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Introduction: Corneal alkali burn is one of the most severe ophthalmic emergencies that requires prompt treatment. Recently, the attention of researchers has been attracted to the use of exosomes as a novel non-cell therapy for treatment of corneal alkali burn. Aim: to evaluate the possible role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosomes on healing of experimentally induced corneal alkali burn in rabbits by histological and immunohisto-chemical techniques. Materials and Methods: Forty-five adult male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups: group I (control group); group II in which corneal alkali burn was left for spontaneous healing, and group III (exosomes treated group): in which rabbits received a sub-conjunctival injection of 100 ig MSCs-exosomes after one hour from corneal alkali burn induction. Injection of exosomes was repeated every other day. All groups were further subdivided into two subgroups; subgroup A and B, where corneal specimens were collected after 7 days and 14 days, respectively. Characterization of exosomes was done using transmission electron microscope. Gross examination of the cornea was done at days 0, 1, 4,7,10 and 14. At the end of experiment, corneal specimens were collected and subjected to hematoxylin and eosin, Massons trichrome, periodic acid Schiff, transforming growth factor-beta and vascular endothelial growth factor immunohistochemical techniques. Histo-morphometric study and statistical analysis were also done. Results: Administration of MSCs-derived exosomes in group III improved healing of corneal alkali burn by inhibiting angiogenesis and inflammation, enhancing corneal reepithelization, and providing better organization of newly formed stromal collagen fibers. Conclusion: Sub-conjunctival injection of MSCs-derived exosomes could be effective in the healing of corneal alkali burn in adult rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of diabetic nephropathy (DN) is far from satisfactory. There is a rising role of the involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway in the pathogenesis of DN. This study aimed at investigating the renoprotective effects of PI3K/AKT pathway via sitagliptin in a rat model of DN. Thirty‐two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (eight rats each): (I) control, (II) sitagliptin, (III) DN, and (IV) DN + sitagliptin. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), kidney index, and kidney function tests in both blood and urine were measured. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) and gene expressions of PI3K, pPI3K, AKT, and pAKT in renal tissue were detected. Renal histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were evaluated. DN + sitagliptin group showed significant decrease in FBG and kidney index, improvement in kidney function tests, and a decrease in levels of TNF‐α and TGF‐β in renal tissues compared with DN group. This was associated with significant increase in SOD and gene expressions of PI3K and AKT and their phosphorylated active forms in renal tissue in DN + sitagliptin group compared with DN group. Moreover, DN + sitagliptin group showed apparent decrease in amount of collagen fibers and expression of alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) compared with DN group. This work shows that sitagliptin improved renal functions and histopathological changes, impeded inflammation, and oxidative stress and upregulated PI3K/AKT pathway which highlights its renoprotective effects in a rat model of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) is a potent environmental hepatotoxin that was commonly used in industrial applications. The main active component in ginger is 6-gingerol which is responsible for many of its medicinal properties. Aim of the work: To assess the possible protective role of orally administered 6-gingerol on a model of hepatic injury induced by CCL4 in adult male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were used in this study and were divided into three groups. Group I: control group which was further subdivided into three subgroups, group II: received intraperitoneal injection of CCL4 twice / week for two weeks. Group III: received oral 6-gingerol daily five days before the injection of CCL4 -as in group II- and continued till the end of experiment. After two weeks from last injection of CCL4. All rats were sacrificed; the right lobe of the liver was taken and processed. Sections stained by H&E, Mallory's trichrome stain and immunostaining for TNF-α and PCNA were prepared. Morphometric and statistical analysis were also performed. Results: Liver of group II showed hepatocytes with vacuolated cytoplasm and congested hepatic sinusoids. Congested portal veins and dilated bile ducts were also seen at portal tract areas. Increased collagen fibers at the portal tract areas were seen by Mallory's trichrome. Increased intensity of positive immune reaction for TNF-α and PCNA was also observed in this group. In group III the liver showed picture nearly similar to that of the control. Morphometric and statistical analysis confirmed the histological and immunohistochemical results. Conclusions: The present work concluded that 6-gingerol could provide a good protection of the liver in a model of hepatic injury induced by CCL4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an immune mediating vasculitis affecting many systems especially the cardiovascular system. Pirfenidone is known for its anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. Aim of work: to study the possible protective effect of pirfenidone on cardiac complications in a model of KD induced by Bacillus Calmette-Gue'rin (BCG) injection. Materials and Methods: This study included 18 female Balb/C mice that were divided into three groups. Group I (control group), group II (KD group) that received single injection of BCG in tail vein, and group III (pirfenidone group) that received BCG as group II and daily oral pirfenidone till end of experiment. All mice were sacrificed 21 days after the injection, hearts were collected and examined. Results: Group II revealed irregular separated cardiac myocytes and interstitial inflammation. Coronaries were seen with thin wall and irregular lumen. Localized intimal thickening and irregularly arranged smooth muscles were noticed in the media. Perivasular inflammation was also noticed. Mallory stained sections revealed interstitial, vascular and perivascular fibrosis. Orcein stained sections revealed disruption of internal and external elastic laminae. Positive immune reaction for TNF-α was also noticed in group of KD. Pirfenidone treatment minimized the histological changes induced in KD. Little mononuclear cellular infiltration was still noticed in the myocardium. Moderate collagen fibers were seen in the adventitia and intact elastic laminae. Conclusions: Pirfenidone aborted the cardiovascular complications associated with KD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aging is a normal physiological process that affects all organs in the body including the cerebellum. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug that is used in some agerelated diseases. Regenerative medicine using adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) is an emerging promising strategy. Aim: to compare between the role of ADMSCs and metformin on the age-related structural changes of the cerebellum in female albino rats. Materials and methods: Fifty-five female rats of different ages (4, 12 and 24 months) were included in this study. They were divided into three groups according to their ages: Group I (Adult rats), Group II (Old rats) and Group III (Senile rats). Group II and Group III were subdivided into three subgroups, Subgroup a: rats were left without treatment, Subgroup b: rats were given a single dose of 1X106 ADMSCs via tail vein. Subgroup c: Rats received300 mg/kg metformin/day orally. Rats were sacrificed after four weeks. The cerebellum was collected and processed for H&E, Toluidine blue and immuno-histochemical reaction using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results: Histological examination of the cerebellum of the subgroups IIa and IIIa revealed age-related structural changes in comparison to group I. Purkinje cells appeared distorted with irregular outline. Some Purkinje cells were seen shrunken while others appeared ballooned. Focal loss of Purkinje cells was also noticed. Granular layer contained small widely separated granule cells. GFAP reaction revealed an apparent decrease in number of astrocytes and their processes. The structural changes were more obvious in subgroup IIIa. In ADMSCs treated subgroups (IIbandIIIb); more noticeable improvement of these changes was noticed compared to the corresponding metformin treated subgroups (IIc and IIIc). Conclusion: ADMSCs was more effective than metformin in preventing some age-related structural changes of the cerebellum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stem cell therapy is a highly promising strategy in various degenerative diseases. Intranasal administration of stem cells could be considered as a non-invasive treatment option. However, there is great debate concerning the ability of stem cells to reach distant organs. It is also unclear in such a case if they can alleviate age-related structural changes in these organs., Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of intranasal administration of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to reach distant organs of rats at different time intervals and to investigate their effects on age-related structural changes in these organs., Materials and Methods: Forty-nine female Wistar rats were used in this study, seven of which were adults (6-month-old) and 42 were aged (2-year-old). Rats were divided into three-groups: Group-I (adult control), Group-II (aged), and Group-III (aged ADSCs treated). Rats of Groups I and II were sacrificed after 15 days from the beginning of the experiment. Rats of Group III were treated with intranasal ADSCs and were sacrificed after 2-h, 1-day, 3-day, 5-day, and 15-day. Heart, liver, kidney, and spleen specimens were collected and processed for H and E, CD105 immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescent techniques. Morphometric study and statistical analysis were performed., Results: ADSCs appeared in all organs examined after 2-h of intranasal administration. Their maximum presence was detected after 3-day of administration, after which their immunofluorescence gradually decreased and nearly disappeared from these organs by the 15 th day. Improvement of some age-related deterioration in the structure of the kidney and liver occurred at day 5 after intranasal administration., Conclusions: ADSCs effectively reached the heart, liver, kidney, and spleen after intranasal administration. ADSCs ameliorated some age-related changes in these organs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure.)