The adrenal gland is a vital endocrine gland that secretes many important hormones
in everyday bird life. The adrenal gland of the Japanese quail is grossly located ventromedially
the corresponding kidney and has a creamy to yellow color. The quail
gland is surrounded by a capsule and contains some ganglionic cells, and the capsule
is characterized by the presence of chromaffin cells. The adrenal gland is subdivided
into three concentric zones: subcapsular, peripheral, and central. The parenchyma
consists of interrenal tissue, chromaffin islets, and blood sinusoids. The interrenal
cells contain lipid droplets, are arranged in cords, and rest on the basement membrane.
Chromaffin cells are categorized as two types: epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine
(NE) cells. These cells contain the granules, and are characterized by the
presence of lipid droplets. In this study, the interrenal tissue was found to have a
higher proportion of chromaffin cells in quail as compared with other birds, which is
attributed to the fact that the Japanese quail is a migratory bird. Therefore, the present
investigation aims to provide a detailed study on the adrenal gland in the Japanese
quail to help physiologists understand the gland's function and the pathologist
to determine the implications for the differential diagnosis of adrenal gland tumors.

The adrenal gland is a vital endocrine gland that secretes many important hormones
in everyday bird life. The adrenal gland of the Japanese quail is grossly located ventromedially
the corresponding kidney and has a creamy to yellow color. The quail
gland is surrounded by a capsule and contains some ganglionic cells, and the capsule
is characterized by the presence of chromaffin cells. The adrenal gland is subdivided
into three concentric zones: subcapsular, peripheral, and central. The parenchyma
consists of interrenal tissue, chromaffin islets, and blood sinusoids. The interrenal
cells contain lipid droplets, are arranged in cords, and rest on the basement membrane.
Chromaffin cells are categorized as two types: epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine
(NE) cells. These cells contain the granules, and are characterized by the
presence of lipid droplets. In this study, the interrenal tissue was found to have a
higher proportion of chromaffin cells in quail as compared with other birds, which is
attributed to the fact that the Japanese quail is a migratory bird. Therefore, the present
investigation aims to provide a detailed study on the adrenal gland in the Japanese
quail to help physiologists understand the gland's function and the pathologist
to determine the implications for the differential diagnosis of adrenal gland tumors.

T-helper cells express CD4 as a co-receptor that binds to major histocompatibility complex class II to synchronize the immune response against upcoming threats via mediating several cytokines. We have previously reported the presence of CD4 homologues in brown trout. The study of cellular immune responses in brown trout is limited by the availability of specific antibodies. We here describe the generation of a polyclonal antibody against CD4-1 that allows for the investigation of CD4⁺ cells. We used this novel tool to study CD4⁺ cells in different tissues during viral haemorrhagic septicaemia infection (VHSV) using flow cytometric technique. Flow cytometric analyses revealed an enhanced level of surface CD4-1 expression in the infected group in major lymphoid organs and in the intestine. These results suggest an important role for the T-helper cells within the immune response against viruses, comparable to the immune response in higher vertebrates.

Purpose

Design/methodology/approach

Findings

Originality/value

Background and Aim:

Aspergillus flavus causes human and animal diseases through either inhalation of fungal spores or ingestion of mycotoxins as aflatoxins produced in human and animal feed as secondary metabolites. This study was aimed to detect the incidence of A. flavus and its aflatoxins in human sputum and milk powder samples and explore the efficacy of pure propolis (PP) and propolis nanoemulsion (PNE) as natural decontaminants against fungal growth and its released aflatoxins.

Materials and Methods:

A. flavus was isolated by mycological culture and identified macroscopically and microscopically. Coconut agar medium and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) were used to qualitatively detect aflatoxins in the isolated strains. Toxins were extracted from toxigenic strains by the fast extraction technique. The quantitative detection of toxin types was explored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). PNE was prepared by a novel method using natural components and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Zetasizer, and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of PP and PNE on A. flavus growth and its toxin were determined by the well-diffusion method and HPLC.

Results:

The mycological culture showed that 30.9% and 29.2% of sputum and milk powder samples were positive for A. flavus, respectively. TLC confirmed the production of 61.8% and 63.2% aflatoxin by the isolated strains in sputum and milk powder, respectively. PP and PNE showed antifungal activity on A. flavus growth with mean±standard error (SE) inhibition zones of 27.55±3.98 and 39.133±5.32 mm, respectively. HPLC revealed positive contamination of toxin extracts with AFB1, AFB2, and AFG2 at 0.57±0.026, 0.28±0.043, and 0.1±0.05 mg/L, respectively. After treatment with PP and PNE, a significant decrease in AFB1, AFB2, and AFG2 concentrations was observed.

Conclusion:

This study suggested using propolis and its nanoformulation as antifungal and antitoxins in human medicine and the food industry to increase the food safety level and stop food spoilage.

The present study was done on 20 adult specimens of Nile catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
to demonstrate the morphological characteristics of the cardiac region of the stomach.
The cardiac mucosa was characterized by a large number of well-defined long
folds. The surface epithelial cells were simple columnar type covered with distinct
microvilli and connected by desmosomes. Few PAS- and AB- positive goblet cells
were found between the surface epithelium. In addition, many lymphocytes, macrophages,
and blood capillaries were seen in the epithelial layer. The lamina propria was
exclusively occupied by simple branched gastric (cardiac) glands that fill most of the
thickness of the mucosa and open into gastric pits. The gastric glands were composed
of numerous secretory tubules that were lined with one type of cells with a cytoplasm
containing numerous electron-dense granules, well-developed rER, mitochondria,
and a large number of free ribosomes. Moreover, macrophages were distributed
in the lamina propria and submucosa. Telocytes were observed in the cardiac region
for the first time around the glands, blood vessels, between the muscular layer, and
in the serosa. A large number of mast cells could be identified in the submucosa
around the blood vessels. The presence of many immune cells in the wall of the cardiac
stomach suggests involvement in immune response in addition to its digestive
function.