Histology and histopathology Vol.40, nº8 (2025)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10201/155020

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Open Access
Contribution of the dopaminergic system in toxoplasmic encephalitis neuroimmunopathogenesis
(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Anteplıoğlu, Tuğçe; Dincel, Gungor Cagdas; Alçiğir, Mehmet Eray; Türkmen, Merve Bışkın; Yapic, Tilbe Su; Kul, Oguz; Al Olayan, Ebtsam; Alshahrani, Mohammad Y.; El Ashram, Saeed; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a parasitic intracellular protozoan, can establish a chronic infection in the host brain and cause significant neuropathology. The current study aimed to determine the role of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH), Dopamine Receptor D1 (D1R), Nuclear Receptor Related-1 (Nurr1), and Dopamine Transporter (DAT) expression in the neuroimmunopathogenesis of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after infection with T. gondii. Additionally, the study investigated whether there was a correlation between the markers on these critical days, which had yet to be explored. The results showed that TH expression in brain tissue of BALB/c mice was significantly increased in all infected groups compared with healthy controls (p<0.05). However, other striking findings of the study were that D1R, DAT, and Nurr1 expression were significantly decreased in all infected groups compared with healthy controls, in contrast to TH expression (p<0.05). Study findings regarding behavioral changes in chronic T. gondii-infected laboratory animals and humans with TE provide important evidence of the relationship between neuropsychiatric diseases and T. gondii infection. By elucidating the pathogenesis of the disease in detail, treatment protocols that consider these coordinated changes in expression that vary from day to day can be developed.
Open Access
Sex-related differences in the morphology of rectal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in C57BL/6NCrSlc mice
(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Rubel, Md. Zahir Uddin; Masum, Md. Abdul; Namba, Takashi; Hiraishi, Masaya; Kon, Yasuhiro; Ichii, Osamu; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
Sex hormones regulate gut function and mucosal immunity; however, their specific effects on the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in the rectum of mammals remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the influence of sex on MALT in the rectum of mammals by focusing on the rectal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (RMALTs) of C57BL/6NCrSlc mice. Histological analysis revealed that RMALTs were predominantly located in the lamina propria and submucosa of the rectal mucosa, with a significant sex-related difference in the distance from the anorectal junction to the first appearance of the RMALT. Despite similar RMALT numbers, females exhibited significant-ly larger RMALTs than males. Immunostaining revealed the presence of various immune cells, including T cells, B cells, macrophages, proliferative immune cells, lymphatic vessels, and high endothelial venules (HEVs), in RMALTs. Compared with males, females showed elevated T cell, helper T cell, and cytotoxic T-cell gene expression levels, along with high percentages of specific T-cell subsets. The factors influencing RMALT development, such as the presence of HEVs, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 expression, and RMALT-containing cell proliferation, were also explored. Overall, this study revealed the detailed attributes of RMALTs, their immune cell composition, and their determinants in male and female mice, providing insights into the sex-specific characteristics of the rectal mucosal immune system.
Open Access
Evaluation of the impact of Momordica charantia on the testis of cisplatin-treated albino rats: Biochemical, histopathological, and ultrastructural study
(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Shalaby, Fatma Mohsen; Elrefaie, Amany Omar; Abd, Kandil; Attia, El Hai; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
Cisplatin is an antineoplastic drug that exhibits toxicity dependent on dosage and has adverse reproductive effects. Momordica charantia (Bitter melon) is a natural vegetable plant; its active ingredients possess antioxidant, apoptotic, antiproliferative, hypoglycemic, and other therapeutic properties. This study evaluates the effect of the administration of bitter melon extract, cisplatin, and cisplatin/bitter melon cotreatment on liver and kidney functions, serum and testicular oxidative status, testis histology, and sperm parameters. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group I (Control) received normal saline, Group II received oral bitter melon extract (300 mg/kg), Group III received cisplatin (2.5 mg/kg), and Group IV received the same doses of cisplatin and bitter melon, for six successive weeks, daily. Our results showed that bitter melon extract stimulates antioxidant enzymes and has anti-lipid peroxidation properties through the significantly increased plasma levels of glutathione and significantly decreased testicular malondialdehyde. The cisplatin-treated group showed oxidative stress indicated by the significant decrease of catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase levels and a significant increase in malondialdehyde levels in both serum and testis compared with the control group. In the cisplatin/bitter melon-cotreated group, there was a significant increase in superoxide dismutase and a significant decrease in malondialdehyde in both serum and testis compared with cisplatin-treated rats. The bitter melon alone or with cisplatin cotreatment resulted in reduced gonadosomatic index, sperm count, motility, and viability. These results were confirmed by histopathological examinations, apoptosis assay using flow cytometry, and immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In conclusion, the administration of bitter melon extract alone or in combination with cisplatin led to testicular structure disturbances and showed an anti-spermatogenic effect. These findings are likely due to a combination of inhibited cellular proliferation, increased cell death, minor decrease in testosterone levels, and localized oxidative stress that outweigh the antioxidant benefits of bitter melon extract.
Open Access
Adaptive changes in the visual cortex after photoreceptor degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa
(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Martinez Galan, Juan R.; Caminos, Elena; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of hereditary disorders that cause progressive retinal degeneration, affecting the rods and, subsequently, the cones, which results in progressive vision loss. RP is genetically heterogeneous and is inherited in an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, or sporadic non-Mendelian manner. The recent advance-ments in repairing damaged retinas highlight the necessity of understanding the impact of photoreceptor degeneration on the visual cortex. This is because functional vision may not be adequately restored if this region is significantly impaired prior to treatment. In the present review, we have analyzed the rodent models of RP that have been most frequently used and the physiological and morphological changes occurring in both humans and rodents with this disorder. Following visually evoked stimulation, the processing of visual information in the primary visual cortex (V1) of individuals with RP is altered due to modifications in the transduction of the signal originating in the degenerated retina. Moreover, alterations in the intrinsic electro-physiological properties of cortical neurons and neural circuits have also been documented. Finally, several neurochemical and/or morphological changes are observed in synaptic structures associated with pyramidal neurons and in select inhibitory interneurons. Nevertheless, despite the physiological and morphologi-cal changes that have been described, the impact of RP on the visual cortex does not inevitably result in irreversible damage, as the alterations do not appear to be particularly severe. Brain plasticity is more restricted in adults; however, remodeling of the visual cortex in mice and humans is possible, which encourages further work on therapies capable of partially restoring the lost visual function.
Open Access
Ultrastructural assessment of human periodontal ligament fibroblast interaction with bovine pericardium membranes: An in vitro study
(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Bernardi, Sara; Marchetti, Enrico; Torge, Diana; Simeone, Davide; Macchiarelli, Guido; Bianchi, Serena; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
Research towards regenerative dentistry focused on developing scaffold materials whose high performance induces cell adhesion support and guides tissue growth. An early study investigated the proliferation abilities and attachment of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs) on two bovine pericardium membranes with different thicknesses, 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm. Following those published results, we examined the ultrastructure of HPLFs in contact with these membranes. The HPLFs were cultured in standard conditions, exposed to the tested materials, and, after 24 hours, subjected to transmission electron microscopy preparation. The examined parameters included the quality and distribution of mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and the nucleus. HPLFs exposed to membranes showed ultrastructural changes. The cellular compartments aimed at protein synthesis and metabolism increased compared with the control. Unpaired t-test and one-way ANOVA showed that HPLFs exposed to membranes displayed an increase in the number of mitochondria (89.23±7.44 vs. 66.90±9.58; T1 and control; p<0.05 and 84.05±14.01 vs. 66.90±9.58; T2 and control; p<0.05). The reported ultrastructural evidence suggests an active synthesis state of HPLFs, probably triggered by the bovine collagen membrane, showing an active role of this material in the biology of the regeneration process.

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