The Potential Protective Role of Hesperidin Against Capecitabine-Induced Corneal Toxicity in Adult Male Albino Rat. Light and Electron Microscopic Study

Abstract

Background: Capecitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for the treatment of malignancies. Ocular disorders have been reported with capecitabine therapy. Hesperidin is a naturally occurring compound derived mainly from citrus fruits and has a wide range of pharmacological activities and a proposed role in combating many ocular diseases. Aim: To evaluate the potential protective role of hesperidin against the corneal toxicity caused by capecitabine in adult male albino rats. Material and Methods: Thirty-six adult male albino rats were divided into four equal groups; control group, hesperidintreated group (50 mg/kg), capecitabine-treated group (40 mg/kg), and combination-treated "capecitabine and hesperidintreated" group. Animals were orally administered once daily for one month. Specimens from the cornea were processed for light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical study was performed using antibodies against p53. Results: Specimens from capecitabine-treated animals showed significant decrease of epithelial thickness. The corneal epithelial cells showed nuclear alteration and vacuolated cytoplasm. The stromal collagen fibers were irregularlyarranged and widely separated with neovascularization and mononuclear cellular infiltration. Ultrastructurally, focal widening of the intercellular spaces, partial loss of desmosomal junctions and swollen mitochondria were observed. The immunohistochemical study showed a significant increase in p53 immunoreaction. In contrast, minimal changes were observed in rats treated concomitantly with both capecitabine and hesperidin, with a non significant increase in the immunoreactions. Conclusion: Capecitabine induced structural changes in cornea of adult albino rat that could be ameliorated by concomitant treatment with hesperidin.

Regenerative and Antioxidant Properties of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Can Reserve the Aging Process of the Cornea in the Rat Model

“…Elwan and Kassab [ 18 ] demonstrate corneal epithelial thinning in the case of capecitabine-induced corneal toxicity that might be due to cellular degeneration and slow rate of cellular regeneration and proliferation.…”

“…Meanwhile, the epithelial cells of the aged cornea had shrunken hyperchromatic nuclei, irregular nuclear membrane, and swollen mitochondria with pale vacuolated cytoplasm. Elwan and Kassab [ 18 ] demonstrated pyknotic nuclei in the corneal epithelial cells in the case of corneal toxicity. These findings were interpreted as apoptosis by the authors.…”

“…Elwan and Kassab [ 18 ] reported that stromal inflammatory cellular infiltration may be due to the release of interleukin 1 β (IL1 β ) from the injured corneal epithelial cells in the rat model of capecitabine-induced injury.…”

“…At the end of the experiment, all rats were euthanized by an intraperitoneal injection of phenobarbital (50 mg/kg body weight) [ 18 ]. Then, the eyes were enucleated.…”

Activated Platelet Rich Plasma as a New Treatment Modality for Cataract Disorders: In Vivo Study

“…Growth factors are part of anti-inflammatory cytokines that play a role in inflammation inhibition and activation of tissue regeneration processes. [14][15][16] This potential is quite promising for the improvement of chronic inflammatory processes in cataract cases. This study is one of the early exploratory studies that have the potential to determine the role of platelet-rich plasma in inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1B, thereby triggering tissue repair in cataract cases in vivo study.…”