en Immunology Immunology پژوهشي Research <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Introduction: </span></b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Lead is one of the most important heavy metals polluting the environment and it enters the body of humans and animals through digestion and breathing and has toxic effects on different body tissues. In the present study, the protective properties of <i>Aloe vera</i> plant gel in the pituitary tissue following lead acetate poisoning were investigated.</span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Materials and Methods: </span></b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups including; The control group: </span><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">(normal saline, IP)</span><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">, lead acetate group: (20 mg/kg/day, IP), lead acetate-<i>Aloe vera</i> group:</span><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> lead acetate (20 mg/kg/day, IP) + </span><i><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Aloe vera </span></i><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">gel (400 mg/kg/day, oral)</span><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> and <i>Aloe vera</i> group</span><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: </span><i><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Aloe vera </span></i><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">gel (400 mg/kg/day, oral)</span><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">. After six weeks, the rats were euthanized and the pituitary glands from each animal were dissected. For the microscopic examination of tissue sections, hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed.</span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Results: </span></b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">The results of the present study showed that treatment with lead acetate caused changes such as weight loss (P < 0.05), atrophy, and hyperemia, as well as tissue changes, including a general decrease in the number of cells in the pituitary gland (P < 0.05). Administration of <i>Aloe vera </i>gel (400 mg/kg) improved all the microscopic complications and disorders and macroscopic changes caused by lead acetate in the pituitary tissue.</span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Conclusion: </span></b><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">It can be concluded </span><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">that </span><i><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Aloe vera </span></i><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">played an ameliorative role in the lead acetate-mediated pituitary injury in rats.</span></span></span></span></span><br> <br> &nbsp; Aloe vera, Lead acetate, Pituitary, Rat 23 26 http://jbrms.medilam.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-722-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Taher Jamshidzadeh a.m.bahrami33@gmail.com 10031947532846007540 10031947532846007540 No Department of Histology, Faculty of Para-veterinary, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran Ali Mohammad Bahrami am.bahrami@ilam.ac.ir 10031947532846007541 10031947532846007541 Yes Department of Histology, Faculty of Para-veterinary, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran Shahnaz Yousefizadeh sh.yousefizadeh@ilam.ac.ir 10031947532846007542 10031947532846007542 No Department of Laboratory and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Para-veterinary, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran Nematolah Shakrami shakarami1355@gmail.com 10031947532846007543 10031947532846007543 No Department of Histology, Faculty of Para-veterinary, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran