Recognising the importance and impact of Imaging Scientists: Global guidelines for establishing career paths within core facilities.

In the dynamic landscape of scientific research, imaging core facilities are vital hubs propelling collaboration and innovation at the technology development and dissemination frontier. Here, we present a collaborative effort led by Global BioImaging (GBI), introducing international recommendations geared towards elevating the careers of Imaging Scientists in core facilities. Despite the critical role of Imaging Scientists in modern research ecosystems, challenges persist in recognising their value, aligning performance metrics and providing avenues for career progression and job security. The challenges encompass a mismatch between classic academic career paths and service-oriented roles, resulting in a lack of understanding regarding the value and impact of Imaging Scientists and core facilities and how to evaluate them properly. They further include challenges around sustainability, dedicated training opportunities and the recruitment and retention of talent. Structured across these interrelated sections, the recommendations within this publication aim to propose globally applicable solutions to navigate these challenges. These recommendations apply equally to colleagues working in other core facilities and research institutions through which access to technologies is facilitated and supported. This publication emphasises the pivotal role of Imaging Scientists in advancing research programs and presents a blueprint for fostering their career progression within institutions all around the world.

Anatomy Education in Nigeria: A Study of Program Curricula Toward Advancing Training and Improving Program Outcomes.

Background Anatomy education in this context refers to the training of anatomists particularly in the university or college setting with an emphasis on equipping them with skills to be biomedical researchers and scientists, educators, and providers of applied or allied health services. There has been a recurring call to carefully evaluate and scrutinize biomedical science programs in Nigerian universities. This study considered the anatomy curriculum in representative Nigerian institutions with an emphasis on their philosophy, program design, program objectives, and program contents among other considerations. Materials and methods Structured and validated questionnaires, electronic, were administered to collect quantitative and qualitative data from heads of the anatomy department in representative institutions. Head of anatomy departments in 11 representative institutions returned their properly completed questionnaires, representing over 60% return rate of the target representative institutions. Quantitative data sets were analyzed and presented as tables, charts, and figures. Qualitative data in the form of free responses were analyzed and presented based on themes. Results Degree programs, including bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees, are currently offered in respondents' universities. The curricula are generally robust in scope and depth of content as they address all the main domains of anatomy or anatomical sciences, especially gross anatomy, histology, embryology, neuroscience, and physical anthropology in many instances. The average duration for the bachelor's program (BSc) is 4 years, master's 2 years, and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) 3-5 years. Analysis of the main methods of training indicated that the programs include significant coursework at every level as well as the main research project leading to the presentation of a dissertation or thesis. We also identified gaps in training, with emphasis on transferable skills, which must be addressed in line with modern realities in basic medical sciences. Conclusion  We consider it a necessity to equip graduates at all levels of training with competencies that are directly and clearly aligned with the roles that graduates of the program should play in workplaces. We, therefore, recommend that curricula be reviewed to emphasize competencies in scientific investigations, transferable skills, and science education. Specific cutting-edge skills and research methods should be included in alignment with overall program objectives and deliverables.

Observable Protective Activities of Quercetin on Aluminum Chloride-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Adult Male Wistar Rat.

BACKGROUND: Aluminum chloride (AlCl3 ) present in many manufactured consumable is considered as a toxic element. AIM: Our study evaluates the toxic effects induced by AlCl3 on the testes as well as the therapeutic tendency of Quercetin (QUE) agent as an antioxidant. SETTING AND DESIGN: In the department of Anatomy of Medical School. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats weighing approximately 170 ± 10 g were assigned into four groups with eight each, fed with rat chow and water ad-libitum. Group A served as control and was given distilled water throughout; Group B was given only QUE (200 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days; Group C was given only AlCl3 (300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days; and Group D was given AlCl3 (300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days followed with QUE (200 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days. Substance administrations were done orally. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the data, in GraphPad Prism 6.0 being the statistical software. RESULTS: AlCl3 significantly reduced the relative organ (testes) weight, correlating the decrease in sperm count, sperm motility and sperm viability. Furthermore, there was a decrease in luteinizing hormone with an increase in follicle-stimulating hormone which accounted for a significant reduction in testosterone level that plays a great role in spermatogenesis, following AlCl3 treatment. The cytoarchitecture of the testes showed degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and leydin cells, nitric oxide synthases immunoreactivity was intense in the seminiferous epithelium of rat in Group C. CONCLUSION: These suggest that QUE antioxidant property could reverse the decrease in sperm status, hormonal effects, and functional deficit induced by aluminum chloride on the testes of Wistar rats.

Zingiber officinale Ethanolic Extract Attenuated Reserpine-Induced Depression-Like Condition and Associated Hippocampal Aberrations in Experimental Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND: Repeated and regimented treatment with reserpine causes depression-like condition characterized by persistent mood disorder, feelings of severe despondency and dejection, thus altering the hippocampal morphology. Our study compared a well-known antidepressant (fluoxetine), with the potential of Zingiber officinale to ameliorate reserpine-induced depression and the associated hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) neuronal cell damage. METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats, weighing 130-160 g, were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n=8), housed in plastic cages under natural light and dark cycles at room temperature with access to feed and water ad libitum. Group-A (control) received distilled water. Group-B and Group-C orally received 400 mg/kg of Zingiber officinale and 10 mg/kg of fluoxetine, respectively, for 7 days, while Group-D intraperitoneally received 0.2 mg/kg of reserpine for 14 days. Group-E and Group-F intraperitoneally received 0.2 mg/kg of reserpine for 14 days followed by 400 mg/kg of Zingiber officinale and 10 mg/kg of fluoxetine respectively for 7 days. All animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at the end of experiment, and the brains hippocampi were dissected, excised and processed for various analyses including histology [H&E], histochemistry of GFAP expression by astrocytes and specific gene expressions including p53 gene, glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase and catalase (CAT). RESULTS: Reserpine significantly depleted the expression of P53 and glutathione reductase (GSR) genes while significantly increasing the expression of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx-1) gene (P≤0.05). Also, a marked increase in the expression of catalase (CAT) gene was observed. Furthermore, histoarchitecture (photomicrographs) of hippocampus CA1 region showed disruption in the arrangement of pyramidal neurons and alterations in their morphologies when animals were treated with reserpine (Group D). There was also accompanying increased astrocyte densities within the CA1 region following reserpine treatment. These features indicated deleterious effects of reserpine. Both Zingiber officinale and fluoxetine treatments ameliorated these effects. CONCLUSION: These findings showed structural and molecular alterations associated with reserpine-induced depression. Also, Zingiber officinale was effective to provide ameliorative and protective effects against the neurotoxic effects of reserpine in the hippocampus, making it a potential candidate for treating depression and its associated neurodegenerative diseases.

Garcinia kola Attenuates MDMA-Induced Neuroinflammation in the CA1 Region of the Hippocampus in the Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Garcinia kola (GK) has been experimentally tested for its potential usefulness against oxidative stress-related disorders in a number of body tissues, as well as a number of pathogenic and parasitic diseases. Studies investigating GK extracts' usefulness in combating nervous tissue toxicity, neuroinflammatory disorders, and neuronal degeneration are still inadequate and not yet conclusive. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neuroinflammation on the pyramidal neurons and astrocytes of the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region of the hippocampus and the role of GK extract (GKE) in attenuating the effects in the rat model. METHODS: The study was carried out by using 60 healthy adult male Wistar rats, which were randomly assigned into six groups, A, B, C, D, E, and F (n = 10)-A (control), B (100 mg/kg body weight of GKE only), C (200 mg/kg body weight of GKE only), D (20 mg/kg body weight of MDMA only), E (100 mg/kg body weight of GKE and 20 mg/kg body weight of MDMA), and F (200 mg/kg body weight of GKE and 20 mg/kg body weight of MDMA). Treatment was given for 21 days. Following 24 hours after the last administration, five rats in each group were anesthetized with diether and perfused intracardially, and the brains were excised and fixed in 10 percent neutral buffered formalin for the histological hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP). A thin-slice coronal section of the brain was obtained at the level of the optic chiasma and processed via the paraffin-embedding method. Also, the remaining five brains were used to assess neurotransmitter levels (serotonin and dopamine) and cytochrome c-oxidase. The statistical analysis was done using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: A significant reduction (P < .05) in body weight was observed in the group that was administered with MDMA when compared with the control and the rest of the treated groups. Dopamine and serotonin levels were significantly decreased (P < .05) in the MDMA-only group when compared with the control and the rest of the treated groups. The control group and groups B, C, and F showed intact pyramidal neurons, unlike group D, which showed vacuolated and degenerating neurons. The expressions of vacuolation and degeneration in group D were less than those in group E, which received a low dose of GKE and MDMA.Hippocampal astrocytic expressions were significantly higher (P > .05) in the MDMA-only group when compared with the control and other groups. CONCLUSION: GKE has significant neuroprotective potential against MDMA-induced toxicity in brain tissue. This is evident in its prevention of MDMA-induced oxidative stress, pyramidal neuronal vacuolation, dispersion, and reactive astrogliosis in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Our findings are dose-dependent, with 200 mg/kg of the extract being novel. We, however, recommend further study into the mechanism of action of GKE, on how it attenuates the astrocytic reaction caused by MDMA exposure.