Micro- and Intermediate Filaments of the Testis of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Treated with a Sub Lethal Dose of Carbendazim.

This study highlighted the effect of Carbendazim on the testicular micro and intermediate filaments adult male African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Previous studies related to carbendazim toxicity in fish have been limited to mortality patterns and degree of sensitivity across species. Literature on actual pathology in fish  is scanty.

Age related Histology and Immunohistochemistry of some intermediate filaments in the Testis of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus).

The African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) are important source of protein for local consumers in developing countries in Africa and have also been reported to have enormous commercial potential. Several works have been done on plethora of general histological, biochemical and hormone changes which accompany puberty in African Catfish. Other studies have touched the effects of ecotoxins on the histological and reproductive parameters of the mature African Catfish.

Comparative evaluation of the sperm characteristics and morphology of adult Wistar rats fed either low or normal protein-energy diets and orally dosed with aqueous Cuscuta australis extracts.

Cuscuta australis (C. australis) seed and stem are commonly used as dietary supplements in a maize-meal, "Ogi", by the local population for the management of male and female reproductive dysfunctions. This study, as a part of on-going efforts, therefore, evaluated and compared the effects of Low Protein-energy (LP) and Normal Protein-energy (NP) diets on the sperm morphology and characteristics of adult Wistar rats orally dosed aqueous extracts of C.

An immunohistochemical study of the presence and distribution of neuronal and glial markers in simple testicular cysts in the ostrich (Struthio camelus).

Simple testicular cysts are rare in birds and mammals. However, the condition has recently been reported in the ostrich (Struthio camelus), an economically important farmed bird. The innervation of normal and cryptorchid testes, unlike the simple testicular cysts of birds and mammals, has received considerable attention.

Comparative morphophysiological evaluation of the testis of adult Wistar rats fed low protein-energy diet and dosed with aqueous extracts of Cuscuta australis.

Cuscuta australis (C. australis) seed and stem are historically used by the local population as dietary supplement for the management of infertility. This study, therefore, evaluated the effect of orally administered aqueous extracts of C.

Components and development of the centriolar complex during and beyond spermiogenesis in a passeridan bird, the Masked weaver (Ploceus velatus).

The fate of the proximal centriole in passeridan birds is an area of controversy and relative lack of knowledge in avian spermatogenesis and spermatology. This study examines, for the first time, spatiotemporal changes in the centriolar complex in various phases of spermiogenesis in a passerine bird, the Masked weaver (Ploceus velatus). It also describes the configuration of the centriolar complex and the relationship between it and the granular body in both intra- and extra-testicular spermatozoa.

The cytoskeletal proteins in the contractile tissues of the testis and its excurrent ducts of the passerine bird, Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus).

The cellular composition of the testicular capsule, seminiferous peritubular tissue, the epithelia as well as periductal muscle cell layers of the excurrent ducts was studied, in sexually mature and active Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) birds of the passerine family, Ploceidae. Ultrastructure of the contractile cells in the testicular capsule, peritubular and periductal tissues showed that these cells were smooth muscles of typical morphological characteristics. Variability in the immunohistochemical co-expression of microfilaments and intermediate filaments in the different tissues was evident.

A rare case of left additional renal artery in a Nigerian goat.

The report of the occurrence of additional renal arteries in domestic animals is rare in the literature. We report a case of an additional renal artery in the left kidney found in a Red Sokoto goat cadaver. The additional renal artery originated from the abdominal aorta 3.

The excurrent ducts of the testis of the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and ostrich (Struthio camelus): Microstereology of the epididymis and immunohistochemistry of its cytoskeletal systems.

The volumetric proportion of the various ducts of the epididymis of the emu and ostrich and the immunohistochemistry of actin microfilaments, as well as cytokeratin, desmin and vimentin intermediate filaments, were studied in the various ducts of the epididymis of the emu and ostrich. The volumetric proportions of various ducts, which are remarkably different from those of members of the Galloanserae monophyly, are as follows: the rete testis, 5.2 +/- 1.

Immunohistochemistry of the cytoskeleton in the excurrent ducts of the testis in birds of the Galloanserae monophyly.

The presence, location and degree of immunoexpression of various microfilament (MF) and intermediate filament (IF) systems (actin, cytokeratins, desmin, vimentin) were studied in the excurrent ducts of the testis in sexually mature and active galliform (Japanese quail, domestic fowl, turkey) and anseriform (duck) birds. These proteins were variably expressed between the epithelia and periductal tissue (periductal smooth muscle cell layer and interductal connective tissue) types and between species. Variable heterogeneous co-expression of filament systems was also found in the various duct epithelia and periductal tissue types: co-expression of filament systems was the rule rather than the exception.

Structural and immunohistochemical features of the epididymal duct unit of the ostrich (Struthio camelus).

The epididymal duct unit, comprising the ductus conjugens, ductus epididymidis and ductus deferens, was studied histologically, ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically in five sexually mature and active birds. The main morphological features of the pre-dominant non-ciliated (type III) cell of the epithelial lining of this duct unit include, but are not limited to, a moderately abundant smooth or sparsely granulated endoplasmic reticulum, electron-dense secretory granules and numerous mitochondria in the supranuclear zone of the cytoplasm. A single, large heterogeneous lipid droplet, of unknown function, was characteristically situated immediately proximal to the nucleus.

Morphological and immunohistochemical study of testicular capsule and peritubular tissue of emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and ostrich (Struthio camelus).

The testicular capsule and peritubular boundary tissue of the emu and ostrich, as typical representatives of ratite birds, were studied in sexually mature and active birds. The testicular capsule was much thicker (578.1+/-73.

The testicular capsule and peritubular tissue of birds: morphometry, histology, ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry.

The testicular capsule was studied histologically, morphometrically, ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically in the Japanese quail, domestic fowl, turkey and duck (all members of the Galloanserae). The testicular capsule was, relative to mammals, thin, being 81.5 +/- 13.

The morphology of the efferent ducts of the testis of the ostrich, a primitive bird.

The efferent duct of the ostrich consists of two segments, the proximal efferent duct (PED) and the distal efferent duct (DED) that are continuous, as in some other birds. Both segments of the duct possess an epithelium comprising non-ciliated and ciliated cells in varying proportions between the two segments. The non-ciliated cell (type I) of the PED contains a well-developed, subapical endocytic apparatus of apical tubules and endocytic vacuoles, a solitary, large, heterogeneous lipid droplet, and numerous, oval, dense bodies in the supranuclear region of the cell.

Regulation of expression and function of Lck tyrosine kinase by high cell density.

For many types of cells, an increase in cell density leads to characteristic changes in intracellular signalling and cell function. It is unknown, however, whether cell density affects the function of T lymphocytes. It is presented here that aggregation of Jurkat T cells, murine thymocytes or human peripheral blood T cells, results in gradual modification of the Lck tyrosine kinase.

Regulation of T-cell receptor signalling by membrane microdomains.

There is now considerable evidence suggesting that the plasma membrane of mammalian cells is compartmentalized by functional lipid raft microdomains. These structures are assemblies of specialized lipids and proteins and have been implicated in diverse biological functions. Analysis of their protein content using proteomics and other methods revealed enrichment of signalling proteins, suggesting a role for these domains in intracellular signalling.

Wound healing activities of methanolic extracts Ocimum gratissimum leaf in Wistar rats - a preliminary study.

The wound healing effect of leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum was investigated in adult male Wistar rats. Two groups of adult male Wistar rats, average body weight 170g, had a 2cm by 2cm square wound inflicted on the dorsolateral aspect of their trunk with Paniculus Carnosus removed. Experimental group had their wound dressed with methanolic leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum while control group had their wounds dressed with normal saline dressing.

Impact of cAMP on the T-cell response to type II collagen.

There is considerable interest in the possible use of cAMP-elevating agents in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different cAMP-elevating agents on the T-cell response to type II collagen within the context of collagen-induced arthritis, a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. Spleen cells or lymph node cells from type-II-collagen-immunized DBA/1 mice were cultured in the presence of type II collagen plus one of five different cAMP-elevating agents: rolipram, forskolin, prostaglandin E2, 8-bromo-cAMP, or cholera toxin.

An islet-homing NOD CD8+ cytotoxic T cell clone recognizes GAD65 and causes insulitis.

T cells play a central role in the development of diabetes both in man and in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Both the CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets of T cells are required for the normal development of IDDM in NOD mice. Islet reactive CD4(+) T cells play a clear pathogenic role as evidenced from the isolation of diabetogenic CD4(+) T cell clones.

Development of a procedure for the direct cloning of T-cell epitopes using bacterial expression systems.

Although single bacterial recombinant antigens have been used successfully to stimulate individual T-cell clones and elicit recall responses in peripheral lymphocytes, the broader use of molecular cloning systems for the identification of autoantigens recognised by the cellular arm of the immune system has met with only limited success. In a systematic approach to address this problem, a series of bacterial expression vectors were examined for their potential use as cloning vectors to elicit a proliferative response in vitro from a non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse T-cell clone which recognises the immunodominant ovalbumin epitope (aa 323-339). The use of the vector pRSET, which produces a hexa-histidine tagged fusion protein, was confounded by non-specific responses to bacterial protein contaminants.

In vivo activity and in vitro specificity of CD4+ Th1 and Th2 cells derived from the spleens of diabetic NOD mice.

CD4+ T cell lines were generated from the spleens of diabetic NOD mice against crude membrane preparations derived from a rat insulinoma. Adoptive transfer of these lines into neonatal mice confirms that overt diabetes is induced by gamma-IFN-secreting Th1 cells, whereas transfer of IL-4-secreting Th2 cells resulted in a nondestructive peri-islet insulitis. Analysis of the antigens recognized by individual T cell clones from the Th1 line included reactivity against an insulinoma membrane fraction enriched in proteins of approximately 38 kD.

Aspartate at position 57 of nonobese diabetic I-Ag7 beta-chain diminishes the spontaneous incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

MHC class II genes have been shown to influence the development of the autoimmune disease insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. In human IDDM it has been suggested that the presence of an aspartate at position 57 of the DQ beta-chain might be important in determining resistance to development of IDDM. The involvement of MHC class II genes in IDDM was investigated through the introduction of MHC encoding transgenes.

Tolerance induction as a therapeutic strategy for the control of autoimmune endocrine disease in mouse models.

This chapter aims to describe ways in which autoimmunity can be prevented or reversed and 'self-tolerance' re-established. To this end we have largely restricted our overview to the two main autoimmune disease models with which we are involved, i.e.

Mycobacteria precipitate an SLE-like syndrome in diabetes-prone NOD mice.

Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop organ-specific autoimmunity and are widely used as a model for diabetes. Aged NOD mice also exhibit some features of non-organ-specific autoimmune rheumatic disease such as anti-nuclear antibodies and late-onset haemolytic anaemia. Here, we report that a single dose of 2.