Background: Ocular chemical injuries are an emergency that needs immediate and intensive evaluation and treatment. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has become a common treatment in the field of ophthalmological surgery. Aim of the study: to evaluate and compare the alleviating effect of a single dose of PRP injection applied either after 2 hours or 48 hours on an alkali-induced corneal burn. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were equally divided into 5 groups; Control, PRP group, alkali-burn group, alkali-burn+ PRP-treated after 2hours group and alkali-burn+ PRP-treated after 48hours group. Corneal specimens were processed for different histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Results: Alkali burnt cornea revealed focal discontinuity and denudation of corneal epithelium alternating with focal disorganization and stratification. Bowman's membrane appeared irregular with focal disruption. The Descemet's membrane appeared thinned out and disrupted. Mononuclear cellular infiltration and invasion with small blood vessels were observed. Upon intervention with PRP after 2hours of alkali-burn, a near normal corneal histological structure was observed. Yet upon intervention with PRP after 48hours of alkali-burn, a disturbed corneal histological structure with vacuolated epithelium and some nuclear changes were detected. A highly significant difference in the immunohistochemical staining for detection of P53, Ki67, MMP-1 and MMP-9 was detected upon alkali burn compared to the control, whereas a non-significant difference was observed in group IV compared to the control group, yet a significant difference was detected between group V and the control group. Conclusion:A single dose PRP injection had an effective alleviating effect on alkali-induced corneal burn, yet the PRP injection after 2hours of the burn was more efficient in restoring the corneal healthy surface rather than its application after 48 hours.

Background and Purpose Varicocele is a leading cause of male infertility. Melatonin is a highly pleiotropic neurohormone. We aimed to characterize the melatonin epigenetic potential in varicocele and the involved molecular mechanisms. Experimental Approach Fifty‐two male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (13 rats each): control (I), melatonin (II), varicocele (III) and melatonin treated varicocele (IV) groups. Left varicocele was induced by partial left renal vein ligation. Reproductive hormones, epididymal sperm functional parameters, testicular 3/17 β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine and histopathological/Johnsen's score were evaluated. Flow cytometry and Comet were carried out to explore extent of sperm and testicular DNA damage. Testicular expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), forkhead transcription factors‐class O (type1) (FOXO1), tumour suppressor gene, P53, cation channels of sperm (CatSper) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein was evaluated by western blot technique. Testicular expression of Bcl‐2 and its associated X protein and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. Testicular miR‐34a expression was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Key Results The varicocele induced testicular histological injury, enhanced oxidative stress, P53‐mediated apoptosis, DNA damage and increased testicular miR‐34a expression paralleled with down‐regulated SIRT1/FOXO axis. Melatonin treatment of varicocele rats displayed antioxidant/anti‐apoptotic efficacy and improved reproductive hormones axis, CatSper expression and fertility parameters. MiR‐34a/SIRT1/FOXO1 epigenetic axis integrates testicular melatonin mediated intracellular transduction cascades in varicocele. Conclusion and Implications Melatonin can be used as an adjuvant therapy to improve varicocele and its complication.

Sofosbuvir is a promising antiviral drug against chronic hepatitis C virus. Although it is characterized by its high efficacy, its adverse effects on nervous tissue are still unclear. Saffron is known for its neuroprotective property. This is a biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical study of the effect of sofosbuvir on the cerebellar cortex of rat and the possible ameliorating role of saffron's aqueous extract. Twenty‐four adult male Wistar albino rats were equally divided into four groups; control, saffron extract‐treated, sofosbuvir‐treated (41.1 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks) and group concomitantly treated with saffron extract and sofosbuvir. Sofosbuvir‐treated group recorded a significant increase in cerebellar malondialdehyde level coupling with a significant decrease in tissue glutathione and superoxide dismutase. Light microscopy revealed reduced number of Purkinje cells. The granular layer depicted many granular cells and Bergmann astrocytes with nuclear and cytoplasmic alterations. Electron microscopy revealed disorganized molecular layer with disarranged myelinated axons and disrupted mitochondria. Few shrunken Purkinje cells showed electron‐dense cytoplasm and rarefied nuclei, indistinct nuclear envelope and dilated perinuclear space, areas of vacuolated cytoplasm, fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum and few dark mitochondria. Some axons with tiny mitochondria were detected. A significant upregulation in immunohistochemical expression of GFAP‐positive astrocytes was recorded. Concomitant administration of saffron extract significantly improved all studied parameters. Saffron extract is beneficial in ameliorating sofosbuvir‐induced cerebellar morphological changes mainly through its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.

Background: Semicarbazide (SEM) is a byproduct of azodicarbonamide widely employed in the industry of plastic gaskets used in sealing glass jars, especially baby foods jars. Aim of the Study:To determine the effects and possibility of recovery of semicarbazide on thyroid histology of male juvenile albino rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty juvenile male albino rats (3 weeks old) were Split into 3 equal groups; group I (control), group II (treated with SEM 40 mg/kg oral daily for 4 weeks), group III (recovery group allowed to recover for 4 weeks after stoppage of SEM treatment). Different histological and immunohistochemical techniques were used on thyroid specimens. Results: In comparison to the control group, group treated with SEM revealed distortion and degeneration of the thyroid follicles, some follicles appeared markedly distended and lined by flat cells with flat nuclei, desquamated follicular cells were located in the lumen, peripheral vacuolation of colloid, empty follicles, wide interstitial space and dilated congested blood vessels in between follicles. Collagen fibers amount in the interstitial space has increased significantly "P ˂ 0.05". The mean epithelial height and colloid area percentage have both decreased significantly. Activated caspase-3 immunohistochemical expression was significantly increased. Contrary, in the recovery group, most of the Follicles appeared to be normal except for minimal changes in some follicles. Conclusion: Semicarbazide causes significant histological structural changes in the juvenile thyroid gland and its stoppage caused marked improvement in the thyroid gland histology. It is advisable to replace semicarbazide as a sealing agent for glass jars with other natural products.

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