Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Histology

Background: Folinic acid (FA) is used to reduce Methotrexate (MTX) toxicity during treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, FA has been shown to reduce MTX treatment efficacy and cure rates of ALL.Recent studies suggested that oral fish oil (FO) supplementation may protect bone during MTX chemotherapy. Aim of the study: To compare the protective effect of FA versus FO on the growing bone of MTX-treated young rats monitored by histological, immunohistochemical and laboratory methods. Material &Methods: Forty two, 6 weeks-old-male albino rats were divided into: group I (control), group II (MTX-treated), group III (MTX and FA-treated) and group IV (MTX and FO-treated).MTX was injected subcutaneously, once daily for 5 consecutive days, 0.65 mg/kg, followed by 9 days of rest, then 1.3 mg/kg twice weekly. FA was injected intraperitoneally, 6 hours after each dose of MTX, 0.87 mg/kg, then1.3 mg/kg twice weekly. FO was given orally daily, 0.5 ml/100 gm. Left knee joints were processed for measuring RANKL/ OPG ratio (Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kapp-B Ligand/ Osteoprotegerin). Right knee joint sections were stained with H&E, Safranin O, Masson's Trichrome and immunohistochemichal staining for caspase-3. Morphometric measurements and statistical analysis were done

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