Browsing by Author "Charallah, Salima"

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    An overview of the welfare of animals used for scientific and educational purposes in Algeria
    (Scand-LAS, 2020) Benmouloud, Abdelouafi; Charallah, Salima; Seridi, Nabila; Raache, Rachida; Aouichat, Souhila; Ghoul, Adel; Tennah, Safia; Benaissa, Mohamed H; Laouadi, Mourad; Fellah, Borhane H; Khammar, Farida
    This study describes the welfare and animals used for scientific and educational purposes in the field of laboratory animal sciences in Algeria. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the status of the care and use of animals and to improve implementing plans and animal welfare measures. A literature review was performed using online databases and reference lists of the US National Library of Medicine to assess the prevalence of animal use for research in Algeria between 2013 and 2017. Also a retrospective study was conducted using the Pasteur Institute of Algeria report for 2015 to assess the prevalence of animal use in both teaching and research. The first workshop on animal experimentation was organized in 2013 in collaboration with international animal laboratory organizations (ICLAS and OIE) and involving the participation of universities, research centers, veterinary schools and the Pasteur Institute of Algeria. In addition, after accreditation of the Algerian Association of Experimental Animal Sciences, a number of training workshops and courses relating to laboratory animal sciences were organized. In Algeria the use of laboratory animals in research and education is a subject of debate regarding the need to establish regulations and to propose an appropriate ethical framework for the use of animals. Finally, some actions have been already taken in Algeria to promote the ethical use of animals but many more sustainable actions are needed and require cooperation, harmonization of policies and establishment of regional and international networks for experience exchange.
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    Sex differences in adrenal cortex beta-catenin immunolocalisation of the Saharan gerbil, Libyan jird (Meriones libycus, Lichtenstein, 1823)
    (Via Medica, 2023) Aknoun-Sail, Naouel; Zatra, Yamina; Sahut-Barnola, Isabelle; Benmouloud, Abdelouafi; Kheddache, Arezki; Khaldoun, Mounira; Charallah, Salima; Khammar, Farida; Martinez, Anne Marie Lefrançois; Amirat, Zaïna
    Background: The adrenal cortex provides adequate steroidogenic responses to environmental changes. However, in desert rodents, the adrenocortical activity varies according to several factors especially sex, age, and seasonal variations. Herein, we examined the sex differences in the adrenal cortex activity and explored the involvement of sex hormones in the regulation of this function in Libyan jird Meriones libycus. Materials and methods: Twenty-four adult male and female animals weighing 109–110 g were captured in the breeding season and equally assigned into control and gonadectomised groups. Animal euthanasia was performed 50 days after the gonadectomy. Adrenal gland was processed for structural and immunohistochemistry study of b-catenin, whereas plasma was used for cortisol assay. Results: The results showed that female adrenal gland weight was heavier than male and gonadectomy reduced this dimorphism. The adrenal cortex thickness was greater in the female than in the male, mainly due to significant development of the zona fasciculata. Females presented higher cell density in fasciculata and reticularis zones. The plasma cortisol was higher in females than in males. The immunolocalisation of b-catenin showed that the expression was particularly glomerular in both sexes. However, in the female, the immunostaining was present in the zona reticularis while it was absent in the control male. Orchiectomy reduced zona glomerulosa cell density and induced hypertrophy of zona reticularis characterised by strong b-catenin immunoreactivity. However, ovariectomy leads to hyperplastic expansion and high b-catenin expression in the zona glomerulosa associated with zona fasciculata and reticularis hypoplasia distinguished by weak b-catenin immunostaining. Conclusions: Results indicated that sex hormones had a major role in the regulation of the Saharan gerbil’s adrenal homeostasis by modulating b-catenin signalling. Androgens seem to inhibit the Wnt-b-catenin pathway and oestrogens are activators of the adrenal inner zones.