No abstract

Effect of acetylsalicylic acid, methomyl compound, abamectin bioinsecticide and the joint action of methomyl or abamectin with acetylsalicylic acid were determined on some biochemical parameters (alkaline, acid phosphatase, total protein, lipid and cholesterol) against two land snail species, Eobania vermiculata and Monacha obstructa under laboratory conditions. Snails were tested with LC 50 of each tested compound and their mixture using contact technique. Results showed that the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and methomyl exhibited the highest effect on all biochemical parameters. The LC 50 of acetylsalicylic acid caused desiccation and adhesive for snail body of both species. The histopathological effect of LC 50 of acetylsalicylic acid on the tissues of mucus gland was studied in both snail species. It was partial as well as complete disappearance, necrosis and atrophy of mucus glandular tissue of E. vermiculata. While it caused focal necrosis especially underneath necroses destructed covering epithelium in association with degeneration in case of M. obstructa. Under field conditions, the high efficiency concentrations of tested compounds were tested as a spray. Results revealed that the combination of methomyl and acetylsalicylic acid enhanced the molluscicidal activity against both land snail species in harmony with the result under laboratory condition.

Background: Estrogen hormone and receptors (ER) play an important role in maintaining vaginal health. Therefore, their disruption may adversely affect vaginal structure and function. Limited studies are available investigating the effects of diabetic complications on ER expression and distribution in the vaginal wall. Aim of the Work: This work aimed to study the effects of diabetes-induced changes on the vaginal structure, the expression of ERα as well as to determine whether the supplementation of estradiol can ameliorate these changes or not. Material and Methods: Thirty female albino rats were divided into 3 equal groups, 10 rats each. The first was the control received the vehicle only, the second was the diabetics, received a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150mg/kg), and the third was diabetic/estradiol treated. Eight week-diabetic animals were injected subcutaneously with estradiol 20μg/kg/day dissolved in peanut oil for 8 weeks. By the age of 16 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, blood samples were collected to estimate the serum estradiol level and the vagina was removed and processed for paraffin sections at 5μm thick. For routine histopathological assessment H and E was used. Masson's trichrome used for collagen fibers and estrogen immunoperoxidase stains for ERα. Results: Diabetic rats showed highly significant decline in the serum estradiol level (19.6 ± 8.4 pcg/ml) compared to the controls (126.6 ± 7.6 pcg/ml). Histopathological examination revealed thinning of the vaginal epithelial layers, increase in the collagen deposition in the submucosa, marked atrophy in the muscularis layer and decrease in ERα immunostaining. Treatment of diabetic animals with estradiol for eight weeks led to its increase to a sub-physiological level (35.1 ± 5.7pcg/ml) and marked hypertrophy of the muscularis layer and re-stratification of the vaginal epithelium. Moreover, there was marked reduction in the nuclear and cytoplasmic ERα immunostaining in the epithelium and increase in its expression in the stroma of the lamina propria and in the muscularis layer as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Diabetes-induced structural changes in the vagina may be a consequence of decreased levels of estrogen. The increase in the estradiol level, even at a sub-physiologic level, can ameliorate these atrophic effects.

The reproductive system of snails represents essential organ that affects snail population size. Therefore, the present research was directed to evaluate the effect of two biopesticides chitosan (Ch) and emamectin benzoate (EMB) LC 50 on the reproductive system of Eobania vermiculata (Muller). Land snails were treated using thin-film layer technique. Snails were dissected and organs of reproductive system were weighted and examined for any pathological changes at 24, 48 and 72 h post treatment. Moreover, steroidal hormones were determined after 72 h of treatment with either chitosan or emamectin benzoate in comparison to untreated snails. Results revealed that the penis and dart sac increased in size, while ovotestis was decreased at the 3 different periods than the same organs of untreated snails. In addition, there was swelling in the size of some organs, i.e penis and vagina. While there was stunting in the albumen gland at 72 h of treatment with Ch or EMB. However, histological examination showed damage of the ovotestis and atrophy of induced cells in the dart sac and penis. The incidents of both compounds on the level of steroidal hormones gave fluctuating results, either increasingly or decreasingly. In conclusion, data emphasize that both tested compounds caused reduction in the numerical density of the E. vermiculata reproductive system and consequently decreased their fertility, as well as reduction in its population.

Article has been retracted due to duplicate publication.The online version of the original article can be found at http:// dx