Background and Objectives: Colitis is inflammation of the colon which can be transmural or confined to the mucosa. Colitis may be acute or chronic. In case of serious intestinal discontinuity of epithelium, the regeneration capacity of local stem cells is not enough to complete tissue repair. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) migrate into the gastrointestinal wall, where they may contribute to the repair progress. The present study aimed at evaluating the possible therapeutic effect of MSCs on induced colitis in albino rat. Methods and Results: Twenty male albino rats were divided into 3 groups (control, colitis, MSCs), control group (4 rats), colitis group (8 rats) received once intra-rectal injection of 2 ml of 3% acetic acid. MSCs therapy group (8 rats) injected with MSCs 24 hours after colitis induction. In each group, rats were subdivided into subgroups (a & b). Subgroup (a) corresponds to rats sacrificed 3 days and subgroup (b) corresponds to rats sacrificed 10 days after colitis induction. Isolation and culture of MSCs from rat bone marrow were performed. Colon sections were examined using light and fluorescent microscopy. Colon specimens were subjected to histological, morphometric and statistical studies. In colitis group, ulceration, loss of surface columnar epithelium, disturbed crypts architecture with few goblet cells and huge lymphatic nodule piercing the muscularis mucosa were reported. In stem cell therapy group, MSCs stimulate colonic repair through differentiation into several cells and dampen the inflammation. Conclusions: MSCs represent future therapeutic hopes for intestinal injury and chronic intestinal inflammatory states.

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Background: Worldwide, Methotrexate (MTX) is used to treat neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases despite its severe side-effects. One of these adverse effects is salivary dysfunction that can aggravate MTX mucotoxic effects. Such effects interfere with the patients' quality of life and increase morbidities and mortalities. Available treatments for salivary dysfunction have many drawbacks. Mobilization of bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells (BMHSCs) by human Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) used in many diseases showed promising results. Aim of the work: To detect the therapeutic effect of G-CSF on MTX-induced parotid lesion highlighting its possible mechanisms and the role of telocytes. Materials and Methods: Forty-one albino rats were divided into 3 groups; control, MTX and Neupogen-treated groups. All animals were weighed and sacrificed after 6 days. Parotid homogenates of 6 rats from each group were used to measure total protein concentration, amylase activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) value. The right parotids of the remaining animals of each group were processed to Paraffin blocks while, the left ones were processed to resin blocks. Paraffin sections stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin and immunohistochemical stains for CD34 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFR-α) as well as resin semithin and ultrathin sections were examined. Body weight, biochemical results, number of immune-positive cells, difference between numbers of CD34+ and PDGFR-α+ cells (stem cells number), acini and ducts numbers and diameters were statistically analysed. Results: MTX group revealed diarrhoea, decreased body weight in addition to, degenerated acinar and ductal cells, and telocytes. However, Neupogen-treated group demonstrated almost normal histological features. Immunohistochemically, the treated group showed significant increase in CD34+ cells, PDGFR-α + cells and stem cells number versus MTX group. Conclusions: G-CSF had a therapeutic effect on MTX-induced parotid degeneration through its direct effects, BMHSCs mobilization and telocytes preservation.

Introduction: With increasing the use of cell phones, the interest of examining the hazards that could affect health of people, which may or may not lead to cancer, infertility, or birth defects, was elevated. Recently, a natural flavonoid compound, Naringenin (NG) had received considerable attention as an antioxidant. Aim of the work: Evaluating the effects of mobile phone use on the testes of adult rats, the progress of spontaneous recovery and the protective role of NG supplementation against these effects. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male albino rats were equally divided into four groups; control (I), (II) mobile, (III) mobile-NG and (IV) recovery. Mobile group exposed to 900 MHz continuous RF-EMW emitted by talk mode for one hour daily for 8 weeks. Mobile-NG group exposed to RF-EMW like group III for 8 weeks concomitant with NG treatment 50 mg/kg /day orally. While recovery group exposed to the same RF-EMW for 8 weeks then kept unexposed for another 8 weeks for recovery. Serum levels of testosterone hormone, epididymal sperm counts and testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured. Testicular sections were stained with H&E and immunohistochemical stains for PCNA, p53, CX43 and AR, that were subjected to morphometric and statistically analysis. Results: Deterioration of histological architecture of testes and biochemical and morphometric parameters were recorded in mobile group. However, preservation of the testicular histological structure and restoration of the normal biochemical and morphometric parameters were obvious in group IV. On the other hand, the recovery group showed incomplete improvement where some testicular affection was noted. Conclusion: Mobile phones might have injurious effects on testes that partially recovered after stoppage of exposure to EMW. However, NG co-administration was protective.

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