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Objective: Paraquat (PQ) is a highly toxic herbicide that causes pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and no specific antidote is available against it. Teucrium polium L. is a plant that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study evaluates the preventive and therapeutic effects of T. polium extract (TPE) against PQ-induced lung fibrosis in rats. Materials and Methods: We divided rats into five groups of eight. Groups one and two received saline and PQ (20 mg/kg, i.p.), respectively. Groups three to five were treated with TPE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, by gavage) started one week before PQ administration and lasted three weeks after PQ administration. Results: Our findings showed that PQ significantly increased lung malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, hydroxyproline, lung index, Ashcroft score, red blood cells accumulation, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Moreover, PQ decreased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione content. The results of hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining indicated that PQ destroyed lung parenchyma and developed PF (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Gavage with TPE significantly improved biochemical and histological abnormalities induced by PQ in rats (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Conclusion: The current survey indicated that treatment with TPE could reduce and reverse PQ-induced PF, which may be due to the phenolic compounds present in TPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cichlidae family has more than 1300 species which in turn have great species morphologic differences. In this study, histology of liver, spleen and pancreas of four cichlid species (green terror cichlid, Oscar, giraffe cichlid and Texas cichlid) were compared. For this purpose, four apparently normal fish specimens from each species were selected after killing of which, tissue samples were taken. The sections stained with two methods (Haematoxillin- Eosin and Periodic acid Schiff). The results showed that all liver sections contained pancreas tissues around the liver blood vessels. Liver cells size in two species (green terror cichlid and giraffe cichlid) was significantly bigger than the two other species. The liver cell to pancreatic cell ratios also was significantly higher in two species. The liver size in giraffe cichlid, was even significantly bigger than the green terror cichlid. Exocrine pancreatic cell size in all 4 species showed no significant difference. The spleen in four fish species showed different degrees of amount and intensity in melanomacrophage centers. In PAS stained sections, only the pancreatic tissues showed more PAS positive reaction that may be due to the more glycogen content. The liver showed a weak PAS reaction. The bigger size formation of liver cells in two species can be due to feeding regime or simply a species specific trait. Yet more investigation is still needed to determine the importance of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of the most important native plants that have been used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, but limited data is available about its beneficial effects on histological changes of skin during wound healing. In the present study, the effects of 5% and 10% alcoholic cream of nettle leaf extract as an experimental drug in wound healing were investigated. The rats (n=30) were randomly divided into five experimental groups. The back of the animals using a puncture machine was wound. Then all of them were treated twice a day for two weeks. The control group received saline at the site of the normal wound. The sham group received the eucerin solvent and the phenytoin group received 1% ointment. Two experimental groups received 5% and 10% of Nettle extracts. Finally, 14 days after the start of the study histological changes in the skin of the wound site, granulation tissue amount, granulation tissue fibroblast maturation, collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, neovascularization, hydroxyproline content, and the percentage of wound healing in different experimental groups were analyzed. On day 14 of the experiment, the phenytoin and NE-treated groups had better effects on wound healing compared with the control group. Hydroxyproline content in dried wounds was significantly increased in the NE-treated groups compared to control groups. These results in 10% NE-treated group were significantly better than the 5% NE-treated group. These findings were confirmed by histological examination as well. According to the obtained results, nettle extract, to some extent similar to common chemical wound healing drug such as phenytoin, had a positive effect on skin changes during wound healing and these effects were dose-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic complication characterized by many side effects. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a protective lipophilic molecule with an extensive range of biological functions, but its possible protective effect on the ovary in OHSS has not as yet been studied. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of CoQ10 on ovarian histological and molecular alterations in an experimental model of OHSS in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty female (2 months old) Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups: control, OHSS, OHSS+CoQ10 (OHSS+ 200 mg/kg CoQ10 for 10 days), OHSS+ cabergoline (CAB) (OHSS+ 100 µg/kg CAB for 6 days), and CoQ10 and CAB (rats receiving similar doses to treatment groups.( In the end, the effects of treatments were assessed by measuring expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the ovary via western blotting, ovarian histomorphological alterations assessments, and serum estradiol and progesterone levels via ELISA. Results: There were histological alterations in OHSS groups, including the elevation of diameter and numbers of the corpus luteum and atretic follicles, and decreasing follicular reserve count, hyperemia, and hemorrhage at ovarian stroma. Treatment of OHSS groups with CAB and CoQ10 could decrease histological changes, serum estrogen and progesterone, and overexpression of VEGF and COX-2 proteins. Conclusion: Our results showed that ovarian histological and molecular alterations observed in experimental OHSS can be ameliorated by administration of CoQ10, indicating that CoQ10 can be used as new supportive care for OHSS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is an omnivorous and important breeding species in the world. Over the recent years, tilapia breeding has begun in Iran. In aquaculture, it is very important to regulate a balanced diet in terms of nutrients needed for growth, which would be also economically appropriate. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of substituting chicken waste powder in the diet of fish at levels of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % on the tissue structure of different parts of the intestine of Nile tilapia. METHODS: 75 fish (three frequency per treatment) were fed with chicken waste powder instead of fish meal in their diet for eight weeks at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % levels. At the end of the treatment, separate samples were taken from the initial, middle, and end parts of the intestine. After passing the usual histological steps, the slides were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL immunohistochemistry technique. RESULTS: In histometric studies, the highest villi height, thickness, muscle layer, and number of goblet cells were reported in the control group and the lowest in the 100 % group. In immunohistochemical studies, the number of apoptotic cells in groups 75 and 100 % was higher than that in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the present study, it could be suggested that the replacement of chicken waste powder instead of a fish meal up to 50 % for indigo tilapia is tolerable. However, higher levels of chicken waste powder will reduce absorption, and acceptance of food and have adverse effects on growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water temperature on the shrimp hepatopancreas of Litopenaeus vannamei by immunohistochemical method. In this research, a total of 50 shrimp with an average length of 23 ± 1 cm and an average weight of 28 ± 0.5 gr were accidentally caught from shrimp farms of the Choebdeh Abadan from Khuzestan province in two different seasons of the year. The shrimp were sampled for the histological and structural study of the hepatopancreas. After killing the shrimp by physical method, the hepatopancreas of each shrimp was transferred to Davidson's solution. The tissue samples were processed by routine histological procedure, using ascending ethanol for dehydration, xylene for clearing, and paraffin impregnation. 4-6 μm sections were taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and TUNEL immunohistochemistry technique. Finally, slides were studied by a light microscope equipped with a Dino-lite lens and Dino-capture software. The results indicated that the hepatopancreas structure is a tubular organ that can be affected by water temperature. In the warm season, the diameter of the tubules was smaller than in the cold season (p≤0.05). There was a significant difference in the percentage of apoptosis between the tubule-forming cells in the warm and cold seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), is a primary lymphoid tissue and a part of the mucosal lymphoid system. Depending on the location, it present as aggregations of lymphoid cells. There are several reports of structural differences in the lymphoid tissue attached to the gastrointestinal tract between different species of fish, as well as different areas of the gastrointestinal tract of a fish in the cold and warm seasons. Identifying and expressing these differences in terms of tissue structure, in addition to diagnosing aquatic diseases, is also of particular importance for vaccination and disease control. Material and methods. For this purpose, after collecting the desired samples routine histological procedure was performed and 4-6 μm sections were obtained and were subsequently stained with hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and TUNEL immunohistochemical staining method. Results. The results showed that four main layers, i.e., tunica mucosa, tunica submucosa, tunica muscularis, and tunica serosa, were observed in the wall of the gut of Arabibarbus grypus (Heckel, 1843), as had been observed in other teleosts. GALT was seen in two different shapes in two areas. The former consisted of intra-epithelial scattered cells, which were arranged in the pillar structures and extended to the upper regions of the epithelium, but were more concentrated in the mid bases. The latter was found in lamina propria and submucosa regions. In the lamina propria, they had a strip-shaped arrangement and were placed in several rows below the base membrane, but in the submucosa, they were scattered and less densely packed. Micrometric results showed that not only the distribution of the lymphocytic cells in the intestine of both male and female specimens varied in different areas but also in some areas, the difference was statistically significant in both cold and warm seasons (P < 0.05). TUNEL immunohistochemical staining revealed that the number of apoptotic cells in both sexes was more in the anterior part of the intestinal bulb and in the posterior part of the proper intestine in the warm season compared to the cold season. Conclusion. Based on a recent study on gut-associated lymphoid tissue in A. grypus in two warm and cold seasons revealed that mucosal immunity is more active in the cold season than in the warm season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is one female reproductive disorder that can occur after administration of injectable hormonal drugs to stimulate ovulation. Betaine (BET) is an intracellular biomolecule with anti-inflammatory and tissue protective effects. There is no information about its effects in an experimental model of OHSS. The current study aims to investigate the possible effects of BET on abnormal expressions of vasoconstrictor proteins and ovarian histological changes in an experimental OHSS rat model. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 adult female rats (two months old) were randomly divided into six groups (n=5 per group): i. Control, ii. OHSS [10 IU sc equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) for 4 days followed by 30 IU sc human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the fifth day], iii. OHSS+BET (200 mg/kg/day, orally for seven days), iv. OHSS+Cabergoline (CAB, 100 mg/kg/day, orally for six days), v. BET, and vi. CAB. Expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and blood levels of oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) were measured at the end of the experiment. The ovaries were studied for histomorphological changes. Results: Induction of OHSS altered tissue histology, including an increase in the number of corpora lutea and atretic follicles, and decreased the number of follicular reserves. In this group, we observed increased expressions of the VEGF and COX-2 proteins, and increased serum E2 and P4 levels. Administration of CAB and BET significantly attenuated all molecular and histological alterations observed in the OHSS animals. Conclusion: Our findings, for first time, indicate the beneficial effects of BET to reduce OHSS complications in patients by reducing the expressions of vasoactive proteins and improving changes to the ovarian tissues. The findings are similar to CAB and can be a new avenue for future research on BET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]