Qualitative and quantitative ultrastructural analysis of the mitochondria from adrenal gland cortex under the action of viperidae family snake venoms / Análisis ultrastructural cualitativo y cuantitativo de la mitocondria de la glándula adrenal bajo la acción de los venenos de serpientes de la familia viperidae

SUMMARY: The Viperidae venoms are composed of a mixture of constituents with enzymatic and non-enzymatic actions, which act on ultrastructural components of cells and tissues. Here, the number of mitochondria, mitochondrial area and the number of mitochondrial cristae from adrenal glands cortex treated with snake venoms were tested after 3, 6 and 24 hours of venom injections. The mitochondria quantitative changes showed a statistically significant decrease, in the number of mitochondria past 3, 6 and 24 h. There was an increase in the mitochondrial area after 6 h, where Crotalus vegrandis venom did not present significant differences with Crotalus pifanorum or Bothrops venezuelensis venoms. After 24 h, there was an escalation of mitochondrial area in all tested venoms. The number of mitochondrial cristae after 3 h did not present important differences with the control treatment. After 6 h, the number of mitochondrial cristae initiated to decrease under the activities of the 3 venoms action, until 24 h of observation. In the qualitative observations it was possible to witness an intense damage of the mitochondria, with loss and swelling of membranes, disappearance of cristae and the appearance of myelin figures, which started at 3 h after the Crotalus and Bothrops venoms injections. These damages probably were due to cytotoxic effects of phospholipases, metalloproteases and/or other proteolytic activities present in Viperidae snake venoms, being more evident in Crotalus venoms. As far as we know, these results define a novel finding that suggest that Viperidae snake venoms are extremely toxic to mammalian mitochondria.

RESUMEN: Los venenos de Viperidae tienen acciones enzimáticas y no enzimáticas, que actúan sobre la estructura celular. Aquí se probaron, a las 3, 6 y 24 horas de la inyección del veneno, el número de mitocondrias, el área mitocondrial y el número de crestas mitocondriales de la corteza de las glándulas adrenales. Los cambios cuantitativos de las mitocondrias mostraron una disminución en el número de mitocondrias a las 3, 6 y 24 h. Hubo un aumento en el área mitocondrial a las 6 h, donde el veneno de la serpiente Crotalus vegrandis no presentó diferencias significativas con los venenos de Crotalus pifanorum o Bothrops venezuelensis. Después de 24 h, hubo un aumento del área mitocondrial en todos los venenos. El número de crestas mitocondriales a las 3 h no presentó alteraciones o diferencias importantes con el tratamiento de control. Después de 6 h, el número de crestas mitocondriales comenzó a disminuir bajo la acción de los 3 venenos, hasta las 24 h de observación. En las observaciones cualitativas se observó un daño intenso de las mitocondrias, con pérdida y edema de las membranas, desaparición de las cristae y aparición de figuras mielínicas, que comenzó a las 3 h después de las inyecciones de veneno de Crotalus y Bothrops. Estos daños se debieron factiblemente a los efectos citotóxicos de componentes proteolíticos de los venenos. Creemos que estos resultados definen un nuevo y original hallazgo, que sugiere que los venenos de serpiente Viperidae son extremadamente tóxicos para las mitocondrias de mamíferos.

Light and electron microscopic study on the effect of malathion on the adrenal gland of adult male albino rat and the possible protective role of vitamin [C]

Malathion is one of the organophosphorus insecticides widely used in agricultural and household applications to control pests. Actually, the studies of the effect of malathion on the adrenal%land are still limited, Vitamin C is the major water soluble antioxidant and free radical scavenger within the body. The aim of the work is to study the effect of chronic exposure to malathion on the adrenal gland. We also aim to study the possible protective effect of vitamin C in attenuating the nossible malathion induced changes. A total number of 30 adult male albino rats aged three months was used in the present study. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: l The first group [GI]: 10 rats were used as control 2- The second group [GH]: 10 animals were used as malathion treated group. 3- The third group [GUI]: 10 rats were used as malathion/vitamin C treated group. Commercial malathion was used, dissolved in distilled water and given orally by intragastric tube in a dose of 100 mg/kg/dayfor 2 months. Vitamin C was given orally by intragastric tube in a dose of 20 mg/WOgm/day for 2 months. After two months, the animals of the three groups were anaesthetized with ether inhalation and the suprarenal glands were dissected out and processed for light and electron microscopic examination. In malathion treated rats, there was cellulae disturbance in the arrangement of the adrenal gland. The cells of the cortex and medulla, showed irregular nuclei and apparent increase in the cytoplasmic vacuolation. Cortical and medullary blood capillaries were dilated and engorged with blood. Immunohistochemical staining for Caspase-3, showed many caspase-3 positive cells in the cortex and medulla. Ultrastructurally, degenerative changes were observed in the cortical and medullary cells in the form of cytoplasmic vacuolation, mitochondria! degeneration and increased lipid droplets. These changes were partially resolved by coadministration of vitamin C. Malathion had a harmful effect on adrenal gland so, it leads to impairment of its function in producing various hormones. This effect could be partially resolved, by concomitant administration of vitamin [C]. So, it is advisable to give vitamin [C] to those exposed to malathion

Histological and physiologycal effects of dopamine-D3 receptor agonist [7-OH-DPAT] on the kidney and adrenal gland of adult male rabbits

This experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of D3 [dopamine receptor] activation by intravenous infusion [iv] of 7-OH-DPA T [as specific D3 receptor agonist] on the structural and functional activity of the kidney and adrenal gland and to evaluate the possible mechanism[s] of its action. This study was carried out on 36 adult male Balady rabbits weighing 1.2-1.5 kg body weight. Animals were divided into four groups, one as a control and three groups were used to assess the effect of iv infusion of 7-OH-DPAT at a rate of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 ug/kg/min for 120 mm. Rabbits were randomly assigned into renal and adrenal assessments. This experiment revealed that activation of D3 receptors, especially with the high dose, was associated with marked dilatation of glomerular blood capillaries and blood vessels among tubules, Structural changes in the juxta glomerular apparatus with signs of degeneration in the macula densa cells were observed. Reduction and distortion of the brush border of the proximal convoluted tubules [PCT,] was noticed. Ultrastructural changes were characterized by dispersion of the ribosomes, numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles, chromatin condensation, and presence of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. Alteration in the size and morphology of mitochondria, associated with widening of the basal enfoldings were observed, Physiological assessment revealed dose dependent increase glomerular filtration rate, a significant increase in mean levels of urine flow rate, Na excretion rate and K excretion rate. Also, significant decrease in the angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was observed in this work. This study also, revealed involvement of the cells of the adrenal cortex and medulla with variable degrees of degenerative changes, including congestion of the blood capillaries and disarrangement of the zona glomerulosa cells which were occupied with darkly stained cytoplasmic granules. Decreased activity of the zona glomerulosa, was manifested by decrease in aldosteroene secretion, decrease in serum sodium and increase Na excretion rate

Light and electron microscopic study of the effect of experimentally-induced colitis on the adrenal gland of albino rats

This study was performed to investigate adrenal changes in chemically-induced colitis in rats. Twelve adult male albino rats were used for the present study. The animals were allocated into two groups. Animals of control group received a single intracolonic instillation of 0.8 ml of normal saline for each rat while those of colitis group received 0.8 ml of 4% acetic acid for each rat. After seven days, all animals were sacrificed and the adrenal glands were dissected and processed for histological, immunocytochemical and electron microscopic examinations. The results showed light and electron microscopic changes in the adrenal glands of animals with colitis. Many adrenocortical cells showed abnormal large cytoplasmic vacuoles, representing large extracted lipid droplets. Many medullary chromaffin cells revealed obvious cellular damage and marked depletion of secretory granules. These changes could be attributed to the effect of certain inflammatory cytokines on the adrenal gland. The results of this study provide evidence to support the hypothesis that an excessive stress, such as prolonged inflammatory stress, may contribute to the development of obvious lesions in the adrenal gland

Adenoma de Conn: uma causa de hipertensão e hipocalemia / Conn's adenoma: a cause of hypertension and hypokalemia

Hipertensão secundária corresponde aproximadamente a 5 a 10% das causas de hipertensão arterial e, entre elas, o hiperaldosteronismo primário apresenta uma incidência variável de 0,05 a 2% em hipertensos, com quadro característico de hipocalemia, produção aumentada de aldosterona, redução ou supressão da renina, relação aldosterona/renina elevada e alcalose metabólica. Descrevemos um caso de paciente com hipertensão arterial primária controlada, que apresentou na sua evolução um adenoma de supra-renal com piora dos níveis tensionais.

Effects of anti-schistosomal chemotherapy on ultrastructure and histology of suprarenal gland

The ultrastructural features and histological picture of suprarenal gland of mice infected with S. mansoni before and after acute curative treatment with praziquantel PZO were studied. The drug was given during the establishment of hepatosplenomegaly [eight weeks post- infection] given in three divided doses in one-hour interval for one day. It was shown that the most prominent histological features in infected adrenal glands were significantly reduced with an almost complete recovery after treatment. These changes as shown by electron microscope included shrinkage of the cells with wide intracellular spaces, few microvilli, Schistosoma ova, collagen and thick basement membrane-like material in the subendothelial space. These pathological features could be attributed either to the direct toxic effect of S. Mansoni ova or due to the immunological changes in the responsiveness of the host similar to the cellular changes seen elsewhere