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This study evaluated the nutritional value of ziziphus mauritina fruit (mesocarp) and its effect on the growth of experimental animals. Proximate analysis of the mesocarp was carried out using standard methods. The fat content were analysed using GCMS, carbohydrate content were analysed using carbohydrate Digestibility assay and the protein content were determined using amino acids profile analysis. The mesocarp of Zizphus mauritiana was dried and added to standard commercial feed (mesocarp: commercial feed) at 0% (0:100), 20% (20:80), 30% (30:70), 40% (40:60) and 50% (50:50) respectively and were fed to albino rats to evaluate the effects on growth performance of the animal. The results revealed the presence of carbohydrate (55.00 ± 0.24%), crude fat (5.13 ± 0.02%), crude protein (17.50 ± 0.32%), crude firbre (11.40 ± 0.04%), ash content (6.27 ± 0.31%) and moisture (4.70 ± 0.25%). The amino acids profile reveals the presence of essential amino acids with leucine (5.60 g per 100 g sample) as the most abundant and tryptophan (0.74g/100g sample) as the least concentrated while the non essential amino acids present in the sample reveals cystine as the lowest (1.09 g per 100 g sample) and glutamic acid is the most concentrated and abundant non essential amino acid with 10.00 g per 100 g sample. GCMS analysis of the crude fat reveals the presence of hexanoic acid, hepta-2,4-dienioc acid, hexadecanioc acid(palmitic acid), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid,(Linolelaidic acid), 11,14,17-Eicosatrienoic acid, octadecanoic acid (Stearic acid), Di-n-octyl phthalate (1, 2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dioctyl ester) while the carbohydrate digestibility assay reveals resistant starch (1.64 mmol/L per 100mg) and digestible starch (18.81 mmol/L/ 100mg) of the sample. The sum of the RS content and DS content gives the total starch of 20.44 mmol/L per 100 mg of the sample. Protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed efficiency ratio and consumption index analyses showed that there is no significant difference in all the blends of the feed samples used. The effect of mesocarp of ziziphus mauritiana fruit on growth exhibit low growth performance and this is corroborated by the profiles of the major component of the fruit which consist mainly of non-essential biomolecules which can improve growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a cross-sectional study which examined the prevalence of ecto, endo and hemoparasites among slaughtered dogs in two different areas of Maiduguri metropolis. Most dogs harbor parasites that are transmissible to human and other domestic animals which cause cutaneous and visceral larva migrans, mange, hydatidosis and tungiasis. Several factors contributing to increased risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases transmitted by dogs include the variation of the clinical signs of parasite infections, insufficient information by dog keepers about the risks of transmission, control of stray dogs and poor hygiene level.

Medicinal plants are considered two-edged swords. They are pharmacologically beneficial and sometimes toxic when abused. The health benefit of medicinal plant is due to their abundant phytochemical endowment. The present study is aimed at evaluating the biosafety potentials of methanol extracts/fractions of Tapinanthus bangwensis (T. bangwensis) and Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves using Allium cepa (A. cepa) model. Cytotoxicity assay was carried out by A. epa model. The cytotoxicity parameters studied were number of dividing cells, percentage mitotic index (% MI), root tip growth length and chromosomal aberrations. The phytochemistry was determined by UV-spectrophotometry while 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) were used to assay antioxidant activity. The A. cepa assay result showed that the inhibitory effect of M. oleifera on root tip growth length was higher compared to T. bangwensis at 60-100mg/100ml concentrations. Decreased number of dividing cells and percentage mitotic index as concentrations increased observed indicate cytotoxicity however the acetone fractions were most cytotoxic. The frequently occurring chromosomal aberrations observed were vagrant, bridged, attached and sticky chromosomes while C-mitosis and binuclear chromosomes were not observed. Therefore cytotoxic effect was significant at 100mg/100ml. The phytochemical screening of methanol extracts/fractions of T. bangwensis and M. oleifera leaves revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins and tannins however saponins were significantly abundant in both plants compared to others. Alkaloid content was found to be low but was not detected in the acetone fractions of the plants. Methanol extracts/fractions of the plants' leaves exhibited antioxidant activities but was more prominent in the ethylacetate fraction of T. bangwensis and acetone fraction of M. oleifera. In conclusion, administration at 100mg/100ml could be unsafe for the biological system.

Previous studies showed that Ziziphus mauritiana is ethnomedicinally beneficial against various diseases, however the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of this plant have not been well investigated. Therefore this study was undertaken to investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of four different solvents extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam) leaf at different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L) using Allium cepa model. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity parameters evaluated were mitotic index, root tip growth length and chromosomal aberration respectively. The result revealed a decrease in mitotic index percentage (%MI) and a dose dependent decrease in root tip length with increase in extracts concentration for all the extracts studied - with the ethanol extract showing the most significant effect in mitotic index. Furthermore, the effective concentrations (EC50) obtained were 81.30, 52.01, 90.68 and 112.30 mg/l for aqueous, ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane extract respectively. Finally chromosomal aberrations such as vagrant chromosome, c-mitosis, bridged anaphase, sticky telophase were also observed in all four extracts and the percentage chromosomal aberration were observed to decrease with increased concentrations of extracts. Therefore based on the result obtained in this study it may be concluded that the plant (Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam)) extracts are cytotoxic and genotoxic in nature and the observed decrease in percentage chromosomal aberration may be as a result of antimutagenic bioactive principles present in the plant extracts. Hence care must be taken in its consumption and use in folk medicine.

Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam) is the most popular species under the genus Dacryodes. It is well known for its nutritional and ethno-medicinal uses in South-eastern and South-western Nigeria. This study was aimed to evaluate the toxicity of the aqueous-methanol fraction of crude methanol extract of Dacryodes edulis leaves (AMDE). The test rats were randomized to groups of single oral treatment of AMDE (10−5000 mg/kgbw) for the acute toxicity study. They were monitored for obvious signs of behavioural change and mortality. For the subacute toxicity study, the rats were randomized to three daily treatment groups (of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kgbw of AMDE) for 28 days. The fourth group (control) received 2.5 %v/v DMSO. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for hematology and clinical chemistry evaluation. The histopathology of the livers and kidneys were assessed using the excised organs. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of AMDE were also evaluated using Allium cepa model. The result showed that acute administration of AMDE, up to a dose of 5000 mg/kgbw did not result in mortality of the test rats. The observed median lethal dose (LD50) was greater than 5000 mg/kgbw. The subacute oral administration of AMDE for 28 days showed no significant (p > 0.05) effect on liver function, kidney function indices, organ - body weight ratio, but significantly (p

Although accounting for a striking proportion of obesity effects on blood pressure (BP) in other populations, the extent to which obesity-associated increases in BP are explained by insulin resistance and metabolic changes in populations of African ancestry is uncertain. We determined the contribution of insulin resistance and associated metabolic abnormalities to variations in office or ambulatory BP in a black African community with prevalent obesity and hypertension. In 1225 randomly selected participants of black South African ancestry (age>16years, 43.1% obese, 47.4% abdominal obesity), we assessed adiposity indexes, the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and associated metabolic abnormalities and office or ambulatory (n ​= ​798) BP. In separate models, waist circumference (p ​

For a long period, ethno medicinal plants have been a valuable source of natural products for maintaining human health, especially in the last decade, with more intensive studies for natural therapies. The use of ethno medicinal plant for pharmaceutical purposes has gradually increased in Iran. Gundelia tournefortii has been used as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agent in Iran. In the recent examination, the testicular protective effect of G. tournefortii aerial parts aqueous extract on diabetic mice has been evaluated. Seventy mice were used and diabetes was induced by administration of 150 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate intraperitoneally in 60 mature male mice and they were randomly divided into six groups. The treatment groups received glibenclamide 10 mg/kg and 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg of G. tournefortii through gavage for 20 days. Also, one group was considered as the non-diabetic control. At 20th day, the mice were killed, dissected, then blood and testis samples were collected for biochemical and stereological parameters analysis. The data were analyzed by SPSS-21 software. G. tournefortii at all doses (especially GT40) and glibenclamide significantly (p≤0.05) ameliorated the concentrations of fasting blood glucose, testosterone, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase. Also, multiple doses of G. tournefortii (especially GT40) and glibenclamide increased the weight and volume of the testis, the volumes of the tubule and interstitial tissue, the length and diameter of the tubule, the height of the germinal epithelium, and the number of the Leydig cell compared to the diabetic untreated group. According to the obtained results, G. tournefortii aerial parts aqueous extract can regulate the concentrations of biochemical parameters and inhibit testicular damages in alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic mice. It seems that G. tournefortii can be offered as a testicular protective supplement or drug for prevention, control, and treatment of testicular toxicity in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylamide is formed at high temperature during preparation of food rich in carbohydrates. It can be found in animal feed based on potatoes and granulated wheat subjected to thermal treatment. It was demonstrated that acrylamide has a neurotoxic effect in newborn animals in both the central and peripheral nervous system after prenatal exposure to this substance. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of acrylamide on the immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100b in hippocampal astrocytes of weaning rats after oral administration of acrylamide to pregnant mothers at various stages of pregnancy. The dams received acrylamide in drinking water (3 mg/kg b.w.) each day starting on the 6 th day (group II), 11 th day (group III) and 16 th day (group IV) of pregnancy. At 21 postnatal day the pups were euthanized and their brains were dissected. The immunohistochemical reactions for GFAP and S100b protein were performed on the frontal slides containing hippocampus. The obtained results demonstrated a lower density of GFAP-positive cells in rats whose mothers received acrylamide, especially for the longest time. The astrocytes from groups II and III of rats were characterized by a smaller number of processes, which were also shorter in group II. In contrast, the density of S100b-positive cells was significantly higher, especially in the group II animals. Slight alterations may be related to the low dose of acrylamide, short duration of acrylamide administration in groups III and IV, and the possibility of astrocyte regeneration during the period from delivery to weaning, when the studied substance was not administered. The findings suggest potential disruptions in the structural integrity and functional capacity of astrocytes, which are crucial in maintaining the neuronal environment and supporting hippocampal functions.

Satellite glial cells (SGCs), involved inter alia in glutamate (Glu) metabolism, form a glial sheath around sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). SGCs show a presence of glutamine synthetase (GS) which transform uptaken Glu into glutamine (Gln). In DRGs, this aminoacid is used mainly by small neurons which are able to synthetize substance P (SP) that play a crucial role in nociception. The aim of the study was to define the influence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on GS immunoreactivity in satellite glia around various subpopulations of neurons including SP immunopositive cells in DRGs of adult rats. The studies were carried out on lumbar DRGs slides in rats which received subcutaneous injection of saline solution (control group) or 4 g/kg b. w. of MSG (MSG group). Immunofluorescence reactions were conducted with use of anti-GS and anti-SP antibodies. Administration of MSG to adult rats increased the GS immunoexpression in SGCs. In rats receiving MSG, a number of small neurons with GS-immunopositive glial sheath was not altered when compared to control individuals, whereas there was a statistically significant increase of GS immunoexpression in SGCs around large and medium neurons. Moreover, in these animals, a statistically significant increase in the number of small SP-positive neurons with GS-positive glial sheath was observed. SP is responsible for transmission of pain, thus the obtained results may be useful for further research concerning the roles of glia in nociceptive pathway regulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Selection of livestock has not only led to changes in the level of their performance but also modified their behavior. As a result, within a single species, we have to deal with different behaviors of different breeds. In our study, we assumed that the different behaviors within a species are due to differences in the morphology and physiology of behavior-related systems. Two breeds of hens were used as a model: the highly reactive, fearful and high-performance Leghorn breed and proactive, unselected Green-legged Partridge breed. The higher reactivity and fearfulness of Leghorn hens in comparison to the Green-legged Partridge breed may be related to the greater number of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and anterior hypothalamus and the higher content of zinc and iron in the brain, as these elements are involved in neuronal conduction and myelination processes. The reactive behaviours of Green-legged Partridge hens may be associated with the lower number of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and the anterior hypothalamus and the higher concentration of dopamine and copper ions in the brain. The analyses confirmed the hypothesis of the existence of interbreed differences in the morphology and physiology of behaviour-related systems, which most probably emerged through unintentional and correlated selection towards high production performance. Consequently, attention should be drawn that the selection of a given genotype (breed) towards a specific environment could lead to creation of highly specialised lines that may not achieve homeostasis in every maintenance system., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to perform molecular typing of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides from slaughtered cattle in Adamawa and Taraba States, north‑eastern Nigeria. A total of four hundred and eighty (480) samples of lung tissues, nasal swabs, ear swabs and pleural fluids were collected from cattle at slaughter and processed according to standard laboratory protocols. Identification and confirmation were achieved with specific PCR and PCR‑RFLP. An overall M. mycoides subsp. mycoides isolation rate of 6.87% (33/480) was obtained. In Adamawa State, 12 (10.91%) isolates of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides came from both, lung tissues and pleural fluids. While in Taraba State, 5 (7.14%) and 4 (5.71%) isolates of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides came from lung tissues and pleural fluids, respectively. The samples from nasal and ear swabs from the study states were negative for M. mycoides subsp. mycoides. Thirty‑three out of the 37 culture positive isolates were confirmed to be Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides with the production of a band equivalent to 574‑bp. Molecular typing with restriction endonuclease Vsp1 results in the two bands of 180‑bp and 380‑bp. In conclusion, the study has established an isolation rate of 6.87% for M. mycoides subsp. mycoides. Measures to strengthen movement control in order to minimise the spread of this dreaded disease of cattle were recommended.

Introduction: Astrocytes react to microenvironmental changes. Their reactivity is manifested by an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100b protein levels, hypertrophy and hyperplasia. The aim of the study was to analyse immunoreactive GFAP (GFAP-IR) and S100b (S100b-IR) astrocytes of hippocampal CA1 area in adult rats intragastrically (i.g.) treated with habanero peppers., Material and Methods: Brains from 10 control rats (group C) and 10 rats receiving oil suspension of habanero fruits for 7 days (group I-7) or 28 days (group II-28) were used. Antibodies against GFAP and S100b were used for immunohistochemistry. Morphology and distribution of astrocytes was evaluated under light microscope and their density was quantitatively analysed., Results: In the CA1 hippocampal area of group II-28 rats, GFAP-IR cells with numerous, branched processes were observed. S100b-IR astrocytes had delicate, single processes in comparison with cells without processes observed in groups I-7 and C. In groups I-7 and II-28, GFAP-IR astrocytes' density significantly increased in SR - stratum radiatum of hippocampal CA1 area. In group I-7, a density of cells with the expression of S100b was significantly increased in SO - stratum oriens layer. In group II-28, the density of S100b-IR astrocytes was decreased., Conclusions: Habanero peppers administrated to rats, especially for a longer time, caused reactive changes in the astrocytes in hippocampal CA1 area, and thus these glial cells may protect neurons against excitotoxic damage.

Introduction: The astrocytic S100b calcium-binding protein performs numerous intra- and extracellular functions, promoting the survival of central nervous system (CNS) structures. Its increased synthesis and release are a manifestation of reactive glial behavior, crucial for the maintenance of proper neuronal function, particularly under the pathological conditions. The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) is a mindbrain area composed of four parts dorsomedial (dm), dorsolateral (dl), lateral (l) and ventrolateral (vl)) which are involved in pain sensing and defensive reactions of the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the S100b protein immunoreactive (S100b-IR) astrocytes in adult rats after administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG)., Material and Methods: The animals were administered the saline solution (group C), 2 g/kg b.w. MSG (group I) and 4 g/kg b.w. MSG (group II). The study was carried out on the brain sections stained by immunohistochemical peroxidase-antiperoxidase method with a primary mouse antibody against the S100b protein., Results: The analyses showed the presence of the S100b-immunoreactive cells in dm, dl, l, vl PAG of all animals. In the C and I group animals, the PAG astrocytes were characterized mainly by the presence of the studied protein in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cell body. In the group II rats in all parts of PAG, the S100b-IR cells with numerous, thicker and branched processes were observed. A decrease in the number of the S100b-IR cells was found in dm, dl and l PAG in the MSG-treated animals, particularly with the larger dose. The number of cells with the S100b expression was comparable in vl PAG in all rats., Conclusions: MSG administered parenterally to the higher dose to adult rats affects the immunoreactivity of S100b protein in PAG. Phenotypic changes of the studied cells may indicate reactivity of glial cells and increased expression of the studied protein whereas a decrease in their number may result from the increased protein secretion into the extracellular space or cytotoxic death of glial cells.

Calretinin (CR), a calcium-binding protein from EF-hand family, is localised in non-pyramidal GABA-ergic interneurons of the hippocampus. CR takes part in maintaining calcium binding homeostasis, which suggests its neuroprotective role. Hippocampal neurons contain membrane transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) which binds to capsaicin (CAP) contained in habanero pepper fruits. Few in vivo studies have revealed the effect of CAP on interneurons containing CR. The aim of the present study was to investigate the CR immunoreac- tivity in interneurons of the hippocampal CA1 field and dentate gyrus (DG) in adult rats after intragastric admin- istration of the habanero pepper fruits. Wistar rats received a peanut oil - control group (C), and oil suspension of habanero pepper fruits at doses of 0.025 g dm/kg b.w. - group I and 0.08 g dm/kg b.w. - group II for 28 days. After euthanasia, the brains were collected and embedded in paraffin blocks using a routine histological tech- nique. Frontal hippocampal sections were immunohistochemically stained for CR by using a peroxidase-antiper- oxidase method. CR immunoreactive (CR-IR) interneurons were morphologically and morphometrically ana- lyzed under a light microscope. The results showed similar shapes and distribution of cells in both areas of the brain in group C and I of animals. However, CR-IR interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 field and in DG were occasionally observed in the group II of rats. The results of morphometric studies did not reveal statistically significant differences in the surface area and shape index of cells between examined brain regions from groups I and II compared to group C. Only in group II of rats, an increase in the digital immunostaining intensity of CR-IR interneurons was found in DG. Low number of CR-IR interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 field and in the DG, under the influence of a large dose of habanero pepper fruits containing CAP, may be caused by the activation of TRPV1 receptors and the increase in Ca2+ ions in these cells. This phenomenon may ultimately lead to neuronal death and may disturb neuronal conduction., (Copyright© by the Polish Academy of Sciences.)

Introduction: Calretinin (CR) is a protein, which is present in GABAergic neurons and belongs to the calcium-binding proteins family. It may reduce the excitotoxicity phenomenon through its Ca2+ buffering properties. This phenomenon is due to the increase of calcium ions levels caused by the excess of glutamate—the main excitatory neurotransmitter. The aim of the study was to investigate alterations of calretinin-immunoreactivity in neurons of hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus with hilus in 10 day-old rats treated with monosodium glutamate (MSG)., Material and Methods: Ten 7 day-old Wistar rats were used. The MSG-group consisted of 5 MSG-treated rats at a dose of 4 g/kg b.w. for 3 consecutive days and the second group consisted of 5 control animals. After euthanasia the brains containing hippocampus were dissected and embedded in paraffin blocks. The immunohistochemical peroxidase-antiperoxydase reaction was performed on tissue sections. The morphometric analyses of CR-immunopositive neurons: density, percentage ratio to the density of all cells and an assessment of digital immunostaining intensity were performed., Results: The distribution of the CR-immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampus was irregular. In the MSG-group there were single cells, which were more intensely stained than in control animals. Some of cells contained processes of different length. The density of CR-immunopositive cells and their percentage ratio to the density of all cells did not change significantly after MSG treatment. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the staining intensity of CR-immunopositive cells., Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that CR-positive cells in P7-P10 rats are only slightly affected by MSG in CA1 region and dentate gyrus with hilus of the hippocampus.

The discrepancy about the role of estrogens in hepatic fibrogenesis and lack of studies addressed of ketogenic diet (KD) on hepatic stellate cells (HSC), prompted us to investigate the activity of HSC in control, KD- and thioacetamide (TAA)-administrated rats with different plasma concentration of estradiol (E2). HSC were isolated by the collagenase perfusion methods and separated by the Percoll gradient centrifugation. After the 4(th) and 8(th) day of incubation, lysates of HSC and the media were collected for further analysis. The HSC derived from KD-rats released remarkably more transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 than cells obtained from animals fed with a standard diet. The ovariectomy of KD-rats markedly intensified the secretion of this fibrogenic cytokine on the 8(th) day of incubation (201.33 ±1 7.15 pg/ml). In HSC of rats exposed to E2, the TGF-β1 concentration did not exceed 157 ± 34.39 pg/ml. In respect to the collagen type I, the HSC obtained from ovariectomised KD-rats released an augmented amount of this ECM protein after the 8(th) day of culture (1.83 ± 0.14 U/ml). In the same time, higher quantities of ASMA appeared in the KD rats (1.41 ± 0.3 pg/mg protein). Exposition of rats to E2 did not markedly decrease the amount of ASMA. In summary, KD was able to induce morphological and functional changes in HSC, especially derived from rats deprived of ovarian estrogens. However, the preservation of E2 in ovariectomised rats didn't substantially alter the activation of HSC.

The present paper is the first work to determine the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the pilocarpine model of epilepsy on the morphology of rat hippocampal astrocytes in vivo. The study involved adult male Wistar rats, which 72 hours prior to administration of pilocarpine hydrochloride (PILO) were intraperitoneally (ip) preconditioned with LPS at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg b.w. The control animals were administered (ip) saline or LPS alone. The astrocytes in the control animals displayed characteristic stellate morphology. Examinations of the astrocytes were performed on days one, three and 21 of the pilocarpine model of epilepsy (i.e. in the acute, silent and chronic periods). The astrocytes of the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal layers of the hippocampus were observed and analyzed at the structural and ultrastructural levels. It was demonstrated that on days one and three, glial cells from both the nonpreconditioned and the LPS-preconditioned animals displayed similar reactive changes, manifesting themselves as swelling of cell bodies, glial processes, and astrocytosis. Moreover, reduction in cell organelles aggregated at one pole and the presence of vacuoles were observed. The most pronounced astrogliosis and cell swelling occurred on day 21. We conclude that LPS has no effect on the morphology of astrocytes in the pilocarpine model of epilepsy, unlike the results obtained by other authors in vitro.

Sublethal stress stimuli such as systemic endotoxin treatment can induce tolerance of the brain to subsequent ischemic stress, which results in a decreased infarct size. Based on this evidence, we hypothesized that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preconditioning could protect hippocampal neurons in epileptic rats. To test this hypothesis, the anticonvulsant effect of a low dose of LPS against seizures elicited by pilocarpine hydrochloride was measured. Using the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy and LPS-preconditioning, we also investigated hippocampal pathology in the rat brain. Based on the behavioural observations conducted, it can be assumed that the preconditioning procedure used may decrease seizure excitability in epileptic rats. However, determination of the seizure excitability threshold needs to be elaborated. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of histological brain sections in the LPS-preconditioned rats showed markedly decreased intensity of neurodegenerative changes in the CA1, CA3 and DG hippocampal fields. The tendency was observed in all the periods of the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. We suggest that preconditioning with LPS may have neuroprotective effects in the CA1, CA3 and DG hippocampal sectors; however, it has no influence on the course of the seizures in rats in the pilocarpine model of epilepsy.

To date four types of glial cells have been identified in central nervous system: astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, ependymocytes. The latest results indicate the existence of the fifth glial type-synantocytes from the Greek word synanto that is for contact. Synantocyte processes reach neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, synapses, myelin sheaths and nervous fibres' nodes of Ranvier. Morphologically, synantocytes are similar to astrocytes, but they do not contain, like astrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 beta protein. Synantocytes show expression of NG2 surface chondroition sulphate proteoglycan. Moreover, these cells in contrast to astrocytes do not have membrane transporters for glutamate (Glu), but have receptors for Glu and gamma-aminobutyric acid, whose activation can contribute to keeping up ion balance in CNS. Synantocytes are components of synapses, participate in neuronal cytoskeleton stabilization and control myelin integrity, mediate oligodendrocytes answer to nervous fibres' damage and form glial scars. Thus, there are evidences that synantocytes and astrocytes make separate glial population, playing important functions in neuroprotection.

The development of activity of succinate dehydrogenase was investigated by histochemical methods under the light and electron microscopes and also by biochemical methods. The studies were carried out in the areas of the nigro-striatal pathways of 7 foetal groups, two day-old piglets, three week-old piglets and adult pigs. It was demonstrated that the activity of succinate dehydrogenase appeared first in foetuses of about 86 days (180 mm). The highest activity in prenatal development appeared just before birth in about 112 days old (260 mm) foetuses. After birth in 2 day-old piglets the activity of the examined enzyme decreases, while in 3 week-old it increases however not reaching the activity level observed in adult pigs.

The activity of prostaglandin synthetase was studied according to the histochemical method of Janszen and Nugteren (1971), in author's own modification, in the lungs, arteries and parotid gland of the pig and in the same organs of the guinea pig. Additionally, the seminal vesicles of guinea pig were subject to investigation. A high activity of this enzyme has been found in the endothelial cells of the arteries in both species and a lower activity in the non-striated muscles of the artery wall. A high enzymatic activity has been also observed in the epithelial cells lining the bronchi and bronchioles of the lungs and in the ductus parotidicus of the parotid gland in both species, as well as in the epithelial cells of seminal vesicles in the guinea pig. A weaker, but distinct activity, has been observed in the cells of vesicles of pig parotid gland, and in the cells of stroma of guinea pig seminal vesicles.

Effect of a therapeutic dose of chloramphenicol (detreomycin) on the intensity of reaction of alkaline phosphatase and on the structure of microvilli of the epithelial cells of the small intestine of the hen was investigated. It was observed that this antibiotic given orally weakened the intensity of the reaction of alkaline phosphatase and changes also the shape of microvilli of intestinal epithelium. 4 weeks after chloramphenicol administration the activity of the enzyme appeared to be normal and the morphology restored. We concluded from the experiments performed, that chloraphenicol may inhibit the process of protein glycosylation in the enterocytes of the small intestine and also weakened reversible the process of absorption.

The development of activity of lactate dehydrogenase was investigated by histochemical methods under the light and electron microscopes and also by biochemical methods. The studies were carried out in the areas of the nigro-striatal pathway of 7 foetal groups, two days-old piglets, three weeks old piglets and adult pigs. It was demonstrated that the activity of LDH appears early in the prenatal ontogenesis. High activity of the enzyme appears in the studied areas of the brain already in foetuses about 60 days old (100 mm) afterwards it rises and the highest activity is observed in about 86 days old foetuses. It then decreases just before birth. After birth in two days and three weeks old piglets the LDH activity decreases further. In adults a high activity of the examined enzyme was confirmed.