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The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effects of either vitamin D or coconut oil or both together on the histological changes of the thyroid glands of diabetic adult male mice (Mus musculus) induced by using streptozotocin (STZ). The mice were divided into 7 equal groups (10 mice/each). The duration of the experiment was 4 weeks. Group I: normal control mice, a group without any treatments. Groups II and III: non-diabetic mice groups received vitamin D orally in a daily dose of 500 IU (6.25 ml/kg body weight) or coconut oil (7.5 ml/kg body weight/day), respectively. Group IV: diabetic mice group injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of STZ dissolved in saline solution in a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight to induce diabetes. Groups V, VI and VII: diabetic mice administered orally with vitamin D or coconut oil or both together with the same previous doses. The results recorded non-significant changes in the blood glucose, insulin levels of non-diabetic mice groups received either vitamin D or coconut oil. A high significant increase in blood glucose level and a significant decrease in insulin were found in the diabetic mice group as compared to the normal control ones. Diabetic mice group received the vitamin D only recorded a slight decrease in blood glucose level and a slight increase in insulin; while the diabetic mice received coconut oil alone or co-administered with vitamin D recorded a significant decrease in blood glucose levels and a significant increase in insulin as compared to diabetic group. Histologically, the mice of normal control group or that received either vitamin D or coconut oil showed the normal structure of thyroid follicular cells. Each follicle consists of a layer of simple cuboidal epithelial cells with spherical densely-stained nuclei, and its cavity contains vacuolated acidophilic colloid. The diabetic mice demonstrated many histopathological changes in the thyroid included vacuolated thyrocytes, enlargement of numerous follicles that were filled with colloids, and others demonstrated fusion between them. The appearance of dilated and congested blood vessels in the interstitia between the follicles was also seen. The diabetic mice administered with vitamin D elucidated little improvement in the thyrocytes, while that received either coconut oil alone or co-administered with vitamin D illustrated a marked recovery in the structure of the thyrocytes with normal nuclei similar to the control form. In conclusion, diabetic mice received either coconut oil alone or co-administered with vitamin D demonstrated stronger anti-hyperglycemic effects to recovery the glucose and insulin rates to normal levels, and restored the histological architecture of the thyroid glands to approximately the normal status than those given vitamin D only.

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) has been used to precondition recipient hosts before adoptive T cell therapy to tumor. The aim of the present study was to analyze the host cellularity changes resulting from different doses and timing of CTX administration. To address this aim, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC)-bearing mice (5×105cells/mouse) were intraperitoneal injected with 2 or 4 mg/mouse CTX either on day 1 or 7. The results revealed a significant decrease in the number of the tumor cells at 4 mg/mouse CTX on day 1 with an induction of 99% (11.6×106 cells/µl) death of the EAC cells. On day 1 post-EAC cells inoculation, there was a significant increase in the absolute number of splenocytes in EAC-bearing mice at 2 and 4 mg/mouse CTX. The absolute number of leukocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes in EAC-bearing mice non-significantly increased at 2 mg/mouse CTX on day 7 and at 4 mg/mouse CTX on day 1 and 7. Additionally, the absolute number of neutrophils was significantly increased at 2 mg/mouse CTX on day 7 and non-significantly increased at 4 mg/mouse CTX on day 7. The results indicate that: 1) the anti-tumor effect of CTX is a dose- and time-dependent, 2) the use of high dose of chemotherapy is preferable to anti-tumor adoptive cell therapy since it induces higher anti-tumor effects with less lymphopenia.

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a chemotherapeutic drug used for treatment of certain solid tumors, lymphomas, and some autoimmune diseases. The antitumor effect of CTX is associated with leukopenia and liver dysfunction. There is an interest in exploring agents that can minimize the adverse effect of CTX without ameliorating its antitumor efficacy. Among the potential agents is a recent study on white button mushroom, which has been found to exert anti-toxic effects. This study was designed to assess the beneficial effects of mushroom extract on the antitumor and toxic effects of CTX. Swiss albino mice were inoculated with intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 0.25 x 106 (day 0) of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Mice were treated with a single dose of CTX (200mg/kg) on day 1 or day 7 post EAC inoculation. Agaricus bisporus mushroom extract (666 mg/kg) was administrated (i.p.) on days 8-14 post tumor challenge. The numbers of leukocytes as well as liver function were assessed on day 17. Treatment with CTX on day 7 induced 46% and 37% decrease in the absolute number of monocytes and neutrophils. It had no effect on serum alanine amino transferase activity, while it induced 57% decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase activity. It induced 41% decrease in liver GSH as compared with tumor-bearing mice. Co-administration of mushroom extract with CTX induced 86% decrease in the number of EAC cells, 72% increase in the absolute number of monocytes, 37% increase in the absolute numbers of neutrophils, 57% decrease in serum ALP activity, 100% increase in GPX activity and 35% increase in GSH as compared with tumor-bearing mice. These results indicate to the beneficial effects of mushroom to enhance the antitumor effect of CTX coincided with reduction of its toxic effect.