cardiac myosin-induced autoimmune myocarditis in rats and the change in thioredoxin (TRX) immunoreactivity in cardiomyocytes following curcumin treatment. Twenty-four six-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group I received neither curcumin nor myosin. Group II received an oral solution of 1 g/kg/day of curcumin daily, from day 1 to day 21. To induce myocarditis, animals of both group III and group IV were injected by 1 mg of porcine cardiac myosin on days 1 and 8. In addition, animals of group IV received an oral solution of 1 g/kg/day of curcumin daily, from day 1 to day 21. Serum levels of creatine phosphokinase, troponin-T, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were estimated. Hearts were processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Serum biomarkers levels were significantly increased in myocarditis group as compared to other groups. The intake of curcumin significantly reduced the deviation in these markers. Sections of the wall of the heart from myocarditis group were characterised by inflammatory cell infiltration. Most of cardiomyocytes showed pyknotic nuclei and increased sarcoplasmic eosinophilia with strong immunoreactivity for TRX. Sections from myocarditis-curcumin group showed normal architecture with moderate immunoreactivity for TRX. The present study demonstrated that curcumin ameliorates acute myocarditis in rats and encouraged the estimation of serum level of TRX as a relevant indicator for the evaluation of the progress of acute myocarditis.

Collagen types I and II distribution: a relevant indicator for the functional properties of articular cartilage in immobilised and remobilised rabbit knee joints.

The objective of the present work was to study changes in collagen type I and type II distribution in the articular cartilage of immobilised and remobilised rabbit knee joints. Twenty-four adult male rabbits were divided into three groups. One of the groups was a control group with free movement. The right knee joints of animals of the other two groups were immobilised for 4 weeks, followed by a period of 10 weeks of remobilisation for animals of group 3. Collagen type I and type II in the articular cartilage of tibial medial condyle of the right knee joint were estimated immunohistochemically in all groups. A degenerative process was evident after 4 weeks of immobilisation of rabbit knee joint leading to a partial shift in the density of collagen composition from type II to type I. After a period of 10 weeks of remobilisation, regenerative processes, evidenced by a restoration of collagen type II to normal, proceeded on top of degenerative processes, evidenced by the significantly higher content of collagen type I compared with normal. The present study pointed to the importance of assessment of collagen distribution as a relevant indicator for the functional properties of articular cartilage in immobilised and remobilised joints.