Comparative evaluation of the effects of deferiprone and/or resveratrol in alleviating iron overload-induced tongue injury in rats.

Iron overload causes excessive iron deposition in extrahepatic organs, including the tongue. This study aims to compare the deferiprone and/or resveratrol treatments for the alleviation of iron overload-induced tongue injury in rats. Rats were divided into 6 groups: control group, iron-overloaded group, recovery group where rats were left to recover from iron overload, deferiprone-treated group, resveratrol-treated group, and combined deferiprone/resveratrol-treated group. Iron was administered for 4 weeks, while all treatment options were given for the subsequent 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, all rats were sacrificed; the serum iron profile was estimated, and the tongues were assessed by histopathological, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) immunohistochemical, histomorphometric, and ultrastructural evaluations. Serum iron parameters were significantly increased in iron-overloaded rats and decreased to control levels only in the combined group. The iron-overloaded tongues demonstrated lost lingual papillae, coarse keratohyalin granules, vacuolated epithelial cells, degenerated muscle fibers, and congested blood vessels. Compared to the control rats, this group revealed a significant decrease in the epithelial layer thickness (550.7 vs. 763.4 µm), papillae height (441.4 vs. 849.7 µm), and myofiber diameter (58.5 vs. 98.6 µm), and increased lamina propria thickness (305.1 vs. 176.8 µm), fibrosis index (33.4 vs. 8.6 %), and TNF-α immunoexpression (1.16 vs. 0.63 optical density). Additionally, the ultrastructure showed hyperkeratinized papillae, wide interpapillary spaces, flat fungiform papillae, and lost gustatory pores. All these parameters were improved in the recovery, deferiprone, and resveratrol groups to different degrees, while the combined deferiprone/resveratrol treatment was the best option.

Protective effects of Rosemary extract and/or Fluoxetine on Monosodium Glutamate-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity in rat.

The use of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) as a food flavor enhancer is increasing worldwide despite its neurotoxic effects. Fluoxetine (FLX) and Rosemary extract (RE) are known to have beneficial neuroprotective properties. Rats were divided into five groups: control group; MSG group, rats received 2 g∕kg∕day intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of MSG for seven days; RE/MSG group, rats received 50 mg∕kg∕day of oral RE for 28 days starting prior to MSG; FLX∕MSG group, rats received 10 mg∕kg∕day of oral FLX for 28 days beginning before MSG; and RE∕FLX∕MSG group, received combined treatments as mentioned above. Rats underwent the Barnes maze test, in addition to histopathological, immunohistochemical, morphometric and ultrastructural evaluations for their hippocampi. MSG increased the number of errors and escaped latency in the Barnes maze test that was significantly minimized in the three treatment groups. The MSG group exhibited pyramidal cell (PC) degeneration, shrunken glial cells and massive vascular dilatation that were improved with RE and∕or FLX treatment. The number of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunopositive cells were increased, and the number of PCs was decreased in the MSG group, while these values were significantly reversed with the three treatment groups with the most significant improvement at RE∕FLX∕MSG one. Ultrastructurally, PCs were shrunken with degenerated nuclei, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria, and vacuolations in the MSG group that were improved with RE and∕or FLX. In conclusion, the combined RE and FLX treatment can ameliorate the toxic effect of MSG on rat hippocampus probably through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.