Effect of Selenium on Quantitative Structural Changes in Dexamethasone-Induced Immunodeficiency Rat Models.

Background: One of the major indices of immunodeficiency is lymphoid organ atrophy. Some trace elements are candidates for the treatment of this defect. These conditions may induce structural changes in the sub-components of lymphoid organs. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of selenium on volumetric changes in dexamethasone (DEX)-induced lymphoid organ atrophy in an animal model. Methods: This study was conducted at Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, in September 2016 to September 2017. Thirty-two male rats were divided into four groups: Group I; control (normal saline, 0.5 mL/kg, intraperitoneally), Group II; DEX (0.4 mg/kg; intraperitoneally), Group III; selenium plus DEX (similar to Group II and Group IV), and Group IV; selenium (0.1 mg/kg; orally). At the end of the experiment, the rats' thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes were removed, processed, and stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The volume and volume density of theses organs were estimated by stereology. The results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The volume of the thymus as well as its cortex and medulla; the volume of the spleen as well as the volume density of its white pulp, periarterial lymphatic sheath zone, and follicles; and the volume of the lymph nodes as well as their inner (P=0.001) and outer (P=0.007) cortices showed a significant reduction in the DEX-treated animals in comparison with the controls. In the DEX plus selenium-treated animals, maximum effects were observed on the increment in the thymic cortex (P=0.001), the outer cortex of the lymph nodes (P=0.012), and the splenic follicles (P=0.018) in comparison with the DEX group. There was no significant difference between the animals receiving selenium treatment and the controls in terms of lymphoid organs. Conclusion: Selenium may improve lymphoid organ structures in an immunodeficiency rat model but has no effect on normal lymphoid tissues.

Stereological study of the effect of ginger's alcoholic extract on the testis in busulfan-induced infertility in rats.

BACKGROUND: In traditional medicine zingiber officinale used to regulate female menstural cycle and treat male infertility. Recent studies have suggested the possible role of ginger extract in improving the testicular damage of busulfan. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of zingiber officinale on the sperm parameters, testosterone level and the volume of the testes and seminiferous tubules by stereological methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty rats were divided into four groups. All the rats were given a single intraperitoneally injection of 5mg/kg busulfan solution. The first group was kept as busulfan control, while the other groups were orally administrated ginger extract in graded doses of 50, 100 and 150mg/kg b.wt, for 48 consecutive days. At the end, all animals were anesthetized and their testes and vas deference were removed, fixed, embedded, and stained. The volume of testes and seminiferous tubules were estimated by cavalieri methods. RESULTS: The result showed, that zingiber officinale increased the volumes of seminiferous tubule in 100mg/kg treated group compared to control group. Sperm count (706×10(5) and 682×10(5)) and the level of testosterone (50.90 ng/mL and 54.10 ng/mL) enhanced in 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg treated groups compared to control group (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: It seems that zingiber officinale stimulate male reproductive system in induce busulfan infertility.

Toxic effects of Elaeagnus angustifolia fruit extract on chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in mouse limb buds.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia extract on chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in mouse embryo limb buds in vitro and in vivo. Limb bud mesenchyme from day 12.5 embryos were used for high-density micromass cultures. Water/alcohol extract was added to culture media at 10, 100, 1000 and 10000 µg/L. Cytotoxicity was tested with neutral red. Chondogenesis was detected by alcian blue and osteogenesis was detected by alizarin red S and alkaline phosphatase activity. For in vivo experiments, 40 pregnant mice were given 0.5, 5.0 or 50.0 mg/kg of the extract between days 8 and 18 of gestation. Embryos were stained with alizarin red S and alcian blue to measure femur and ossified region lengths. Total bone mass volume was measured stereometrically. Data were compared with ANOVA and LSD. RESULTS: In limb bud cultures 10 µg/mL of extract reduced chondrogenesis but not osteogenesis. Higher concentrations had no effect on chondrogenesis or osteogenesis. In pregnant mice 50 mg/kg of the extract significantly increased fetal femur and ossified zone length, but significantly decreased bone and cartilage volumes. SIGNIFICANCE: The extract had no favorable effects on chodrification or ossification and appeared to reduce chondrogenesis. This is in apparent contradiction to its empirical effects in human adults.