Biochemical and pathological studies on the effects of levamisole and chlorambucil on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice.

Clinicopathological studies on the effects of combining immunostimulant drugs (levamisole) with anti-cancer drugs (chlorambucil) revealed the enhancement of the latter against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice and resulted in a reduction in the size of tumour. An evaluation of liver and kidney functions showed a significant increase of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and creatinine in all groups. Histopathological studies of one group that received an intraperitoneal injection of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells (2.5 × 106) showed that hepatic parenchyma revealed degenerative changes. The portal area was oedematous and showed rounded cell aggregations. Cell death within hypertrophied Kupper cells was observed in some hepatic cells. The neoplastic emboli could be seen either inside blood vessels or hepatic sinusoids, while another group which had been treated orally with a combination of Leukeran(™) (0.2 mg/kg body weight) and levamisole (5 mg/kg body weight) revealed that hepatic parenchyma revealed massive necrosis with proliferative bile duct epithelium. No neoplastic cells were observed without the hepatic parenchyma, while the renal cortex presented a large number of lymphocytes and plasma cells forming bands or aggregates, mainly around the blood vessels. It was concluded that the addition of levamisole to chlorambucil improved the anti-cancer effect of chlorambucil against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. However, it had adverse effects on the liver and kidneys as shown by liver and kidney function tests and confirmed by histopathology.

Anti-tumour effects of Egyptian propolis on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

A total of 150 female Swiss mice were used to study the ability of water soluble propolis derivatives (WSPD) of Egyptian propolis to inhibit the proliferation and growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in mice. The mice were divided equally into three groups: the first was kept as a negative control group, the second received an intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 × 10(6) EAC and was kept as a positive control group and the third an intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 × 10(6) EAC and treated with propolis (50 mg/kg body weight) administered by gastric intubations 2 h prior to the intraperitoneal injection of EAC. The propolis was administered daily for 11 successive days. An examination of EAC cells revealed a reduction in the volume, total cell count, viable percentage and increase in the percentage of dead cells in the treated group with an increasing mean survival time (MST), increasing life span (ILS) percentage and treated vs positive control (T/C) percentage. Immunological studies revealed a significant increase in the lymphocyte transformation rate (LTR), phagocytic activity and killing power in the group treated with propolis. A haematological study of the parameters revealed leucocytosis in cancer-bearing mice and propolis-treated groups with granulocytosis and monocytosis. The erythrogram revealed a significant reduction in red blood cell (RBC) count in group 2. The result showed that the implantation of EAC in Swiss mice without treatment resulted in a significant decrease in total protein and albumin levels without a change in globulin level and a significant increase in creatinine level, while the third group that received propolis showed an improvement in these biochemical parameters compared to the normal control group.

Comparative biochemical studies on steroidogenic compounds in chickens.

Comparative studies of the effects of Nordette and Lutofolone on 15 days old chicken were carried out to determine their effects on growth performance, biochemical parameters and an analysis of hormonal residues in the liver and muscle. Sixty chickens were equally divided into three groups. Group 1 was served as a control. Groups 2 and 3 were treated daily with Nordette (1 mg/kg B.W.) mixed in the ration and Lutofolone (0.5 mg/kg B.W.) orally via a bent stainless steel feeding tube, respectively, for 30 days (from the 15th till the 45th day old). Then these treated groups were left for another 15 days without any treatment. Blood samples were collected at 45 and 60 days old and used for biochemical studies, while liver and muscles were excised from each chicken and used to prepare tissue homogenate for estimation of hormonal residues (estrogen and progesterone). Both drugs caused a gain in body weight. They also increased several serum variables, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol, creatine kinase (CK), creatinine and uric acid, and reduced total proteins, albumin and globulin levels at 30 days post-administration. Moreover, this study exhibited a significant increase in the levels of estrogen residues in the liver and muscle. Estrogen level was much higher in the liver than muscles. However, some of these findings were insignificant changed at 15 days post-stopping of the hormones. Data on the biochemical parameters and residue levels obtained from these results clearly indicate that anabolic agents may entail a special risk to the chickens and probably to the consumer.

Effect of oestrogenic compounds on performance and biochemical parameters of chickens in Egypt.

Comparative studies of the effects of Nordette and LutoFolone on 15-day-old chickens were performed to determine their effects on growth performance, biochemical parameters and on hormonal residues in the liver and muscle. Sixty chickens were equally divided into three groups, with 20 chickens per group. Group 1 served as the control group. Groups 2 and 3 were treated daily with Nordette (1 mg/kg body weight) mixed in the ration and LutoFolone (0.5 mg/kg body weight) administered orally through a bent stainless steel feeding tube, respectively, for 30 days (from the 15th to the 45th day of age). The treated groups were left for a further period of 15 days without treatment. Blood samples were collected at 45 and 60 days of age and used for biochemical studies, while liver and muscles were excised from each chicken and used to prepare tissue homogenates for an estimation of hormonal residues (oestrogen and progesterone). Both drugs caused a gain in body weight. They also significantly increased (p<0.01) several serum variables, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (410% and 300%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (277.69% and 261.90%), cholesterol (16.91% and 17.19%), creatine kinase (CK) (72.47% and 27.46%), creatinine (62.22% and 42.22%) and uric acid (85.43% and 70.86%), and reduced total proteins (54.38% and 51.28%), albumin (60.38% and 52.08%) and globulin levels (50.22% and 49.36%) for Groups 2 and 3 respectively at 30 days post administration, in comparison with the control birds. Moreover, this study exhibited a significant increase in the levels of oestrogen residues in the liver (26.17% and 70.99%) and muscle (17.50% and 43.41%) for Groups 2 and 3, respectively. This indicated that the oestrogen level was much higher in the liver than in muscle in comparison to that of the controls. However, some of these findings showed insignificant changes 15 days after ceasing the administration of hormones. Data on the biochemical parameters and residue levels obtained from these results clearly indicate that anabolic agents in chickens may carry a specific risk to public health.