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The oesophagus is a muscular tube comprised of cervical and thoracic regions. Several studies have clarified the histological structure of the oesophagus. However, its histoarchitecture in relation to variable dietary habits of each species is still unclear. In the current study, 21 pigeons, cattle egrets and ducks, n = 7, each was used. Macroscopically, the oesophagus of cattle egrets either the cervical or thoracic parts was the longest among the pigeons and ducks. Histologically, the oesophagus comprised of four distinct tunicae: mucosa, propria submucosa, musculosa and adventitia or serosa. A great structural variation in these layers among the three investigated species was recorded. In the cervical oesophagus of pigeons, the superficial squamous cells showed perinuclear halo zone, the propria submucosa was characteristically lacked any gland. Moreover, its musculosa was very thick. On the other hand, the intraepithelial glands were characteristically distributed along the whole length of the cattle egret's oesophagus. Interestingly, the cervical esophagus of the ducks showed submucosal associated lymphatic tissue; diffuse and nodular Ultrastructurally, the oesophageal glands showed secretory granules of variable electron densities, electron‐lucent in the pigeons and ducks and electron‐dense in the cattle egrets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Testicular impairment is a common complication of Diabetes mellitus (DM). Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are a novel agent for Zn delivery with antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. However, few reports were recorded on it. The current study aimed to investigate the possible ameliorating effect of ZnO NPs treatment on testicular tissues alterations in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Therefore, thirty mature male Wistar rats were divided into three main groups: Control group (n = 18) was subdivided equally into three subgroups (negative control, vehicle and ZnO NPs), Diabetic group (n = 6) and ZnO NPs-treated diabetic group (n = 6). Induction of diabetes was done by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg bw). The rats were orally treated by ZnO NPs (10 mg/kg bw) for 30 constitutive days. At the end of the experiment, blood glucose and serum testosterone levels were measured. Also, testicular tissues were obtained for histopathological investigations and immunohistochemical staining with anti-PCNA (proliferating cell marker), anti-ssDNA (apoptotic cell marker), anti-SOX9 (Sertoli cell marker), anti-Stella (spermatogonia marker), anti-STRA8 (preleptotene and early-leptotene spermatocytes marker), anti-DMC1 (leptotene and zygotene spermatocytes marker), anti-Dnmt3a (a marker for cells under DNA methylation) and anti-α-SMA (peritubular myoid cell marker). The biochemical analysis revealed that diabetes resulted in a significant elevation in blood glucose level and a reduction in serum testosterone level. Moreover, histopathological investigations revealed disorganized seminiferous epithelium and sever hyalinization with vacuolization of the testicular interstitium containing Leydig cells. The immunohistochemical findings support spermatogenesis impairment in the diabetic group. However, ZnO NPs treatment restores architecture of seminiferous epithelium and Leydig cells. Furthermore, more PCNA, SOX9, Stella, STRA8, DMC1 and Dnmt3a immunopositive cells with an improvement of peritubular α-SMA immunopositive expression, as well as few ssDNA-immunopositive cells were detected in the seminiferous epithelium. This study suggested the possible protective role of orally administered ZnO NPs on testicular alterations in the STZ-induced diabetic group via steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis enhancement. In addition, further researches are acquired for evaluation mechanism of ZnO NPs treatment via oral or parenteral routes in a dose-dependent manner to identify the more effective route and dose in the treatment of testicular diabetic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cardiac diseases can affect the contractile and/or conductive cardiac muscle cells. Recently, the microscopic examination of the subendocardial biopsy is being used in the diagnosis of some cardiac lesions. However, the routine staining cannot differentiate between different types of cardiac fibers. Aim of the work: The present study aims to illustrate the use of anti-cardiac troponin-T3 (cTnT3) immunostaining as a recent tool to distinguish between the contractile and conducting fibers. Materials and Methods: Specimens from both left ventricular wall and interventricular septum were obtained from 6 healthy adult male mice. These specimens were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde at 4⁰C and processed for paraffin sections. Then, 3 μm thick sections were stained with H&E and anti-cTnT3 antibody and were examined under light microscope. The optical density of the cTnT3 staining affinity of the cardiac fibers was measured morphometrically and the values were statistically analyzed. Results: Examination of H&E stained sections of the left ventricular wall and interventricular septum revealed homogenous staining of all cardiac fibers with an undetectable difference among them. While examination of the immunostained sections with anti-cTnT3 revealed different affinities: the majority of fibers expressed high-positive staining affinity while other fibers had a low or no staining affinity. The high-positive staining affinity was in the form of cytoplasmic transverse dark brownish striations in longitudinally oriented cardiac fibers. The fibers which expressed a low or no staining affinity were either singly scattered especially in the left ventricular wall or grouped in the subendocardial regions of the interventricular septum. Statistically, the optical density values of a low or no staining affinity cardiac fibers were significantly lower (2.5±0.01) than high positive staining affinity cardiac fibers (3.04±0.19). Conclusion: Immunostaining with anti-cTnT3 staining could be added to the routine staining in the examination of cardiac biopsies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian insufficiency is one of the common reproductive disorders affecting women with limited therapeutic aids. Mesenchymal stem cells have been investigated in such disorders before yet, the exact mechanism of MSCs in ovarian regeneration regarding their epigenetic regulation remains elusive. The current study is to investigate the role of the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) lncRNA (Neat-1 and Hotair1) and miRNA (mir-21-5p, mir-144-5p, and mir-664-5p) in mitigating ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis as well as searching BM-MSCs in altering the expression of ovarian and hypothalamic IGF-1 – kisspeptin system in connection to HPG axis in a cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian failure rat model. Sixty mature female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 equal groups; control group, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) group, and POI + BM-MSCs. POI female rat model was established with cyclophosphamide. The result revealed that BM-MSCs and their conditioned media displayed a significant expression level of Neat-1, Hotair-1, mir-21-5p, mir-144-5p, and mir-664-5p. Moreover, BM-MSCs transplantation in POI rats improves; the ovarian and hypothalamic IGF-1 – kisspeptin, HPG axis, ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis, steroidogenesis, angiogenesis, energy balance, and oxidative stress. BM-MSCs expressed higher levels of antiapoptotic lncRNAs and microRNAs that mitigate ovarian insufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunosenescence is the decline of the host immune system due to aging, resulting in various complications. The splenic lymphoid nodule is the pivotal compartment involved in immunosenescence. In this study, we investigated the important changes in the splenic immune cell populations of aged rats (18–24 months) in comparison with young rats (3–5 months). We, also, studied the effects of aging on the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in spleen of both groups, besides the changes of the splenic architecture. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the aging effects in T cells, B cells, macrophages, granulocytes, mast cells, proliferating cells, apoptotic cells, and cells positive for interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). The aged rats had significantly lower spleen/body weight ratios and smaller splenic nodules, indicating a decline in general immunity in them. With aging, T-SOD activities were decreased, while MDA levels were increased, exhibiting that oxidative stress increases in spleens. In addition, the aged group also had significantly fewer T and B cells, macrophages, granulocytes, IL-6 and TLR4 immuno-positive cells, and proliferating cells in the periarterial lymphatic sheaths, marginal zone, and lymphoid follicles compared with the young group. On the other hand, the number of mast cells and apoptotic cells was significantly increased with age. Therefore, we can conclude that cellular immunity and humoral immunity were crumpled with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian insufficiency is one of the common reproductive disorders affecting women with limited therapeutic aids. Mesenchymal stem cells have been investigated in such disorders before yet, the exact mechanism of MSCs in ovarian regeneration regarding their epigenetic regulation remains elusive. The current study is to investigate the role of the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) lncRNA (Neat-1 and Hotair1) and miRNA (mir-21-5p, mir-144-5p, and mir-664-5p) in mitigating ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis as well as searching BM-MSCs in altering the expression of ovarian and hypothalamic IGF-1 – kisspeptin system in connection to HPG axis in a cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian failure rat model. Sixty mature female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 equal groups; control group, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) group, and POI + BM-MSCs. POI female rat model was established with cyclophosphamide. The result revealed that BM-MSCs and their conditioned media displayed a significant expression level of Neat-1, Hotair-1, mir-21-5p, mir-144-5p, and mir-664-5p. Moreover, BM-MSCs transplantation in POI rats improves; the ovarian and hypothalamic IGF-1 – kisspeptin, HPG axis, ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis, steroidogenesis, angiogenesis, energy balance, and oxidative stress. BM-MSCs expressed higher levels of antiapoptotic lncRNAs and microRNAs that mitigate ovarian insufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We induced hypothyroidism (HT) in male rats through chronic oral administration of carbimazole and then tested whether an i.v. injection of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) could ameliorate the HT-induced changes in pancreatic structure and function. The thyroid and pancreatic function tests, as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated. The pancreatic structure was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Insulin protein and cleaved caspase-3 were detected immunohistochemically. The degree of apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay. The morphometric measurements were done by an image analyzer system and the obtained data were statistically analyzed. HT rats showed hyperglycemia associated with insulin deficiency, decreased TAC and increased MDA levels. H&E-stained sections showed that the pancreatic septa were infiltrated with acidophilic material. Some acini were vacuolated while others showed depleted acidophilia and dilated lumina. Spindle-shaped cells were accumulated within deformed islets in HT rats. The positive reaction with anti-cleaved caspase-3 was exclusively noted in the cytoplasm of islet cells with no immunostaining reaction in the acinar and ductal cells, whereas the positively stained nuclei with TUNEL were demonstrated in the islet and acinar cells. A significant increase in the apoptotic index % of both markers was detected. Injection of BM-MSCs in HT rats restored all biochemical indicators of disturbed pancreatic function to normal level and improved pancreatic structure, resulting in a clear septa and normal appearance of acini and islets. In conclusion, many of the significant structural and func tional pancreatic alterations detected in HT rats were ameliorated after the injection of BM-MSCs. These data demonstrate the ability of BM-MSCs to repair pancreatic disturbances. Further studies on humans are necessary to determine the potential clinical applications of BM-MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Correction Notice in the Journal of Ovarian Research addresses incorrect author affiliations in an article on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and ovarian insufficiency. The affiliations for authors Asma Alanazi, Eman M. A. Abdelghany, and Dina Mohamed Mekawy were inaccurately presented in the original publication. The correction provides the accurate affiliations for these authors, ensuring the integrity of the research. [Extracted from the article]

• Lambada-cyhalothrin (LCT) and methomyl suppressed antioxidants and altered fish behavior. • LCT and MTM induced stress and histological architectural lesions in O. niloticus after 60 days exposure. • LCT and MTM enhanced the apoptosis in kidney and liver tissues and altered their implementation and capacity. • Taurine (TUR) supplementation in diet rescued the toxicological consequences of pesticides. • TUR-Supplemented diet is a natural promising candidate for aquaculture production. The existing study was designed to inspect the toxicological consequences of two pesticides; lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) and methomyl (MTM) and their combination on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) behaviors, oxidative stress, hepato-renal function indices and microarchitectural alterations. In addition, the efficiency of taurine (TUR) to rescue their toxicity was also considered. Juvenile O. niloticus were assigned into eight groups. The control and TUR groups were fed on a basal diet and TUR-enriched (10 g kg1) diet, respectively. The other groups were fed on a basal diet, and exposed to LCT (0.079 µg L–1), MTM (20.39 µg L–1 and (LCT + MTM). The last three groups were (LCT + TUR), (MTM + TUR), and (LCT + MTM + TUR) and fed on a TUR-enriched diet during exposure to LCT and/or MTM for 60 days. The exposure to LCT and/or MTM resulted in several behavioral alterations and stress via enhanced cortisol and nor-epinephrine levels. A significant elevation of serum 8-hydroxy-2- deoxyguanosine, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase, Alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine was also observed in these groups. Furthermore, reduced antioxidant enzymes activities, including (catlase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) with marked histopathological lesions in both liver and kidney tissues were detected. The up-regulated Bax and down-regulated Bcl-2 proteins were expressed in the liver and kidney tissues of LCT and/or MTM -exposed groups. Interestingly, all the observed alterations in behaviors, biochemical indices, and histo-architecture of renal and hepatic tissues were mitigated by TUR supplementation. The findings suggest that feeding O. niloticus dietary TUR may help to reduce the negative effects of LCT and/or MTM, and can also support kidney and liver health in O. niloticus, making it a promising aquaculture feed supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most widespread inflammatory arthropathy, which causes severe disability. It is highly important to ameliorate the side effects caused by different drugs used to treat RA. Therefore, this study assessed the potential role of β-caryophyllene (BCP) in treating adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA), increasing the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) and/or leflunomide (LEF), and ameliorating their side effects. AIA was induced in rats by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant. The rats were divided into different groups such as sham group; control group; monotherapy groups, including BCP (300 mg/kg), MTX (1 mg/kg), and LEF (10 mg/kg); and combined groups, including MTX + BCP, LEF + BCP, MTX + LEF, and MTX + LEF + BCP groups. Monotherapy with BCP or MTX or LEF as well as MTX + LEF significantly reduced paw thickness and arthritic index; the histopathological changes in hind paw joints were recovered; and oxidative stress and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in arthritic rats were reduced. The co-administration of BCP and MTX and/or LEF significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy of MTX and/or LEF and significantly reduced the myelosuppressive and hepatotoxic effects of MTX and/or LEF. Taken together, BCP could be used with MTX and/or LEF for the treatment of RA to reduce the side effects of the drugs and increase their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]