Histological and immunohistochemical studies of effect of fenugreek seeds on the pituitary, mammary glands and ovary of lactating rabbits

The present work was done to study the effect of fenugreek seeds on the structure of the pars distalis, ovary and mammary gland of lactating rabbit. A total number of 24 lactating rabbits was used. The animals were divided into two groups. One served as a control lactating group [8 rabbits] and the other group was lactating rabbits treated with the seeds [16 rabbits]. The control and treated rabbits were sacrificed after two weeks and four weeks. Specimens of the pituitary gland were prepared for electron microscopy [E/M]. Mammary gland was prepared for light and electron microscopy while the ovary was prepared for light microscopy. Another specimens of the pituitary, mammary glands and ovary were prepared and processed for immunohistochemical application of mouse monocolonal prolactin [PRL] receptor antibody to detect the prolactin receptors in these tissues. This study cleared that, there was apparent increase in the number, size and signs of activity of mammotrophs. The mammary gland showed an increase in the activity of the alveolar cells and in the amount of milk secretion. As regard the ovary, there was an apparent increase in the number of primary follicles. There was progressive increase in the amount of atretic follicles. Corpus luteum showed progressive decrease in size and degeneration. The number of healthy growing follicle was reduced. The immunohistochemical study demonstrated a progressive increase in the number and size of mammotrophs that showing positive reaction for PRL receptor antibody. The mammary gland showed positive reaction in the alveolar cells and in the stroma cells. The ovary showed strong positive reaction for PRL receptor antibody. It becomes obvious that the treatment with fenugreek seeds leads to stimulation of the mammotrophs and mammary gland. At the same time it causes suppression of the ovary. In conclusion, the use of fenugreek seeds has a double advantageous effects as its ingestion by lactating females increases the milk production and in the mean time it suppresses the ovary which may decrease the possibility of pregnancy during lactation. So, we recommend the use of fenugreek seeds instead of the hormones or chemical drugs for more milk production and as a partial ovulation inhibitor

Post-natal studies on the cell density and thickness of the articular cartilage of rabbit

A total number of 24 rabbits divided into 6 groups [at birth, 20, 40 60, 80 days and 6 months] was used in this work. The total and zonal cell density and cartilage thickness were measured at the femoral condyles. The total cell density was decreased rapidly during maturation and slowly at mature age. This reduction may attributed to interposition of matrix during maturation and cell degeneration and necrosis in adult age. The zonal cell density was decreased with increased distance from the joint surface. The total thickness of the articular cartilage was gradually decreased during maturation up to adult age. This reduction may be due to remodeling of the bone ends that accelerated with age. The zonal thickness was observed to decrease with the advancement of age, while within the same age, it was increased as the distance from the cartilage surface was increased. These variations were in direct proportional to the load and weight bearing as well as to the mechanical stress

Histological and histochemical studies on the post-natal development of the articular cartilage of rabbit

A total number of 24 rabbits divided into six age groups [at birth, 20,70,60,80 days and 6 months] was used in this work. For each age group general histological and histochemical studies of the articular cartilage starts to differentiate at the age of 20 days and becomes well defined and differentiated into four layers at the age of 80 days. In adult articular cartilage, the junction between the third and fourth layers termed the tide-mark. The amount and density of the collagen fibers increased with age. They were parallel to the articular surface at the first layer and prependicular to it otherwise. The reaction for polysaccharides is negative in immature cartilage and becomes highly positive in the advancing ages. In immature stage a high metachromosia allover the cartilage was fund. Less intense metachromasia was seen as the age increase. In mature stage metachromasia was negative in the first and fourth layer and positive in the second and third layers