Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a natural constituent of many foods and was reported to have neurotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible toxic effect of MSG on histological and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemical features of cerebellar cortex of albino rats and to evaluate the possible protective role of vitamin C against this effect. Thirty rats were divided into 3 equal groups. Group I, control; Group II, treated with 3 g/kg/day of MSG and Group III, received 100 mg/kg/day of vitamin C simultaneously with MSG. After 14 days, cerebellar tissues were obtained and processed to prepare sections stained with H&E, toluidine blue. The GFAP was detected immunohistochemically. Histological examination of group II showed degenerative changes as pyknotic Purkinje and granule cells with areas of degeneration surrounded by inflammatory cells in granular layer. However, group III showed more preserved histological structure of cerebellar cortex. Statistical analysis of area percent of the GFAP immunoreaction among studied groups showed significant increase in group III when compared with group I and group II. However, a non significant increase was detected in group II when compared with group I. In conclusion, MSG has neurotoxic effect leading to degenerative changes in neurons and astrocytes in cerebellar cortex of albino rats and vitamin C supplementation could protect from these changes. Getting more attention to the constituents of food products is recommended and vitamin C could be advised to protect people from food oxidants additives.

Oxidative stress is one mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (/R) retinal injury. The histological, biochemical, and functional changes associated with pomegranate (PMG) treatment prior to retinal I/R were analyzed using 40 adult male albino rats. Rats were divided into four groups: Groups I and II (sham operated and received saline or PMG, respectively); Groups III and IV (I/R rat models with prior administration of saline or 250 mg/kg/day PMG, respectively). Electroretinogram (ERG) results were recorded and eye specimens were taken and processed for light and electron microscopic examinations and for assessment of oxidative status in retinal homogenate. I/R lead to degenerative changes in retinal layers with a significant reduction in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) immunoreactivity in concomitant with significant oxidant-antioxidant disturbance and decreased a- and b-wave amplitude in the ERG. These alterations were ameliorated with prior PMG treatment. In conclusion, PMG treatment, as an antioxidant, attenuated retinal structural and functional I/R injury through activation of Nrf2 which could be a base for future therapy designs.

Metalaxyl is a fungicide used to control soil-borne fungal diseases on fruits, cotton, soybean, peanuts and grasses. However, metalaxyl showed hazardous effects in animals. This study aimed to elucidate the histological, ultra structural alterations in the liver tissue caused by metalaxyl and to investigate the possible protective effects of Nigella Sativa (NS) against these alterations. Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three equal groups. Group I (control), Group II (metalaxyl treated) received metalaxyl in a dose of 130 mg/kg/day 3 times per week for continuous 6 weeks. Group III (prophylactic group) received metalaxyl as group II in addition to oral Nigella Sativa (NS) in a daily dose of 400 mg/kg. At end of experiment, liver specimens were taken and processed for light and electron microscope examination. The histological study of the liver sections of metalaxyl treated group II showed necrotic and apoptotic changes in hepatocytes. Some central veins were congested and the blood sinusoids were ill-defined in between hepatocyte cords. The bile ducts of some portal tracts appeared with thickened wall and surrounded by cellular infiltrations. The liver sections of prophylactic group III appeared with more preserved histological structure except the presence of slightly congested central veins, and few hepatocytes with apoptotic nuclei. The statistical analysis of biochemical assay of serum and liver tissue of metalxyl treated animals, showed significant increase in oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) with significant decrease in antioxidants glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). However, there was significant increase in GSH with decrease in MDA and increase in GPx nearly to control levels in prophylactic group. Metalaxyl causes histopathological changes in liver most probably through oxidative stress. However, NS therapy could ameliorate these changes in liver most probably through its antioxidant properties. This may indicate the effectiveness of NS in prevention of metalaxyl hepatotoxicity.

No abstract

Background and Objectives: Testicular torsion is an emergency. Thus, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are fundamental to avoid irreversible testicular damage. The present study aimed to throw more light on the histological alterations in adult albino rat's ipsilateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion (T/D) and to demonstrate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) injection on these alterations. Materials and Methods: Twenty seven adult healthy male albino rats were divided into 3 main equal groups: Group I (Control group), Group II (T/D): the rats were surgically operated to perform T/D and Group III (T/D+MSCs): the animals were injected with MSCs in tail vein at the end of the surgery. All rats were sacrificed ten weeks from the start of the experiment and testis specimens were processed to be examined by light and electron microscope. Blood specimens were taken to measure serum testosterone level. Results: Degenerative changes were observed in spermatogenic and Sertoli cells of T/D group and were associated with statistical significant reduction in serum testosterone level, height of germinal epithelium, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vimentin immunoexpression. These changes were observed to be reduced in T/D+MSCs group. Conclusions: MSCs treatment could protect the spermatogenic and Sertoli cells from degenerative changes in testis after T/D in adult albino rats. Hence, MSCs therapy could be considered as a promising therapeutic tool to preserve spermatogenesis in cases of testicular T/D and should be more studied either on experimental animals or human.

High fat diet is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Hence, research studies are important to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis pathogenesis. The current study was conducted to evaluate the role of vitamin D in modulation of aortic histopathological, immunohistochemical alterations and biochemical changes induced by high fat diet in male albino rats. Forty adult rats were divided into three major groups; group I (control), group II (High fat diet) and group III (High fat diet with vitamin D). At the end of the experiment, blood cholesterol and triglycerides were determined. Aortic arches specimens were collected for histopathological study and immunohistochemical staining. Aorta of high fat diet group showed intimal thickening with vacuolated endothelial cells. The tunica media showed areas of fibrosis and irregular vacuolated smooth muscle cells.  Many inflammatory cells were detected in the tunica adventitia. Significant reduction in area percentage of smooth muscle actin-α (SMA-α) immunoreactivity and increase in number of S100 positive dendritic cells (DCs) with significant increase in serum cholesterol and triglycerides were also detected. Concomitant vitamin D supplementation, with high fat diet, showed amelioration in histopathological aortic changes with significant increase in SMA-α immunoreactivity and decrease in S100 positive (DCs). However, serum cholesterol and triglyceride showed non-significant decrease after vitamin D supplementation. In conclusion, vitamin D administration ameliorates aortic wall histoopathological changes induced by high fat diet most probably through local modulation of S100 and SMA-α immunoreactivity. Hence, vitamin D could be suggested as a protective agent against aortic atherosclerotic changes.

No abstract

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the ability of the cells to lose the epithelial features with gaining of mesenchymal one. It is a dynamic and reversible process induced by damage, hypoxia or inflammation. The execution of EMT events could be complete or partial during tissue repair of different organs. During wound healing, EMT has important role for re-epithelialization, angiogenesis and for Langerhans cells immunologic role. On the other hand, sustained EMT is a key mechanism underlying the wound scaring, fibrotic pathology of multiple organs, cataract and endometriosis. Hence, the understanding of EMT regulation during wound healing and tissue repair has important clinical implications as chronic wounds represent major health care costs. EMT could yield adult cells with stem cell characteristics. Therefore, one could predict that, it contributes to the pool of different progenitor cells to maintain organs homeostasis. Further analyses are necessary to determine whether EMT in normal tissues leads to the production of normal stem cells.