Ameliorating Iron Overload in Intestinal Tissue of Adult Male Rats: Quercetin vs Deferoxamine

Figure 1

Representative photographs of the histologic sections of intestinal duodenal tissues obtained from the studied groups. A: The duodenal tissues of control group show normal histological architecture, while villi appear as a finger like projections with pointed ends (V) lined by a single layer of columnar epithelium with basal oval nuclei (CE), few goblet cells (g), and lamina propria (LP) with few cellular elements can be seen. B: The duodenal tissues of iron-overloaded group. The villi show loss of epithelial lining, abundant intraepithelial lymphocytes (arrow), iron deposit (arrow head), and giant cells (thick arrow) at their tops. Numerous goblet cells are also observed (g). Villi are also showing area of single epithelial columnar layer (CE) and areas of stratified epithelial lining (SE). Luminal iron (Li) overeroded villi (EV) are seen. C: Duodenal tissues of iron +DFO treated group show an eroded villus (EV) with area of single epithelial columnar layer (CE) and another part shows stratified epithelial lining (SE). Prominent lamina propria (LP) with iron deposit (arrow head) and demarcated intraepithelial lymphocytes (arrow) are clarified. Luminal iron (Li) is noticed. D: Duodenal tissues of iron + Quercetin-treated group show villi with area of single columnar layer with basal oval nuclei (CE) and small part shows stratified epithelial lining (SE). Prominent lamina propria (LP) with demarcated intraepithelial lymphocytes (arrow) and goblet cell (g) are clarified. (H&E × 400).