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Background and Objectives: Stress can disrupt homeostasic balance within the organisms. Chronic stress can have damaging effects on the whole organism. The present study aimed to throw more light on themolecular,immunological and histological alterations in adult albino rat's testis subjected to chronic stress and to demonstrate whether the potential chronic stress-induced testicular alterations could be ameliorated by astaxanthin or not. Materials and Methods: Forty healthy adult male albino rats were used in this study, they were assigned as 3 main groups: Group I (Control group) which are subdivided into two equal groups, Group II (stress group) rats were restrained for 1 h and after 4 hs they are forced to swim for 15 minutes every day for 6 months, and Group III (protective group) rats were subjected to stressors as previous group in concomitant with daily administration of astaxanthin (25mg/kg b.w.) dissolved in 1ml normal saline in a single daily doseorally in a single daily dose. Blood samples and testicular tissues were collected and assayed for histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical changes. Results: The results of the present study demon¬strated thatthere were degenerative changes in spermatogenic and Sertoli cells of stress group and were associated with statistical significant reduction in height of germinal epithelium, Ki-67 and vimentinimmunoexpression.These changes were observed to be reduced in astaxanthin protected group.Also,there was a decrease in serum testosterone levels in stress group, which were normalized after astaxanthin administration. Also, stress significantly increased the serum levels of malondialdehyde, and decreased levels of total antioxidant capacity TAC. Conclusions: This study concluded that astaxanthin has beneficial protective effects against the deleterious effects of chronic stress on the testis. Therefore, it may be a suitable nutrional supplement in alleviating some negative aspects of chronic stress effects on testis.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a brain medical disorder characterized by the sudden loss of blood circulation to an area of the brain, resulting in a loss of its neurologic function. Cerebrolysin is a mixture of neuropeptides and free amino acids. Aim of the work:This study aimed to evaluate the role of cerebrolysin in ameliorating the histological,immunohistochemic al and biochemical harm in post ischemic stroke and also to assess its dose dependent effect. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into 3 equal groups; control, ischemic and post ischemic treated groups. After dissecting hippocampal dentate gyrus prepared sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Erβ and calretinin proteins. Oxidative stress parameters, TNF α, and HSP-70 assay. Also, Gh receptor gene expression and DNA fragmentation test were measured. Immunoperoxidase reactions for GFAPin astrocyte was estimated. Statistical analysis was conducted. Results: Ischemia group showed decrease number of granule cells with small dark stained nuclei, areas of cell loss and numerous spindle shaped cells in the sub-granular zone. A faint positive immunoreaction for ERβ in nuclei of granular cells and negative reaction for calretinin was detected in granule cells. Antioxidant enzymes in the brain tissue as MDA,TNF α and HSP-70 were significantly elevated in ischemic group compared to control and post ischemic treated groups. Gh receptor gene were decreased, while Fragmentation index of DNA was significantly increased. Administration of 2.5 mg/ kg cerebrolysinshowed partial improvement, whereas, 5 mg/kg dose displayed more ameliorative effects. Increased GFAP immune-expression in the cytoplasm of astrocytes in ischemic group compared to control and post ischemic treated groups Conclusion: Cerebrolysin was effective in experimentally induced AIS (Acute ischemic stroke) in a dose-dependent manner as proved by improving the histological structure, immunohistochemical reactions and biochemical parameters of the dentate gyrus of hippocampus in adult male albino rats.

Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are one of metal nanoparticles that have widespread use in many fields. Objective: To investigate the effect of ZnONPs on cerebellar cortex of rats through histological and immunohistochemical study. Materials and methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups; group I (control), Group II (ZnONP-1 treated group) which received orally 50 mg/kg of ZnONP for two months and Group III (ZnONP-1I treated group) which received orally 200 mg/kg of ZnONP for two months. Specimens of the cerebellar cortex were processed for histological and immunohistochemical study. Morphometric and statistical analysis were carried out. Results: Group II showed Purkinje cells were crowded in many layers surrounded by perineuronal vacuoles and had pyknotic nuclei. They had cytoplasmic vacuoles and perinuclear Golgi apparatus revealed fragmented dilated cisternae. Nearby Bergmann astrocyte cells had highly vacuolated cytoplasm and the nerve fibers were also affected and showed dysmyleination (disrupted myelin sheath). Immunohistochemical study of the same group showed Purkinje cell cytoplasm had positive immunoreactions for calretinin proteins. In group III, there was a wide spread of neuronal affection to the degree of loss of many of Purkinje cells leaving empty spaces. Ultrastructurly, their cytoplasm appeared with multiple variable sized and had dilated mitochondria with disrupted cristae. The Bergmann astrocytes revealed nuclei with disrupted nuclear envelope and nearly absence their cytoplasmic organelle and there was more affection to the nerve fibers in the form of vacuolated axoplasm and demyelination (areas of myelin loss) beside dysmyleination. Immunohistochemical study of group III showed Purkinje cells cytoplasm with negative immunoreactions for calretinin proteins. Conclusion: Intake of ZnONPs induced various adverse alterations in the histological and immunohistochemical structures of cerebellar cortex indicating the occurrence of neurotoxicity. These changes were exaggerated with increasing the dose of their intake.