Protective effects of melatonin on spinal cord injury / Efectos protectores de la melatonina en lesión de la médula espinal

Spinal cord injury causes neuron nerve fiber loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective, inflammatory and angiogenetic effects of melatonin on rat spinal cord injury (SCI). For spinal cord injury, a standard weight reduction method was used that caused moderate severity of injury (100 g / cm force) at T10 Melatonin (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally ) was administered for 10 days after trauma. Each group consisted of 10 animals. of these, six were used for biochemical and four were used for the evaluation of histological analysis. Spinal cord samples were taken for histological examination or determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Spinal cord injury and melatonin treated group were compared. Melatonin administration in spinal cord injury increased the activity of glial cells in the radial and funicular cells and ependymal cells and increased the activity of glial cells and also showed a positive effect on inflammation and vascular endothelial cells in synaptic connections in the nerve fibers undergoing spinal injury endothelial degeneration It is thought that it can regulate the degenerative effect which is caused by both the inflammatory effect and the angiogenic effect which will have a positive effect on the neural connection.

La lesión de la médula espinal (SCI) provoca daño en la fibra nerviosa, que puede conducir a alteraciones motoras y sensitivas, incluso la muerte. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos neuroprotectores, proinflamatorios y proangiogénicos de la melatonina en un modelo de SCI inducida en rata. Para tal efecto se utilizaron dos grupos: Grupo 1 (n:10) se le indujo una SCI, mediante el método de reducción de peso estándar (100 g/cm fuerza), provocando una lesión de severidad moderada. Grupo 2 (n:10) inducción SCI más aplicación de T10 Melatonina (10 mg / kg v.i.) durante 10 días después del trauma. Muestras de seis animales de cada grupo fueron usados para análisis bioquímicos y los otros cuatro para la evaluación histológica. Se tomaron muestras de médula espinal para el examen histológico y para la determinación de niveles de malondialdehído (MDA) y glutatión (GSH), actividad mieloperoxidasa (MPO) y se comparó la lesión de la médula espinal y el grupo tratado con melatonina. La administración de melatonina en la lesión de la médula espinal aumentó la actividad de las células gliales en las células radiales, funiculares y ependimocitos. Ademas mostró un efecto positivo sobre la inflamación y angiogénesis en las conexiones sinápticas en las fibras nerviosas sometidas a lesión espinal. Pudiendo este participar en la regulación del efecto degenerativo causado, principalmente, por acción de angiogénesis e inflamación local.

The potential beneficial effects of ethyl pyruvate on diabetic nephropathy: an experimental and ultrastructural study.

Oxidative stress is one of the main causes of diabetic nephropathy, which is a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of ethyl pyruvate (EP) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats' kidney. Four groups (n = 8) of male Wistar albino rats were used as follows: control group rats received only sodium citrate buffer solution intraperitoneally (ip). The EP group was given 50 mg/kg EP ip. In the DM group, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. The DM + EP group received 50 mg/kg EP ip. All animals received daily treatment for 14 days, and at the end of the study the kidneys were removed: the left kidney of the rats was used for malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis and the right kidney for histological examination. There was normal appearance of the kidney tissues in the control and the EP-administered groups. In the DM group, there was evident basement membrane thickening and enlargement of mesangial matrix; swelling in some tubular epithelial cells was also noticeable. In the DM+EP administered group, nearly the same appearance as the control group and relative thickening in the glomerular basal membrane were observed. The antioxidant effect of ethyl pyruvate improved the renal structures in the DM + EP group.

Human placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells) in severe preeclampsia complicated by HELLP syndrome: immunohistochemistry of chorionic villi.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate Hofbauer cells in the placentas of women diagnosed with HELLP syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: The present study compared 20 patients with HELLP syndrome and 20 control patients with respect to demographics, hematological parameters and the presence of Hofbauer cells in placental samples. CD-68 antibody was used for immunohistochemical examination. The total number and size of Hofbauer cells were measured in the placental villi, and the proportion of Hofbauer cells relative to the vascular structure was also compared between groups. RESULT: The patient and control groups were similar according to baseline obstetric characteristics. White blood cell counts in patients with HELLP syndrome and the control group were 15,139 +/- 4,169 and 10,806 +/- 2,888, respectively, and were significantly increased among patients with HELLP syndrome (p < 0.001). Hofbauer cell numbers in the placental villi of patients with HELLP syndrome were significantly elevated in comparison to normotensive controls (p = 0.046). The proportion of Hofbauer cells in the placental villi according to proximity to the vascular structure were 3.85 +/- 1.66 in the HELLP group and 1.75 +/- 1.12 in controls (p < 0.001). Sizes of the Hofbauer cells were not statistically different between groups. CONCLUSION: Increased Hofbauer cells may be associated with increased inflammation or may have an adaptive mechanism at the fetal site of the placenta in patients with HELLP syndrome.

Effects of formaldehyde and vimentin expression in rat skin / Efectos del formaldehído y expresión de vimentina en la piel de rata

The Wistar rats ( 9 weeks old, 180­200 g body weight) used in these trials were divided into two groups of 16 animals each (Control group and Experimental group). 100x65x100 in the sizes of the experimental group were taken into a glass vase. During the time period of 8 weeks, 5 days a week with 8 hours the inhalation of 10 ppm formaldehyde was made. Skin was removed and placed in 10% formaline. Sections were stained with Hematoxylene-Eosine, Trichrome-Masson and observed under light microscope. In this study, histopathological and immunohistochemical techniques due to the impact of the changes in formaldehyde and examined the distribution of vimentin.

En este ensayo se utilizaron ratas Wistar (9 semanas de edad, 180-200 g de peso corporal) que se dividieron en dos grupos de 16 animales cada uno (grupos control y experimental). Los animales del grupo experimental fueron colocados en un vaso de vidrio de tamaño 100x65x100. Durante un período de tiempo de 8 semanas, 5 días a la semana con 8 horas se expuso a la inhalación de 10 ppm de formaldehído. Se retiró la piel y se colocó en formalina al 10%. Las secciones fueron teñidas con Hematoxilina-Eosina y Tricrómico de Masson, y fueron observadas al microscopio óptico. Las técnicas histopatológicas e inmunohistoquímicas y el impacto en la piel provocado por el formaldehído permitieron examinar la expresión de vimentina.

Expression of ß human chorionic gonadotropin in the placenta of gestational diabetic mothers: an immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate morphologic differences of the placenta in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes compared to nondiabetic pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: This was a comparative morphological study of the placentas from 20 women with gestational diabetes and 20 healthy pregnancies at 28-35 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: The presence of lesions such as fibrinoid necrosis, villous edema, syncytial knot and vascular lesions like chorangiosis was apparent, mainly in the diabetes group. There was an apparent decrease in the intensity of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) immunostaining in the syncytiotrophoblast from the 28th to 35th weeks of gestation in the placentas of the healthy control group. No hCG immunostaining was observed in the villous or intervillous areas of any of the placentas. In diabetic placentas the expression of hCG was homogeneous with a moderate to intense immunoreactivity in the syncytiotrophoblast. Several syncytiotrophoblast cells showed dilations of both rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and loss and alteration of microvilli, and large vacuoles were observed just below the plasma membrane, as well as irregularities in the mitochondria. CONCLUSION: Syncytial cells play an important role in the placental transition. Increased expression of beta-hCG, deterioration, degeneration of organelles and cell structure and the basal membrane disorder in chorionic vessels were seen in placentas with gestational diabetes. These changes can affect placental transfer. However, further studies are needed to clarify this issue.

The prophylactic effects of folic acid and vitamin E against valproic acid during fetal thymus development: an ultrastructural study / Los efectos profilácticos del ácido fólico y la vitamina E contra el ácido valproico durante el desarrollo fetal del timo: un estudio ultraestructural

To evaluate histopathologic differences in the thymus of Wistar Albino rat fetuses prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA), folic acid (FA) and vitamin E (Vit-E). VPA (400 mg/kg), FA (400 mcg/kg) and Vit -E (250 mg/kg) were administered to rats on each of gestation days 8, 9 and 10. The fetuses (n:24) were divided into four groups: control, VPA, VPA+Vit-E and VPA+FA groups. On the 20th day of gestation, all pregnant rats were sacrificed and the fetuses were extracted. Thin sections from thymus of live fetuses were stained with uranyl acetate-lead citrate and were examined under transmission electron microscope. The histopathological findings of control group was normal. In VPA group, it showed extensive degenerative changes by VPA were on all tissue compartments when compared to controls. In VPA-FA group, vacuoles, mitochondrial cristalysis and swelling were decreased in cytoplasm. In VPA-Vit-E group, lipid storage and vacuolization were observed. Mitochondrial cristalysis decreased. Our aim in the present study is to analyze histopathological changes which may occur in a high risk experimental model after giving of VPA. In addition, protective roles of the administration of FA and Vit-E are assessed.

Se realizó este estudio para evaluar las diferencias histopatológicas en el timo de fetos de ratas Wistar Albinas expuestas prenatalmente a ácido valproico (VPA), ácido fólico (AF) y vitamina E (Vit-E). VPA (400 mg/kg), FA (400 mcg/kg) y vitamina E (250mg/kg) administradas a ratas en los días 8, 9 y 10 de gestación. Los fetos (n=24) fueron divididos en cuatro grupos: control, APV, APV + vitamina E y VPA + FA. En el día 20 de gestación, todas las ratas preñadas fueron sacrificadas y los fetos fueron extraídos. Se obtuvieron secciones delgadas del timo de los fetos y se tiñeron con citrato de uranilo - acetato de plomo, siendo examinados al microscopio electrónico de transmisión. Los hallazgos histopatológicos del grupo control fueron normales. En el grupo VPA, se observaron cambios degenerativos en todos los compartimentos de tejido en comparación con los controles. En el grupo VPA+FA, las vacuolas, cristalisis mitocondrial e inflamación se redujeron en el citoplasma. En grupo VPA + Vitamina E, se observó el almacenamiento de lípidos y vacuolización. La cristalisis mitocondrial disminuyó. El estudio permitió analizar los cambios histopatológicos que pueden ocurrir en un modelo experimental de alto riesgo después de la administración de VPA, además, las funciones de protección por la administración de AF y vitamina E.

The effects of valproic acid, vitamin E and folic acid on ribs of rat fetuses in the prenatal period.

The present study was undertaken to determine histopathologic differences in the ribs of Wistar-albino rat fetuses prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA), folic acid (FA) and vitamin E (Vit E), and to compare their differential developmental susceptibility and morphological association with skeletal anomalies. VPA (300 mg/ kg), FA (300mg/kg) and Vit E (250mg/kg) were administered to rats on each of gestation days (GD) 7-9. Fetuses were collected on GD 21 and their ribs were examined for malformations. The fetuses were divided into four groups: blind-trial group, VPA group (vpa), VPA and Vit E group (vpa+vit e), valproic and FA group (vpa+fa). In each group; drug procedure, surgical procedure and histological methods were performed. Later, weights and lengths of fetuses in each group were compared and analyzed by one-way Anova test. As a result, maLformations in fetuses were determined and photographed by Nikon SMZ-2 steromicroscopy, using 2 x objective. Administration of single doses of VPA (300 mg/kg) resulted in weight and length loss between blind-trial and vpa group. However, length and weight differences between the other groups were not significant. The objective of the present study is to analyze morphological and histopathologic changes which may occur in a high-risk experimental model after the administration of VPA. In addition, protective roles of the administration of FA and Vit E are assessed.