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Novel Insights Into Telocyte Presence and Distribution in the Cornea of the Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) Using Immunofluorescence Analysis

Research Abstract

The eye of the laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) is uniquely adapted to thrive in arid environments, withstanding airborne particles and harsh conditions, demonstrating its remarkable structural and functional resilience. This study aimed to explore the cellular composition of the laughing dove's cornea, focusing on telocytes-a cell type previously unreported in avian corneas. This work represents the first demonstration of telocytes in the cornea of any bird species. We used hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining to comprehensively visualize the corneal layers, while silver staining, methylene blue, toluidine blue staining, and immunofluorescence with telocyte-specific markers (CD34, PDGFRα, and vimentin) were utilized to identify telocytes and confirm their distribution. The cornea of the laughing dove was shown to consist of five unique layers: the epithelium, Bowman's layer, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. Telocytes were detected using silver, methylene blue, and toluidine blue stains as spindle-shaped cells with branched extensions known as telopodes. Double immunofluorescence for PDGFRα and CD34 confirmed the existence of telocytes across all corneal layers. In the epithelium, intraepithelial telocytes were sparsely distributed, possibly contributing to epithelial maintenance and cellular signaling. In Bowman's layer, telocytes were identified, likely supporting structural integrity and intercellular interactions. The stroma exhibited the highest abundance of telocytes, highlighting their critical role in extracellular matrix remodeling and cellular connectivity. In Descemet's membrane, telocytes likely contribute to the structural stability of this basement membrane, while in the endothelium, they appear to play roles in endothelial repair, fluid regulation, and signaling processes. Double immunofluorescence of vimentin and CD34 revealed distinct localization patterns. While CD34 identified telocytes in all corneal layers, vimentin expression was confined to the stroma, predominantly in the superficial region. Vimentin was specifically localized to telopodes, while CD34 was more evenly distributed, with strong expression in both the central bodies of telocytes and telopodes. The partial co-expression of CD34 and vimentin suggests functional specialization within telocytes, with vimentin likely supporting telopode structure and long-range signaling. Our findings underscore the critical role of telocytes in corneal structure and function, particularly their contributions to the laughing dove's adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. This study not only identifies telocytes in the avian cornea for the first time but also highlights their presence in all corneal layers, suggesting their broader functional roles in maintaining corneal homeostasis and resilience.

Research Authors
Ahmed M Rashwan 1 2, Hagar M Mohamed 3 4, Samir A A El-Gendy 5, Hanan H Abd-Elhafeez 6, Ahmed A El-Mansi 7, Mamdouh B Eldesoqui 8, Amal F Dawood 9, Mohamed A M Alsafy 5
Research Date
Research Pages
2009-2024.
Research Publisher
wiely
Research Rank
Q1
Research Vol
88:(7)
Research Website
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jemt.24845
Research Year
2025

Unleashing the biological potential of marine algal extracts against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from ready-to-eat beef products

Research Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent of zoonotic diseases that are of increasing epidemiological importance and have significant implications for public health. One hundred fifty ready-to-eat meat product samples were collected from local shops in Qena City, Egypt, to investigate the bacteriological profile of S. aureus and evaluate the antimicrobial effects of marine algal extracts against identified S. aureus isolates in vitro. S. aureus was detected in 30.7% of the samples examined, with the highest incidence in luncheon samples. Detection of virulence genes revealed that 58.7%, 47.8%, 0%, 13%, and 0% of S. aureus isolates harbored coa, nuc, sea, seb, and sec genes. S. aureus isolates demonstrated a high level of antimicrobial resistance. Genetic analysis of antimicrobial resistance determinants revealed that 65.2% of the isolates carried the mecA gene, 72.2% harbored the vanA gene, and 33.3% contained the optrA gene. These findings indicate a significant prevalence of genetic markers associated with resistance to methicillin, vancomycin, and oxazolidinones, respectively, among the studied S. aureus isolates. In addition, these isolates produced various biofilm phenotypes. The most-produced biofilm phenotype was strong (32.6%). Luncheon meat showed the highest MRSA confirmation rate (36.4%), followed by sausage (37.5%), while burger products had the lowest confirmation rate (25.0%). Halimeda opuntia, Jania rubens, and Caulerpa racemosa marine algal extracts' antimicrobial activity was studied. The major constituent of Caulerpa racemosa extract was spathulenol, and the methanol extract of Caulerpa racemosa (1.5 mg/ml) exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. RT-PCR revealed significant downregulation of coa (98.7% reduction) and nuc (68.8% reduction) in Caulerpa racemosa extract-treated S. aureus. Algal extracts present a hopeful prospect for developing innovative antibacterial substances with great promise for application in food preservation and medicine.

Research Date
Research Journal
Sci Rep .
Research Pages
30111
Research Publisher
Nature
Research Rank
Q1
Research Vol
15(1)
Research Website
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12358557/
Research Year
2025

Developmental Morphological and Histochemical Studies of the Tongue in Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica)

Research Abstract

The lingual apparatus of the birds was used to determine the food type of the birds. The tongue of the Japanese quail showed great plasticity in morphology, histology and function. Although little literature spoke in details about the developmental anatomy of the Japanese quail tongue and its attachment during embryogenesis and the post-hatching period, our data were carried out on 85 healthy random specimens arranged on 45 Japanese quail embryos with ages from the 5th day of incubation to hatching day old and 40 quail chicks with the age of 7, 14, 30 and 60 days old. Those investigations found that the primordium of the tongue arose from the oropharyngeal floor primordium as a clear elongated projection supported by basihyale at the 5th and 6th days old of the embryonated egg. The tongue primordium was attached by a thin layer of epithelium (frenulum linguae primordium). With age advancing, the tongue took different shapes, starting from a ‘U’ shape to a triangular elongated shape. Consequently, its parts were fully developed into a lingual apex that was supported by the paraglossale apical process and paraglossale corpus and the lingual body supported by both the posterior part of paraglossale and basihyale. Besides that, (ala linguae) primordia became more prominent as two oval projections with caudal serrated borders at the 10-day-old embryo which were supported by posterior processes of os paraglossale. But at 13 days old, the transverse papillary crest primordium began to appear, which consisted of caudally directed finger-like papillae. Those papillae were developmentally variable in number, shape and length. The lingual muscle primordia could be noticed: ceratoglossus, hypoglossus anterior and genioglossus muscles at 5, 6 and 7 days old of incubation, respectively. However, the genioglossus muscle showed a degenerative process at the 11-day-old embryo. Lingual glands were compound tubular and tubulo-alveolar end pieces, which its primordia appeared at the 7 and 8-day-old embryo. Histochemically, the glands showed different reactions to AB and PAS, and combined stains, which the developmental stains reaction ended with a slightly alcinophilic reaction.

Research Authors
Mahmoud Osman Khalifaو Wafaa Gaberو Abdelmohaimen Mostafa Saleh
Research Date
Research Journal
Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia
Research Pages
1-26
Research Publisher
Wiley
Research Vol
55
Research Website
https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.70083
Research Year
2026

Developmental Morphological and Histochemical Studies of the Tongue in Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica

Research Abstract

ABSTRACT
The lingual apparatus of the birds was used to determine the food type of the birds. The tongue of the Japanese quail showed great plasticity in morphology, histology and function. Although little literature spoke in details about the developmental anat- omy of the Japanese quail tongue and its attachment during embryogenesis and the post-hatching period, our data were carried out on 85 healthy random specimens arranged on 45 Japanese quail embryos with ages from the 5th day of incubation to hatching day old and 40 quail chicks with the age of 7, 14, 30 and 60 days old. Those investigations found that the primordium of the tongue arose from the oropharyngeal floor primordium as a clear elongated projection supported by basihyale at the 5th and 6th days old of the embryonated egg. The tongue primordium was attached by a thin layer of epithelium (frenulum linguae primordium). With age advancing, the tongue took different shapes, starting from a ‘U’ shape to a triangular elongated shape. Consequently, its parts were fully developed into a lingual apex that was supported by the paraglossale apical process and paraglossale corpusand the lingual body supported by both the posterior part of paraglossale and basihyale. Besides that, (ala linguae) primordia became more prominent as two oval projections with caudal serrated borders at the 10- day-old embryo which were supported by
posterior processes of os paraglossale. But at 13 days old, the transverse papillary crest primordium began to appear, which con- sisted of caudally directed finger-like papillae. Those papillae were developmentally variable in number, shape and length. The lingual muscle primordia could be noticed: ceratoglossus, hypoglossus anterior and genioglossus muscles at 5, 6 and 7 days old of incubation, respectively. However, the genioglossus muscle showed a degenerative process at the 11-day-old embryo. Lingual glands were compound tubular and tubulo-alveolar end pieces, which its primordia appeared at the 7 and 8-day-old embryo. Histochemically, the glands showed different reactions to AB and PAS, and combined stains, which the developmental stains reaction ended with a slightly alcinophilic reaction.

Research Authors
Mahmoud Osman Khalifaو | Wafaa Gaberو | Abdelmohaimen Mostafa Saleh2
Research Date
Research Journal
Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia
Research Pages
1-26
Research Publisher
Wiley

Using curcumin (Curcuma longa) as a dietary supplement modulates performance, behavior, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, and histomorphological changes in heat-stressed broiler chickens

Research Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin supplementation on growth performance, carcass parameters, behavior characteristics, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, and tissue histomorphology in heat-stressed broiler chickens. 120 one-day-old chicks were reared over 35 days in two separate rooms; one designated to induce heat stress and the other to maintain a normal temperature. After a completely randomized design, birds were divided into four treatments, each with 6 replicates of 5 chicks. Treatments were thermoneutral control group fed basal diet, heat-stressed group fed basal diet, curcumin-supplemented group fed basal diet with 1g/kg curcumin, and curcumin-supplemented heat-stressed group fed basal diet with 1g/kg curcumin. Broilers supplemented with curcumin and reared under heat stress conditions grew significantly (P < 0.05) more than other groups with improved carcass parameters. The proportion of birds exhibiting standard behavior was enhanced (P < 0.05), while the duration of Tonic immobility test was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in curcumin-supplemented groups. Total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL, growth hormone, T3, T4, TAC, CAT, SOD, IL -10, C3, and Lysosomes were significantly increased (P < 0.05). At the same time, cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and MDA, IL-1β, and IFN levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) by adding curcumin. Curcumin effectively reversed the heat stress-induced histopathological changes in the liver, spleen, bursa, intestine, and breast muscles. These results indicate that curcumin can mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on health and stimulate immunity and antioxidant status in broiler chickens

Research Authors
Heba S.A. Gharib a , Asmaa I. Abdelaty a , Walaa M.S. Gomaa b , Ahmed Gouda c , Hala Y. Amer d , Sally A.M. Mohamed e , Rasha I.M. Hassan b
Research Date
Research Journal
Journal of Thermal Biology
Research Year
2025

MMP-9 Expression in bone cells in the developing femur

Research Abstract

The proteolytic functions of the matrix-degrading enzymes, such as ADAMTS (A disintegrin and metalloproteinases) and MMP (Matrix metalloproteinase), play a crucial role in development. This study investigated the proteolytic activity of different types of bone cells, focusing on the expression of MMP-9, throughout the development of the femur in rabbit embryos. The femur formed the physeal growth cartilage, which facilitated the process of endochondral bone development. Osteoblasts are situated on the outer layer of bone spicules and within the periosteum. Osteoclasts are found within the lacunae of the bone matrix, and they have also been observed in the ossification center. Osteoclasts, osteocytes, and osteoblasts all exhibit MMP-9 expression with different intensity of staining with the perichondral stem cells showing the greatest value. MMP-9 is essential in bone formation. Utilizing MMP-9 to modify the extracellular matrix could potentially serve as a favorable approach for identifying treatment targets in bone diseases.

Research Authors
Fatma El-Zahraa A. Mustafa a , Hanan H. Abd-Elhafeez a , Reda S. taha b c , Amira Osman c d , Mohamed M. Almaki e , Zyad Mohamed Baker f , Abdullah A.A. Alghamdi g , Diaa Massoud h i , Mohamad Elmasry j , Soha A. Soliman l , Abeer Madkour Mahmou
Research Date
Research Pages
9
Research Publisher
ELSEVIER
Research Year
2025

Evaluating dried pomegranate peel as a functional feed additive: effects on growth, carcass traits, and gut health in broilers

Research Abstract

This study investigated the impact of dietary supplementation with dried pomegranate peel (DPP) on growth performance, carcass attributes, blood parameters, and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of 120 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: a control group (basal diet without any supplementation), and two treatment groups with diets supplemented with 1% and 2% DPP, respectively. Growth performance was monitored weekly, and carcass attributes were measured at the end of the 42-days trial. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and cecal microbiota (total bacterial count, E. coli and salmonella) was assessed. Results indicated that DPP supplementation significantly reduced body weight, body weight gain, and feed consumption compared to the control group, particularly at 21 and 42 days. Birds fed 2% DPP showed a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) but body weight was reduced during both the starter period and overall experimental period, while those fed 1% DPP had an improved FCR only during the starter phase but showed a worsened FCR during the finisher and overall period. DPP supplementation also significantly increased the relative weights of the eviscerated carcass, liver, heart, gizzard, and spleen while reducing abdominal fat. Blood analysis revealed no significant effects on protein or liver enzymes, but DPP reduced glucose, cholesterol, HDL, and triglyceride levels. Additionally, DPP reduced the cecal counts of total bacteria, E. coli, and Salmonella. Histological analysis revealed that DPP supplementation improved bursal and ileal structures, enhancing immunity and gut health. In conclusion, DPP supplementation, particularly at 2%, improved gut health, reduced abdominal fat, and modulated microbial populations but adversely affected growth performance due to reduced feed palatability. These findings suggest that DPP may be a functional feed additive with health-promoting benefits, though further research is needed to optimize its inclusion level.

 
Research Authors
Mohammed Younis, Saber G. Abdo, Mohammed A. Abu Elmakarem, Fatma El-Zahraa A. Mustafa & Mohamed A. Fawaz
Research Date
Research File
Research Journal
Tropical Animal Health and Production
Research Pages
10
Research Publisher
springer nature
Research Year
2025

Histological, immunohistochemical assessment and DNA fingerprint species identification of some meat products in Egyp

Research Abstract
Research Authors
Heba F. Kamaly, Abeer M. Hassan, Zainab MA Youssef & Fatma El-Zahraa Ahmed Mustafa
Research Date
Research Journal
Scientific Report
Research Pages
14
Research Publisher
springer nature
Research Year
2025

Immunohistochemical Detection of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Receptors in the Rabbit Vagina

Research Abstract

The vagina is a critical part of the reproductive canal. It is considered part of the birth canal and the site of semen deposition. The vagina is controlled by a variety of important physiological factors, including hormones. One of the most popular lab animals is the rabbit. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) expression in the vagina at early pregnancy were observed on basic histological constituents of the vagina and newly discovered histological components including telocyte, vascular compartments, interstitium, and lymph. mmunoreactivity to NSE with different intensity detected at vaginal lining epithelium and smooth muscle fibers. Mild immunoreactivity was observed on mucosal crypt-lining cells. Strong immunoreactivity to NSE was detected in lymphocytes, telocytes, endothelium, red blood cells, interstitium, and lymph. However, immunoreactivity to PR was strong on the nucleus of the vaginal lining epithelium, crypts, smooth muscle, cytoplasm of the intraepithelial lymphocytes, lining epithelium of lymph vessels, interstitium, and lymph. Also, there is strong immunostaining for ER on the red blood cells, interstitium, and lymph. Mild immunoreactivity was noticed on the blood and lymph vessels' endothelial lining.

Research Authors
Fatma El‐Zahraa Ahmed Mustafa
Research Date
Research Pages
9
Research Publisher
Wiley
Research Year
2025

Detection of neuron specific enolase in the lip and ear pinna of goat (Capra hircus): an immunohistochemical study

Research Abstract

Goat skin is considered a multifunctional organ with regulatory, sensory, and protective roles. Despite the goat’s economic importance and use as a model in biomedical research, it remains not given the suitable position in academic publications. This study aimed to investigate the expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the lips and ear pinnae of goats, revealing its considerable location among several sensory and structural components using immunohistochemical techniques. Also, we identified a new structure in different locations of the skin of the goat, referred to as the goat corpuscle. In the lip, NSE was strongly expressed in Ruffini corpuscles, goat corpuscles located in the skin and mucosa, and Merkel cells present in the stratum basale of the epidermis and hair follicles. NSE expression was also found in large nerves among skeletal muscle fibers, near sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and in the superficial layers of the dermis, where free nerve endings were directed. Vascular elements, including arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels, exhibited NSE positivity in their endothelial and smooth muscle layers. Additionally, NSE was present in myoepithelial cells surrounding sweat and salivary gland secretory end pieces, fibroblasts, and telocytes in the connective tissue. In the ear, NSE was detected in Ruffini corpuscles, goat corpuscles, and a range of nerve fibers around cartilage and blood vessels. NSE expression was also observed in fibroblasts, chondroblasts, and telocytes in the cartilage and dermal tissues. This detailed mapping of NSE distribution provides new insights into its role in sensory and structural components, revealing its extensive involvement in the tissues.

Research Authors
Fatma EL-Zahraa Ahmed Mustafa
Research Date
Research Pages
13
Research Publisher
springer nature
Research Vol
21
Research Year
2025
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