Revista de Morfología y Anatomía

Immunohistochemical Expression of Cytokeratin 18 in Rat Sertoli Cells under Effect of Aluminium Hydroxide and Pomegranate Molasses

Abstract

Elsayed Mohammed Aly Metwally*, Meriam Ramzy Riad, Rasha Ibrahim Amer Ali, Wafaa Abdel Rahman Ahmed and Mona Abdel-Hameid Yehia

Background: Sertoli cells are one of the major cell types in testes that provide nutrition and structural support for germ cell development. Cytokeratin 18 protein is consistently expressed in immature Sertoli cells of prepubertal seminiferous tubules, but is completely absent in normal, mature seminiferous tubules.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the possible protective role of pomegranate molasses. Through immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 18 in the rat sertoli cells of prepubertal age after the administration of aluminum hydroxide.

Materials and methods: Sixty male albino rats of prepubertal age were divided into three equal groups: (control group); (Aluminum hydroxide treated group) received oral aluminum hydroxide at a dose of 30 mg/kg b. wt/day; (protected group) received both aluminum hydroxide (at the same previous dose) and pomegranate molesses in a dose of 0.5 ml (PM) plus 0.5 ml distilled water orally. At the end of the experiment (8 weeks), all animals were sacrificed and their testes were excised. Paraffin sections were prepared for examing under the light microscope, used histomorphological stain and immunohistochemical DAB stain of Cytockeratin protein 18 by aviden biotin complex protocol.

Results: After the administration of aluminum hydroxide (AD), some seminiferous tubules had disturbed basal lamina and disorganized germinal epithelium. The spermatogenic cells decreased in number with undifferentiated hyperprolifirating germ cells. The concomitant administration of pomegranate molasses with aluminum hydroxide showed alleviation in histopathological changes induced by aluminum hydroxide in the structures of testis. In addition, the increased number of sertoli cells was noticed in grouped treated with AD and decreased in group treated with concomitant administration of PM.

Conclusion: The present study showed that exposure to aluminum hydroxide resulted in marked degenerative effects on the rats' testis, but they were improved with the concomitant administration of PM, as well as, the immunohistochemical detection of cytokeratin 18 in Sertoli cells may be provided a sensitive marker for immature or damaged testes.