possible ameliorating effect of Nigella sativa oil on tramadol induced apoptosis in the motor area of rat cerebral cortex: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Tramadol is a centrally active analgesic commonly prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Thymoquinone, the major active component of the Nigella sativa oil, is characterized by its antioxidant properties. This study aimed to demonstrate the histological and p53-immunohistochemical changes induced by tramadol in the rat cerebral cortex and evaluate the potential role of N. sativa oil in the attenuation of these changes. Twenty-four male albino rats divided into three groups were used in this study. Group I was the control group. Group II was given repeated intraperitoneal injections of increasing doses of tramadol of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/day on the first, second, and third ten days of the study, respectively. Group III was given oral N. sativa oil 4 ml/kg/day, 30 min before each tramadol injection for 30 days. Paraffin sections of the frontal cortex motor area were prepared and stained with H and E and with an immunohistochemical stain using anti-p53 antibody. In group II rats, numerous shrunken pyramidal cells with acidophilic cytoplasm and deeply stained pyknotic nuclei were seen. Some of the granular cells appeared as ghosts with margination of chromatin. Homogeneous acidophilic masses containing fragmented deeply stained nuclei and surrounded by clear halos were also observed. The number of p53-positive cells was significantly higher compared with both group I and group III. In contrast, in group III, multiple pyramidal and granular cells appeared normal and the number of p53-positive cells was significantly less compared with group II. N. sativa oil and derived thymoquinone ameliorate tramadol-induced apoptosis in the motor area of the rat cerebral cortex

Immunohistochemical localization of epidermal growth factor receptors in the liver of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, which affects different tissues including the liver. Epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] family is one of the tyrosine kinase receptor families that regulate liver pathophysiology

Aim of the work: This study aimed to demonstrate the histological and EGFR immunohistochemical changes that occur in the liver of streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rat

Materials and methods: Twenty male albino rats divided into two groups, group I [control] and group II [diabetic], were used. Diabetes was induced in the animals in group II by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ [40 mg/kg]. Five rats from each group were sacrificed 2 and 4 weeks after the STZ injection. Blood samples were collected for detection of serum glucose and insulin levels. Paraffin sections of the liver were prepared and stained with H and E, periodic acid Schiff, Masson's trichrome stains, and immunohistochemical stain using anti-EGFR antibody

Results: Diabetes mellitus was associated with marked congestion of central veins, blood sinusoids, and hepatic veins. Hepatocytes showed degenerative and fatty changes, especially in the periportal regions. Four weeks after induction of diabetes, signs of hepatic regeneration such as large binucleated hepatocytes were observed in the pericentral regions. Control livers showed strong positive EGFR immunoreactivity in hepatocytes, mainly in the periportal and pericentral regions, and in the bile duct epithelium. A marked decrease in EGFR immunoreactivity was observed in the livers of diabetic rats

Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is associated with marked hepatic congestion, degenerative and fatty changes in the hepatocytes, and decreased hepatic EGFR immunoreactivity

Effect of Nigella sativa on pancreatic beta-cell damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: histological and immunohistochemical study

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Nigella sativa [NS] is a medical plant used as a natural remedy for a variety of illness. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of NS on pancreatic beta-cell damage and serum levels of glucose and insulin in streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rats and to correlate these effects with the immunohistochemical changes. Forty-five male albino rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into three groups: group I [control], group II [diabetic], and group III [diabetic with NS]. Diabetes was induced in group II and III animals by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ, 40mg/kg. Group III animals were given NS oil [0.2ml/kg/day]intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. Five rats from each group were sacrificed 2 days, and 2 and 4 weeks after STZ injection. Blood samples were collected for detection of serum glucose and insulin levels. Paraffin sections of the pancreas were prepared and stained with H and E stain and immunohistochemical stain using anti-insulin antibody. After STZ injection, the pancreatic islets appeared shrunden and showed degerative changes and negative or weak positive insulin immunoreactivity. The serum level of insulin was decreased with elevation in the serum glucose concentration. NS injection improved the morphology of the islets, which nearly reverted to their normal size and structure with increased insulin immunoreactivity. NS also increased the lowered insulin and decreased the elevated glucose concentrations. NS has a protective effect on pancreatic beta-cell damage and improves serum levels of insulin and glucose in STZ-induced diabetic rats

Age-related changes in the ocular lens of the albino rat: a light and scanning electron microscopic study

The eye lens is a minute organ with a complex structure that plays an indispensible role in the process of vision. The study was conducted to detect-age related structural changes that occur in the rat ocular lens and to correlate these changes with the development of senile cataract. Fifteen male albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into three groups: young, adult, and aged [1, 6 and 18 months, respectively]. The animals' lenses were removed, dissected, and processed for light and scanning electron microscopy. The width, thickness, and number of lens fibers were assessed using an image analyzer. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using analysis of variance and the Student t-test. In H and E stained sections, the lens of aged rats was seen to be covered by a thick capsule and had a double layer of epithelial cells. The aged lens showed marked disorganization and vacuolation of nuclear fibers. Scanning electron microscopic study revealed irregularities of the lateral borders of the cortical fibers, folding of their surfaces, and few ball and socket interlocking patterns. The nuclear fibers showed microplicae with a decrease in their cross-sectioned areas. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in the number and width of the aged nuclear lens fibers and as significant decrease in their thickness, compared with younger ones. Lens fibers undergo some structural changes as a result of aging in the form of irregularities in shape and arrangement, thinning and compaction. These changes could be correlated to age-related optical problems such as senile presbyopia and cataract

Cardiovascular autonomic function tests in healthy and diabetic subjects

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy [DAN] is common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus [DM] that occur in nearly half of diabetic patients. DAN in patients with diabetes is an irreversible complication, but early detection is important because the condition can't be reversed. The present study was undertaken primarily to investigate cardiovascular autonomic functions in normal healthy individuals and patients with diabetes mellitus [type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus; T1DM and T2DM], and to determine the relationship between diabetes and extent of autonomic function impairment. Autonomic functions using five standard tests were examined in 40 diabetic patients and 40 age and sex matched controls. The extent of autonomic dysfunction was determined in the patients. All the patients and the controls were subjected to measurement of heart rate [HR] and P-R interval were monitored from lead II of the ECG and BP was measured by electrosphygmomanometry. Significant [p <0.001] increase in resting heart rate in T2DM [112 +/- 10 bpm] than T1DM [65 +/- 12 bpm] associated with significant decrease in HR variation daring deep breathing T2DM [8 +/- 3 bpm] compared to T1DM [18 +/- 5 bpm], significant decrease in HR response to standing in T2DM [0.7 +/- 0.2 bpm] compared to T1DM [1.06 +/- 0.2 bpm], significant decrease in postural changes in SBP in T2DM [-15 +/- 3 mmHg] compared to T1DM [-3 +/- 8 bpm] and significant decrease in DBP response to hand grip inT2DM [6 +/- l mmHg] compared to T1DM [20 +/- 7 mmHg] within 2-5 years of both types of DM. Moreover, no significant difference between T1DM and T2DM in cardiovascular autonomic function tests after 5 years of DM. Autonomic dysfunction was significantly more frequent in type 2 diabetes mellitus [T1DM] compared with type 1 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]. This study showed that autonomic neuropathy is common in diabetic patients, and that it increases in severity with increase in extent of T2DM, and starts after 5 years in T1DM suggesting that diabetes mellitus contributes to these neurological derangements

Age-related changes in carotid vascular responses to noradrenaline and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor

The aim of the present work was to study whether age alters the constrictor responses evoked by the sympathetic transmitter Noradrenaline in the carotid circulation in the rat. Another aim was to test whether age changes the influence of tonically synthetised nitric oxide [NO] on arterial blood pressure [ABP] and on carotid circulation. Further, to investigate the effect of NO synthesis inhibition on carotid vascular responses euoted by noradrenaline in three age groups of rats. In anaesthetised rats aged 4-5, 10-12 and 42-44 weeks [young, mature, middle-aged respectively], carotid blood flow [CBF] and carotid vascular conductance [CVC] were recorded during infusion of noradrenaline [2.5/micro g.kg[-1]], before and after a bolus dose of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME [10mg.kg[-1]]. In mature and middle-aged rats, noradrenaline infusion increased mean ABP to 180mmHg, but only to 150mmHg in young rats. Concomitantly, CVC decreased more in mature and middle-aged, than in young rats: CBF remained constant in young, but decreased in mature and middle-aged rats. NO synthase inhibition produced similar increases in baseline ABP in all groups, but decreased CVC and CBF more in mature and middle-aged rats. Following NO inhibition, noradrenaline infusion increased ABP to similar levels as before in young and mature rats, but to higher levels in middle-aged rats. Further, CVC fell in young and mature, but not in middle-aged rats, in whom CBF increased with ABP.Thus, in young rats there was a weak noradrenaline-evoked pressor response and decrease in CVC. By contrast, in mature and middle-aged rats, noradrenaline evoked a strong pressor response and decrease in CVC. In young and mature rats, NO seems not to limit the noradrenaline-evoked increases in ABP or decreases in CVC. However, by middle age NO limits noradrenaline-evoked pressor response and prevents breakthrough of CBF Autoregulation. The three age groups showed good autoregulatory response of carotid circulation during a pressor response induced by noradrenaline. However, the constrictor responses evoked by noradrenaline is weak in youngs before the age of sexual maturity. On the other hand, by middle-age and well before old age, the constrictor influences of noradrenaline in carotid circulation have begun to weaken. Moreover, by middle age, the dilator influence of NO helps to prevent breakthrough of Autoregulation of CBF at the upper end of the range