Cadmium (Cd) toxicity represents a worldwide problem in environmental contamination and a common cause of occupational and non-occupational neurological diseases. So, this study aimed to evaluate the histological changes induced by Cd on the cerebral cortex of adult rats and evaluating the possible ameliorating role of ascorbic acid (AA). Twenty adult male rats were divided into; control group, AA group (each rat was received a daily oral dose of 200 mg AA/kg body weight (b.w) and Cd group (each rat was received 5 mg Cd/kg b.w orally) and protective group (each rat was given AA concomitantly with Cd at the same dose, route and period of administration of the previous groups. After two months the cerebral cortexes were processed for histological examination. The cerebral cortex of Cd treated animals exhibited severe degenerative changes especially in pyramidal and granule cells. Structural changes in these cells were in the form of dilated rER and Golgi complex, swollen mitochondria and marginated nuclear chromatin. Myelinated nerve fibers displayed myelination disruption and irregular neurofilaments. The neuropil appeared vacuolated with accumulation of neuroglial cells. On the other hand, these changes were ameliorated in rats which received AA concomitantly with Cd. So, it could be concluded that AA can ameliorate the histological changes induced by Cd and this direct the attention to the antioxidants as protective measures for the neurotoxicity.

Background:The study aims to evaluate the impact of the antioxidant rich pomegranate fruit grown in Taif on the histological and immunohistochemical changes in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex after different levels of mobile exposure. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into group I, II, III; IV, and group V. Group I was control and group II rats were exposed to 900 MHz and in group III the rats are exposed to 1800 MHz for two months. Group IV the rats were exposed to 900 MHz concomitant with pomegranate peel extract (500 mg/kg) and group V rats were exposed to 1800 MHz and pomegranate peel extract (500 mg/kg) orally in aqueous solution once per day for two months. Frontal cortex and cerebellum tissues were dissected out and processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Results: The cerebral and cerebellar cortexes of mobile-exposed rats exhibited degenerative changes especially in the nerve cells. These changes were more pronounced with increase in the frequency of radiation. Most of pyramidal and Purkinje cells became irregular in shape, had deeply stained nuclei, and were surrounded with peri-cellular haloes and vacuolated neuropil. However, some of them were surrounded with neuroglial accumulation. Conclusion: The study concluded that pomegranate peel extract can ameliorate the histopathological changes induced by mobile phone electromagnetic radiations.

No abstract

Oxymetholone is one of the anabolic steroids that has widely been used among teenagers and athletes to increase their muscle bulk. It has undesirable effects on male health and fertility. In this study, the therapeutic effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on oxymetholone-induced testicular toxicity were investigated in adult albino rats. During the experiments, 49 adult male albino rats were divided into 4 main groups: Group 0 (donor group) included 10 rats for the donation of PRP, Group I (control group) included 15 rats, Group II included 8 rats that received 10 mg/kg of oxymetholone orally, once daily, for 30 days, and Group III included 16 rats and was subdivided into 2 subgroups (IIIa and IIIb) that received oxymetholone the same as group II and then received PRP once and twice, respectively. Testicular tissues of all examined rats were obtained for processing and histological examination and sperm smears were stained and examined for sperm morphology. Oxymetholone-treated rats revealed wide spaces in between the tubules, vacuolated cytoplasm, and dark pyknotic nuclei of most cells, as well as deposition of homogenous acidophilic material between the tubules. Electron microscopic examination showed vacuolated cytoplasm of most cells, swollen mitochondria, and perinuclear dilatation. Concerning subgroup IIIa (PRP once), there was a partial improvement in the form of decreased vacuolations and regeneration of spermatogenic cells, as well as a reasonable improvement in sperm morphology. Regarding subgroup IIIb (PRP twice), histological sections revealed restoration of the normal testicular structure to a great extent, regeneration of the spermatogenic cells, and most sperms had normal morphology. Thus, it is recommended to use PRP to minimize structural changes in the testis of adult albino rats caused by oxymetholone.

Background: Corneal topography is an important parameter in the evaluation of corneal disease, but there is no average value of normal corneal geometry in Saudi individuals is known. So, this study aimed to establish a standard normal value for central corneal thickness (CCT), mean keratometry (km), and astigmatism in Saudi individuals to be used as a reference value, and to compare these results with the same parameters in patients who have refractive errors. Methods: This study was performed from January 2016 to July 2017 at King Faisal Hospital in Taif, KSA, and included a current group of 105 eyes without refractive errors, and 250 eyes with refractor errors. Results: The mean CCT value was 551.681 µm, km value was 43.426 D, and astigmatism was 0.784 D for all eyes with normal visual acuity. However, these values are the statistically significant difference between different ages, but no significant differences according to sex. Regarding the eyes with refractive error, it was found that the mean CCT was 509.66 µm, km was 46.79 D, and for astigmatism was 3.97 D. When the results of two groups were compared, there was a significant difference between them except for km in the group a; (12-20 years). Conclusions: The standard value of central corneal thickness, mean keratometry, and astigmatism in Saudi individuals is differing according to the age but it is the same in both genders. These values are differing statistically in patients with refractor error.