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Abstract Background Rabbits are herbivores with a distinctive digestive strategy that differs significantly from other caecal fermenters (e.g., horses, guinea pigs) and ruminants. In view of this, the current study aimed to highlight distinctive histological and morphometric features of the caecal mucosa in adult rabbits that accentuate its major role in digestion. The caecal and jejunal samples were harvested from five 1-year-old domestic rabbits and processed by regular paraffin-embedding histological technique followed by Goldner’s trichrome staining. A comprehensive morphological and morphometrical analysis of the jejunal mucosa vs. caecal mucosa was performed. Results Microscopically, as in the case of the jejunal mucosa, the caecal mucosa presents long and often branched finger-like villi covered by a simple columnar epithelium mostly made of enterocytes with a prominent microvillous brush border. Besides, the caecal villi include a lacteal along with the villous muscle. Statistically, except for villus length, all the parameters assessed in the caecal mucosa, including villus width, villus count, thickness of the brush border and enterocyte/goblet cells ratio, revealed a high grade of similarities with the jejunal villi. Conclusions According to the obtained results, the caecal mucosa in adult domestic rabbits includes unique features, namely caecal villi, structures infrequently presented in the large intestine of other adult mammals. Those structures once more emphasize the major role of the caecum not only in fermentation but also subliminally in local absorption. To our knowledge, this is the first reliable microanatomical and morphometric report of caecal villi in adult domestic rabbits.

Inserting orthopedic screws into a hole that is too small can produce excessive mechanical forces that cause osteocyte death and difficulty carrying out bone repair processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the osseointegration of titanium screws 6 weeks after their insertion into the femur of male rabbits, in any smaller than the screw core. The study was conducted on 5 male rabbits aged 1 year with orthopedic titanium screws with a length of 5 mm, a diameter of 2 mm and a diameter of a screw core of 1.5 mm. The screws were inserted into the diaphysis of the femoral bone, into the hole with a diameter of 1 mm. After 6 weeks of insertion of the screws, the presence of newly proliferated tissues is found throughout the interface, but with differences from one area to another. In conclusion, the insertion of titanium screws into the hole with a diameter smaller than the screw core is accompanied by good bone proliferation in the periosteal and endosteal areas of the interface and is exceptionally modest on the portion next to the diaphyseal bone wall.

Abstract Background Lavender oil (LO) possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, sedative, cardio-protective, and antinociceptive properties. Thrombosis and inflammation are interplayed processes that interact and influence one another. Our research compared three routes of administration to assess the efficacy of pretreatment with LO on carrageenan-induced thrombosis in rat tail. Materials and methods Wistar-Bratislava white rats were randomly divided into five groups of ten rats each and pretreated 3 consecutive days prior the inducement of thrombosis to with one dose of LO (150 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)): per os by gavage (TLOPO group), intraperitoneal (TIPLO group) and subcutaneous (TSCLO group). We also have a control (C, received saline solution 0.9% and DMSO (vehicle) 1 ml intraperitoneal (i.p.)) group and a group with thrombosis (T group, received saline solution 0.9% plus vehicle 1 ml i.p.). Histopathological examinations were conducted together with measurements of the circulating levels of three oxidative stress markers, antioxidant effect (TAC and THIOL), and three proinflammatory cytokines (TNF- α, RANTES, and MCP-1). Results When administered intraperitoneally, lavender oil has the best efficacy on circulating levels of oxidative stress parameters (MDA, NOx, TOS), one oxidative stress marker (THIOL), and all studied proinflammatory cytokines (p-values

(1) Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the effecs of mofettes and carbonated mineral water baths on bone healing using a rat femoral defect model; (2) Methods: A 2mm diameter unicortical defect in the left femoral diaphysis in 40 Wistar Rats was surgically creat-ed. Furthermore, the subjects were divided into 4 treatment-groups: control, mofette therapy, mofette therapy and carbonated mineral water bath, and carbonated mineral water bath. At the end of the 2-week treatment and at 4 and 6 weeks, the animals were evaluated through Mi-cro-CT analysis of the bone defect and histological analysis of bone tissue and skin; (3) Results: The processes of bone consolidation and repair are not completed at 6 weeks in all groups. However, comparing the proliferated bone tissue in the created orifice and the degree of thick-ening of the femoral wall, it can be affirmed that at 6 weeks, the best results are present in Group 4, treated with carbonated mineral water baths, followed by the combination of mofettes and carbonated water. (4) The use of these treatments could open a new possibility for shorten-ing the healing time in patients with bone defects, as it is non-invasive and accessible.

The rat is the most widely used experimental model in surgical research due to several factors, including that it is easy to handle and inexpensive. It can be used in investigations related to liver regeneration, liver metastases, or transplant immunology. This study highlights the venous components of the hepatic circulation in the Wistar rat by intravascular injection of a polymer that allows the assessment of the distribution of vessels, regardless of their caliber. Five cadavers of 11-month-old male Wistar rats from the USAMV Cluj-Napoca biobase destined for incineration, were used to highlight the liver venous system. A dye mixture, consisting of epoxy resin-catalyst-blue acrylic dye in a 2:1:1 ratio, was injected. After 24 hours, biological tissues were macerated by immersion in 10% KOH solution for five days. The intrahepatic venous system is represented by the venous branches that continue into the liver lobes. Those vessels follow a parallel trajectory with the hepatic artery branches represented by the right and left ramifications. The right portal vein presents branches to the lateral and medial parts of the right lobe of the liver and the caudate lobe. The left branch of the portal vein has ramificationsfor the lateral and medial parts of the left lobe and the quadrate lobe. The technique of injecting the venous circulation of the liver, followed by tissue maceration, allowed the removal by anatomical dissection of all liver components that permits the identification of all components of the venous system, including the finest venous branches of the hepatic circulation.

A screening and a morphological analysis of mucin-producing cells and structures, from the digestive tract, in rats, will further allow to quantify their local and systemic response. 10 Wistar rats were selected for this study. Sections of the sublingual gland, Weber's gland, stomach, jejunum and colon were taken. The samples were stained by the Trichrome Goldner technique. Based on the histological examination, both morphometric and statistical analysis were performed using specific software’s (ToupView Soft and GraphPad Prism Software). The histological examination showed normal characteristics for the analyzed cells and structures. The test for the normal distribution of the data revealed that they are normally distributed and statistical comparison between cell surfaces suggested a significant difference between means with p˂0.0001. Moreover, statistically significant differences were observed between the areas of Weber gland acini and those of sublingual gland acini (p

One of the basic conditions for the clinical success of osseo-integrated implants is implant stability (Albrektsson and Zarb, 1993). It comprises two components, the primary stability that should be ensured at the time of insertion and the secondary stability, which gradually replaces the primary stability. The primary stability is ensured by the direct contact between the implant surface and that of the bone walls of the insertion hole. Secondary stability begins with the first position of new bone on the implant surface. The aim of the present study was to verify the reinforcing structures proliferated around the titanium implant inserted into the femur of 5 adult female rabbits, in a groove smaller than the screw core diameter. The results suggested that inserting the titanium implant into a hole with a smaller diameter than the screw core produces excessive pressure on the bone, which is felt up to a distance from the bone-implant interface. Consequently, mechanical strength of the bone is decreasing and proliferating bone consolidation formations appears on both periosteum and endosteum areas. Additionally, it was observed that newly proliferated bone extends laterally from the interface to a great distance, causing thickening of the bone wall. The observed structures were represented by branched bone trabeculae and bony protrusions into the medullary cavity, together with bone reshuffling processes with the appearance of numerous osteons, most of which are present at the level of the wall opposite the insertion area.

Antinociceptive, sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of lavender oil (LO) have been documented. The aim of our study was to evaluate the adjuvant effects of pretreatment with LO compared to standard treatment (low molecular weight heparin) in thrombosis. We evaluated the effects of two doses of LO in addition to nadroparin calcium (NC) on experimentally induced thrombosis in rats. The groups were as follows: the control (C) group received intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline and vehicle (DMSO), the thrombosis (T) group received saline plus vehicle pretreatment, nadroparin calcium (NC) was administrated subcutaneously (s.c.), TNCL1 and TNCL2 received pretreatment with LO (TNCL1—100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) i.p. and TNCL2—200 mg/kg b.w. i.p. and NC s.c.). Thrombosis was successfully obtained in all groups, except the C group. Statistically significant differences between groups (p-values < 0.001) were found for the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and total oxidative stress) and antioxidant parameters (total antioxidant capacity and thiols), TNF-α, MCP-1, and RANTES. Dose-dependent effects are seen on the biomarkers under evaluation, with higher LO doses producing the best outcomes. When compared to the group receiving standard treatment (NC alone), the LO pretreatment led to an increase in antioxidant levels (p-values < 0.001) and a decrease in oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory levels (p-values < 0.001). Lavender oil associated with NC treatment alleviates the inflammatory components of experimental carrageenan-induced thrombosis in rats by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines and improving antioxidant activity.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition with a complex physio-pathological background. This study aimed to assess the role of Rubus idaeus leaf extract (RiDE) as a potential therapeutic agent in reducing the size of the endometriotic lesions and modulate the plasma expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TGF-β1. The endometriotic lesions were induced in a rat model by the autologous transplant of endometrium. Thirty-six female rats, Wistar breed, with induced endometriosis, were divided into four groups and underwent treatment for 28 days. The CTRL group received 0.5 mL/day of the vehicle; the DG group received 1 mg/kg b.w./day dienogest; the RiDG group received 0.25 mL/kg b.w./day RiDE and the D+RiDG group received 1 mg/kg b.w./day dienogest and 0.25 mL/kg b.w./day RiDE, respectively. Rats’ weight, endometriotic lesion diameter and grade, and plasma levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TGF-β1 were assessed before and after treatment. The administration of RiDE in association with dienogest vs. dienogest determined a lower weight gain and a reduction in diameter of the endometriotic lesions. RiDE administration restored MMP2 and MMP9 plasma levels to initial conditions. Rubus idaeus extract may help in reducing dienogest-associated weight gain, lower the size of endometriotic lesions, and have anti-inflammatory effects through MMP2 and MMP9 reduction.

The knowledge of normal microscopical peculiarities of the digestive system in mammals is essential, but information regarding certain structures is still scarce in numerous species. Our study aims to highlight the normal morphological features of the cardia region in domestic rabbits, as regards the overall appearance, structure, and dimensions of the gastric pits, including a description of the cells located in gastric glands. The cardia region of five domestic rabbits underwent tissue sampling, followed by fixation in 10% buffered formalin, paraffin embedding, and later sectioned at 5 µm in thickness. Eventually, the samples were stained by Goldner’s trichrome method. The microscopical examination has revealed the presence of gastric pits and glands in the entire cardia region of the rabbit, with a different morphological appearance from one zone to another. Gastric pits have the smallest depth immediately after the oesophagogastric junction, which gradually increases and decreases afterwards as it approaches the fundic zone. The gastric glands contain basically four cell types in various proportions, including serous cells, mucous cells, parietal cells, and chief cells. Other peculiarities of the gastric mucosa in the cardia region in rabbits include a thick mucosa with a loose and prominent lamina propria, and an ill-defined muscularis mucosae that is not organized in distinct layers as in other species. The detailed microanatomical structure of the cardia region of the stomach is necessary for understanding the digestion processes in rabbits, species used as a model in diverse fields of research including the pathology of the digestive system.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of oregano and melaleuca essential oils administered in a dose of 250 mg/kg CF in the feeding of broiler chickens on the bioproductive indices. The biological material was represented by sexed (male) broiler chickens belonging to the ROSS 308 hybrid on which the phasial breeding (1- 10d, 11-24d, 25-35d) was practiced, while observing the recommendations from the ROSS 308 Broiler Management Guide, 2014. The chickens were divided into 3 experimental variants (T0, T1, T2), with 3 replications and 10 chickens/replication. The chickens from T0 (control) have received only the basic diet, for T1 the basic diet+oregano essential oil (250 mg/kg CF) were administered, and for T2, the basic diet+melaleuca essential oil (250 mg/kg CF). During the first breeding period (0-10d), the highest value for the body weight was recorded at T1 (267.66 g), which also had the lowest feed conversion ratio (1.20 kg CF/kg WG). In the period 11-24d, in T2, the highest body weight (1034.41 g) with the feed conversion ratio 1.52 kg CF/kg WG were recorded. In the finisher phase (25-35d), T1 maintained differences compared to T0, for body weight higher 2.91% and lower 6.25%, for FCR. During the entire breeding period 1-35d, the lowest FCR was recorded in T1 (1.65 kg CF/kg WG). The difference between experimental variants was not statistically for p>0.05.

Mucin plays a very important role in the physiological function of the stomach in all species, but the representation of mucin-secreting cells differs from species to species. The aim of this study was to highlight these cells in the stomach of the Wistar rat. For histological investigations, fragments of the stomach from the three main regions (cardiac, fundic and pyloric) were harvested from four Wistar rats and further stained with PAS and Alcian blue methods. The histochemical results showed the presence of mucin-secreting cells in the examined tissues. An intense PAS positive reaction was found in the surface epithelium cells of the gastric mucosa and in the cells lining the gastric crypts in all the three segments. In the deep glandular structures, the cells of the cardiac and fundic glands are PAS negative, while those of the pyloric glands are all PAS positive. For Alcian blue reaction, the cells lining the gastric mucosa and the crypts in the three regions of the stomach were negative. In the glands, the cells of the cardiac and fundic glands were Alcian negative while in the pyloric glands, a limited number of cells arranged in the deep third of the glands showed a weak positive Alcian reaction. In conclusion, the vast majority of glandular cells in the rat's stomach do not synthesize acidic mucins, except for cells in the deep part of the pyloric glands, which synthesize small amounts of such mucins.

The objectives of this paper were to analyze studies on the effects of supplementation with protected fats in the diet of dairy cows on milk production and its chemical composition. Many fats can be used in the diet of dairy cows as sources of protected fatty acids. Adding of protected fats in the diet of dairy cows were significant effect on milk production and were influenced by some factors such as supplemental fat sources, the stage of lactation, dry matter intake. However, some authors reported an insignificant effect on milk production and the chemical composition of milk (fat, protein and lactose) as a result of supplementing the diet with protected fats. In other studies, have shown that the use of unsaturated fatty acids in the diet of dairy cows had effect on the biohydrogenation process in rumen and reduction of the total content of saturated fatty acids in milk. In this review, based on the works analyzed we can conclude that the diet supplemented with protected fats in dairy cows had effect on the quantity and quality of milk.

In this study, the caecum of five guinea pigs was anatomically, histologically, and histochemically analyzed. From an anatomical point of view, it has been proved that the caecum in guinea pigs occupies the caudal segment of the abdominal cavity and consists of three parts: the ampullary portion, the body of the caecum, and the apex of the caecum, without a caecal appendix. In our histological analysis, we observed that the caecum has a simple structure, and the cecal mucosal glands are rare and contain, in addition to enterocytes, a small number of goblet cells, which are better represented in the deep part of the glands. Histochemically it has been observed that goblet cells are PAS and Alcian blue positive, which shows that they secrete both neutral and acidic mucins. The intensity of these two histochemical reactions is similar to that of goblet cells from other intestinal segments, proving that they are typical goblet cells. The large volume of the caecum suggests that this is an important section for the digestion process, although the relatively simple structure of the caecal mucosa suggests that the digestion here is not preponderant, but only complements the intestinal one.

The domestic rabbit is often preferred as an experimental model in diverse research and especially those regarding pathologies of the oral cavity, both in human and veterinary medicine. From five domestic mixed breed rabbits, fragments were harvested from the three regions of the tongue: apex, body and root, for histological investigations. The samples were processed by embedding in paraffin, sectioned at a thickness of 5 µm and stained with Goldner’s trichrome method. The histological examination highlighted the presence of the filiform papillae on the entire dorsal surface of the tongue, with morphological particular carachteristics for each portion. The dimension of the filiform papillae of the rabbit’s tongue differs both regarding the length as well as the thickness and density. The shortest filiform papillae were found on the tip of the tongue, then the length increases progressively, reaching the maximum level on the middle portion and decreases in the last portion. The density also differs, in in the three compartments examined, being the highest in the anterior part and the lowest in the posterior part. The thickness of the filiform papillae is inversely proportional to their density. The thickness of the papillae is smaller where the density is higher and highest where the density is lowest. The upper surface of the filiform papillae is variably keratinized depending on the lingual segment. The papillae with the highest level of keratinization are arranged in the body part of the tongue, and those at the tip and root are slightly lower.

The biologic material used in this study is represented by 6 rabbits, 3 males and 3 females, aged 11 months and having an average weight of 4 kg. After general anaesthesia was performed, 2 mm diameter titanium implants were surgically inserted in the femur. Postoperative care of the animals included daily observation. After 4 weeks the animals were euthanized according to the guidelines. The femurs were collected along with the implants and processed for histological examination. The samples were placed in Stieve mixture for fixation, dehydrated with ethylic alcohol, clarified with 1-Butanol, and followed by paraffin embedding. 5 micrometers sections were cut using a microtome, and then stained using the Goldner trichrome staining method and were examined using an Olympus BX41 microscope with an attached digital camera for image capturing. In all animals, the implant was well tolerated by the bone and soft tissue implantation bed. The osteointegration process took place through bone formation around the implant, with variations in thickness and structure throughout the bone-implant interface. Except for the accelerated speed of osteointegration steps, observed in males, the osteointegration process follows certain stages and no gender related differences. The rapid progress of osteointegration in males resulted in a faster process in this gender compared to females. This aspect is clinically relevant for the appropriate evaluation of waiting periods from implant placement to prosthetic mounting, which according to this study is different in males and females.

Stomach fragments from 3 guinea pigs were collected from the three regions: cardiac, fundic and pyloric, for histochemical investigations. The anatomical segments were processed by the classical method of inclusion in paraffin and the histological sections were stained with PAS reaction for highlighting the neutral mucins and the Alcian blue method for acid mucins. All the surface cells of the gastric mucosa and in the crypts were positive on the PAS reaction and negative in the case of the alcian blue reaction. This demonstrates that cells on the surface and in the crypts synthetize neutral mucins. In the case of the cardiac region glands, only a small number of cells were positive on the two histochemical reactions, which shows that the cardiac glands in guinea pig synthesize a very small amount of neutral and acidic mucins. There are no positive cells in neither reaction used in the fundic glands case, which shows that these glands do not synthesize mucins, neither neutral nor acidic content. The glands located in the pyloric region have cells in the deep half of the wall which were positive on both histochemical reactions, which shows that they synthesize both neutral mucins and acidic mucins.

This study aimed to obtain as much and as accurate information as possible about the process of osseointegration of titanium implants, through histological processing. For this purpose, the combination of a mercury chloride fixator (Stieve mixture) and a complex staining method (Goldner’s trichrome) was used, which can highlight the microscopic structures in several colors and shades. The Stieve mixture proved to have distinguished qualities both in the preservation of basophilic and acidophilic structures and especially in the chemical preparation of the substrate for the binding of each structural component with a specific acidophilic dye. On the substrate thus prepared, the acidophilic dyes used in the Goldner’s trichrome staining highlighted the structural components in different colors and shades, offering the possibility of high precision assessment of the newly proliferated bone, in different stages of proliferation, consolidation and reshaping. Complex information was obtained, which allows the appreciation of osseointegration for endosseous implants and the amount of proliferated bone at the bone-implant interface, the stage of proliferation, consolidation and reshaping of the mature bone, the degree of fixation to deep bone structures. The possibility of complex assessment of the osseointegration process for endosseous implants at a given time is of great practical importance for correct assessment of the waiting time required for safe installation of prosthesis. The combination of Stieve fixator mixture with Goldner’s trichrome staining method has proven to be very effective in histology, highlighting on excellent level the existing structural components of each stage, in which the osseointegration process goes through. A very important role in this combination was achieved by mercury chloride mixture, which prepared the substrate for specific reaction with dyes. Regarding the results obtained, we recommend this combination for histological investigations aimed on bone proliferation and repair.

Gastrointestinal microbiota can be easily altered by common treatments, such as antibiotic therapy. However, the dysmicrobism induced by such a treatment may be counteracted by the administration of different beneficial microbes, such as probiotics. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the interaction between intestinal microbiota, antibiotic therapy, and sporulated bacteria, correlated with the evolution of growth indices. Twenty-five Wistar rats, females, were divided into five groups. Amoxicillin and a probiotic combination of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Pediococcus acidilactici were administered according to each group’s purpose. The conventional growth indices were calculated and histological and immunohistochemical assessments were realized from intestinal samples. The results of the conventional growth indices suggested a beneficial effect when the antibiotic therapy was accompanied by probiotics, while for the groups where the dysmicrobism was present, the values for feed conversion ratio were negative. These findings were supported by the microscopic aspects of the intestinal mucosa, which suggested a decreased absorption capacity due to significant morphological changes. Moreover, the immunohistochemical reaction of the inflammatory cells from intestinal lamina propria was intensely positive for the same affected groups. However, for the control group and the group with antibiotic and probiotic treatment, the immunopositivity was significantly decreased. Probiotics based on bacillus spores administered simultaneously with the antibiotic offered the best restoration of the gut microbiota, a fact suggested by the absence of intestinal lesions, a normal food conversion ratio, and low expression of TLR4 and LBP immunomarkers.

The immunomodulatory effect of a novel biomaterial obtained through electrospinning, based on polylactic acid (PLA) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAP), loaded with doxycycline (doxy) was evaluated in an animal model. The treatment capabilities as a local non-surgical treatment of periodontitis was investigated on the lower incisors of Wistar rats, after the induction of localized periodontitis using the ligature technique. Following the induction of the disease, the non-surgical treatment of scaling and root planing was applied, in conjunction with the application of the new material. The results of the treatment were evaluated clinically, using the tooth mobility and gingival index scores, as well as histologically. The salivary concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) and plasmatic concentrations of interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were also monitored. Two weeks after the ligature application, the periodontal disease was successfully induced in rats. The application of the novel biomaterial obtained through electrospinning was proven to be more effective in improving the clinical parameters, while decreasing the salivary MMP-8 and plasmatic IL-1 and TNF-α concentrations, compared to the simple scaling and root planing. Thus, the novel electrospun biomaterial could be a strong candidate as an adjuvant to the non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Mucoadhesive films loaded with doxycycline hyclate (Doxy Hyc), consisting of mixtures of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) E3, K4 and polyacrylic acid (Carbopol 940), were prepared by casting method, aiming to design a formulation intended for application in the oral cavity. The obtained film formulations exhibited a Doxy Hyc content between 7.52 ± 0.42 and 7.83 ± 0.41%, which had adequate mechanical properties for application in the oral cavity and pH values in the tolerance range. The x-ray diffraction studies highlighted the amorphisation of Doxy Hyc in the preparation process and the antibiotic particles present on the surface of the films, identified in the TEM images, which ensured a burst release effect in the first 15 min of the in vitro dissolution studies, after which Doxy Hyc was released by diffusion, the data presenting a good correlation with the Peppas model, n < 0.5. The formulation F1, consisting of HPMC K4 combined with C940 in a ratio of 5:3, the most performing in vitro, was tested in vivo in experimentally-induced periodontitis and demonstrated its effectiveness in improving the clinical parameters and reducing the salivary levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8). The prepared Doxy Hyc loaded mucoadhesive buccal film could be used as an adjuvant for the local treatment of periodontitis, ensuring prolonged release of the antibiotic after topical application.

Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer, and due to the numerous limitations of current treatment methods, there is an urgent need to develop novel approaches for both the prevention and treatment of malignant melanoma, with research-oriented bioactive substances representing a notable first step. The current study decided to expand on previous rhodoxanthin research by investigating the possible anti-tumor effect as well as the effect on the antioxidant status in the case of murine melanoma in an experimental model. The 21-day study was carried out on female C57BL/6J mice. On the first day of the experiment, they were subcutaneously inoculated with 106 B16F10 cells and were given rhodoxanthin orally until the end of the study. Rhodoxanthin supplementation significantly reduced tumor growth (42.18%) and weight (15.74%). Furthermore, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) activity was reduced and the concentration of 8-OHdG dropped in the treated melanoma-bearing mice compared to the untreated ones, demonstrating the role of rhodoxanthin in slowing tumor growth, one of the mechanisms being the reduction of EGF level and the decrease of DNA oxidation. The administration of rhodoxanthin determined variations in antioxidant enzymes, both at the plasma level and at the tissue level.

Since their discovery, Brunner’s glands have been an attractive subject of research. The study aimed to investigate the structure, the topography, and the degree of development of the Brunner’s glands in chinchillas through light microscopy. Transversal fragments from the duodenum of 5 chinchilla males were histologically processed by classical paraffin technique. Brunner glands are much more developed and proportionally, they occupy at least three times more space than the Lieberkuhn glands. In many places, Brunner glands are clustered, suggesting that more than one such gland spills its secretion product through a common Lieberkuhn gland in the space between villi. We can affirm that Brunner glands, after their disposition, appearance and absence of distinct muscularis mucosae, are disposed into the thickness of the mucosa and submucosa in chinchilla (together with the Lieberkuhn glands) and not strictly in the submucosa as in other mammals.

The aim of this study is the detailed description of the esophageal microscopic structure in guinea pigs. Fragments from the cervical, thoracic and abdominal segments of the esophagus were processed for classical paraffin embedding and the sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin and Goldner’s trichrome methods. The esophagus in guinea pigs is lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and there are no glands in the lamina propria and the submucosa. The muscularis mucosae is formed by smooth muscle cells disposed longitudinally. The muscularis externa is formed by striated muscle cells disposed on 3 layers in the first 2 thirds of the esophagus, while in some regions of the abdominal segment’s circumference, the cells form 4 layers.

Animal models have been developed in an attempt to test potential therapeutic agents. The study aims to determine the hepatic and renal histological features induced by sepsis following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in a rat model. Regarding the material, we used 20 adult-male Wistar rats (control group 1, n=10, and group 2, n=10, that underwent CLP protocol). The experimental protocol was approved by the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Authority, Cluj (Romania), project number 116/11.05.2018. The endpoint of the experiment was pre-set to 10 hours post-surgery. A complete necropsy survey was performed. The main renal lesions detected histologically were: glomerular congestion and edema, hyalinization of glomerular mesangium, presence of hyaline in the urinary space with associated compression atrophy of vascular glomerular tuft, granules of hyaline in the lumen of cortical tubules, and reduction of the urinary space. The hepatic lesion identified histologically was represented by isolated miliary necrotic foci.

The mammalian tongue plays a fundamental role in various physiological and behavioral activities. Significant morphological variations have been recorded in the tongue of several species. This study aims to obtain detailed histological and morphometric information about the filiform papillae on the surface of rat tongue. The tongues of five 10-month-old Wistar rats were utilized, which were later examined with a stereo-microscope. Fragments from the three regions of the tongue were collected for histological investigations. The tongue of the Wistar rat has an intensely keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, with the highest degree of keratinized epithelium covering the filiform papillae. The filiform papillae differ in density, with the highest density recorded on the posterior part of the lingual body and the lowest density on the protuberance. The shortest filiform papillae were observed on the apex of the tongue and the tallest on the anterior part of the lingual body. Interestingly, the orientation of the filiform papillae on the lingual protuberance was inclined posteroanteriorly, in the opposite way as compared to the papillae from all the other regions of the tongue. Histologically, a difference was recorded in the structure of the covering epithelium of the anterior vs. the posterior face of the filiform papillae.

Our study aimed to assess the effect of liposomal epigallocatechin-gallate (LEGCG) compared with epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) solution on hepatic toxicity induced by gentamicin (G) administration in rats. Five groups were evaluated, a control group (no G administration) and four groups that received G (1 mL, i.p, 80 mg/kg b.w. (body weight/day), for 7 days) to which we associated daily administration 30 min before G of EGCG (G-EGCG, 2.5 mg/0.1 kg b.w.), LEGCG (G-LEGCG, 2.5 mg/0.1 kg b.w.) or silymarin (100 mg/kg b.w./day). The nitro-oxidative stress (NOx), catalase (CAT), TNF-α, transaminases, creatinine, urea, metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9, and liver histopathological changes were evaluated. LEGCG exhibited better efficacy than EGCG, improving the oxidant/antioxidant balance (p = 0.0125 for NOx and 0.0032 for CAT), TNF-α (p < 0.0001), MMP-2 (p < 0.0001), aminotransferases (p = 0.0001 for AST and 0.0136 for ALT), creatinine (p < 0.0001), urea (p = 0.0006) and histopathologic liver changes induced by gentamicin. Our study demonstrated the beneficial effect of EGCG with superior results of the liposomal formulation for hepatoprotection in experimental hepatic toxicity induced by gentamicin.

The present study aims to compare the oxidative stress biomarkers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and histological changes induced by three cardiovascular risk factors, namely, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Hypertension was induced with 40 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl (L-NAME) administered orally. Dyslipidemia was induced by the administration of a diet with a high cholesterol (2%) content. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of streptozocin (65 mg/kg). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidative status (TOS) are increased by all three cardiovascular risk factors (up to 207%). The indirect assessment of NO synthesis (NOx) is observed to be reduced after L-NAME administration (43%), and dyslipidemia induction (16%), while type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with the highest levels of NOx (increased 112%). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 1 diabetes reduced the total antioxidative capacity (TAC) and total thiol (SH) levels (up to 57%). The values of evaluated pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), assessed from the ascending aorta were elevated by all three cardiovascular risk factors, with the highest levels induced by type 1 diabetes mellitus (up to 259%). The histopathological examination of the ascending and descending aorta revealed reversible pro-atherogenic changes consisting of the accumulation of lipid droplets in the subendothelial connective tissue on rats with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Irreversible pro-atherogenic changes consisting of a reduction of the specific elasticity of the arteries were observed in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes mellitus demonstrates an alteration of the oxidative stress parameters, the elevation of tissue levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and causing irreversible pro-atherogenic changes on the aortic wall.

The aim of this study was to investigate the type of the epithelium present on the epiglottis surface, through histological examination. The epithelium lining the pharyngeal side of epiglottis is keratinized stratified squamous. The thickness of the keratin layer is different from one subject to another. Usually the keratin layer extends to the apex of the epiglottis, but in some of the animals taken into study, the keratin layer extends to the apical third of the laryngeal side of epiglottis. The epithelium lining the laryngeal side is different. In most of the epiglottises examined, the surface is lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium in the apical third. The rest of the laryngeal side of the epiglottis is lined by respiratory epithelium type. In one subject, the entire laryngeal surface is lined by a non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Our study highlights that the pharyngeal side of epiglottis is lined by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, whereas on the laryngeal side, the epithelium in the apical third is non-keratinized stratified squamous and at the rest of the surface the epithelium is pseudostratified.

Abstract Background The Office of Naval Research (ONR) organized a STEM Challenge initiative to explore how intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) can be developed in a reasonable amount of time to help students learn STEM topics. This competitive initiative sponsored four teams that separately developed systems that covered topics in mathematics, electronics, and dynamical systems. After the teams shared their progress at the conclusion of an 18-month period, the ONR decided to fund a joint applied project in the Navy that integrated those systems on the subject matter of electronic circuits. The University of Memphis took the lead in integrating these systems in an intelligent tutoring system called ElectronixTutor. This article describes the architecture of ElectronixTutor, the learning resources that feed into it, and the empirical findings that support the effectiveness of its constituent ITS learning resources. Results A fully integrated ElectronixTutor was developed that included several intelligent learning resources (AutoTutor, Dragoon, LearnForm, ASSISTments, BEETLE-II) as well as texts and videos. The architecture includes a student model that has (a) a common set of knowledge components on electronic circuits to which individual learning resources contribute and (b) a record of student performance on the knowledge components as well as a set of cognitive and non-cognitive attributes. There is a recommender system that uses the student model to guide the student on a small set of sensible next steps in their training. The individual components of ElectronixTutor have shown learning gains in previous decades of research. Conclusions The ElectronixTutor system successfully combines multiple empirically based components into one system to teach a STEM topic (electronics) to students. A prototype of this intelligent tutoring system has been developed and is currently being tested. ElectronixTutor is unique in its assembling a group of well-tested intelligent tutoring systems into a single integrated learning environment.

Reproductive efficiency is an essential requirement for the profitability of swine farms and the quality of fodder can have a negative impact on this aspect. We carried out investigations regarding the influence of fodder quality on reproductive efficiency and the histological structure of the ovary and oviduct in 45 sows from a farm in Bihor county. We observed that corn utilized in feeding the sows was stored in inadequate conditions which allowed the development of moulds. The combined fodder, resulted after grinding the cereals, was stored directly on the concrete floor in inappropriate areas, concerning the hygiene. The animals were given green fodder directly on the stall’s floor, which favours mould expansion. Upon histological examination, the ovary presented an exaggerated activity and there was a marked congestion in the oviduct, with a tendency of the epithelium toward pseudostratification. The precarious conditions of cereal and combined fodder storing and administration of green fodder, brought optimum conditions for mould development. Under the action of the latter factors, the reproductive performance drastically decreased along with compromising the sows used for reproduction.

Background: Our study aimed to assess the efficiency of Curcumin nanoformulation (LCC) on experimental nephrotoxicity induced by Gentamicin in rats. Methods: Six groups of seven rats were used: C—(control group) received saline solution i.p. (i.p. = intraperitoneal), G—gentamicin (G, 80 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)), GCC1 and GCC2—with G and CC solution (single dose of 10 mg/kg b.w.-CC1, or 20 mg/kg b.w.-CC2), GLCC1 (10 mg/kg b.w.) and GLCC2 (20 mg/kg b.w.) with G and LCC administration. Oxidative stress parameters (NOx = nitric oxide, MDA = malondialdehyde, TOS = total oxidative stress), antioxidant parameters (CAT = catalase, TAC = total antioxidant capacity), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), and renal function parameters (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urea) were measured. Kidneys histopathologic examination was made for each group. Results: Pretreatment with CC and LCC in both doses had significantly alleviating effects on assessed parameters (NOx, MDA, TOS, CAT, TAC, MMP-2, and -9) as compared with the untreated group (p < 0.006). Histopathological aspect and renal function were significantly improved in CC and LCC groups. Liposomal formulation (LCC) showed higher efficiency on all examined parameters compared to CC (p < 0.006). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated improving renal function and kidney cytoarchitecture, oxidative stress/antioxidant/balance, and MMPs plasma concentrations with better dose-related efficacity of LCC than CC.

Saliva secreted by acini from parotid gland is concentrated in the excretory ducts. This study aims to highlight certain microscopical aspects concerning the presence, density and disposition of mitochondria in intralobular and interlobular ducts from parotid parenchyma in rats. In the intralobular ducts’ segment lined by cuboidal cells, mitochondria are present throughout the whole cytoplasm, without a regular arrangement. In the area where cells are columnar, mitochondria become more numerous and most of them are disposed in the basal half and have a regular disposition (perpendicular to the basal pole). In the interlobular ducts, mitochondria are somehow less, but their disposition is similar to the one in the previous segment. In intralobular ducts with a thin wall, mitochondria have an irregular disposition and are present throughout the whole cytoplasm, while in striated and interlobular ducts, they have a regular disposition, perpendicularly on the basal pole of the cell and most of them are concentrated in the basal half of the cell.

Recently, the veterinarians are dealing with a number of cases that require forensic expertise. Such a circumstance could be the accidental electrocution in animals, one of the causes of unnatural death. There is a scarcity with reference to the pathological findings in veterinary forensic medicine. In this paper, we present the main lesions that occurred in a horse with accidental electrocution that was presented for complete necropsy survey. A horse corpse was sent to the Pathology Department (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania) for a full medical survey. Preliminary results and external examination: the body was in rigor mortis; from the nasal cavities drained out reddish foam and in the mouth was observed the presence of ingested feed (straw) that was not chewed, suggesting a quick death. The findings detected after internal examination of the carcass were poor blood coagulability, haemorrhagic diathesis throughout the body, with haemorrhages of various sizes in different body regions (e.g., muscles of the withers, in the gluteal muscle, the mucosa of epiglottis, larynx, trachea, in the interstitium of the lung, and ecchymosis in the left kidney). Some other lesions detected were infarcts and haemorrhages in the fundic region of the stomach’s mucosa. In electrocution, haemorrhages are most often located in the respiratory tract, aspect observed in our case too. However, the diagnosis of electrocution has to corroborate the necropsy findings (which are not specific), with some other data such as the fulminant death and inspection of power source.

Background and objectives: Inhalation anesthetics are used in human, as well as veterinary medical practice. In the present study we investigated the effect of isoflurane and sevoflurane on rat hepatocytes. Methods: A total of 40 Wistar female rats were used in this study. Animals were divided in groups of 5 rats. Groups IM, SM served as control groups. Groups I1, I2, I3 were used to study isoflurane and S1, S2, S3 for sevoflurane study. They were anesthetized 3 times, for 2 h long, at 2 days interval with a concentration of: 1.5% isoflurane (I1, I2, I3) and 2% sevoflurane (S1, S2, S3). The oxygen supply throughout the anesthesia was 1 L O2/min. Groups IM, IS, I1, S1 were sacrificed immediately after the last anesthesia. Groups I2, S2 were sacrificed 6 h after the last anesthesia, and groups I3, S3, 24 h post-anesthesia. Liver samples were harvested to highlight caspase-3 in apoptotic hepatocytes. Results: Following isoflurane administration, there were less than 1% cells in apoptosis highlighted in rat livers from groups IM, I1 and I2. At 24 h post-anesthesia (group I3), a small number of apoptotic hepatocytes was highlighted (around 3.23% cells in apoptosis), with a strictly periacinar disposition, randomly distributed in a small number of hepatic lobules. After sevoflurane administration, less than 1% apoptotic hepatocytes were identified at all control moments throughout the study. Conclusions: The results suggest that the anesthetics do not present a considerable hepatotoxicity. The comparative assessment of the two anesthetics shows that sevoflurane is superior to isoflurane. Resumo: Justificativa e objetivos: Anestésicos inalatórios são usados em humanos e também na prática médica veterinária. No presente estudo investigamos o efeito de isoflurano e sevoflurano em hepatócitos de rato. Métodos: No total, 40 ratos Wistar fêmeas foram usados neste estudo. Os animais foram divididos em grupos de cinco ratos cada. Os grupos IM e SM serviram como grupos controle. Os grupos I1, I2 e I3 foram usados para o estudo de isoflurano e os grupos S1, S2 e S3 para o estudo de sevoflurano. Os ratos foram anestesiados três vezes, durante o período de 2 horas em intervalos de dois dias, com uma concentração de 1,5% de isoflurano (I1, I2, I3) e 2% de sevoflurano (S1, S2, S3). O fornecimento de oxigênio durante a anestesia foi de 1 L O2/min. Os grupos IM, IS, I1 e S1 foram sacrificados imediatamente após a última anestesia. Os grupos I2 e S2 foram sacrificados 6 horas após a última anestesia e os grupos I3 e S3 foram sacrificados 24 horas após a anestesia. Amostras dos fígados foram colhidas para ressaltar a caspase-3 em hepatócitos apoptóticos. Resultados: Após a administração de isoflurano, havia menos de 1% das células em apoptose em destaque nos fígados dos ratos dos grupos IM, I1 e I2. Às 24 horas após a anestesia (grupo I3), um pequeno número de hepatócitos apoptóticos foi destacado (cerca de 3,23% de células em apoptose), com uma disposição estritamente periacinar, distribuídos aleatoriamente em um pequeno número de lóbulos hepáticos. Após a administração do sevoflurano, menos de 1% de hepatócitos apoptóticos foi identificado em todos os momentos de controle ao longo do estudo. Conclusões: Os resultados sugerem que os anestésicos não apresentam uma hepatotoxicidade considerável. A avaliação comparativa dos dois anestésicos mostra que sevoflurano é superior ao isoflurano. Keywords: Anesthesia, Caspase-3, Isoflurane, Liver, Sevoflurane, Palavras-chave: Anestesia, Caspase-3, Isoflurano, Fígado, Sevoflurano

The aim of this study was to investigate by histological techniques the structure of urethral epithelium in lambs. In this study, we harvested several fragments (prostatic, membranous and cavernous) from urethra from 5 merino’s lambs of 3 months old. The first anatomical segment, the prostatic urethra, is lined by a urinary epithelium. The intermediary layer of this epithelium is formed of 5-6 rows of oval cells. The second segment of urethra has the same type of epithelium but the intermediary layer is formed of 6-7 rows of oval cells. In the last anatomical segment, the penile urethra, the epithelium is the same, but the intermediary layer has 3-4 rows of oval cells. In lambs, the urethra is lined by urinary epithelium. The urethral epithelium does not have the same thickness in all segments. The thinner epithelium it is in the cavernous urethra, the ticker is the membranous urethra.

Epiglottis presents a central axis covered by mucosa. The aim of this study was highlighting the type of epithelium lining the lamb epiglottis. Thus, we histologically processed the epiglottis from 3 lambs. The epithelium lining the whole epiglottis surface is non-keratinized stratified squamous, with different thickness from one side to the other. Hence, on the pharyngeal side the epithelium is twice as thick as the one found on the laryngeal side.

Our study aims to investigate the histological structure of two major salivary glands in adult rabbit. We used 5 adult rabbits, 3 males and 2 females, from a private breeder in Cluj. We harvested the salivary glands, fixed them in 10% buffered formalin, dehydrated in ethanol (increasing concentration), clarified in n-butanol and embedded in paraffin. The sections (5 µm thickness) were stained with Goldner’s trichrome method and examined with an Olympus BX41 light microscope. Histologically, parotid gland in rabbit contains only one type of acini, which presents morphological characteristics of serous acini. In mandibular gland, the acini are all the same, similar to the ones in parotid gland. Concerning the general aspect and dimension they are much larger and polymorphic.

In order to quantify the types of intralobular ducts, we used five adult male mice, sacrificed by cervical dislocation, after exposure to anesthetic. After euthanasing the animals, the mandibular glands were histologically processed. We sectioned the tissue at 5 µm thickness and stained the slides using Goldner’s trichrome staining procedure. We captured images on four different microscopic fields for each animal, subsequently counting each type of intralobulary duct. The granular ducts were the most numerous, followed by the intermediary ones and striated ducts with the lowest number.

Anthracosis is a disease encountered in both humans and animals. The present study was conducted on a baboon from a zoological garden, which died of natural causes. During morphopathological examination, we observed pulmonary anthracosis, with coal particles in both macrophages’ cytoplasm and free in septa, interstitium and pleura. The pulmonary anthracosis was moderate, thus the structural and fuctional changes were minimal and the disease evolved without any clinical manifestation.