The distribution and heterogeneity of mast cells in tongue from five different avian species.

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the morphology, distribution and heterogeneity of mast cells in the tongues of seagull (Larus fuscus), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), goose (Anser anser), white stork (Ciconia ciconia) and Gerze rooster. The study used five samples of tongue material from each of the healthy adult avian species. The samples were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin (NBF) solution, then, after routine tissue follow-up, the samples blocked with paraplast. Cross-sections with 5-6 µm of thickness were stained with the 0.5% toluidine blue and alcian blue/safranin O (AB/SO). In all five avian species, it was found that the mast cells were in different sizes and round, oval or spindle-shaped based on their place of distribution. Mast cell numbers were determined in stained with toluidine blue, examined ×40 objectives in a 1 mm2 area. It was observed that mast cell density in subepithelial lamina propria and microscopic papilla was higher in the tongues of all species. Mast cell distribution and heterogeneity varied through the tongue, and there were more mast cells in the dorsal side of the tongue than the ventral side. The highest amount of mast cells was found in the tongue of the Gerze rooster among all five species. In the tongue cross-sections stained with the combined method of alcian blue/safranin O (AB/SO), the mast cells were stained as AB (+), SO (+) and AB/SO (+) (mixed).

Immunohistochemical expression of ghrelin in capsaicin-treated rat ovaries during the different developmental periods.

Red hot pepper is a plant that belongs to the Solanaceae family and is known as Capsicum annuum. Capsaicin is the active ingredient of cayenne pepper. Ghrelin is a hormone, which consists of polypeptide structure. Ghrelin also contributes to growth hormone secretion, energy balance, food intake and body weight regulator. The aim of this study was the localization and expression of ghrelin in the ovaries of rats treated with capsaicin during the postnatal development. Ninety female Sprague-Dawley rats (21 d) were used. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=30 each) as pubertal, post pubertal and adult. Each group was subdivided into three groups. The first subgroup (control) was given no injections. The second subgroup (vehicle) received only 0.3 cc solvent and the third subgroup (experiment) received subcutaneous injection of equal volume of capsaicin (1 mg/kg/d) for 42, 56, and 70 days. Ghrelin immunoreactivity was determined in ovarian follicular granulosa cells, interstitial cells and corpus luteal cells. A ghrelin immunopositive reaction located in the cytoplasm of cells in all groups. These results indicate that prolonged administration of low dose capsaicin does not affect ghrelin expression. However, follicular atresia was seen in lower rate in capsaicin treated group in comparison to other groups.

Attenuation of bleomycin induced lung fibrosis by erdosteine and inhibition of the inducible nitric oxide synthase.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in treatment modalities, the discovery of optimal medical therapies still remains a necessity in the management of pulmonary fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The experiments were performed in 35 adult Sprague Dawley rats, randomly allotted into one of five groups (n=7). The control group was treated with 1 ml/kg, 0.9 % saline; the BLM group was given a single dose of BLM (2.5 U/kg); the BLM+ER group was treated with ER (10 mg/kg/day po) for 14 days after BLM administration; the BLM+SMT group was treated with i.p injections of SMT (20 mg/kg/ day) for 14 days after BLM administration; the BLM+ER+SMT group was treated with ER and SMT for 14 days after BLM administration. At the end of day 14, the results of histopathological, biochemical, and immunohistochemical investigations were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum TNF-α, nitrate/nitrite, and TBARS levels significantly increased in BLM group compared to control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). Lung tissue content of IL-6 was found to be lower in BLM+ER, BLM+SMT and BLM+ER+SMT groups compared to BLM group by immunhistochemical examinations (p < 0.01, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Similarly, the TNF-α reactions (p < 0.01 for each group) and NF-kB expressions were shown to be significantly different among the study groups (p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Based on our study, ER and SMT attenuate BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis; the combination of two agents has a greater protective efficacy against fibrosis than one alone, reducing the inflammatory markers (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 31).

Effects of capsaicin on nitric oxide synthase isoforms in prepubertal rat ovary.

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important intra-ovarian regulatory factor. We investigated effects of low dose capsaicin (CAP) treatment on the different NOS isoforms in prepubertal rat ovaries. Fifteen 21-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups. The first group received no treatment, the second group received 0.5 mg/kg/day CAP dissolved in the vehicle, and the third group was treated with the vehicle only. The animals were euthanized by ether inhalation after 15 days and their ovaries were excised. Ovaries were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections were processed for standard immunohistochemistry using the labeled streptavidin-biotin technique for expression of nNOS, eNOS and iNOS. We demonstrated that CAP induced expression of NOS isotypes including eNOS, iNOS and nNOS in prepubertal rat ovaries. CAP may lead to release of NO either directly from nerves or indirectly by evoking release from other cells via the action of neuropeptides that are released from afferent terminals and are involved in regulating female reproductive function.

Moyamoya disease in twins.

Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT was used to evaluate regional blood flow in one monozygotic twin who had angiographically proven moyamoya disease. Focal and global reduced regional cerebral perfusion were observed in both patients with Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT studies. There was good correlation between the localization and degree of regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities and the severity and stage of clinical symptoms on angiography. These results suggest that Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT is a useful method in the detection of hemodynamic abnormalities in moyamoya disease.