Efficacy of medical ozone in attenuation of murine schistosomiasis mansoni infection morbidity

Mice were divided into 3 groups: non-infected control, S. mansoni infected non-treated for 10 weeks and group receiving ozone intra-peritoneally for 21 days 10 weeks postinfection. Results showed that ozone therapy in chronic schistosomiasis mansoni decreased worm burden, increased number of dead eggs, decreased both mature and immature eggs, increased RBC count, improved hemoglobin concentration with reduced reticulocytes%, as well as increased lymphocyte%, decreased neutrophil% and markedly increased eosinophil%. Platelet count was increased and bleeding time was markedly shortened, markers for hepatic function were improved, and malondialdehyde concentration decreased in liver and spleen but increased in intestine. Reduction of associated hepato-splenomegaly was noticed, with reduction in number and size of hepatic and intestinal granulomas, collagen area% and number of macrophages, with preservation of hepatic and intestinal histological profile in almost all areas. The results point to medical ozone as a promising agent to complement schistosomiasis mansoni specific treatment, helping to attenuate infection morbidity

Could cinnamaldehyde be harnful? histological, cytogenetical and biochemical studies on the effects on some organs of mice

Cinnamaldehyde [CNMA] is present naturally as cinnamon tree. Because of its widespread use as fragrance additive, it was chosen for the current study. Sixty mice were divided into 6 equal groups. First three groups were control groups and the other three groups received CNMA daily, orally in three dose regimens; 1/2 LD50, 1/4 LD50 and 1/8 LD50 for 30 consecutive days, then animals were sacrificed; Liver function tests and liver tissue glutathione concentration were determined. Pancreatic specimens and olfactory mucosa were processed for both light and transmission electron microscopic studies and for scanning electron microscopic study respectively. Bone marrow cells micronucleus and chromosomal aberration tests were performed for cytogenetical study. cinnamaldehyde, in a dose related manner resulted in abnormal nuclear morphology and hyperchromatasia with increased nuclear/cytoplasinic ratio of the pancreatic acinar cells and decreased tendency for acinar formation, suggesting pancreatic acinar dysplasia. Atrophy of receptor cells of olfactory mucosa with diminished surface processes was observed in mice received 1/2 LD50 cNMA. cinnamaldehyde induced dose dependent increase in the frequency of both micro nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and chromosomal aberrations. Significant elevation of the liver enzymes, total bilirubin and a significant reduction of the liver glutathione concentration were also detected in a dose related manner in conclusion, the considered toxicity assay parameters had shown a correlation between the administered dose of CNMA and its deteriorative effects. So, it is recommended that CNMA should not be consumed in a dose more than the acceptable daily intake and its use as flavoring agent should be kept as low as possible

Muscular and haematopoietic toxicities of zidovudine in adult albino rat. Evaluation of the possible role of some antioxidants

Zidovudine, a potent inhibitor of retroviral replication was the first drug approved for the treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS]. Long term use of Zidovudine in patients with AIDS is frequently associated with periods of dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy due to the development of muscular and haematopoietic toxicities. Zidovudine toxicity is thought to be mediated through its action on mitochondria with increased reactive species and oxidative DNA damage. Some antioxidants [Vitamin C, Zinc and N-acetyl Cysteine] were tried in this work aiming to evaluate their possible protective effects on zidovudine - induced muscle and haematopoietic toxicities. One hundred and eighty adult albino rats of both sexes were used in this study divided equally into the following groups: Group I: was considered as -ve control group. Group II: animals received distilled water orally: Group III: in which animals received vitamin C orally at a dose of 175 mg/day. Group IV included animals which received Zinc Oxide orally at a dose of 6 mg/day. Group V: in which animals received N-Acetyl Cysteine [NAC] orally at a dose of 18 mg/day. The drugs used in Group III, IV, V were given for 50 consecutive days. Group VI: included animals which receive Zidovudine [AZT] in a dose of [10.8 mg/rat] oraly for 35 consecutive days. Group VII: comprise animals which were pretreated with vitamin C for 15 days, then vitamin C was given concomitant with AZT for 35 consecutive days at the same previously given dose and route for each. Group VIII: In which animals received Zinc Oxide before AZT for 15 days then Zinc Oxide concomitant with AZT for 35 consecutive days at the same previously given dose and route for each. Group IX comprised animals which received NAC for 15 consecutive days before then concomitant with AZT for 35 consecutive days at the same previously given dose and route for each. At the end of the experiment blood samples used for blood count were collected. Aliquots of the samples were centrifuged and the plasma was used for determination of serum malondialdehyde [MDA] level. Animals were sacrificed and the heart and gastrocnemius muscle with related bone were prepared for histological examination. In AZT group there was marked decrease in total WBC count, RBC count and platelet count with significant increase in serum MDA level. The L/M examination of skeletal and cardiac muscle sections revealed focal areas of necrosis with complete loss of architecture together with mononuclea; cellular infiltration. Skeletal muscles of the same group showed focal depletion of sarcoplasmi, PAS positive material and mitochondrial content together with increase in collagen fiber deposition. E/M examination of cardiac myocytes showed abundant sarcoplasmic vacuolation and myofibrillar loss. Their mitochondria showed different grades of degenerative changes. The bone marrow sections of AZT group showed marked hypercellularity, decrease bone marrow vacuolar spaces, dilated congested blood sinusoids. In AZT and vitamin C group [VII] and AZT with Zinc group [VIII] there was marked elevation of all blood count with marked drop in the level of serum MDA compared with AZT group. Also nearly complete normalization of the histological profile of skeletal and cardiac muscle was obtained in the same groups. The bone marrow sections of AZT and vitamin C group was nearly similar to - ve control group while that of AZT + Zinc group still showed changes. Whereas there was mild improvement of the skeletal, cardiac muscle and bone marrow AZT - induced histological and biochemical changes was detected in AZT and NAC group [IX]

Importance of nucleophilic thiols in modulating cyclophosphamide toxicity on the heart, urinary bladder and bone marrow of adult albino rats

Cyclophosphamide [CPH] is a synthetic antineoplastic agent, N-acetyl cysteine [NAC] and mesna [sodium 2 mercaptoethane sulphonate] are two members of the nucleophilic thiols. One hundred adult albino rats were used in this study. They were calssified into 10 equal groups. Groups I, II and III were control groups [-ve and +ve controls]. Group IV: [Mesna alone]. The animals of this group received 4 doses of Mesna each of 25mg/kg I.P for 5 days as follows: the 1[st] dose was given followed by the 2[nd] dose after 1/3 of an hour, then the 3[rd] dose was given after 3 hours followed by the 4[th] dose after another 3 hours. Group [V] [NAC alone]: the animals of this group received NAC at a dose of 100 mg/kg orally for 5 days. Group [VI] [Mesna and NAC]: the animals of this group received 4 doses of mesna and one dose of NAC concomitantly with the 2[nd] dose of mesna for 5 days following the same regimen and dose for each. Group [VII] [CPH alone]: the animals of this group received cyclophosphamide in a dose of 50 mg/kg I.P for 5days. Group [VIII] [CPH and Mesna]: the animals received 4 doses of mesna. CPH was given concomitantly with the 2[nd] dose of mesna. Both were given at the same previously mentioned doses and routes for 5 days. Group [IX] [CPH and NAC]: the animals received CPH concomitantly with NAC at the same previously mentioned doses and routes for 5 days. Group [X] [CPH, mesna and NAC]: the animals of this group received 4 doses of mesna. CPH and NAC were given concomitantly with the 2[nd] dose of mesna. All were given at the same previously mentioned doses and routes for each for 5 days. Animals of all groups were sacrificed 24 hours after the last dose. Blood samples were collected for investigating complete blood count [CBC], serum lactic dehydrogenase [LDH] and creatine phosphokinase [CPK] enzymes. Heart, urinary bladder and bone marrow were examined both histologically and histochemically. Cyclophosphamide significantly reduced the total leukocytic count [TLC], platelet count, hemoglobin concentration and lymphocytic count and increased the blood levels of LDH and CPK enzymes. Histologically CPH caused focal areas of cardiac necrosis, intramyocardial hemorrhage and Dilated, congested blood vessels. Whereas, it caused urinary bladder mucosal ulceration, interstitial edema and congestion with mononuclear cellular infiltration. Bone marrow hypocellularity, undifferentiated leukocytic series were also noticed in CPH group. Concomitant administration of mesna recovered completely the CPH-induced urinary bladder toxicity. However, it didn't improve either the blood picture or the cardiac enzymes and didn't recover completely neither the hemopoietic nor the cardiac toxicity of CPH. Whereas, concomitant administration of NAC or NAC and mesna with CPH improved completely the CPH induced hemopoietic and cardiac toxicity as indicated biochemically and histologically and to lesser extent the urinary bladder toxicity. So, it is recommended to prescribe NAC and mesna together with alkylating agents particularly cyclophosphamide to modulate its toxicity

Histological and immunohistochemical study of the effect of aging and dietary restriction on rat testicular germ cells with special reference to apoptosis

This study was done to throw light on the effect of aging as well as dietary restriction on the microscopic structure of the testis. Germ cells apoptosis was also studied, as apoptosis in testicular germ cells is critical for spermatogenesis in mammals. Twenty male albino rats were used in this study. They were classified into four groups: Groups I and II consisted of 5 adult rats each, of 4-5 months of age weighing 120-150 g. Groups III and IV consisted of 5 senile rats each, of 18-24 months of age weighing 250-300 g. Groups I and III received free access to diet and water. Whereas, groups II and IV received only free access to water. Group I served as a control group. After four days, all animals were sacrificed, the testis were removed and processed for routine H and E, PAS and Feulgin reaction. The specimens were immune stained using anti Bclx protein. Statistical analysis was also done to evaluate the morphometric data. The results of the study are given