Formalin is a widely used fixative but there is potential public health risks to exposure. Besides, alcoholic fixation is advantageous over formalin fixation because of faster fixation, optimal preservation and safer workplace environment. Following fixation by EMA and 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF), we analyzed the tissue morphology, antigenic stability, DNA and RNA quantity with quality (OD value). The findings of EMA fixing on both the tissue morphology and molecular characterization, were satisfactory. Specially, EMA was faster in penetration of tissues than NBF, fixed ideally as early as 8 h of fixation whereas improper fixation was evident for NBF. In Hematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) staining, better cellular details with stronger affinity for staining were observed. In immunohistochemistry, better antigenic stability was reported for EMA-fixed tissues. The nucleic acid analysis revealed that total genomic DNA and RNA yield from EMA fixed tissues were significantly higher ( P < 0.05 ) with superior quality than NBF fixed tissues. Our results suggest that EMA could be a potential alternative to NBF for fixation and preservation of tissues. These data provide new insights into an option for a safer working environment to support study and research.

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The histo-morphology and biometry of liver, lung and kidney of goat were studied. The obtained samples were divided into two groups. One set of tissue was processed for paraffin embedding after formalin fixation. The other set was indigenously plastinated. The plastinates were embedded with paraffin without deplastination. Both the non plastinated and plastinated tissues were sectioned and processed for routine staining. The tissues were examined under light microscope for histological architectures and quantitatively assessed the biometric parameters. The non plastinated and plastinated samples yielded mostly similar histological architectures. But plastinated liver showed alterations and artifacts with enlargement of the central vein and hepatic sinusoidal space. Plastinated lung revealed enlarged alveolar sac. Lack of nuclear clarity was observed for all the plastinated samples. The plastinated kidney revealed compactness of the cellular structures and shrinkage induced artifacts with clear renal corpuscles structure and obvious glomerular capsule (Bowman's capsule). The biometric measurements of central vein of liver, alveolar sac of lung, glomerulus and glomerular space of kidney of both plastinated and non plastinated tissue were also performed using calibrated stage micrometer. Comparison was done between the biometric data for both plastinated and non plastinated tissue. No significant difference was found in the obtained biometric data of liver and lung. Only a significant difference was observed between the width of glomerulus of non plastinated kidney and width of glomerulus of plastinated kidney. The morphological and biometric study of non plastinated and plastinated organs of goat can conclude that histological slides can be made from indigenously plastinated organs with well preserved histological architectures of the tissues with some rare exceptions. Plastination does not affect the biometric characteristics of the organs. In addition, the comparative morphologic and biometric study of plastinated and non plastinated organs of goat will be useful in education and research.

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Glucocorticoids (GCs) initiate oxidative stress and cause renal damage which lead to hypertension, heart failure and ultimately death. The current study aimed to investigate the alterations in serum biochemical parameters i.e. HDL and LDL; gross anatomy, histomorphology and histomorphometry of broiler kidney in response to dietary GC, dexamethasone (DEX). Day old chicks (DOCs) were randomly assigned into four groups: control and three treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3). The control group was fed commercial broiler type ration and the treated groups were fed commercial broiler type ration containing GC (Dexamethasone @ 3, 5 and 7 mg/kg in T1, T2 and T3 group respectively). To measure the biochemical parameters, blood samples were collected on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the experiment. For histological investigation, kidney (left) samples were collected from the individual birds after sacrificing on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the experiment. Histomorphological alterations of the kidney were assessed by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Biochemical analysis showed significantly increased serum HDL and LDL level compared to the control. In gross study, dark congested kidney was found with significantly decreased weight, length and width. Treatment with DEX augmented congestion, inflammation and fibrosis in kidney, as evidence by histomorphometric study. Extensively degenerated and atrophied glomeruli, degenerated tubular epithelium with distorted tubules and inter tubular empty spaces were seen. Percentage of atrophied glomeruli increased significantly and maximum percentage of glomerular atrophy was seen at day 28. These changes were found more explicitly in the higher dose group. Histomorphometric study also revealed significant decrease in the diameter of glomerulus. The findings of this study suggest that DEX may alter the serum biochemical parameters as well as kidney gross and histomorphology.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) cause excess fat accumulation, which leads to fertility dysfunction in broilers. The study investigated alterations in the morphology and morphometry of the testes of broilers in response to GC and dexamethasone (DEX). Male day-old chicks were randomly divided into a control group and three experimental groups (E1, E2, and E3). The control group was fed a commercial broiler ration. The experimental groups were fed a commercial broiler ration containing GC (i.e. DEX 3, 5, and 7 mg/kg, respectively). The testes were collected and stained with haematoxylin and eosin to count the number of testicular seminiferous tubules. An increase in the seminiferous tubule count was initially seen, which declined as both the age of the broilers and the dose of DEX increased. Morphometric measurements, i.e., the testicular capsule thickness, seminiferous tubule diameter, and seminiferous epithelium height, were performed. The initial thickening of the testicular capsule was evident. There was a depletion of the interstitial (Leydig) cell population in the experimental groups with the age and increased with the dose advancement. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules and testicular capsule thickness remained upregulated in the treatment groups with the increased dose of DEX. The initial height of the seminiferous epithelium increased in the experimental groups of broilers. The study suggests that DEX greatly alters the morphological architecture of broiler testes; as a result, it could be said that DEX has the effect on the infertility of the broiler by affecting the morphology as well as the functionality of the testes.

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