The effect of N-acetylcysteine on the sensory retina of male albino rats exposed prenatally to cypermethrin.

BACKGROUND: Cypermethrin (CYP), a pyrethroid that is globally used in the field and house to fight the pests. CYP can induce cellular toxicity and cross the placental barrier. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can fight the prenatal exposure to the inflammation. This work aimed to study, for the first time, the effects of NAC on the sensory retina of male albino rats exposed prenatally to cypermethrin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four sexually mature female albino rats and 12 male albino rats were allowed for mating and divided equally into the following groups: group I (control group): kept without treatment; group II (NAC group): received 1 g/kg/day NAC diluted in distilled water orally by gastric tube from the 7th day of gestation till delivery; group III (CYP group): received 12 mg/kg/day of cypermethrin orally by gastric tube from the 7th day of gestation till delivery; group IV (CYP and NAC group): received 12 mg/kg/day of cypermethrin and 1 g/kg/day of NAC. The ten male offspring of each group were divided into subgroups a and b that were sacrificed at the age of 7th and 14th days postnatal, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the eye samples were subjected to histological, immunohistochemical and morphometric studies. RESULTS: Concerning the different previous studies, the sensory retina of CYP subgroups showed vacuolation of the inner and outer plexiform layers, dilated congested blood vessels, hyalinisation and disorganisation of the photoreceptor layer. Also, the expression of collagen IV and caspase 3 (a marker of apoptosis) was up-regulated in the CYP subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: N-acetylcysteine significantly protected the sensory retina from the damaging effects of CYP. NAC could be considered as a good protective agent against the damaging effect of CYP on the sensory retina.

Effect of vitamin B17 on experimentally induced colon cancer in adult male albino rat.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer is considered to be the third most common cancer worldwide. At diagnosis of colon cancer, 3.7-11% developed bone metastasis. Diet based strategies are important for prevention and treatment of colon cancer. This study investigated the effect of vitamin B17 on a DMH induced rat model of colon cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty young adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: group I (control group), group II (vitamin B17), group III (colon cancer), group IV (protected) and group V (treated). Distal colon sections were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopic examination. Lumbar vertebrae specimens were prepared for light microscopic study. Morphometric and statistical analysis were done. RESULTS: In comparison with the control, both colon cancer and treated groups showed invasion of the colonic tissue by pleomorphic branching colonic glands of variable shapes and sizes lined with dysplastic elongated hyperchromatic nuclei with frequent mitotic figures or stratified multi-layered crowded nuclei with an extremely significant (p < 0.0001) reduction of goblet cell number when compared to the control together with major pathological bone changes were observed in colon cancer and the treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: While the protected group showed impressive improvement of all previously mentioned diameters.