BACKGROUND: Chronic exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors like nonylphenol (NP), has been shown in previous studies to predispose to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODS: In this work, forty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups, a high sucrose-high-fat diet (HSHFD) group, a group receiving 20 μg/kg/day of NP, an NP + HSHFD group, and a control group. The rats were sacrificed on day 60 after anesthetization. RESULTS: Biochemical tests indicated that serum transaminases (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) were significantly increased in the NP + HSHFD group. Lipid metabolism was most disrupted in the NP + HSHFD with a highly significant increase (p < 0.001) of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to other groups. Heme oxygenase 1 showed the highest expression in the NP + HSHFD group, with a highly significant difference in comparison with the other groups (p < 0.001). Histopathological studies revealed fatty changes and dilatation in the central vein in the HSHFD group. Lymphoid cell aggregates were detected in the NP group. Massive inflammation and degeneration were revealed in the NP + HSHFD group. There was also marked expression of the apoptotic protein caspase-3 in the NP + HSHFD group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, exposure to a 20 μg/kg/day of NP induced oxidative stress leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Glucocorticoid is the most common cause of medication-induced osteoporosis.Aim of the work: Comparing the role of Nigella sativa (NS) versus calcium and vitamin D (Ca+Vit D) in the protection from Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in a rat model. Material and Methods: Fifty-one male albino rats weighing 120-150 gm were divided into 4 groups: Group I (Control), Group II (dexamethasone group), Group III (dexamethasone plus Ca+Vit D), and Group IV (dexamethasone plus NS oil). Results: Rats of group II revealed erosion cavities in compact bone with eroded surface and widened Haversian canal and osteocyte lacunae. The cancellous bone showed thin disconnected bone trabeculae containing empty lacunae with wide bone marrow spaces. Areas of faintly stained bone matrix and minor fractures could be detected. These results were confirmed by a significant decrease in the thickness and number of lacunae containing osteocytes in cortical and cancellous bone. Also, there was an apparent decrease in osteopontin and an increase in caspase-3immune reaction. Moreover, a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase and IL6 was detected. Groups III and IV showed improvement in cortical and trabecular bone structure. The expression of osteopontin, caspase-3, alkaline phosphatase, and IL6 was also improved. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that supplementation of NS oil was better than calcium and vitamin D in osteoporotic lesions of rat femur due to its effect on bone remodeling. It acts as a calcium source and has antioxidant effects. So, it is recommended to use NS in the protection of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a self-limiting condition to a widespread, deadly multi-organ failure that can resultin death.Objectives: To compare the protective effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and Coenzyme (Q10) in an experimental rat modelof L-arginine-induced AP.Materials (Subjects): Forty adult male albino rats were randomized equally into 4 groups: (i) The control group; (ii) The APgroup received L-Arginine by intraperitoneal (IP) injection in two doses of 2 g/kg body weight each, 1 hour apart, (iii) TheALA+AP group was injected with L-Arginine and intramuscular (IM) injection of ALA in two doses of 60mg/kg body weight;1 hour before L-arginine injection and 24 hours after the second dose of L-arginine; (iii) The Coenzyme Q10+AP group wasinjected with L-Arginine and IM injection of Q10 in two doses of 30mg/kg body weight; 1 hour before L-arginine injection and24 hours after the second dose of L-arginine. Histological, immunohistochemical for HSP70 and NF-κB, and morphometricstudies were done followed by statistical analysis.Results: AP group showed significant distortion of the pancreatic acini with obvious cellular damage while those treated byALA and Coenzyme Q 10 especially ALA showed significant pancreatic tissue improvement as shown by HSP70 and NF-κBimmunoexpressing.Conclusions: ALA and Q 10 therapy proved a clear protective effect in suppressing experimentally generated AP in malealbino rats, but the improvement was more obvious with ALA.

Background: Nicotine is the most important component of cigarettes and considers a strong carcinogen. Quercetin (QCT) is potent anticancer and antioxidant agent. Both nicotine and QCT can pass the placenta and appear in breast milk.Aim: To study the possible protective role of QCT on nicotine induced liver and kidney structural damage of neonates.Materials and Methods: Eighteen pregnant female albino rats were divided into 3 groups. The control group was injected subcutaneously (SC) by distilled water. The nicotine group was injected SC by nicotine (6mg/kg/d). Nicotine and QCT group was injected by nicotine and take simultaneously QCT orally (302 mg/kg/day). Twelve male neonates were taken from each group and divided into two subgroups (a and b). Offspring subgroups (1a, 2a, 3a) were sacrificed 2 weeks postnatal and offspring subgroups (1b, 2b, 3b) were sacrificed 4 weeks postnatal. By end of experiment, liver and kidney specimens were processed for histological and immunological studies.Results: In nicotine group, neonates' liver showed hepatocytes with pyknotic nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. Portal area showed more than one bile duct and cellular infiltrates. QCT and nicotine group showed moderate restoration of hepatic architecture especially in subgroup 3a. Transforming growth factor -β immnnoexpression was increased in nicotine group indicating liver damage while decreased in nicotine and QCT group, indicating some improvement. Neonates' kidney of nicotine group showed shrunken glomeruli, congestion of peritubular capillaries and homogenous eosinophilic material in tubular lumina. In nicotine and QCT group, there was minimal renal tissue improvement. Immunoexpression of COX-2 was much in kidney tissue of nicotine group indicating kidney damage, while in nicotine and QCT group, it was less expressed. Conclusion: Maternal QCT administration has a moderate role to protect neonatal liver against damage produced by maternal nicotine injection while this protective role was less in kidney.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a progressive inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Mesenchymal stem cells have immunomodulatory capabilities and probiotics may modify the pathophysiology of gut disorders and have positive effects on the gut microbiotaAIM: Compare the effect of BM-MSCs versus probiotics on the treatment of acute colitis in adult male albino rats. METHODS: Forty adult male albino rats weighed (200-220 gm) were equally divided into five groups. Group I (control). Group II (Acute colitis). Group III (recovery): sacrificed 14 days from induction of acute colitis (IAC). Group IV (Colitis + BM-MSCs): received a single injection of 1ml of PBS containing 1×106 BM-MSCs. Group V (colitis + Probiotic): received 1x109 CFU/ml/100 gm of b.w./day of Lactobacillus Plantarum orally. In groups IV and V, rats were treated three days after IAC and sacrificed 14 days after this induction. RESULTS: The acute colitis group showed mucosal ulceration, cellular infiltration, and decreased number of goblet cells. The area percentage of collagen and TNF-α immune stain revealed a significant increase while the area percentage of PCNA-positive nuclei immune stain significantly decreased. The recovery group showed incomplete recovery of these structural changes. The histological architecture of the colon was restored following the treatment with stem cells and probiotics.CONCLUSION: Treatment with stem cells or probiotics restored the integrity of the colonic mucosa in a rat model of acute colitis. Probiotics therapy was superior to stem cell therapy as evidenced by allowing rapid division and differentiation of stem cells into goblet cells that form mucous barriers.

Background: Testicular damage is one of the most deleterious effects whenever cisplatin (CP) is employed in cancer treatment. CP results in male infertility. L-carnitine (LC) is vitamin like substance with an antioxidant activity. L-carnitine improves spermatogenesis, sperm maturation and motility AIM of the work: Assess the protective role of LC in cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity.Material and methods: Forty adult male albino rats (200-250 gram each) were divided to four groups. The first group: Control. The group II: LC was intraperitoneal (IP) injected (500 mg/kg/d) for fifteen days. Group III: CP was injected with a only one dose of 7 mg/kg CP (IP) at 6th day. Group IV: LC plus CP received treatment of both groups II and III. Semen analysis was performed for estimating sperm count and motility. Testicular sections were examined under light microscopy using H&E, PAS and anti-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) stainings. Transmission electron microscope was also done.Results: Cisplatin caused significant decline in the body weight, absolute and relative testicular weight, sperm count, sperm motility, seminiferous tubular diameter and the germinal lining height in relation with other groups, with a significant improvement in the CP plus LC group. Specimens from CP treated animals showed a thick and destructed seminiferous tubules (ST) basal lamina, obvious disorganized and atrophied ST, spermatogenic arrest, atrophied leydig cells. LC improves these changes with variable preservation of spermatogenic cells. Inducible NOS staining in the CP treated group showed a moderate positive reaction, other groups showed a negative or weak reaction. Transmission electron photomicrography of the CP group showed large cytoplasmic vacuoles, small distorted mitochondria and large lipid droplets in most spermatogonic cells; abnormally shaped spermatozoa. Conclusion: L-carnitine partially attenuates CP related histological changes of the testicular tissue and improves the quality parameters of the sperm, ensuring the protective effect of LC.