Intra-articular effects of combined xenogenous serum rich in growth factors (SRGF) and vitamin C on histopathology grading and staging of osteoarthritis in rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative diseases especially in the knee joint. The definitive method for the treatment of this disease is not known. In recent years, use of platelet-derived products has been considered as a new therapeutic approach because of its low cost, easy to use, and minimum side effects. Serum rich of growth factors (SRGF) is one of the biological compounds used to healing and regeneration. Its effects may improve in combination with antioxidants such as vitamin C. This vitamin increases the synthesis of proteoglycans by chondrocytes. The present study investigated effect of xenogenous SRGF in combination with vitamin C on the monosodium iodoacetate-induction osteoarthritis in rats. METHODS: Animals were randomly categorized into three groups including OA, SRGF, and vitamin C+SRGF. Treatments were performed with 3 time intra-articular injection in weekly intervals. Knee samples were taken after two weeks of the last treatment for histopathologic investigations. RESULTS: In the OA group, surface fibrillation and irregularity, multiple clefts, loss of chondrocytes, proteoglycan depletion with Toluidine blue staining were detected. In the treated group with SRGF/vitamin C, the severity of degenerative lesions was decreased. Chondrocytes had proliferated and matrix proteoglycan increased in compared to the SRGF and OA groups. Also, osteoarthritis stage was markedly reduced in this group rather than two other groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show the synergic effect of vitamin C and growth factors on accelerating articular repair.

Effects of Cuminum cyminum L. essential oil on some epididymal sperm parameters and histopathology of testes following experimentally induced copper poisoning in mice.

Copper overload can cause sperm cell damage by inducing oxidative stress. On the other hand, cumin has a good antioxidant potential. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cumin on sperm quality and testicular tissue following experimentally induced copper poisoning in mice. Forty-eight mature male mice were divided into four equal groups as follows: group Cu which received 0.1 ml copper sulphate at dose of 100 mg kg(-1) , group Cc which received Cuminum cyminum at dose of 1 mg kg(-1) , treatment group which received copper sulphate (100 mg kg(-1) ) and treated with Cuminum cyminum (1 mg kg(-1) ), and control group which received the same volume of normal saline. Six mice in each group were sacrificed at week 4 and week 6. The results showed that sperm concentration, motility and viability in group Cu were significantly decreased at weeks 4 and 6, and severe degenerative changes were observed in testicular tissues in comparison with the control group. In treatment group, significant improvement in the sperm count, motility and viability, and normal architecture in most seminiferous tubules with organised epithelium was observed compared to the group Cu. The sperm quality parameters in the treatment group approached those of the control group.

Induced systemic listeriosis in Alectoris chukar chicks: clinical, histopathological and microbiological findings.

1. Systemic listeriosis was induced in 14-d-old Chukar partridge chicks, Alectoris chukar, by intravenous injection of a suspension containing 10(6) cfu/ml of viable Listeria monocytogenes organisms to study the course of infection. 2. Septicaemic and encephalitic forms of listeriosis were observed in all birds. Infection resulted in a fever response 8-h post-inoculation. Disease rapidly developed over a 24-h period with decreased activity, lethargy, ruffled feathers, huddling, listlessness, inability to stand, wing droop, decreased feed and water consumption, growth depression, neural disturbances and finally death. Gross and histopathological changes were observed in the myocardium, proventriculus, gizzard, intestine, pancreas, kidney, liver, spleen, lung, meninges and joints. 3. The diversity of these clinical signs and lesions suggests a high susceptibility of Chukar partridge chicks to systemic listeriosis.

Zinc therapy improves deleterious effects of chronic copper administration on mice testes: histopathological evaluation.

This study was set to investigate whether the adverse effects of long-term copper (Cu) consumption on testicular tissue could be prevented by zinc (Zn) administration. Forty-five mature male mice were randomly divided into one control and two treatment groups. The first treatment group received copper sulphate (Cu experimental group). The second treatment group was given combined treatment of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate (ZC experimental group). Control animals received normal saline using the same volume. Five mice from each group were sacrificed on day 14, 28 and 56 from the beginning of treatments. Left testes were removed for histopathological and histomorphometrical evaluations. Morphometrically, the diameter of seminiferous tubules and Sertoli cell nuclei, epithelial height, meiotic index and the percentage of spermatogenesis in Cu groups showed significant decrease compared to those of the control groups (P < 0.05). A partial improvement was seen in the percentage of spermatogenesis and meiotic index (P < 0.05) in ZC groups, whereas a complete recovery was observed in the rest of parameters in ZC group after 56 days compared to the control group (P > 0.05). Results showed that long-term administration of Cu leads to histological impairments of testis and zinc supplementation might offset these damaging effects.

Study of the protective effect of vitamin C on testicular tissue following experimental unilateral cryptorchidism in rats.

This study investigated the role of vitamin C as an antioxidant in protecting the testis against damage in experimental unilateral cryptorchidism. Forty-five male Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups. The control group had intact rats, the cryptorchid group had unilateral cryptorchid rats and the treatment group had unilateral cryptorchid rats that it received vitamin C at a dose of 50 mg kg(-1) body weight intraperitoneal, once a day, during experimental period. Histopathological samples were obtained from five cases of 15 animals of each group at 15, 30 and 60 days after induction of cryptorchidism. The results showed histopathological parameters of the cryptorchid (left) testes in the cryptorchid group significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.05), and treatment with vitamin C after 60 days significantly improved all parameters of these testes compared with the cryptorchid group (P < 0.05). In addition, the left testes on unilateral cryptorchid rats had noticeable adverse effects on the scrotal (right) testes (P < 0.05). Treatment with vitamin C after 60 days significantly improved all parameters of these testes compared with the cryptorchid group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that treatment with vitamin C significantly improved histopathological parameters in scrotal testes on unilateral cryptorchid rats.

Ultrastructural and morphometrical changes of mice ovaries following experimentally induced copper poisoning.

BACKGROUND: Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element involved in normal reproduction but its overexposure may produce some detrimental effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of copper sulfate poisoning on morphometery of mice ovarian structures and probable intracellular changes. METHODS: Thirty mature female mice were randomly allocated to control and two treatment groups. In treatment groups, two different doses of copper sulfate including 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg in 0.2 cc were applied once a day for 35 consecutive days by gavage. Control animals received normal saline using the same volume and similar method. Animals from each experimental group were sacrificed 14 and 35 days after the beginning of drug administration and the left ovaries were removed for stereological evaluations by light microscopy and right ovaries were obtained for preparing electron microscopic sections. RESULTS: The morphometrical results showed that only the number of antral follicles was decreased by 100 mg/kg copper sulfate on day 14 compared to the control group (P=0.043). Hence, higher copper dose or longer consumption period significantly reduced different classes of follicles and corpora lutea. With 100 mg/kg copper sulfate some mild ultrastructural cell damages such as decrease of zona pellucida thickness, limited vacuolated areas and nuclear envelop dilation were seen on day 14. Higher or longer Cu administration produced more detrimental effects including more vacuolated areas, presence of secondary lysosomes, irregularity in cell shape and segmented nuclei with condensed and marginated chromatin and more enlarged and damaged mitochondria. CONCLUSION: New evidences of early as well as late intracellular damages of copper has been presented by accurate stereological and ultrastructural methods. Antral follicles was the most susceptible cells with the lower and shorter copper consumption and long term or higher dose of copper affected the whole of ovarian structures.

Morphological observation of a horseshoe (fused) kidney and its vascular pattern in a horse.

The present study describes the anatomical and microscopic features of a horseshoe kidney that was found in a 7-year-old male horse. The specimen consisted of two kidneys joined at their caudal poles by an isthmus composed of renal parenchyma and situated caudal to the caudal mesenteric artery. Six main renal arteries arose from the aorta and the external iliac arteries and ramified into 21 branches before entering the kidney. A hypoplastic and ectopic left testis, located in the inguinal canal, was observed as an associated anomaly.

Evaluation of epididymal sperm quality following experimentally induced copper poisoning in male rats.

The trace element copper has been identified as a highly toxic element for spermatozoa. Our goal in this study was to assess relationship between copper poisoning and semen quality parameters. In this study, sixty male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-240 g (3.5-4 months old) were divided into three different groups of twenty rats as follows: the first group (Group 100), which was treated by gavage with copper sulphate at a dose of 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 8 weeks; the second group (Group 200), which received 200 mg kg(-1) day(-1) copper sulphate by gavage during experimental period (56 days); and the control group (Group C), which received the same volume of distilled water by gavage during experimental period. The blood, semen and histopathological samples were obtained from five cases of 20 animals of each group every 2 weeks at 2, 4, 6 and 8th week. Results showed that sperm concentration, motility and viability in group 100 and 200 were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in comparison with group C. A significant decrease in sperm concentration, motility and viability indicates the possibility of adverse effect of copper poisoning on male fertility. Copper might be mediator of the effect of oxidative damage and play an essential role in spermatogenesis and male infertility.

Dermoid cyst in a domestic shorthair cat.

A 5-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented for examination of a subcutaneous mass in his tail. The mass was firm, non-painful, oval, and approximately 2.5 × 3.5 cm. Surgical exploration revealed a well-circumscribed, encapsulated mass. The mass was removed and sectioned for histopathological examination. In gross section, it was filled with numerous dark hairs. Histologically the mass was consisted of haired skin with dermal cystic structures lined by stratified squamous epithelium. The cyst lumen contained squamous debris and filled with keratinous material. Numerous hair shafts were extended from the wall of the cyst. The sebaceous and apocrine gland adnexal structures were also observed which confirmed the diagnosis of dermoid cyst. No tumor recurrence was observed after surgery in fallowing checkups. Cutaneous or subcutaneous cysts of all types are considered rare in cats and to our knowledge this is the third reported case of cutaneous dermoid cyst of cats in veterinary literature which is different from the other cases because it occurred in dorsal midline in tail area whereas others occurred in flank area.