Phytotherapy is frequently considered to be less toxic and free from side effects than synthetic drugs. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate the protective use of crude water extract of Morus alba leaves on ocular functions including cataractogenesis, biochemical diabetic and hypercholesterolemic markers, retinal neurotransmitters and retinopathy of rat pups maternally subjected to either diabetes and/or hypercholesterolemia. Application of crude water extract of Morus alba resulted in amelioration of the alterations of maternal serum glucose, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and creatine phosphokinase activity as well as retinal neurotransmitters including acetylcholine (ACE), adrenaline (AD), nor-adrenaline (NAD), serotonin (5-HT), histamine (HS), dopamine (DA) and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). The retina of pups of either diabetic and/or hypercholesterolemia mothers exhibited massive alterations of retinal neurotransmitters. The alterations of retinal neurotransmitters were correlated with the observed pathological alterations of retinal pigmented epithelium, photoreceptor inner segment and ganglion cells and increased incidence of DNA fragmentation and apoptosis cell death. However, protection with Morus alba extract led to amelioration of the pathological alterations of retinal neurons and estimated neurotransmitters. Furthermore, a striking incidence of cataract was detected in pups of either diabetic and/or hypercholesterolemic mothers. Highest cataractogenesis was observed in pups of combined -treated groups. Our data indicate that experimental maternal diabetes alone or in combination with hypercholesterolemia led to alteration in the ocular structures of their pups, with an increasing incidence of cataract and retinopathy, and the effects of the extract might be attributed to the hypoglycaemic, antihypercholesterolemic and anti-oxidative potential of flavonoids, the major components of the plant extract.

SUMMARY:Three different reptilian species Psammophis sibilans (Order Ophidia), Tarentola annularis (Order Squamata and Crocodylus niloticus (Order Crocodylia) are used in the present study. Their tongue is removed and examined morphologically. Their lingual mucosa examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as processed for histological investigation. Gross morphological studies revealed variations of tongue gross structure being elongated with bifurcated end in P. sibilans or triangular flattened structure with broad base and conical free border in T. annularis or rough triangular fill almost the floor cavity in C. niloticus. At SEM, the lingual mucosa showed fine striated grooves radially arranged in oblique extension with missing of lingual papillae. Numerous microridges are detected above the cell surfaces in P. sibilans. T. annularis exhibited arrangement of conical flattened filiform papillae and abundant of microridges. However in C. niloticus, the lingual mucosa possessed different kinds of filiform papillae besides gustatory papillae and widespread arrangement of taste buds. Histologically, confirmed SEM of illustrating the lingual mucosa protrusion of stratified squamous epithelium in P. sibilans and presence of apical taste buds in conical filiform papillae of T. annularis. The lingual mucosa of C. niloticus revealed different forms of both filiform and gustatory papillae.

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Laboratory experiments were carried out to examine some biological characteristics and heat requirements of the two coccinellid species; viz. Coccinella undecimpunctata L. and Coccinella 9-punctata L. (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) when reared on Sitobionavenae(F.)and Aphis craccivora Koch (Aphididae: Hemiptera)at varying constant temperature regimes of 18, 23, 28, and 33 ˚C, respectively. The obtained results showed that the developmental time of C. undecimpunctataand C. 9punctataimmature stages declined as temperature degrees increased with the shortest developmental time was recorded at 33 ˚C which lasted 15.29 ± 0.98 and 14.00 ± 1.35 days, respectively. Daily larval consumption increased as both temperature and larval age increased with the highest consumption for the fourth instars at 33 ˚C which recorded by 99.71 ± 14.49 and 105.40 ± 10.54 for C. undecimpunctata and C. 9-punctata, respectively. Female and male longevities for both predator species increased as temperature decreased, whereas the females' fecundity increased as temperature increased. Furthermore, the total consumption of female and male of both species increased as temperature increased with the highest consumption recorded during the oviposition period. The total consumption of females was higher than that of males for both predator species, and the corresponding daily consumption values were higher for females than those of males at varying temperatures. The developmental rates for all stages of both species declined as temperature decreased. The lower developmental threshold (T0) recorded the lowest for pupal and larval stages of C.undecimpunctata and C.-9 punctata, respectively. The corresponding amount of heat units which required to completing the development of C. undecimpunctata and C. 9-punctata averaged 380.73± 27.71 and 363.83 ± 14.44dd's, respectively.This study showed that C. undecimpunctata and C. 9punctatasuccessfully complete their development in a wide range of temperatures from 18 to 33 ˚C, indicating their high potential for use in biological control programs against S. avenaeand A. craccivora, respectively.

Tongue from four types of species was investigated in the present study. One reptilian species; Gopherus gopherus and three mammalian Sp. Erinaceous auritus, Mus musculus, Psammomys obesus obesus. The tongue of the selected speciemens were removed and fixed in 10% phosphate buffered formalin and processed for histological and scanning electron microscopic investigation. Habitat and diet interfered with the degree of keratinization which increased in Gopherus gopherus and Psammomys obesus obesus more than the other species. Abundant mucous glands were detected underlying the lingual mucosa of Gopherus gopherus more than others. Erinaceous auritus and Mus musculus possessed a variety of gustatory papillae including fungiform, valate and foliate papillae with regular pattern of taste buds which were disappeared in Psammomys obesus obesus. Gustatory papillae is almost missing in Gopherus gopherus. Different pattern of filliform papillae are distinguished and varied between the studied species. Finally, it is concluded that lingual structures varied between species depending on developmental aspects, habitat and diet.