Browsing by Author "Page, B. J."

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    Anti-ulcerogenic properties of Albuca setosa
    (2013-12) Ndebia, E. J.; Tchokonte-Nana, Venant; Umapathy, E.; Tamadjou Tchuen, C. R.; Williams, R. P.; Sewani-Rusike, C. R.; Page, B. J.; Iputo, J. E.; Anatomy and Histology
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Albuca setosa is a medicinal plant used by Xhosa tribe in the rural area of South Africa for the treatment of wounds, articulation problems, rheumatoid arthritis and digestive disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the healing effect of A. setosa on experimental induced gastric ulcer. The anti- ulcerogenic effects of A. setosa were investigated in male Wistar rats. Gastric ulcer was induced per os using indomethacin (50 mg/kg) and ethanol (2 ml/animal). The ulceration lesion index was calculated for each one of the ulcerated stomach; the macroscopic and histomorphology evaluation were made. In indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers, oral administration of A. setosa significantly inhibited (P<0.01) gastric ulcer formation by 82 and 83% at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. In ethanol- induced gastric ulcers, A. setosa significantly inhibited (P<0.05) gastric ulcer formation by 39 and 35% at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Macroscopic evaluation of ulcerated stomachs of A. setosa treated groups showed a reduced area of gastric lesion, with moderate disruption of the gastric epithelium as well as the mucosa stromal cell. The results obtained in this study suggest that the A. setosa possesses some anti-ulcerogenic properties, which may support evidence for its traditional use.
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    Islet neogenesis is stimulated by brief occlusion of the main pancreatic duct
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2004) Woodroof, C. W.; De Villiers, C.; Page, B. J.; Van der Merwe, L.; Ferris, W. F.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Objective. Current models of islet neogenesis either cause substantial, pancreatic damage or continuously stimulate the pancreas, making these models unsuitable for the study of early events that occur in the neogenic process. We aimed to develop a method where the initial events that culminate in increased pancreatic endocrine mass can be studied. Design and methods: Ten 12-week-old female Wistar rats were subject to a midline laparotomy, the pancreas was isolated and the main pancreatic duct was occluded for 60 seconds. The pancreas was released and carefully relocated within the abdomen. Ten age, strain-and sex-matched control rats were subjected to a sham operation. The animals were killed 56 days post occlusion, and the pancreata excised and fixed for histological analysis. Body, pancreatic and hepatic weights were noted at termination and serum was taken for analysis. The endocrine-to-exocrine ratio was calculated and the number of endocrine cells in each islet from the sectioned pancreata was counted. Results. Occlusion of the main pancreatic duct for 60 seconds results in an increase in endocrine mass by 80% 56 days post occlusion. This constitutes an increase in endocrine units (1 - 6 cells), and in small (7 - 30 cells), medium (31 - 60 cells) and large (>60 cells) islet by 85%, 96%, 95% and 71% respectively. Conclusion. Brief occlusion of the main pancreatic duct results in an increase in pancreatic endocrine mass. An increase in endocrine units and small islet is indicative of islet neogenesis. Therefore, owing to the briefness of the stimulation, this model can therefore be used to study the initial events that occur during the neogenic process.
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    Organ of sight: Biotechnology, bionic cornea, tissue engineering and rebuilding of the human cornea with cultured-stem cells: key-issues, biomedical science, histology and cell-biology perspectives.
    (Anatomy To-day, 2010) Du Toit, D. F.; Heydenrych, L.; Cockburn, N.; Rogers, G.; Lenake, N.; Van der Merwe, E. L.; Van Zyl, L.; Abrahams, H.; De Boer, B.; Joubert, F.; Cook, C.; Page, B. J.