The Effect of Aluminum Exposure on Maternal Health and Fetal Growth in Rats.

Background This study was performed on female rats to study the effect of oral administration of low dose versus high dose of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) during the period of organogenesis on the maternal and fetal growth parameters. Methods In this study, female mature nulliparous Sprague-Dawley albino rats were used. After mating and confirmation of pregnancy, successfully mated females were divided into three groups (six rats each): control group, low-dose (LD) AlCl3 group, and high-dose (HD) AlCl3 group. The rats were sacrificed at gestational day 20 (GD20) when the liver and kidneys were excised and weighed. Also, the gravid uterine horns were excised and weighed, the placentae and fetuses were extracted and weighed, and fetal growth parameters were assessed. Results Maternal AlCl3 exposure produced an increase in preimplantation losses and resorptions in LD and HD AlCl3 groups. Consequently, there was a decrease in the number of corpora lutea, total implantations, live fetuses, and litter size. Also, the body weight gain, gravid uterine, placental and maternal liver, and maternal kidney weights of both AlCl3-treated groups were significantly reduced in comparison with the control group. There was a statistically significant reduction in fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), head length (HL), crown-rump length (CRL), and fetal body weight. All the above changes were dose-dependent, being more evident with the high dose of AlCl3. Conclusion AlCl3 exposure during pregnancy results in different degrees of adverse effects on maternal weight gain and fetal growth and organ parameters, which followed a dose-dependent manner.

Thymoquinone ameliorates oxidative damage and histopathological changes of developing brain neurotoxicity.

Lead (Pb) toxicity is known to be a chief environmental health issue, especially for pregnant women and young children. Today, the use of medicinal herbs in the treatment of many diseases and different toxic agents has become highly accepted due to their effectiveness and lower costs. Thymoquinone (TQ), which is extracted from Nigella sativa seeds, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This study was designed to explore the optional protectivity of TQ against maternal and fetal oxidative stress and brain damage induced by Pb administration. Pregnant rats were distributed into seven groups: control group, TQ group, DMSO group, two groups Pb-treated (160 and 320 ppm), and two groups Pb-treated (160 and 320 ppm) co-treated with TQ. Administration started from gestation day 1 (GD1) to day 20 (GD20) through oral gavage once daily. Lead administration caused a dose-dependent toxicity for both mothers and fetuses. Also, the histopathological assessment of the brains from Pb-treated groups showed marked alterations. Co-treatment of with TQ and Pb caused a significant decrease in Pb levels as compared with those treated with Pb alone and amelioration of histopathological changes in the brains. It was concluded that co-treatment of TQ along with gestational Pb exposure could mitigate the effects against Pb-induced maternal and fetal neurotoxicity.

Morphohistometric study of the ligamentum flavum in cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae: comparative approach

Anatomic characterization and fine structure of the human ligamentum flavum (LF), especially at different spinal levels, represent an attractive focus for the scientific and surgical application. Descriptive anatomical and structural study of LF at the cervical, thoracic and lumbar levels of the vertebral column in human cadavers is carried out here. The aim of the work is to clarify the anatomical features and fine structural differences in the human LF at different vertebral levels (cervical, thoracic and lumbar). Specimens of vertebral column were obtained from 34 human preserved cadavers. Their average age ranged between 56 and 69 years. Morphometric parameters including height, width and thickness of the ligament flavum at the midlevels of cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions were measured. Sections obtained from different levels were stained with different stains. Morphometric measurements involved the relative elastic area, relative collagen area, elastic area and collagen area% were measured.The results of the height, width and thickness of the LF at different spinal levels showed gradual increase in their mean values respectively. The LF midline gaps were found in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. The morphometrical measurements showed that the average elastic area was highest in the cervical region and lowest in the thoracic region. In the lumbar region, the percentages of both elastic area and the collagen area were nearly the same. The characterization of morphological and histological aspects of the LF at different spinal levels will be of great importance for applications in spinal surgery, biomechanical and physical rehabilitation of vertebral column

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Protective effect of Eruca sativa seed oil against oral nicotine induced testicular damage in rats.

Nicotine is a pharmacologically active component of the tobacco that adversely affects the male reproductive system and fertility. Nicotine administration in experimental animals was found to affect spermatogenesis, epididymal sperm count, motility and the fertilizing potential of sperms. The goal of this work is to assess the protective or ameliorative effect of Eruca Sativa seed oil against testicular damage induced by oral administration of nicotine in rats. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into three groups; control, nicotine treated and nicotine and Eruca seed oil treated groups. After three weeks of treatment, the rats were weighed and sacrificed where testes were removed and weighed then calculating relative testis weights. The testes were processed for routine paraffin embedding and staining and the sections were examined for different morphometric and histopathological changes. The results show that nicotine administration had an effect on the body and testis weight and various morphometric parameters of the testis. It also induced varying degrees of structural damage to the seminiferous tubules, with shrinkage and absence of mature spermatids. Disorganized, vacuolization and loss of germinal cells were noticed in the basement membrane. The co-administration of Eruca Sativa seed oil led to improvement in the morphometric and histopathological changes of the seminiferous tubules. In conclusion, Eruca Sativa seed oil treatment in this study had a protective role by reversing, almost completely, all morphometric and histological changes in the testis induced by nicotine administration.

The prenatal toxic effect of methylmercury on the development of the appendicular skeleton of rat fetuses and the protective role of vitamin E.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental contaminant that is found in many ecosystems. Many studies reported that MeHg toxicity is accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation that may lead to oxidative damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins. Vitamin E is considered as the most effective antioxidant preventing lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of MeHg exposure during pregnancy on the development of the appendicular skeleton in rat fetuses and whether vitamin E administration could reduce this toxicity. Positively mated adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into the following experimental groups: control group, received only deionized water, and four MeHg treated groups received 1 mg of MeHg/kg/d, 2 mg of MeHg/kg/d, 1 mg of MeHg/kg/d plus 150 mg of vitamin E/kg/d, and 2 mg of MeHg/kg/d, plus 150 mg of vitamin E/kg/d starting from Day 0 of gestation. On Day 20 of gestation, the fetuses from the pregnant rats were extracted and the fetal growth parameters were evaluated. Skeletal evaluation of ossification of both fore- and hind-limbs, and coxal bones were undertaken. Results showed that treatment with MeHg caused adverse effects on fetal growth parameters and ossification of the bones. The coadministration of vitamin E with MeHg revealed an improvement in these parameters. These results suggest that vitamin E may ameliorate some aspects of MeHg developmental toxicity. The underlying and human health implications warrant further investigations.