Effects of mine waste water on rat: bioaccumulation and histopathological evaluation.

The highlighting of the bioaccumulation capacity of metals in the internal organs, the mode of distribution at the level of internal organs, the interactions between them, respectively, and the histological changes occurred at the level of the liver and kidneys are the main aspects addressed in the present study. The experiment was performed on 4 groups of Wistar rats: 3 groups which were administered water from rivers located in the vicinity of the Bor mining operation and 1 control group. The determination of the metal content in the administered water samples and in the internal organs was performed using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Tissue alterations were assessed by histological technique and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The metal retention capacity in the internal organs differs depending on the metal concentration in the administered water sample but also on the organ in which the determination was made. Also, correlations were established between the concentrations of metals at the level of the organs, showing (a) positive and significant correlations-at the level of the heart between Zn and Cu, Fe, and Mn and at the level of the lungs between Mn and Cd-but the most numerous were reported in the testicle; (b) moderate correlations at liver level between Fe and Zn, at spleen level between Cu and Mn and Cd and at the level of the kidneys between Pb and Zn, Cu, and Fe; (c) negative correlations at renal level between Pb and Mn; and (d) insignificant correlations between Pb and Fe. The histological changes identified at the level of the liver and kidney become more obvious, and their aggravation is registered with the increase of the metal content.

Correlation between leptin and ghrelin expression in adipose visceral tissue and clinical-biological features in malignant obesity.

Morbid obesity is a metabolic disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of adipose tissue (=40%). This disorder is commonly associated with cardiovascular disease, arteriosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and some types of cancer. The most common metabolic signals associated with the disease are leptin, ghrelin, with antagonic effects. Our study aimed at highlighting leptin and ghrelin expression levels, as well as establishing correlations between them and clinical-biological parameters in obese patients. The biological material was taken intraoperatively from the visceral adipose tissue. Expression of genes of interest was performed after total RNA extraction and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and amplification with TaqMan specific primers. The results of the study showed significant differences in the expression of leptin mRNA between obese patients and the control group as well as the gender of the subjects. Ghrelin levels correlated positively with obesity, but not with gender. There were no significant correlations between the expression of the genes of interest and the parameters studied (age, body mass index - BMI, cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism and hypertension). The results of the study suggest that the evaluation of leptin levels can be used clinically in assessing the metabolic status of the patient with malignant obesity.