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This work aimed to study the biochemical, histopathological and histochemical changes in the testes of male albino rats post exposure to 4 Gy of gamma radiation and the possible radioprotective role of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA). Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a blue-green microalgal species which has antioxidant properties. The current experiment was carried out on 48 adult male albino rats (Rattus rattus). Rats were randomly and equally categorized into four groups: 1) Group C: control rats left without treatment; 2) Group R: rats were exposed to 4Gy of gamma-radiation as a single dose; 3) Group AFA: rats were terated orally with 94.5mg/kg body weight/ day AFA for 3 weeks and 4) Group AFA+R: rats were administrated AFA for a period of one week before and three weeks after irradiation. Results obtained in the present study showed that exposed rats showed a significant increase in MDA in the testes, but decreased testosterone level was detected versus the control. Many histopathological lesions were observed in the testes tissue such as disturbed spermatogenic layers with vacuolated spermatogenic cells, presence of polynucleated cells, absence of mature sperms, oedema in the interstitial spaces, congested testicular arteries with thickened, dilated and corrugated walls of them, they also contained hemolysed blood cells with highly reduced, atrophied and distorted Leydig cells in the interstitial spaces. Irradiated groups showed highly increased collagen fibres under the testicular capsule, basement membranes, Leydig cells and around the blood vessels with signs of fibrosis in the capsule and some seminiferous tubules. In addition, irradiated group induced a significant increase in amyloid βprotein, while a significant decrease in PAS+ve materials, total protein and total DNA content was detected. AFA administration ameliorated the damaging effects of testes of radiation exposed rats. Conclusion: according to the results obtained in the current study using Aphanizomenon flos-aquae as a natural agent showed a strong radioprotective role.

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The use of ionizing radiation exposure increases oxidative stress especially for cancer patients. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop antioxidants that prevent oxidative stress damage. Arabic gum is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mediator. The function of Arabic gum (Acacia arabica) in protecting against injury to the liver tissue caused by 5 Gy whole-body γ-irradiation was studied using histopathological and ultrastructure techniques. Forty-eight male albino Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control (C), irradiated (R): rats were exposed to 5 Gy gamma-radiation as a single dose for 10 min., Arabic gum (AG) : rats were treated orally with 25 mg/kg/day AG for 3 weeks and AG + R. Experimental rats were treated orally with 25 mg/kg/day AG for one week before, and three weeks after irradiation, and were sacrificed after 7 and 21 days of irradiation. Gamma radiation was observed to affect the histopathology and ultrastructure of liver tissues, such as distorting the central vein with a highly dilated and delaminated endothelial lining, lymphocytic infiltration, many vacuolated hepatocytes with increased signs of karyolysis (disintegrated and fragmented chromatin) and pyknosis in hepatocytes nuclei, faint electron outer and inner membranes of mitochondria and increases in collagen fibers. On the other hand, treatment with AG ameliorated all of the previous histological and ultrastructure changes. Arabic gum showed a radio-protective effect and improved liver structure indicating that pre-treatment with Arabic gum is effective in lowering the incidence of the hepatic histopathological changes induced by gammaradiation with remarkable restoration of normal hepatocytes structure.

Objective: Lately, gum Arabic (GA) is traditionally used in Middle East countries to ameliorate renal function of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). This action is controversial and it is still experimentally under evaluation. We aimed to shed more light on the potential effects of GA against γ-rays-induced nephrotoxicity in irradiated rats. Forty-eight male albino Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control group(C), irradiated groups (R) 5Gy, gum Arabic groups (GA) 25 mg/kg orally administrated for 3 weeks, and GA+R groups, rats were treated orally with 25 mg /kg GA for one week before and three weeks after irradiation (GA+R). The experimental rats were sacrificed after 7 and 21 days of irradiation.Histochemical examination of kidney cortex tissue of R groups showed significantly decreased PAS-positive materials, total protein content, and total DNA content, but it significantly increased amyloid β-protein content relative to the control group. While treatment with GA before and after irradiation showed a nonsignificant change in PAS-positive materials and the content of total protein, total DNA, and amyloid βprotein throughout the examined kidney cortex. According to the results obtained in the current study using GA as a natural agent showed a strong cytoprotective effect against the histochemical changes due to its radioprotective effect.