Alleviation of diabetic nephropathy by zinc oxide nanoparticles in streptozotocin‐induced type 1 diabetes in rats

Abstract This study examines the effect of nanoparticles with zinc oxides (ZnONPs) on diabetic nephropathy, which is the primary cause of mortality for diabetic patients with end‐stage renal disease. Diabetes in adult male rats was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. ZnONPs were intraperitoneally administered to diabetic rats daily for 7 weeks. Diabetes was associated with increases in blood glucose level, 24‐h urinary albumin excretion rate, glomerular basement membrane thickness, renal oxidative stress markers, and renal mRNA or protein expression of transforming growth factor‐β1, fibronectin, collagen‐IV, tumour necrosis factor‐α and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A. Moreover, the expression of nephrin and podocin, and the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 were decreased in the diabetic group. These changes were not detected in the control group and were significantly prevented by ZnONP treatment. These results provide evidence that ZnONPs ameliorate the renal damage induced in a diabetic rat model of nephropathy through improving renal functionality; inhibiting renal fibrosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis; and delaying the development of podocyte injury. The present findings may help design the clinical application of ZnONPs for protection against the development of diabetic nephropathy

Effect of Bromocriptine on the Larval Skin of the Green Toad, Bufo viridis viridis Leurenti

In the premetamorphic larval green toad, B. viridis viridis, as in other anurans, the skin is made up of a fibrous dermis and an epidermis of stratified epithelium. The effects of bromocriptine, an antiprolactin drug, on the premetamorphic skin of B. viridis viridis was examined. Bromocriptine, dissolved in rearing water at four different concentrations, induced a number of changes in the skin of treated tadpoles. In rough sequence of appearance, these changes include: retraction of the melanocyte dendrites, synchronous burst of the apical vesicles of the superficial epithelial cells, gradual disappearance of the melanosomes from the epithelial cells and widening of the intercellular spaces. In addition, macrophages appeared in the superficial dermis amongst the retracted melanocytes. White crystals were observed on the skin surface and similar crystals were ingested by the macrophages. Prolonged treatment with bromocriptine resulted in hypertrophy and extraction of some epidermal cells. Deep melanocytes of the mesenteries were not affected by bromocriptine-treatment indicating that the drug did not penetrate deep into the tadpole tissue. Whether the macrophages observed in the dermis were recruited from deeper tissues or were converted melanocytes is another issue in need of study

respiration (VAN DRIESSHe & HIL-LYARD 1985), ion (STIFFLER 1994

The flank skin of the premetamorphic stage of the green toad, Bufo viridis viridis, was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The skin was typically larval amphibian, made up of a highly fibrous and vascular dermis to the inside and a highly cellular epidermis to the outside with a distinct basal lamina separating the two layers. The epidermis is three-cells thick. The epidermal cells, mostly keratinocytes, are closely packed together and are attached to each other through desmosomes and interdigitations. The basal keratinocytes are anchored to the basal lamina through hemidesmosomes. In addition to the keratinocytes, some other types of cells known in the amphibian larval skin were found. These cells include mucus-secreting, mitochondria-rich cells, Merkle cells and flask cells. Anew type of cells, the dark cells, are described in this paper. The dark cell rests on the basal lamina. It is a ramified cell with a number of cytoplasmic processes intervening in between the keratinocytes. The cytoplasm is strikingly dark and rich with polysomes and granular endoplasmic reticulum. Key words: Anurans, green toad, skin, epidermis, dark cell. Science, Yarmouk University, The larval amphibian skin is a very interesting organ. It performs several functions including physical and mechanical protection (AMICHE et al. Mohammad Amin Al-ADHAMI, Janti S. QAR, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty o

Ultraestructura de la retina externa de Aphanius sirhani (Villwock, Scholl & Krupp, 1983) (Cyprinodontidae, Teleostei)

The ultrastructure of the outer retina in the endangered killifish, Aphanius sirhani was studied. The retina shows all eight layers and two membranes typical of vertebrates. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) consists of a single layer of closely packed, polygonal, low columnar cells. These cells have large, vesicular nuclei, well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and well developed mitochondria. Phagosomes, lipid droplets and myeloid bodies are also evident. The cells bear numerous apical processes that, in light-adapted fish, interdigitate with the photoreceptor outer segments. The retina is of the duplex type, i.e. contains rods and cones. A variety of cones have been recorded in the present species. These include short, intermediate and long single cones, double and triangular, triple cones. Rod spherules each with a single synaptic ribbon and cone pedicles, each with several synaptic ribbons have been recorded in the outer plexiform layer

Ultrastructure of pancreatic endocrine cells of the single hump camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The present study was undertaken to provide an ultrastructural identifi cation of the different cells in the islets of the camel pancreas. Tissue samples were obtained from ten healthy, adult camels and processed for electron microscopy. The islets are composed of abundant, centrally located beta; β-cells, alpha; α-cells are present at the very periphery of the islets, while delta; δ-cells are distributed among both β- and α-cells. These cells were easily distinguished on the basis of the morphology of secretory granules. The granules of the β-cells varied greatly in shape and size and both “dense and pale” granules could be identifi ed. The α-cells have a homogeneous rounded core of moderate to high electron density granules. The δ-cells contain large spherical to irregular shaped granules of variable electron density. Our fi ndings of the single-humped camel pancreas make additional contribution to those found in other mammalian species

Crocin treatment improves testosterone induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Background and objective: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a typical nonmalignant growth of the prostate in the elderly. Crocin, a bioactive component of Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron, is known to have an anti-proliferative activity against numerous types of cancer, including prostate cancer. This study investigated the effects of crocin on testosterone-induced BPH development in rats. Materials and methods: The study sample included three groups of adult male rats (3 months old, weighed 250 g): the control group received corn oil only, the second and the third groups were injected with testosterone (3 mg/kg dissolved in corn oil) subcutaneously. The second group was considered as testosterone-induced BPH (untreated) while the third groups were assigned as testosterone-induced BPH-crocin treated group (100 mg/kg orally for 14 days). Results: After animal sacrifice, histopathological analysis of the prostate tissues was performed in parallel with gene expression of proliferation (PCNA), inflammation (IL-6), and vascularization (VEGF-A) markers, analyzed by qRT-PCR. Crocin treatment significantly reduced prostate index and the thickness of the epithelial layer in rats with BPH. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of PCNA, a marker of cell proliferation; IL-6, an inflammatory cytokine; and VEGF-A, an angiogenesis marker, were significantly down-regulated in the BPH group that were treated with crocin. Conclusions: The present study indicates that crocin can effectively prevent the development of experimentally induced BPH through inhibition of prostatic cellular proliferation, inflammation, and angiogenesis