Mutual influence of herpes virus infection activation and cerebral circulation impairment on the state of brain cells

Correction with thiocetam of lead nanoparticles influence on morpho-functional status of rat liver

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of Thiocetam on morphological changes in the liver of rats and on biochemical changes in their blood after exposure to lead nanoparticles and compounds. The liver is an organ that performs a number of functions, such as the synthesis of enzymes, hormones, plasma components and the neutralization of toxins. It is involved in many metabolic processes in the body.

In undertaking this, colloidal solutions of lead sulphide nanoparticles at dosages 10 nm and 30 nm were injected into two groups of rats, PbSnano1 and PbSnano2, respectively, while group Pb(NO3) received subcutaneously a solution of lead nitrate in ion form in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg (0.94 mg/kg lead, in lead equivalent). After 60 administrations (12 weeks) of the studied substances, the exposure was discontinued and the animals were observed for 18 weeks. Subsequently, half of each group received Thiocetam by injection (for 6 weeks at a dose of 250 mg/kg) while the other half did not. We then assessed the mean body weight, absolute and relative liver weight, blood biochemistry values (total protein, albumin, glucose, total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides levels in blood serum) and morphological changes in hepatocytes (morphological slides, nuclei cross-sectional area and cytoplasm cross-sectional area).

The outcome of this work showed that the mean body weight of animals exposed to nanoparticles with Tiocetam did not differ from that of animals exposed to nanoparticles without pharmacological correction, but relative liver weight was statistically significantly higher than the corresponding values in rats without pharmacological correction. The morphological picture in all study group animals was characterized by the normalization of microvessel blood filling, structure of hepatic plates, disappearance of infiltration with lymphocytes and histiocytes. No dystrophic changes in hepatocytes were found. All this indicates the feasibility of preventive measures during exposure to lead nanoparticles, by administering Thiocetam.

In both series of animals exposed to lead nanoparticles (PbSnano1 and PbSnano2), the cross-sectional area of the hepatocytes cytoplasm and the cross-sectional area of the hepatocytes nuclei were smaller than just after exposure, but in the series with Thiocetam adminstration, all the values did not differ from those in the control.

Structural changes in liver under conditions of experimental hemorrhagic stroke

The article describes the results of histological and morphometric studies of liver in Balb/c mice with hemorrhagic stroke. The hemorrhagic stroke was modeled in the animals by administering autoblood in volume of 0.1 ml in the right hemisphere, and within 5, 10 and 30 days an analysis of structural changes in the liver was performed. Progressive changes were established in terms of 5-10 days of the experiment. This consisted of changes in the sinusoidal capillaries and notable changes in the central veins of the liver lobuli. Herein, acute dilatation and erythrocytal stasis were most pronounced around the lumen of the central veins, while hepatocytes with signs of necrosis (severe cytoplasmic swelling, vacuolar dystrophic changes) were detected in the sinusoid capillaries. The results of the morphometry indicated an increase in the area of the nucleus and the cells caused by intracellular swelling, domination of euchromatin and decrease of total density of chromatin in nuclei. Partial regression of the diameter of sinusoidal capillaries and the area of hepatocytes were detected on the 30th day of the experiment. The changes in the sinusoidal capillaries of the liver lobules are assessed as secondary to stroke, as well as to changes in organ microcirculation, and are associated with dystrophic changes in the hepatocytes.

Nerve Regeneration in Conditions of HSV-Infection and an Antiviral Drug Influence

Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-I) is a latent neuroinfection which can cause focal brain lesion. The role of HSV-infection in nerve regeneration has not been studied so far. The aim of the work was to study sciatic nerve regeneration in the presence of HSV-infection and the influence of an antiviral drug. BALB/c line mice were divided into five groups. Group 1 animals were infected with HSV-I. After resolution of neuroinfection manifestations the sciatic nerve of these animals was crushed. Group 2 mice were administered acyclovir following the same procedures. Groups 3-5 mice served as controls. Thirty days after the operation distal nerve stumps and m.gastrocnemius were studied morphologically and biochemically. Ultrastructural organization of the sciatic nerve in control animals remained intact. Morphometric parameters of the nerves from the experimental groups have not reach control values. However, in the group 1 diameter of nerve fibers was significantly smaller than in the group 2. Both nerve regeneration and m.gastrocnemius reinnervation were confirmed. The muscle hypotrophy was found in groups 1, 2, and 3 (the muscle fibers diameter decreased). Metabolic changes in the muscles of the infected animals (groups 1 and 2) were more pronounced than in control groups 3 and 4. The levels of TBA-active products, conjugated dienes, carbonyl and SH-groups were reduced in m.gastrocnemius of the experimental groups, however no significant difference associated with acyclovir administration was found. HSV-infection is not limited to the local neurodegenerative changes in the CNS but affects regeneration of the injured sciatic nerve. Anat Rec, 301:1734-1744, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ultrastructural changes in murine liver following HSV infection and stroke

The study of herpetic infection is a topical problem. Although the peculiarities and consequences of acute HSV-I infection in the brain are quite well-studied, little is known about the damage to other organs which are not a source of latent HSV-I infection, the liver in particular. The current study is aimed at determining the ultrastructural changes in murine liver following HSV infection and stroke. Liver samples obtained from four groups of animals were studied: 1) intact mice; 2) mice with stroke; 3) mice infected with HSV-I; 4) mice aflicted with HSV-I and subsequently simulated stroke. The study showed the reproduction of the virus in hepatic endotheliocytes, although no virions were detected in the hepatocytes. Therefore, the described changes were considered the consequences of the infectious process. Pathological changes of hepatocytes consisted of deformation and fragmentation of the nuclei, as well as accumulation of osmiophilic granules, lysosomes and lamellary bodies. Latent HSV-I infection may reactivate in liver after the stroke, potentially causing the complications of the underlying disease.

Development of herpetic infection associated with stroke and its correction with acyclovir

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is prevalent in today’s world population, and there is evidence of potential HSV reactivation in patients with immune deficiency induced by acute stroke. However, the data on the use of antivirals in the setting of stroke are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reactivation of HSV-1 in patients with stroke, using several methods, and to assess the efficacy of acyclovir in the treatment of experimental stroke. In the employed methodology, PCR and dot-ELISA were used to detect the occurrence of HSV-1 in patients with acute stroke. White mice were infected with HSV-1 and experimental stroke was simulated. The infected mice with stroke were subdivided into two groups: one of them received no treatment, while the other one was treated with acyclovir. The level of HSV-1 reactivation was determined by the methods used in human patients. The brain tissue of experimental animals was also subjected to morphological and morphometrical study. The results of such work reveal that, by the applied serological method, HSV-1 was found in all patients with stroke. Herein, the increased level of HSV-1 was seen in the brain tissue and blood in 100% of the experimental infected animals. However, the use of acyclovir suppressed reproduction of HSV-1. Hence, it can be concluded that clinical and laboratory studies have demonstrated the different sensitivity of Dot-Elisa and PCR, with the former being more sensitive. Moreover, the use of acyclovir in the experiment inhibited viral reproduction and further development of viral infection. Still, chemic lesions in the brain persisted.