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BACKGROUND: Sodium arsenite is a dangerous bio-accumulative poison affecting a large number of people as well as animals throughout the world. It is used clinically in the treatment of certain medical conditions, but due to its harmful damage to different tissues and mainly the cardiotoxicity, its medical application is limited. AIM: This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of spirulina on cardiotoxicity induced by sodium arsenite biochemically and histologically. METHODS: 30 young adult male albino rats were randomly equally divided into three groups 10 animals each. Group I (control), Group II Arsenic intoxicated (10 mg/kg/day/ 4 weeks), Group III spirulina protected animals (concomitant sodium arsenite 10 mg/kg/day/ 4 weeks and spirulina 200 mg/kg/day/ 4 weeks). RESULTS: It was evident from the study that arsenic exposure exerted a significant increase in cardiac enzyme levels, serum creatine kinase MB (CKMB) and troponin. Concomitant treatment with spirulina is considerably recovered their serum levels. Histological alterations associated with arsenite treated animals are significantly decreased after using spirulina. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that use of spirulina could alleviate the toxic effects on the heart following exposure to arsenic toxicity.

Background: Gut health is the most important factor for a healthy life. A large number of people are suffering from gut associated diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease is the general medical terminology for chronic inflammatory illness of unknown origin. Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid has been used extensively as a model for intestinal inflammatory disease.Aim of the work: This study aims to assess the effect of jujube fruit extract on the histological integrity of colon, in a rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis.Materials and Methods: Experimental colitis was induced under light ether anesthesia by intrarectal administration of 1 ml of 4% acetic acid (AA) in male albino rats, Control rats received an equal volume of saline intrarectally. Experimental rats were treated orally with jujube fruit extract (1 gm/kg body weight) for one month.Results: Myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels in the colonic tissues revealed significant increased level and morphological changes in the colonic mucosa were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin, AB/PAS and Trichrome stains revealed alteration of the colonic mucosa as evident by crypt architecture disarray, mucin depletion from goblet cells, epithelial degeneration and necrosis accompanied by cellular infiltration in the lamina propria and submucosa. In our model, the administration of jujube fruit extract of 1 gm/kg body weight revealed, significant decrease in myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels as compared with the control group associated with mild acetic acid-induced lesions in the histological sections.Conclusion: These results indicated that jujube fruit extract acted as a treatment agent against inflammation in rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis.Keywords: Acetic acid, experimental colitis, jujube fruit extract, rats

Background: Genetically modified (GM) organisms have been an issue of intense public concern. Among the different GM organisms, GM plants have attracted a large amount of media attention. Corn used for food has been GM to resist glyphosate herbicide, insect resistance (Bt-corn), and vitamin-enriched corn with increase in β carotene, Vitamin C, and folate. As GM foods are starting to be present in our diet, concerns have been expressed regarding GM food safety. Aim of the Work: The aim was to assess the possible effects arising from GM corn on pancreatic acinar cells and β-cells. Materials and Methods: Twenty rats were divided equally into two groups. Group I (Control Group) received non-GM corn, Group II (The Experimental Group) fed with GM corn for 3 months. After 3 months, blood samples from all rats were collected for blood glucose estimation, and fresh specimens were taken from the pancreas and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic examination. Results: There was a significant increase of blood glucose level in rats fed with GM corn (Group II). Moreover, evident structural changes in the pancreatic acinar cell as evident by interstitial edema, irregular nuclei with dilated perinuclear space, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, vacuolation and lysosome-like lamellated structure, decreased electron-dense secretory granules, and formation of apoptotic bodies. Examination of β-cells revealed evident destruction and decreased secretory granules. Conclusion: A diet containing significant amounts of GM corn seems to influence zymogen synthesis in pancreatic acinar cells as well as β-cells function

Background. Hyperlipidemia is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of lipids and is positively associated with cerebrovascular diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic brain disorder characterized by cognitive impairment, inflammation, β-amyloid deposition, and vascular damage. Recent studies have shown that high cholesterol levels are linked to the pathology of AD. Purslane seeds are medicinal plants rich in unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3), antioxidants, and fibers. They are known to have antidiabetic and antiatherogenic activities. The aim of this research is to study the structural alterations occurring in the frontal cortex and cerebellum after feeding high cholesterol diet, and the possible protective role of purslane seeds. Materials and methods. Forty male albino rats were used in the study. They were divided into three groups; control group (20 rats), hypercholesterolemic group (10 rats) who were fed the balanced diet supplemented with cholesterol at a dose of 2 gm/100 gm diet, and protected group (10 rats) who were fed the same previous hypercholesterolemic diet concomitant with purslane seed 20% (20 gm/100 ml water). After 3 months, blood samples were collected from all rats for biochemical estimation and fresh specimens were taken from the frontal cortex and cerebellum of each rat and processed for; light microscopic examination using H&E and Orcein stains. Results. Significant increase of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels in hyperlipidemic rats were detected. Associated structural changes in the frontal cortex of the rats were evident as pyknotic nuclei of degenerated neurons, loss of neuron, dilation and congestion of blood vessels, expanded perivascular space, and increased vacuolar spaces of neuropil. The cerebellar cortex of the rats fed on high cholesterol diet revealed pyknotic nuclei of degenerated neuron and decrease in the number of Purkinje and granule cells compared to the control group. Concomitant administration of purslane seeds revealed evident amelioration of biochemical and most of the structural changes. Conclusion. We concluded that a high cholesterol diet has deleterious biochemical changes associated with structural alteration in the frontal cortex and cerebellum and purslane seeds ameliorate most of these changes.

Background: hypercholesterolemia is a predominant risk factor for atherosclerosis. The clinical complications of atherosclerosis could be suppressed when plasma lipids are lowered by hypocholesterolemic agents. The aim of this research is to assess the possible protective effect of the drug Inegy versus cinnamon oil on the histological structure of the abdominal aorta of rats with experimentally induced hyperlipidemia. Materials & Methods: the animals were divided into 2 groups (control and experimental group). Group I (control group) was divided into: subgroup I a; received standard diet only, subgroup Ib received Inegy 10 mg/kg body weight / day orally and subgroup Ic received cinnamon oil orally. Group II (The experimental group) was divided into: subgroup II, which received a high fat high cholesterol (HFHC) diet, subgroup II b received simultaneously both HFHC diet and Inegy and subgroup II c which received simultaneously both HFHC diet and cinnamon oil. After 3 months blood samples were collected from all rats for cholesterol and triglyceride estimation and fresh specimens were taken from the abdominal aorta of each rat and processed for; light microscopic, immunohistochemical and morphometric studies. Results: Significant increase of serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hyperlipidemic rats (subgroup II a) was detected. Moreover, evident structural changes in the form of endothelial irregularity, focal loss and shedding of large areas of denuded endothelium were illustrated. It was associated with adhesion of mononuclear leukocytes and increased foam macrophages. Examination of histological sections of the abdominal aorta of (subgroups II b and II c) showed pronounced amelioration of the structural changes depicted in the aorta of the hyperlipidemic subgroup. Conclusion: HFHC diet induced evident biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical changes in the rat aorta. It was also concluded that both Inegy and cinnamon oil offered good protection against the histopathological changes induced by HFHC diet. There were no statistical significant differences between the protective effect of both agents as regards the biochemical and morphometric results.