Patulin is a common fungal contaminant of ripe apples used for the production of apple juice concentrates and it is also present in other fruits, vegetables and food products. Patulin is a secondary metabolite produced by species of the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus and Byssochlamys. Patulin has been reported to be mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are of prime importance in the innate immune response; they capture antigen in tissues and then migrate to the lymphoid organs to present the antigen to T lymphocytes. Thus, they are crucial for the initiation of immunity. Interdigitating dendritic cells (IDCs) are a subset of APCs that are present at the lymphatic organs. In the thymus, they act in positive and negative selection during T cell development. In the present study, patulin was administered orally to growing male rats aged 5-6 weeks. A dose of 0.1 mg kg(-1) bw day(-1) was given to rats for a period of 60 or 90 days daily. The effect of patulin on the IDCs of thymus was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the results were evaluated in terms of cell destruction. In the rats of the control group, it was observed that the IDCs had an indented nucleus, a clear cytoplasm and numerous membrane extensions. In the cytoplasm, a well-developed golgi complex, mitochondria, granular endoplasmic reticulum and a small number of lysosomal structures were observed. At day 60 of patulin-treated rat groups (P-60), loss of cristae in mitochondria and chromatin margination and lysis in the nucleus were found. It was observed that the IDCs had a perinuclear area of cytoplasm surrounded by a peripheral electron-lucent zone. In the cytoplasm of the 90-day patulin-treated rat group (P-90), a peripheral electron-lucent zone was also found, similar to the P-60 group. Additionally increase in vesicular and lysosomal structures, increase in apoptotic bodies and condensation of chromatin in the nucleus were noted. It was observed that patulin leads to apoptotic body formation and cell apoptosis in the IDCs of rat thymus especially in the P-90-treated groups.

Diabetes causes oxidative stress, which in turn generates excessive free radicals resulting in cellular damage. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects tissues and organs from oxidative stress. The thymus is one of the most important lymphoid organs, which regulates T-lymphocyte proliferation and maturation. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effects of vitamin C on the thymus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The mitotic activity and cell integrity of thymic lymphocytes were explored. Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups: control (Group 1), STZ-diabetes (Group 2) and vitamin C-treated STZ-diabetics (Group 3). Rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg STZ to induce diabetes. Vitamin C (20 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically. Semithin and ultrathin sections were examined under a light or an electron microscope, respectively. Considerable numbers of mitotic lymphocytes were observed in the thymus of control rats. In the diabetic rats, however, numbers of mitotic lymphocytes decreased to ∼57% of controls, and cell division abnormalities were observed. Additionally, diabetic rats showed degeneration in the structure of the thymus including trabecular thickening, accumulation of lipid vacuoles, heterochromatic nuclei and loss of mitochondrial cristae. Degradation of medullar and cortical integrity was also detected. In the vitamin C-treated STZ-diabetic group, the structure of the thymus and mitotic activity of the lymphocytes were similar to the control group. These results suggest that vitamin C protects the thymus against injury caused by diabetes and restores thymocyte mitotic activity.

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Acomys cilicicus, a species of the genus Acomys, which is the first mammal to have regeneration ability and attracts attention with its spiny-like structure, is an endemic species in Turkey. In recent years, species in the genus Acomys have been examined histologically due to their regeneration abilities. Although there are researches with regard to taxonomy of that species in the literature, there is not enough study on the subject of histology of its tissues. The aim of this study is to evaluate the available histomorphological data and documenting the normal microscobic features of the spleen and thymus tissues in A. cilicicus. In this study, 3 adult spiny mice (2 male and one female) were examined. All tissues obtained from those samples were fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin. Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS), Masson's trichrome, Gomori's silver soaking and Haematoxylin-Eosin were used for staining paraffin embedded sections. Histological analysis was carried out by using light microscopy. Histological data of the spleen and thymus tissues of A.cilicicus were reported in detailed.

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Amaç: Alloksan diyabetin sıçanların Extensor Digitorum Longus (EDL) iskelet kasına etkisi lektin boyama tekniği ile ışık mikroskobunda incelendi. Gereç ve Yöntemler:İntravenöz yoldan alloksan enjekte edildikten 30 gün sonra, kontrol ve diyabetik grubu sıçanlardan kas örnekleri alındı. Kas örneklerinden kryostatlı mikrotom ile kesitleri alındı ve dört biyotinli lektin [Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA), Pea Nut Agglutinin (PNA), Concavalin A (ConA), Griffonia simplicifolia (GS)] ile boyandı. Lektinler, avidin-peroksidaz kompleksi ile tespit edildi. Lektinlerin hepsi kontrol ve diyabetik sıçan grubunun EDL iskelet kasına bağlandı. Bulgular: GS ve WGA lektinleri alloksan diyabetik sıçanların EDL iskelet kaslarını kuvvetli (+++) boyadı. Özellikle GS lektini sadece hücre zarına değil aynı zamanda kas fibrillerini kuvvetli boyadı. PNA lektini orta derecede (++) EDL kaslarını boyadı. Con A ise kontrol grubuna göre diyabetik kasları daha zayıf (+) boyadı. Elde ettiğimiz bulgulara göre alloksan-diyabet sıçanların EDL iskelet kaslarının hücre zarlarındaki glikoproteinlerin moleküler yapısını değiştirmiştir.Sonuç: Bu çalışma diyabetin hücre zarlarına hasar verici etkisini göstermek açısından diyabetle yapılan araştırmalara katkıda bulunacaktır. Anahtar Sözcükler: Extensor digitorum longus iskelet kası hücre zarı, Lektin boyama, Diabetes mellitus, Alloksan, Wistar sıçanABSTrAcT Aim: Effect of alloxan-diabet on Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) skeletal muscle of rats were observed by lectin staining techniques in light microscope. Material and Methods:After 30 days alloxan (dose of alloxan: 55 mg/kg) injected by intravenously, samples of muscles were obtained from control and diabetic rats. The muscle samples sections were cutted by cryostat microtome and stained by four biotinylated lectins [Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA), Pea Nut Agglutinin (PNA), Concavalin A (ConA), Griffonia simplicifolia I (GS)]. The lectins were fixed by avidin-peroxidase complex. All lectins were bounded to EDL muscle cell membranes of control and diabetic rats.results: GS and WGA lectins were strongly (+++) stained extensor digitorum muscle cell membranes of alloxan-diabetic rats. Not only cell membranes but also cytoplasmic miyofibrills of diabetic muscle cells were stained by GS lectin. PNA was moderate (++) stained diabetic muscle cell membranes. Con A was weakly (+) stained diabetic muscle cell membranes with respect to control cell membranes. According to our findings, alloxan-diabetes altered the molecular structure of glycoproteins in cell membranes of EDL skeletal muscles of rats. conclusion:We suggested that this study will contribute to diabetes research to show the damaging effects of diabetes on cell membranes.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease worldwide and causes other associated diseases. In this study, we observed the effect of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes and benfluorex treatment on muscular capillary ultrastructure. Adult male rats were used as the test subjects and each individual was intraperitoneally injected with one dose of STZ (45 mg/kg) to induce diabetes. Doses (50 mg/kg) of benfluorex were given to the subjects with tap water by intragastric gavage application once daily for 21 days. At the end of day 21, muscle tissues were obtained from animals and examined under transmission electron microscopy. From the data obtained with the electron microscope, it was observed that the control group had typical continuous capillary vascular structures in their muscles, while STZ caused disruptive disorder of the muscle cells in the capillary wall of the STZ-diabetic group. Additionally, the thickening of the basement membrane around endothelial cells, loss of mitochondrial crista in the muscle cells, enlarged endothelial cells, and narrowed vessel lumen were observed in the muscle tissue. The findings of our study revealed that STZ-induced diabetes disrupted the vascular structure, while benfluorex partially improved it.

Antioxidants are known to restrains various tissue damage caused by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). This study examined whether melatonin (MEL), a molecule known to have antioxidant properties, has a protective effect on the rat soleus muscle, where toxic damage is caused by the application of CCl4. In the study, eighteen albino-type male Wistar rats were used and divided into three groups as Control Group (group 1), CCl4 group (group 2) and CCl4 + MEL group (group 3). End of the 12 weeks, blood samples were taken as intracardiac from the rats under ketamine/rompun anesthesia, and the soleus muscles of the rats were removed. Tissue samples were subjected to routine preparation procedures for light microscopy. Sections 5 µm thick taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) for histopathological examinations and Masson’s Trichrome stain for fibrosis formations. In conclusion, the CCl4 group displayed muscular hypertrophy, fiber orientation dysfunction and atrophy in some areas. In addition, fibrosis was spotted around the venous and nerve plexuses. In contrast to the CCl4 group, the melatonin group displayed no fibrosis and maintained tissue integrity. Therefore, when comparing CCl4+MEL and CCl4 groups, it was observed that melatonin had a stabilizing or even curative effect on the injuries.