Effect of garlic consumption on the argyrophilic nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) in splenocytes and thymocytes of rats

Figures & data

Figure 1.  Silver-stained NORs pattern in thymocyte nuclei. Different sizes of nuclei were observed and stained pale red whereas silver stained NORs appeared as small black and dark brown intra nuclear dots in tissues from garlic-treated rats. Nuclei contain more than one dot (magnification = 1200×).

Table 1. Mass of rats, spleen and thymus in the control and the garlic-fed groups.

Mass	Controls (g)	No.	Garlic-fed (g)	No.	p value
Rats (pre treatment)	189.3±7.0*	9	188.1±7.1	8	0.906
Rats (post treatment)	281.3±16.1	9	274±10.1	8	0.722
Spleen	1.01±0.06	9	1.09±0.05	8	0.393
Thymus	0.45±0.02	9	0.35±0.03	8	0.017
Note: *Results are given as mean±SEM.

Table 2. Correlation coefficient for the TAA and NA in different examined groups.

Cells	Groups	No. cells	Variable series	r	Significance
Splenocytes	Garlic	700	NA×TAA	0.122	p<0.01
	Control	800	NA×TAA	0.082	p<0.05
Thymocytes	Garlic	800	NA×TAA	0.010	p=0.771
	Control	900	NA×TAA	−0.046	p=0.160
Notes: NA, nuclear area; TAA, total AgNORs area.

Table 3. Image analysis of AgNORs staining in splenocytes.

	TAL pixel^2		TAA pixel^2		NL pixel^2		NA pixel^2
TAA/NA	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	TAN	No. splenocytes	No. spleen	Groups
0.13	33	38.3±0.7	75	110.6±4	115	116.0±1	862	896.6±14	900	700	7	Garlic
0.10	29	32.5±0.6	55	83.4±3	114	114.5±0.9	851	885.7±13	1002	800	8	Control
p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p=0.191	p=0.245	p=0.453	p=0.583	–	–	–	Significance
Student's t-test for arithmetic means and Mann–Whitney for medians were used to compare groups. NA, Nuclear Area; NL, Nuclear Length; TAA, Total AgNORs Area; TAL, Total AgNORs Length; TAN, Total AgNORs Number.

Table 4. Image analysis of AgNORs-staining in thymocytes.

	TAL pixel^2		TAA Pixel^2		NL Pixel^2		NA pixel^2
TAA/NA	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	TAN	No. thymocytes	No. thymus	Groups
0.13	33	39.4±0.7	72	108.1±3	112	113.4±0.6	828	871.0±10	1124	800	8	Garlic
0.09	29	32.9±0.5	56	77.6±2	116	116±0.5	895	921.6±8.4	1254	900	9	Control
p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	p<0.001	–	–	–	Significance
Student's t-test for arithmetic means and Mann–Whitney for medians were used to compare groups. NA, Nuclear Area;NL, Nuclear Length; TAA, Total AgNORs Area; TAL, Total AgNORs Length; TAN, Total AgNORs Number.