Retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury causes irreversible loss of neurons and ultimately leads to permanent visual impairment and blindness. The cellular response under this pathological retinal condition is less clear. Using genetically modified mice, we systematically examined the behavior of microglia/macrophages after injury. We show that IR leads to activation of microglia/macrophages indicated by migration and proliferation of resident microglia and recruitment of circulating monocytes. IR-induced microglia/macrophages associate with apoptotic retinal neurons. Very interestingly, neuron loss can be mitigated by minocycline treatment. Minocycline induces Il4 expression and M2 polarization of microglia/macrophages. IL4 neutralization dampens minocycline-induced M2 polarization and neuroprotection. Given a well-established safety profile as an antibiotic, our results provide a rationale for using minocycline as a therapeutic agent for treating ischemic retinal degeneration.

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The study aimed to compare the histological features of Leydig cells and macrophages in the testicular interstitium of obstructive versus nonobstructive azoospermia. Thirty-nine azoospermic men undergoing testicular sperm extraction during intracytoplasmic sperm injection were allocated into obstructive azoospermia group (GI) and nonobstructive azoospermia group (GII) which was subdivided into Sertoli cell-only syndrome (GIIA), germ cell arrest (GIIB) and hypospermatogenesis (GIIC) subgroups. Serum LH, FSH and testosterone levels were measured. Ultrastructural changes and the mean number of CD68-positive cells were estimated in the different groups. In GIIA, Leydig cells' processes came in contact with macrophages and showed smooth endoplasmic reticulum dilatation. In GIIB, Leydig cells showed apoptotic changes. Macrophages were commonly encountered in their vicinity demonstrating large number of lysosomes. In GIIC, Leydig cells showed euchromatic nuclei. Macrophages showed expulsion of their lysosomal contents in the interstitium surrounded by apoptotic bodies. The mean count of total CD68-positive macrophages was higher in cases of obstructive azoospermia with nonsignificant differences compared to nonobstructive azoospermia groups. Significant increase in FSH level was detected in GIIA compared to GI. It is concluded that structural interactions might take place between Leydig cells and macrophages in the interstitial tissue of azoospermic men.

No abstract

Inhibition of corrosion of tin in 0.6 M NaCl by some propaneitrile derivatives namely: (2E)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-oxo-2-(3.4-diphenyl thiazol-2(3H)-ylidene)propanenitrile, (E)-3-(1H-indol-3yl)-3-oxo-2-(5-oxo-3-phenyl thiazolidin-2-ylidene) propanenitrile, (E)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-yl)-3-oxo-2-(5-oxo-3-phenyl thiazolidin-2-ylidene) propanenitrile and (2-imino-2H-chromen-3-yl)(1H-indol-3yl) methadone as investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques. Polarization studies were carried out at different temperatures and showed that the investigated compounds were mixed type inhibitors. The effect of temperature on corrosion inhibition has been studied and some thermodynamic activation and adsorption parameters were calculated and discussed. The inhibition occurs through adsorption of the investigated compounds on the tin surface without modifying the mechanism of corrosion process. The experimental data fit Freundlich adsorption isotherm.