Investigation of apoptotic and autophagic effects of chronic roflumilast use on testicular tissue in rats by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence methods.

Objectives: The present study aims to determine how various dosages of chronic roflumilast affect testicular tissue and testosterone levels in healthy rats. Materials and Methods: Biochemical tests, along with histopathological, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence studies, were carried out. Results: Loss of tissue in the seminiferous epithelium, degeneration in the interstitial area, a separation between cells, desquamation, interstitial edema, and degenerative alterations in testicular tissue were observed in roflumilast groups when compared with the other groups. While apoptosis and autophagy were statistically negligible in the control and sham groups, the roflumilast groups had significantly higher apoptotic and autophagic alterations, as well as immunopositivity. Serum testosterone levels in the 1 mg/kg roflumilast group were lower than those in the control, sham, and 0.5 mg/kg roflumilast groups. Conclusion: Analyses of the research findings revealed that continuous usage of the broad-spectrum active component roflumilast exerted unfavorable effects on the testicular tissue and testosterone levels of rats.

The structure of spleen in the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus): Histological and immunohistochemical study.

The aim of this study was to examine the structure of the spleen in the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) by histologically and the distribution of the catalase in the spleen by immunohistochemically. The tissue materials were taken from three healthy long-legged buzzards provided by permission of the General Directorate of Nature Protection and National Parks (Ankara, Turkey). The long-legged buzzard spleen is surrounded by smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue. In addition, trabecular structures are not found in the capsule. The separation of white and red pulp areas could not be precisely determined. Plasma cells were detected especially around the lymphoid follicles and lymphatic follicles and Schweigger-Seidel cells were formed by reticulum strands. Alcian blue positive reaction was determined in Schweigger-Seidel cells and endothelial cells of the long-legged buzzard spleen. The intense cytoplasmic catalase immunoreactivity was observed in the Schweigger-Seidel cells and nuclear in some red pulp cells of the long-legged buzzard spleen. Consequently, determination of the histological structure and catalase immunoreactivity of the spleen on the long-legged buzzard by this study could be support for the future researches.

The role of amifostine in preventing radiotherapy induced testicular tissue damage in rats.

The germinal epithelium of the adult testis is susceptible to radiation induced damage. Amifostine is a drug used to prevent the side effects of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy. We investigated the protective role of amifostine against RT induced damage to rat testis using the TUNEL assay. We used adult male rats divided equally into four groups: untreated control group; amifostine group, 200 mg/kg amifostine/day for 3 days; RT-saline group, 2 Gy/day local irradiation of testes for 3 days; RT-amifostine group, 2 Gy/day local irradiation of testes for 3 days plus 200 mg/kg amifostine 30 min before each irradiation. Four weeks after treatment, rats were sacrificed for histological examination and apoptosis was assessed using the TUNEL method. The TUNEL staining density was obtained by evaluating separate seminiferous tubules selected randomly from each section using the stereological fractionator method. Apoptosis in the seminiferous tubules in the control group and amifostine groups were evaluated as spontaneous. Frequent apoptosis was observed in the RT-saline group; a statistically significant difference was observed between the RT treated and untreated groups. Administration of amifostine 30 min before RT protected the testicular germ cells against apoptosis.

A comparative study on the histological structure of the spleen in the ostrich (Struthio camelus), the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and the osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

The spleen structurally and functionally belongs to the hematopoietic organs and is also an important component of the reticuloendothelial system, which is known to play a major role in host defense. The histological structure of the spleen was investigated in the ostrich, a non-flying bird, the kestrel, a raptor, and the osprey, a fish-eating bird of prey (fish eagle). For this purpose, Mallory's modified triple stain, methyl green-pyronin and silver stain were used. Germinal centers were not present in the spleen of the osprey. In the spleen of the kestrel, penicillar arterioles and the surrounding lymphoid tissue were markedly dense. Compared to the other two birds, the red and white pulps were clearly distinguishable in the spleen of the ostrich.

Histologic structure of the uropygial gland of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

This study was performed to determine the histologic structure of the uropygial gland in an osprey. The gland was composed of two elongated lobes which were enclosed in a capsule of connective tissue. Each lobe of the gland had a large central cavity with one excretory duct. The secretory tubules consisted of four cell types: basal, intermediate, secretory, and degenerative. The intermediate cells in the osprey were few in number and did not form a layer, while secretory and degenerative cells consist of 2-3 strata, indicating a high level of lipogenesis. The membranes and peripheral cytoplasm of degenerative cells located in the base of the lobes revealed calcium (Ca2+) deposition and an intense acidophilic reaction.