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Exercise increases the generation of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidant and antioxidant status in sedentary middle-aged (36.8 ± 5.4 years, n=20) and postmenopausal women (51.4 ± 3.3 years, n=11) before and after acute calisthenic exercise. Both subject groups performed an acute calisthenic exercise for 55 minutes. The intensity of the exercise was 60–70% of maximal heart rate, as determined by Karvonen et al. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), gluathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AA) and nitric oxide (NOx) levels were determined spectrophotometrically. The postmenopausal group's pre-exercise MDA levels were high and GSH levels were low, compared with those of the middle aged group. This result indicated increased lipid peroxidation after menopause. In both groups, plasma MDA levels and NOx levels increased and plasma AA levels decreased following calisthenic exercise. The present study indicates for the first time that plasma MDA levels increase significantly after a bout of acute calisthenic exercise, involving all large muscle groups at 60–70% of maximal heart rate while plasma AA levels decrease concurrently. These effects may be due to increased lipid peroxidation in both middle aged and postmenopausal women. The finding of low plasma GSH levels and high plasma MDA levels in the postmenopausal group suggests the possible development of a disturbance in the oxidant and antioxidant status after menopause. Reduced levels of AA following acute calisthenic exercise might indicate the consumption of plasma antioxidants protecting the plasma lipids against the damage of lipid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because brain development continues during adolescence, the effects of chronic stress on hippocampal changes that occur during that period are permanent. Oxytocin, which is synthesized in the hypothalamus and has many receptors in brain regions, including the hippocampus, may affect learning-memory. This study aimed to investigate chronic restraint stress on hippocampal functions, and hippocampal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in adolescent male and female rats and the role of oxytocin in these effects., Material/methods: Experimental groups included control, stress+oxytocin, and stress+saline groups. Restraint stress was applied to all the stress groups for 1 h/day, for 7 days. Learning-memory tests were performed after the 7th day., Results: In the stress+oxytocin groups, the process of finding the platform was shorter than in others groups. The stress+saline groups spent less time, whereas the stress+oxytocin groups spent more time, on the target quadrant in the probe trial. In the stress+oxytocin groups thigmotaxis time (indicating anxiety) decreased, but VEGF and BDNF levels increased. A positive correlation was found between VEGF and BDNF levels and the time spent within the target quadrant., Conclusions: The results indicate that impaired hippocampal learning and memory loss due to chronic restraint stress can be positively affected by intranasal oxytocin.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and other common treatment methods used in the process of wound healing in terms of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the study, 24 female and 24 male adult Wistar-Albino rats were divided into five groups: (1) the non-wounded group having no incision wounds, (2) the control group having incision wounds, (3) the TENS (2 Hz, 15 min) group, (4) the physiological saline (PS) group and (5) the povidone iodine (PI) group. In the skin sections, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical methods. In the non-wounded group, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α signaling molecules was weaker in the whole tissue; however, in the control group, significant inflammatory response occurred, and strong cytokine expression was observed in the dermis, granulation tissue, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands (P < 0.05). In the TENS group, the decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 immunoreaction in the skin was significant compared to the other forms of treatment (P < 0.05). Distinctive decreases of pro-inflammatory cytokines observed in the dermis in the TENS group suggest that TENS shortened the healing process by inhibating the inflammation phase.

Aim: It is well known that head trauma results in damage in hippocampal and cortical areas of the brain and impairs cognitive functions. The aim of this study is to explore the neuroprotective effect of combination therapy with magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) and progesterone in the 7-days-old rat pups subjected to contusion injury., Material and Methods: Progesterone (8 mg/kg) and MgSO4 (150 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally immediately after induction of traumatic brain injury. Half of groups were evaluated 24 hours later, the remaining animals 3 weeks after trauma or sham surgery. Anxiety levels were assessed with open field activity and elevated plus maze; learning and memory performance were evaluated with Morris Water maze in postnatal 27 days., Results: Combined therapy with progesterone and magnesium sulfate significantly attenuated trauma-induced neuronal death, increased brain VEGF levels and improved spatial memory deficits that appear later in life. Brain VEGF levels were higher in rats that received combined therapy compared to rats that received either medication alone. Moreover, rats that received combined therapy had reduced hipocampus and prefrontal cortex apoptosis in the acute period., Conclusion: These results demonstrate that combination of drugs with different mechanisms of action may be preferred in the treatment of head trauma.

Aim: Intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of beta amyloid peptide (Aβ) in rats can be used to model certain aspects of Alzheimer disease (AD).The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular Aβ (1-42) peptide injection on caspase-3 activity and expression of nNOS and iNOS, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and NOx in the hippocampus, temporal cortex and parietal cortex., Material and Methods: Groups were defined as 1) young adult control, 2) Aβ (1-42) injected young adult, 3) aged control and 4) Aβ (1-42) injected aged group. Stereotaxic surgery was performed. Aβ (1-42) peptide (5μg/1μl, in each icv) was administered bilateral intracerebroventricularly as a single injection., Results: Caspase-3 activity significantly increased in Aβ (1-42) injected aged rats when compared with young adult rats. Aβ (1-42) significantly increased lipid peroxidation in both young adult and aged rats. There was an increase in nNOS expression in the temporal cortex of Aβ (1-42) injected aged rats., Conclusion: The most significant increase was seen in hippocampus in caspase-3 levels of the Aged- Aβ 1-42 group. nNOS expression in the hippocampus of aged rats was increased compared to young adult rats. However, nNOX expression in the hippocampus of Aβ (1-42) injected aged rats decreased significantly.

This study compared the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), saline solution (SS), povidone-iodine (PI), and lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia) through expression of growth factors in a rat model of wound healing. Six experimental groups were established, each containing 8 rats: a healthy group with no incision wounds, an incision-control group, an incision and TENS group, an incision and SS group, an incision and PI group, and an incision and lavender oil group. Experiments continued for 5 days, after which the skin in the excision area was removed. Tissue concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Tissue expressions of EGF, PDGF-A, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 were determined using immunohistochemistry. Wound closure progressed more rapidly in the TENS and lavender oil groups than in the control and other study groups. In particular, PDGF-A expressions in the dermis and EGF expression in the epidermis were significantly intense in the TENS group (P < 0.05). In addition, ELISA levels of growth factors such as PDGF-A and EGF were significantly higher in TENS group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These immunohistochemical and ELISA results suggest that TENS may improve wound healing through increasing growth factors in the dermis and epidermis more than other topical applications.

Maternal exercise during pregnancy has been suggested to exert beneficial effects on brain functions of the offspring. Leptin is an adipocytokine which is secreted from adipose tissues and has positive effects on learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity. In this study, pregnant rats were moderately exercised and we observed the effects of this aerobic exercise on their prepubertal and adult offsprings' spatial learning, hippocampal neurogenesis, and expression of leptin. All the pups whose mothers exercised during pregnancy learned the platform earlier and spent longer time in the target quadrant. Their thigmotaxis times were shorter than those measured in the control group. It is shown that hippocampal CA1, CA3 neuron numbers increased in both prepubertal and adult pups, in addition that GD neuron numbers increased in adult pups. Leptin receptor expression significantly increased in the prepubertal male, adult male, and adult female pups. In our study, maternal running during pregnancy resulted in significant increase in the expression of leptin receptor but not in prepubertal female pups, enhanced hippocampal cell survival, and improved learning memory capability in prepubertal and adult rat pups, as compared to the control group. In conclusion, maternal exercise during pregnancy may regulate spatial plasticity in the hippocampus of the offspring by increasing the expression of leptin.

Aim: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder which has negative effects on cognitive functions and behavior. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of TBI on anxiety and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity on the prefrontal cortex of immature rats, which is one of the anxiety-related regions of the brain in 7-day-old immature rats subjected to contusion injury. MATERIAL and, Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: Control (n=7), Sham (n=7) and TBI (n=7). Anxiety levels were assessed with open field activity and elevated plus maze in postnatal 27 days. Prefrontal cortex damage related to TBI was examined by cresyl violet staining and VEGF immunostaining. Prefrontal cortex neuronal density was calculated. Serum corticosterone levels were determined., Results: The anxiety level in the TBI group was significantly greater than the control and sham groups. The prefrontal cortex VEGF immunostaining score and neuron density were decreased in the TBI group compared to control and sham group. Serum corticosterone levels were significantly increased in the TBI group., Conclusion: These results indicate that TBI decreases VEGF immunoreactivity in prefrontal cortex neurons and increases the anxiety levels of immature rats.