Background: In male animal of most mammals, a rudimentary mammary structure is encountered; however the male albino rat mammary gland structure is unique in displaying marked development and showing great sexual dimorphism. Aim of the work: Detection of causes and importance of the unique histological and serological features of adult male albino rat's mammary gland. Materials and methods: Twenty eight adult healthy albino rats were utilized and separated into male and female groups. Blood samples were collected for serological analysis of estradiol 17β (ERB), progesterone (PRA) and prolactin (PRL) hormones. Small pieces of the right mammary glands were submitted to tissue epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I) and transforming growth factor-α (TGF α) analysis. Paraffin sections were prepared for histological; Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome (MT) staining and immunohistochemical stain of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors. The left glands were prepared for whole mount carmine alum stain technique. Results: The male group revealed a high statistically significant decrease of PRL hormone and a statistically significant decrease of ERB hormone levels in comparison to female group. Progesterone hormone serum level showed no statistically significant difference between both groups. A statistically significant decrease regarding tissue EGF, IGF I and TGFα in male group was detected. Whole mount technique showed a remarkable glandular growth of the male mammary glands with elaborated lobulo-alveolar structure. Short thick interlobular ducts, prominent lateral buds and large terminal lobules were seen. The histological examination of male group revealed less developed stroma in the form of thin capsule and septa, thin periductal fibrous stroma. Lobulo-alveolar structures were predominant in male gland. An intense positive immunohistochemical staining of progesterone receptor was detected in some ductal and stromal cells in male MG. Conclusion: In albino rat, the male mammary gland was well developed as female despite of the normal levels of the steroid hormones and without drug supplementation or endocrinal disturbance. This condition can provide fundamental information about a physiological type of gynecomastia that does not need hormonal replacement and may need only cosmetic surgical intervention.

Forty adult male albino rats were utilized. They were classified into three main groups: the control group (group I), the experimental diabetic group (group II), and the possible protected group (group III). Type 2 diabetes was induced in rats in groups II and III by giving them a high-fat diet and a single low dose of streptozotocin. Diabetic rats were divided into two subgroups: untreated subgroup IIa and treated subgroup IIb. The possible protected group received licorice ethanolic extract concomitant with the high-fat diet and the single low dose of streptozotocin. At the end of the experiment, the kidneys were dissected out and processed for light and electron microscopic examination. Fasting blood glucose level, fasting insulin level, serum urea, and creatinine were estimated and statistically analyzed. ResultsExamination of the renal cortex of untreated diabetic subgroup IIa demonstrated glomerulosclerosis and distorted podocyte foot processes. The cells lining convoluted tubules revealed thick basement membranes, disorganization of basal infoldings, and mitochondrial disarrangement. The area% of positive Bax immunoreaction was significantly increased in subgroup IIa as compared with subgroup IIb and group III. Examination of the renal cortex of the treated diabetic animals (subgroup IIb) revealed little improvement and failure of licorice extract to normalize renal cortical changes, most probably due to late intervention. In contrast, the protected group (group III) revealed a nearly preserved normal architecture. ConclusionChanges in the renal cortical structure were attenuated with prophylactic therapy of licorice ethanolic extract.