Ultrastructural haemomicrocircular channel links of rat testicle in streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Abstract The first changes in rat testicle haemomicrocircular channel links ultrastructural arrangement are noticed already in a 2-week run of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, and accumulate throughout next periods of the experiment. Angiopathy is a trigger mechanism for diabetic development of testicle structural changes. This finding is a basis for further morphologist and clinicist surveys for the purpose of new diabetic testicle pathology diagnostics, prevention, and elaboration of treatment techniques

Effect of alpha-ketoglutarate given to pregnant sows on the development of the humerus and femur in newborns

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) was given to pregnant sows every day starting from the 91(st) d of pregnancy to farrowing. At the same time control pregnant sows were treated in the same way with physiological saline (PhS). Newborn piglets from the experimental (AKG) and control (PhS) mothers were euthanised in 1 h after their birth, and the femora and humeri were isolated and frozen at -25 degrees C until further analyses. Using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) method, volumetric bone density of the cortical and trabecular bone compartments were estimated. Moreover, geometrical and mechanical parameters of the bones and the level of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum were determined. It was found that the administration of AKG to pregnant sows during 24 d before parturition decreased bone density in their newborns

Influence of dexamethasone and alpha-ketoglutarate on growth and development of the skeletal system of pigs

The aim of the study was to establish the influence of dexamethasone and/or alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on the growth, mineralization, geometric and mechanical properties of ribs as a methodological model. The experiment was conducted during the final 24 days of prenatal life and first 14 days of neonatal life. The volumetric bone density of the trabecular and cortical bone was determined separately using the quantitative computed tomography (QCT) method and Somatom AR. T - Siemens apparatus. The mechanical properties were determined using the three-point bending test according to the method by Ferretti et al. The obtained results indicate that maternal administration of dexamethasone increased volumetric mineral density, although the mechanical parameters had lower values. Prenatal administration of AKG decreased all the geometric and mechanical parameters of the investigated ribs. The results obtained during the administration of the compound in neonatal life were the opposite of the prenatal results. Dexamethasone and AKG given together had the same influence on mineralization and other properties AND increasing their values during prenatal and neonatal life. This model of administrating dexamethasone and AKG maternally during prenatal life with the intention of provoking structural growth of the skeleton may be useful in further elucidating some biological and pharmacological factors on bone formation in prenatal life