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In patients with nerve tissue defects, the use of autologous nerve grafts is the standard method of treatment. Alternatives to autologous, nerve grafts have attracted the attention of reconstructive surgeons. In this study, the results of nerve repairs using acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in an experimental rat sciatic nerve defect model are presented.Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups: Group 1: control group, Group 2: negative control group (The compound muscle action potential was observed to be distinctly lower in Groups 3, 4 and 5 in comparison to the control group. In Group 4, the gastrocnemius ratio (GCR) values on the 6th month were statistically significantly lower than the GCR values in Group 3 and Group 5, The histological scores and myelinated axonal counts in Group 5 were statistically significantly higher than the values in Group 3 and Group 4.The results of this study showed that wrapping ADM around nerve grafts resulted in better outcomes with respect to nerve healing.

Amaç: Bu çalışma, sıçanlarda yaşa bağlı olarak timus ve periferal kan dokusunda bulunan lenfositlerin histokimyasal ve histometrik incelenmesi amacıyla yapıldı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmada 60 Wistar Albino sıçan kullanıldı. Farklı yaş grubundaki sıçanlar dekapite edilerek timus ve kan dokuları uzaklaştırıldı. Timus dokuları sırasıyla formol-sukroz ve Holtz solüsyonunda tespit edildi. Kan dokuları ise heparinli tüplere alındı. Alfa naftil asetat esteraz (ANAE) pozitif lenfositleri belirlemek amacıyla kriyostatta timus dokusundan alınan kesitler, pH 5.8'de 5 dakika, kan dokusundan yapılan frotiler ise pH 5.8 'de 3 saat süre ile inkübasyon solüsyonunda boyandı. Bulgular: Timusta her dönem için korteks ve medullada bulunan toplam ANAE (+) lenfosit dağılımı istatistiksel olarak değerlendirildiğinde en fazla puberte, en az ergin dönemde bulunduğu; prepuberte döneminde ise ergin döneme göre bu sayının anlamlı bir şekilde fazla oldugu saptandı. Kan dokusunda ise ANAE pozitif lenfosit sayılarının prepuberte döneminde oldukça az, puberte dönerninde en fazla, ergin dönemde ise puberteye göre az ancak prepuberte dönemine göre fazla olduğu saptandı. Kan dokusunda ANAE negatif lenfositler B lenfosit olarak değerlendirildi. Sonuç: Kan ömeklerinde ANAE (+) lenfositlerin oranı prepuberte ve puberte dönernlerinde timustaki dağılımla paralellik gösterirken, sadece ergin dönemde periferal kandaki pozitiflik oranının timusa göre oldukça yüksek çıkması timustaki involusyona bağlanabileceği gibi, periferdeki bellek T hücrelerinin sürekli olarak proliferasyonu sonucu da bu artışın olabilecegi kanaatini taşımaktayız.

Introduction It is unclear how effective is the intratympanic (IT) steroid treatment on organ of Corti type 1 spiral ganglion, its optimal dosage and frequency of administration. The effect of dexamethasone on cochlear functions in individuals with a normal hearing ability is also unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate, at the electrophysiological and ultrastructural levels, the effect of IT dexamethasone administration in guinea pigs with normal hearing on organ of Corti type 1 spiral ganglion. Methods A total of 20 guinea pigs (n = 40 ears) whose hearing was detected to be normal by electrophysiological tests were included in the study and randomly divided into 6 groups. Four groups were considered study groups, while 2 groups were considered control groups. Dexamethasone was administered intratympanically in doses of 2 mg/mL and 4 mg/mL in the guinea pigs in the study groups. The animals in the control groups received physiological saline in equal doses as the study groups. All interventions were performed under general anesthesia, and the electrophysiological tests were repeated following the IT injections. Results No statistically significant differences were found among the groups when the IT injections were evaluated in terms of the electrophysiological measurements (p > 0.05). The ultrastructural evaluation showed a cellular mitochondrial increase in the spiral ganglions of the cochlea in the groups in which dexamethasone was administered in a dose of 4 mg/mL. Conclusion According to the findings of this study, it can be suggested that the IT injection of dexamethasone is safe, and when applied in a dose of 4 mg/mL, it increases metabolic activity at the cellular level.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, östrüs siklusu (proöstrüs, östrüs, metöstrüs, diöstrüs) boyunca endometriyumda görülen humoral savunma sistemi hücreleri dağılımının histokimyasal olarak belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Ağırlıkları 200-250g arasında değişen üç aylık 28 adet Wistar Albino dişi sıçan (kullanıldı) incelemeye alındı. Sıçanlar, östrüs siklus evrelerine göre her grupta 7 adet sıçan olacak şekilde 4 gruba ayrıldı. Östrüsun dönemlerini belirlemek için, vajinal smear yöntemi uygulandı. Alınan sürüntü temiz bir lam üzerine yayılarak metilen mavisi ile boyandı. Bu bloklardan alınan 6 µ kalınlığındaki kesitler plazma hücrelerini belirlemek için metil green-pironin boyama yöntemi uygulandı.Bulgular: Plazma hücrelerinin en fazla sayıda proöstrüs grubundaki sıçanlarda görüldü. Plazma hücre sayısının sırasıyla östrüs, metöstrus ve diöstrus evrelerine doğru oldukça azaldığı belirlendi. Sonuç: Endometriyumdaki humoral savunma sistemi hücrelerinin, östrüs siklusunun farklı evrelerinde değişik dağılımlar gösterdiği sonucuna varıldı. Östrüs siklusunun, hormonal regülasyonun kontrolü altında birbirini takip eden farklı evreler içerdiği ve evreler arasındaki immunolojik tepkilerdeki farklılığın yine bu hormonal kontroltü altında ortaya çıktığı kanaatine varıldı.

Objectives: : In this study, we aimed to compare morphological and histological differences between magnetic field and electric stimulation therapies in an experimental burn injury model in rats. Materials and methods: Between February 2011 and July 2011, a total of 21 Sprague-Dawley female rats were used in this study. Second-degree burns were induced on the back areas of the rats. All rats were equally divided into three groups including seven in each: the first burn group was treated with antibacterial pomade (Group 1, control group); the second group was treated with both antibacterial pomade and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (Group 2); and the third group was treated with antibacterial pomade and electric stimulation for 14 days (Group 3). Results: Earlier re-epithelialization, wound area contraction, reduction of edema, and hyperaemia were observed on gross examination in the pulsed electromagnetic fields and electric stimulation therapy groups compared to the control group. Neovascularization, collagen density, granulation tissue formation, cell proliferation, and inflammatory cell response of the pulsed electromagnetic fields and electric stimulation group increased, compared to the control group, in the histopathological evaluation (p

The purpose of this study was to ideal cutoff in plasma glucose levels in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in twin pregnancies. A total 311 twin pregnancies were identified from hospital data base from 2007 to 2015. A 50 gram oral glucose challenge test (GCT) was performed at 24–28 weeks’ gestation. In those with a GCT of≥130 mg/dL underwent a 100-gram threehour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The diagnosis of GDM was made if two of the four values on the oral glucose tolerance test were abnormal (The Carpenterand Coustanvalues). The screening results of the GCT was evaluated with ROC curve analysis to obtain a complete sensitivity/specificity at different cut-off points. We excluded all patients with pre-gestational diabetes and GDM diagnosed before 24 weeks of gestation. The positive screen rate was 32.5%. The incidence of GDM was 7.1%. The ROC analysis showed that a GCT cutoff of >135 mg/dL maintained 100% sensitivity, with a specificity of 78.2%. The positive predictive value was 22.9% and the negative predictive value was 100%. Area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.948. Compared to a cutoff of ≥130 mg/dL, a cutoff of >135 mg/dL resulted in 5.1% less patients testing positive while maintaining the same 100% sensitivity. In twin pregnancy screening, a 50 gram GCT cutoff appears to be 135 mg/dL.

Unicornuate uterus with non-communicating rudimentary horn is a rare congenital uterine malformation. It may lead to a variety of infertility and obstetric complications. A 32-year-old woman - para III gravida IV - presented at the third stage of pregnancy with acute onset of severe right abdominal pain. Cesarean delivery with abdominal exploration were performed. During cesarean section a unicornuate uterus with a rudimentary horn was accidentally observed. This is a rare and interesting clinical example of patient who had four healthy babies as results of four uneventful pregnancies despite having a unicornuate uterus which carries a significant risk of infertility and advers pregnancy outcomes.

To evaluate the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in different parts of pelvic connective tissue in postmenopausal women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Ninety-one samples were obtained from only postmenopausal women (42 with POP and 49 non-POP subjects). All women were evaluated by pelvic organ prolapse quantitation. The POP group had stage 2 or more, and the controls had stage 1 or less. Round ligament (RL) and uterosacral ligament (USL) biopsies were obtained from women with POP and controls. Immunohistochemistry for MMP-1 was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections. The two groups were matched for age, body mass index, parity and postmenopausal status. MedCalc Statistical Software Programme Version 12.0.5 was used for statistical analysis. Expression of MMP-1 were significantly higher in both RL and USL tissue from postmenopausal women with POP, compared with controls. MMP-1 immunoreactivities were identified in both RL and USL biopsies from all women with and without POP. The expression pattern of MMP-1 were similar in these ligaments and were significantly higher in POP group compared with control subjects. These changes indicate a possible relation between MMP-1 expression of RL and USL in women with and without POP.

In this study, it is aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intraoperative frozen section in determining the depth of myometrial invasion in patients with endometrioid type endometrial cancer. Retrospective evaluation of 69 patients with endometrioid type endometrial cancer who underwent preoperative MRI and subsequently intraoperative frozen-section and surgical staging between February 2004 and September 2011. Surgical staging was performed according to 2009 FIGO classification. Final histopathological examination was accepted as the standard of reference. The median age of patients was 59 years (range 41-80 years). Histopathological evaluation revealed that 41 patients had superficial myometrial invasion (

OBJECTIVE Medial olivocochlear efferent (MOCE) neurons innervate outer hair cells (OHCs) of the cochlea, which in turn leads to basilar membrane motion. We hypothesized that MOCE-induced alterations in basilar membrane motion, independent of traveling waves, is responsible for the cochlear frequency discrimination of sound. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eleven guinea pigs underwent bilateral otoscopic and audiologic evaluations under general anesthesia. The study comprised two parts. Part I (n=11) included spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) recordings with or without contralateral pure-tone acoustic stimuli (1 and 8 kHz) at 60 dB sound pressure level (SPL). Part II involved pure-tone (1 or 8 kHz) acoustic trauma in the right ears of two randomly selected subgroups (G1: 1 kHz; n=4 and G8: 8 kHz; n=4). The remaining three animals served as controls. After frequency-specific deafness was confirmed by distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), SOAEs were recorded in the left ears in the presence of a contralateral pure-tone (1 and 8 kHz) stimulus of 60 dB SPL. Furthermore, the surface of the organ of Corti was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS The contralateral pure tone led to frequency-specific activation in SOAEs in part I (without trauma) and part II (with trauma) measurements. SEM showed heterogeneous OHC damage along the cochlea in traumatized ears with pure tone. CONCLUSION We suggest that MOCEs convey acoustic information from traumatized ears to intact ears. Traumatized ears can show frequency-specific activation in the presence of diffuse damage in OHCs that excludes the passive transmission of the pressure wave from the perilymph to the basilar membrane.

Objective: Free radicals and nitric oxide play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by ischemia and reperfusion (IR). Despite the protective effects of L-carnitine on renal ischemia reperfusion injury, reports are lacking on its effects on anemia and the erythrocyte antioxidant status of long-term post IR injury in the rat kidney. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of L-carnitine on long-term IR injury in rat kidney. Material and Methods: Male Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups (eight rats each) as Sham, IR (60 minutes of bilateral ischemia and 168 hours reperfusion) and IR+L-carnitine (intraperitoneally; 300 mg/kg/day for 7 days) groups. Anemia, kidney function, lipid peroxidation and kidney and erythro - cyte antioxidant enzyme activities as well as expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were examined. The kidneys were histologically eval - uated. Results: L-carnitine treatment attenuated IR-induced histological alteration and reduced iNOS activitiy, increased eNOS activity, reduced urea and creatinine (each p=0.001), decreased malondi - aldehide levels (p=0.001) and increased both kidney and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes activitiy and glutathione levels (p=0.001). Hematocrit was significantly increased (p=0.038). Conclusion: Our results show that L-carnitine plays a protective role in the pathogenesis of renal injury induced by IR. In addition, L-carnitine may ameliorate the anemia observed after renal IR injury.

Objective: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective anti-cancer drug with limited clinical use due to its serious cardiotoxicity. Urtica dioica L. seeds (UD), have been widely used in folk medicine, particularly in the therapy for advanced cancer patients, possesses a potent anti-oxidant properties. The goal of present study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of UD on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Method: The rats in the UD treated group were given intraperitoneally 2 ml/kg UD. To induce cardiotoxicity, 30 mg/kg DOX was injected intraperitoneally by a single dose and the rats were sacrificed after 48 h. Results: The present study revealed for the first time a protective role of UD against DOXinduced cardiotoxicity. UD therapy significantly protected against DOXinduced myocardial damage which was characterized by conduction abnormalities, vacuolization, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhag es, and myofibrillar disarrangement. As indicators of oxidative stress, DOX caused significantly increase lipid peroxidation and reduction in activities of antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. UD treatment significantly attenuated DOXinduced oxidative injury. Conclusion: The present study showed that UD might be a suitable cardioprotector against toxic effects of DOX.

The uterosacral ligaments are an important part of the pelvic support system. The objective of this study was to compare the expression of collagen type I and collagen type III in the uterosacral ligament biopsies from women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The uterosacral ligament biopsies were obtained from women with POP (n = 29) and non-POP subjects (n = 35). Immunohistochemistry for collagen type I and collagen type III was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections. The two groups were matched for age, body mass index, parity and postmenopausal status. The expression of collagen type I (p

The present study was designed to determine the role of topical treatment with curcumin (Cur) on burn wound healing in rats. The Wistar-albino rats were randomly allotted into one of three experimental groups: 4th, 8th and 12th day (post burn) and all groups include subgroups which Burn and Burn + Cur. Each group contains 12 animals. Burn wounds were made on the back of rat and Cur was administered topically. At the end of the study, all animals were sacrificed and the wound tissues removed for analyse to biochemical and histopathological changes. There was a significant increase in the hydroxyproline levels in the skin of the Cur groups. Cur treated wounds were found to heal much faster as indicated by improved rates of inflammatory cells, collagen deposition, angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation and epithelialization which were also confirmed by histopathological and biochemical examinations. Our data also indicate that there is a rise in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in skin tissues of Cur-treated rats in the Burn group. The results clearly substantiate the beneficial effects of the topical application of Cur in the acceleration of wound healing.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury may occur after renal transplantation, thoracoabdominal aortic surgery, and renal artery interventions. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Urtica dioica L. (UD), in I/R induced renal injury. A total of 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, UD alone, I/R and I/R + UD; each group contain 8 animals. A rat model of renal I/R injury was induced by 45-min occlusion of the bilateral renal pedicles and 24-h reperfusion. In the UD group, 3 days before I/R, UD (2 ml/kg/day intraperitoneal) was administered by gastric gavage. All animals were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion and kidney tissues samples were obtained for histopathological investigation in all groups. To date, no more histopathological changes on intestinal I/R injury in rats by UD treatment have been reported. Renal I/R caused severe histopathological injury including tubular damage, atrophy dilatation, loss of brush border and hydropic epithelial cell degenerations, renal corpuscle atrophy, glomerular shrinkage, markedly focal mononuclear cell infiltrations in the kidney. UD treatment significantly attenuated the severity of intestinal I/R injury and significantly lowered tubulointerstitial damage score than the I/R group. The number of PCNA and TUNEL positive cells in the control and UD alone groups was negligible. When kidney sections were PCNA and TUNEL stained, there was a clear increase in the number of positive cells in the I/R group rats in the renal cortical tissues. However, there is a significant reduction in the activity of PCNA and TUNEL in kidney tissue of renal injury induced by renal I/R with UD therapy. Our results suggest that administration of UD attenuates renal I/R injury. These results suggest that UD treatment has a protective effect against renal damage induced by renal I/R. This protective effect is possibly due to its ability to inhibit I/R induced renal damage, apoptosis and cell proliferation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of quercetin (QE) on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell proliferation in the rat testis after streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). The rats in the QE-treated group were given QE (15 mg/kg) once a day intraperitoneally for 8 weeks starting 3 days prior to STZ injection. At the end of the study, all animals were sacrificed. Testis tissues and blood samples were collected for histopathologic and biochemical analysis. QE treatment significantly decreased the elevated tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities in testis tissues samples. The QE-treated rats in the diabetic group showed an improved histologic appearance and serum testosterone levels. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of in situ identification of apoptosis using terminal dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and there was a rise in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in testis tissues of QE-treated rats in the diabetic group. These results suggest that administration of QE is a potentially beneficial agent to reduce testicular damage in diabetic rats by decreasing oxidative stress.

Myoglobinuric acute renal failure (ARF) is a uremic syndrome caused by traumatic or non-traumatic skeletal muscle breakdown and intracellular elements that are released into the bloodstream. We hypothesized that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy could be beneficial in the treatment of myoglobinuric ARF caused by rhabdomyolysis. A total of 32 rats were used in the study. The rats were divided into four groups: control, control+hyperbaric oxygen (control+HBO), ARF, and ARF+hyperbaric oxygen (ARF+HBO). Glycerol (8 ml/kg) was injected into the hind legs of each of the rats in ARF and ARF+HBO groups. 2.5 atmospheric absolute HBO was applied to the rats in the control+HBO and ARF+HBO groups for 90 min on two consecutive days. Plasma urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatinine kinase and urine creatinine and sodium were examined. Creatinine clearance and fractional sodium excretion could then be calculated. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed in renal tissue. Tissue samples were evaluated by Hematoxylin-eosin, PCNA and TUNEL staining histopathologically. MDA levels were found to be significantly decreased whereas SOD and CAT were twofold higher in the ARF+HBO group compared to the ARF group. Renal function tests were ameliorated by HBO therapy. Semiquantitative evaluation of histopathological findings indicated that necrosis and cast formation was decreased by HBO therapy and TUNEL staining showed that apoptosis was inhibited. PCNA staining showed that HBO therapy did not increase regeneration. Ultimately, we conclude that, in accordance with our hypothesis, HBO could be beneficial in the treatment of myoglobinuric ARF.

The aim of this study was to examine the preventive and therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (TQ) against cholestatic oxidative stress and liver damage in common bile duct ligated rats. A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, bile duct ligation (BDL) and BDL + received TQ; each group contain 8 animals. The rats in TQ treated groups were given TQ (50 mg/kg body weight) once a day orally for 2 weeks starting 3 days prior to BDL operation. To date, no more biochemical and histopathological changes on common bile duct ligated rats by TQ treatment have been reported. The application of BDL clearly increased the tissue hydroxyproline (HP) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreased the antioxidant enzyme [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] activities. TQ treatment significantly decreased the elevated tissue HP content, and MDA levels and raised the reduced of SOD, and GPx enzymes in the tissues. The changes demonstrating the bile duct proliferation and fibrosis in expanded portal tracts include the extension of proliferated bile ducts into lobules, mononuclear cells, and neutrophil infiltration into the widened portal areas were observed in BDL group. Treatment of BDL with TQ attenuated alterations in liver histology. The immunopositivity of alpha smooth muscle actin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in BDL were observed to be reduced with the TQ treatment. The present study demonstrates that oral administration of TQ in bile duct ligated rats maintained antioxidant defenses and reduces liver oxidative damage and ductular proliferation. This effect of TQ may be useful in the preservation of liver function in cholestasis.

Objective: It was aimed to display ascorbic acid’s protective efficiency in preventing ototoxicity caused by cisplatin use with electrophysiological tests (Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emission and Auditory Brainstem Responses) and ultrastructural study (light and electron microscopic). Methods: As a result of electrophysiological tests, 30 ears of 15 guinea pigs with detected normal hearing threshold and emission have been taken into the scope of this survey and they have been randomly divided into 3 groups. One of these three groups have been planned as the control group (Group I), the other two (Group II and III) as working groups. The guinea pigs of the working group, Group II and Group III, have been intraperitoneally administered single dose of 1,5 mg/kg/day cisplatin and, additionally in Group III 300 mg/day Vitamin C administered intraperitoneally for a period of 8 days. Electrophysiological tests for 20 ears of 10 guinea pigs in Group II and III, who have been intraperitoneally drug administered, have been repeated. Internal and inter-group statistical comparisons of data acquired before and after intraperitoneal drug administration have been performed. Temporal bones have been prepared after the measurements, for ultrastructural examinations (for light and electron microscope). Results: No statistically significant differences in emission parameters (reproductibility, response and Signal/Noise rate) and auditory brainstem responses between the working group and control group before drug administration have been identified. The difference between otoacoustic emission parameters and auditory brainstem responses before and after drug administration in Group II (working group) have been identified as statistically significant (p0.05). In working groups II and III when emission parameters after the treatment are compared, difference between reproductibility rates have been identified as statistically significant whereas when response values, Signal/Noise rates and auditory brainstem response thresholds are evaluated, despite lower deterioration compared to those in Group II, this difference is not statistically significant (p>0.05). In light and electron microscope findings of our works, normal cochlear structures have been observed in control group. After drug administration in working group II, clear dystrophic changes, hyper functions and activation of organelles have been observed both in light and electron microscopic images. No clear dystrophic changes have been identified in either light or electron microscopic images of receptor and support cells in Group III after drug administration. Conclusions: We may claim that use of ascorbic acid in preventing ototoxicity developing as a result of cisplatin use has a protective efficiency in line with electrophysiological and ultrastructural findings.

We evaluated the effects of L-carnitine on apoptosis of germ cells in the rat testis following irradiation. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Control group received sham irradiation plus physiological saline. Radiotherapy group received scrotal gamma-irradiation of 10 Gy as a single dose plus physiological saline. Radiotherapy + L-carnitine group received scrotal irradiation plus 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally L-carnitine. Twenty-four hours post-irradiation, the rats were sacrificed and testes were harvested. Testicular damage was examined by light and electron microscopy, and germ cell apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate in situ nick end-labeling (TUNEL) technique. Morphologically, examination of irradiated testis revealed presence of disorganization and desquamation of germinal cells and the reduction in sperm count in seminiferous tubule lumen. Under electron microscopy, the morphological signs of apoptosis were frequently detected in spermatogonia. Apoptotic spermatogonia showed the marginal condensation of chromatin onto the nuclear lamina, nucleus and cytoplasm shrinkage and still functioning cell organelles. TUNEL-positive cells were significantly more numerous in irradiated rats than in control rats. L-carnitine treatment significantly attenuated the radiation-induced morphological changes and germ cell apoptosis in the irradiated rat testis. In conclusion, these results suggested that L-carnitine supplementation during the radiotherapy may be beneficial for spermatogenesis following testicular irradiation by decreasing germ cell apoptosis.

Aim: The protective effect of vitamin E (vit E) on cadmium (Cd) induced oxidative stress was studied in the blood of rats. Methods: The rats were randomly divided in to three experimental groups: Control, Cd treated and Cd + vit E treated, each contain-ing 10 animals. The Cd treated and Cd + vit E treated groups were injected subcutaneously daily with CdCl2 dissolved in isotonic NaCl in the amount of 2 mL/kg for 20 days, resulting in a dosage of 0.49 mg Cd/kg/d. In addition, Cd + vit E treated group received intramuscular injection of 150 mg/kg vit E until the end of the study. Results: Cd treatment increased significantly malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) in plasma and erythrocytes compared to the control group. Cd + vit E treatment, decreased significantly elevated MDA lev-els in plasma and erythrocyte and also reduced significantly the enhanced antioxidant levels. Cd treatment increased significantly the activity of iron levels in the plasma compared to the control group. Cd + vit E treatment, decreased the activity of iron levels in the plasma compared to the Cd treated group. In the control group, the histology of erythrocytes was normal. In Cd treated group, there was marked membrane destruction and there were hemolytic changes in erythrocytes. In Cd + vit E treated group, these changes were less than Cd treated group. Conclussion: Our results show that vit E exerts a protective effect against cadmium toxicity.

The aim of this study was designed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of the thymoquinone (TQ) in streptozotocine (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. The rats were randomly allotted into one of three experimental groups: A (control), B (diabetic untreated), and C (diabetic treated with TQ); each group contain ten animals. B and C groups received STZ. Diabetes was induced in two groups by a single intra-peritoneal (i.p) injection of STZ (50 mg/kg, freshly dissolved in 5 mmol/l citrate buffer, pH 4.5). Two days after STZ treatment, development of diabetes in two experimental groups was confirmed by measuring blood glucose levels in a tail vein blood samples. Rats with blood glucose levels of 250 mg/dl or higher were considered to be diabetic. The rats in TQ treated groups were given TQ (50 mg/kg body weight) once a day orally by using intra gastric intubation for 12 weeks starting 2 days after STZ injection. Treatment of TQ reduced the glomerular size, thickening of capsular, glomerular and tubular basement membranes, increased amounts of mesangial matrix and tubular dilatation and renal function as compared with diabetics untreated. We conclude that TQ therapy causes renal morphologic and functional improvement after STZ-induced diabetes in rats. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of TQ treatment may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment in diabetic nephropathy.

We have previously demonstrated that scrotal hyperthermia induce Leydig cell (LC) damage in short-term. The objectives of this pilot study were to investigate morphological changes and regulation of steroidogenesis on LC in long-term and the time of observation were extended to investigate whether the LC would eventually make a recovery after scrotal hyperthermia. The rats were randomly allotted into one of four groups: A (control), B (70 days after scrotal hyperthermia), C (105 days after scrotal hyperthermia), D (140 days after scrotal hyperthermia); each group contain seven animals. Scrotal hyperthermia was carried out in a thermostatically controlled water bath at 43 degrees C for 30 min once daily for six consecutive days. Control rats were treated in the same way, except the testes were immersed in a water bath maintained at 22 degrees C. Hyperthermia applied rats were sacrificed under 50 mg/kg ketamine anaesthesia after 70, 105 and 140 days, and biopsy materials of testes were obtained for light and electron microscopic examinations. Morphologically normal and the number of testosterone positive LC was significantly higher in 140 days after last heat than all other heat treatment groups. In heat treated groups, a dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria, and vanished mitochondrial cristae were observed. In the 140 days after scrotal hyperthermia, the severities of degenerative changes of LC were less than that observed in the other heat treated groups. We conclude that, scrotal hyperthermia cause morphological damaging and impaired steroidogenesis in LC and recovery of these findings were noted first time in 140 days after the last heat treatment.

An experiment was conducted using Bovans White layers to investigate the effects of 30% whole-wheat inclusion in a standard layer diet supplemented with xylanase, on laying performance, digestive organs and ileal mucosa development. Three dietary treatments were used: 1) control diet (30% ground wheat); 2) 30% whole wheat; 3) whole wheat+wheat xylanase. Xylanase was added to whole wheat at 150g/ton. Including the pre-experimental period the trial lasted for 13 weeks. Xylanase supplementation to whole wheat significantly (P

The major objective of this study was to test curcumin as a potential radioprotectant for the ileum goblet cells of the rat. Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Group A was the control group and group B was the single dose radiation group. Group C was the two dose radiation group (4 days interval). The rats in groups D and E were given a daily dose of 100 mg/kg of curcumin for 14 and 18 days, respectively. During the curcumin administration period, the rats in group D were exposed to abdominal area gamma (gamma)-ray dose of 5 Gy on the 10th day and group E was exposed to same dose radiation on the 10th and 14th day. Irradiation and treatment groups were decapitated on the 4th day after exposure to single or two-dose irradiation and ileum tissues were removed for light and electron microscopic investigation. Single or two dose 5 Gy gamma-irradiation caused a marked intestinal mucosal injury in rats on the 4th day. Radiation produced increases in the number of goblet cells. Curcumin appears to have protective effects against radiation-induced damage, suggesting that clinical transfer is feasible.

The present study was performed to investigate whether the chronic administration of antioxidant vitamin C provided morphological protection on cisplatin-induced renal damage. Wistar albino male rats were divided into control and two experiment groups, each consisting of six rats. Cisplatin (5 mg/kg/month) was administered intravenously to the second and third group for three months. After the first application of cisplatin, vitamin C (8 mg/kg/day) to the third group was administered intramuscular for 3 months. At the end of the third month, the kidney specimens of the all groups were obtained. All of these kidney specimens were processed for light and electron microscopical examination. In the second group, most of the renal corpuscle lost their normal appearance and size, especially in the corticomedullary region. The most obvious changes were encountered in the proximal tubules. These changes were tubular dilation, thickening of basement membrane, loss of brush border, vacuolization, and swollenness of mitochondria in the proximal tubule epithelial cells. In addition, infiltration foci were observed mainly in the cortical region. In the third group, which was administered cisplatin plus vitamin C, although the structural damages and morphometric changes were lessened, mononuclear cell infiltration was still observed. This study suggests that the chronic administration of vitamin C may be of therapeutic benefit on cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

There is a controversy whether GnRH agonist can reduce the deleterious effects of chemotherapy to prevent ovarian failure. We aimed to examine the possible protective effects of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) on the fertilization rate and sequential embryonic development in mouse oocytes exposed to Cy. Mice were assigned to three groups of six animals each. A single dose of 75 mg/kg Cy was given intraperitoneally to the Cy mice group. The subcutaneous GnRHa injection was initiated 1 week before and continued for 1 week after the Cy injection in the GnRHa + Cy group. The animals given cyclophosphamide mated 1 week after the Cy injection. At the end of the injection period, the animals underwent a superovulation regime with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and human chorionic gonadotrophin and were mated. Early embryos were collected at 48 h after mating. The control group received only the superovulation regime and then mated. Cyclophosphamide caused a significant decrease in the fertilization rate (p

Day-old male chicks were used to test the effects of a combination of formic and propionic acids (CFP) added to wheat- and barley-based diets on the performance and gut histomorphology of broilers. The CFP, containing formic and propionic acids based on an inorganic phyllo-silicate carrier, was added to starter and grower broiler diets of standard (NRC, 1994) or lower nutrient density (LND) using different levels of wheat and barley. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broiler chicks were significantly (P < 0.001) improved by CFP supplementation at 21 days of age regardless of nutrient density (ND). However, at 35 days of age CFP addition significantly (P < 0.001) increased BWG and FCR. Proventriculus weight was also significantly affected by the dietary treatments. Ileal viscosity was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by ND which was associated with wheat and barley contents, whereas feed viscosity was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by CFP supplementation. Villus height was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by the CFP supplementation. In the case of villus width, an interaction effect was observed: there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the group fed the standard ND diet, but only a numerical decrease in the group fed the LND diet compared to control group. No significant effect of dietary treatment on the thickness of the lamina muscularis mucosae could be detected.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Nigella sativa (NS), in reperfusion-induced renal injury in rats.A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups of controls and rats that underwent ischemia-reperfusion with and without pretreatment with NS. A rat model of renal reperfusion injury was induced by 45-minute occlusion of the bilateral renal pedicles and 24-hour reperfusion. In the NS group, a single dose NS (400 mg/kg orally) was administered by gastric gavage.Renal reperfusion caused severe histopathological injury such as tubular damage, atrophy dilatation, loss of brush border, and hydropic epithelial cell degenerations. Treatment with NS significantly attenuated the severity of reperfusion injury and significantly lowered tubulointerstitial damage score as compared with the reperfusion group. When kidney sections were stained with anti-proliferating-cell nuclear antigen antibody, nuclear factor kappaB p65 antibody, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling, there was a clear increase in the number of positive cells in the reperfusion group in the renal cortical tissues. However, there was a significant reduction in the number of stain-positive cells in kidney tissue from the NS group. Treatment of renal reperfusion injury with NS decreased the elevated tissue malondialdehyde levels and increased the reduced activities of the enzymatic antioxidants glutathione peroxidase and catalase.Pretreatment with NS has a protective effect against renal damage induced by renal reperfusion. This protective effect is possibly due to its ability to inhibit reperfusion-induced renal damage, apoptosis, and cell proliferation.

The most prevalent malignant ovarian neoplasms are epithelial ovarian cancers which is the most common cause of death among all gynecologic malignancies and a result of complex interaction of multiple oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate expression of survivin and cycline D1 biomarkers in mucinous ovarian neoplasms and their correlations with clinicopathological variables in mucinous ovarian cancers. We analyzed pathological specimens of 98 patients with benign (n = 34), borderline (n = 22) and malignant (n = 42) mucinous ovarian neoplasms. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that survivin and cyclin D1 expressions were located primarily in the nucleus of ovarian tumor cells and relatively weaker cytoplasmic staining. Survivin expression was significantly higher in malignant tumors (88.1 %) than those found in borderline (18.2 %) and benign tumors (8.8 %) (p < 0.001). Similarly, higher cyclin D1 expression was observed in malignant tumors (100 %) compared to borderline (36.4 %) and benign tumors (5.9 %) (p < 0.001). Expression of all biomarkers analyzed significantly and gradually increased from benign to borderline and borderline to malignant mucinous tumors. In terms of clinicopathological variables, tumor grade, FIGO stage and lymph node methastasis were associated with the expression of both biomarkers. Whereas age exhibited no different correlations in mucinous ovarian cancers. The expressions of survivin and cycline D1 are positively correlated with the malignant potential of mucinous ovarian neoplasms.

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) on the ovulation rate, the oocyte number and maturation in mice superovulated with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Methods: Thirty female mice, aging 3 months and weighing between 25-30 g, were assigned to the three experimental groups of control, superovulated and GnRHa treated, each containing 10 animals. Control mice were received only the intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 0.1 ml 0.9% NaCl. Superovulated mice were given an i.p. injection of 5 IU of eCG followed 48 hr later by 5 IU of hCG injection (i.p.). The GnRHa treated mice were received an intramuscular (i.m.) injection of a 20 mg/kg GnRHa (buserelin) 24 hr before the superovulation with eCG -hCG. Thirteen hr after hCG administration, mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The ovaries and the fallopian tubes were also harvested for counting the corpora lutea and cumulus-enclosed oocytes. Results: The oocyte number and the maturation, ovulation rate, and the corpus luteum number were higher in GnRHa treated mice than controls and superovulated mice. Conclusion: It is concluded that an i.m. injection of the GnRHa 24 hr before the superovulation with eCG-hCG increases the oocyte number and maturation, and ovulation rate, thus, could be used for in vivo and in vitro fertilizations. Keywords: GnRH agonist, Superovulation, Oocyte maturation, Mice.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the histological appearance of testis, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicles of ram lambs immunized against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH). Methods: The study was performed on 14 male lambs, 7 in the study group and the other 7 in the control group. Another 5 lambs were included from the study after biopsy samples were taken from their testes at age 10 weeks to determine testicular histology at the start of the study. Seven male lambs aged 10 weeks were immunized against GnRH using a recombinant GnRH fusion protein vaccine. The immunization was repeated twice monthly until slaughter at 9 months of age. Testes and epididymis biopsies were taken at the 6th month. After slaughter, testis, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicles were extracted for histopathological investigation. Results: At the 6th month and at slaughter histopathology of all the sex glands, most evidently in the testes, indicated secondary infertility. In the study group, tubule diameter decreased and spermatogenetic activity disappeared. The ball of sperm cells seen in the epididymis tubules of the control group at the 9th month was not seen in the study group. Changes in prostate tissues between the study and control groups were not evident but stromal tissue in the seminal vesicles increased in the study group. Conclusion: In conclusion, the histomorphological changes showed that recombinant GnRH fusion proteins provided immune castration in male lambs when used at an early age.

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of quercetine (QE) on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats. A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated (SH), PH and PH+QE; each group contain 8 animals. The rats in QE-treated groups were given QE (15 mg/kg body weight) once a day i. p., for 7 days starting 3 days prior to hepatectomy operation. At 7 days after resection, liver samples were collected. The malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels were estimated in liver homogenates. Moreover, histopathological examination, mitotic index (MI), proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling, proliferation index (PI), transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling assay, apoptotic index (AI) were evaluated at 7 days after hepatectomy. As a result, QE significantly increased MI, PI, and significantly decreased AI in PH rats. Additionally, QE remarkably inhibited the elevation of MDA, restored impaired antioxidant SOD activity and GSH level, and also attenuated hepatic vacuolar degeneration and sinusoidal congestion. These results suggested that QE treatment had a beneficial effect on liver regenerative capacity of the remnant liver tissue after hepatectomy, probably due to its antioxidative, antiapoptotic and proliferative property.

WOS: 000228824400010, PubMed: 15888972, This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of vitamin C and vitamin A on oxidative renal tissue damage. Male Wistar rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml saline (control) or 0.5 ml solution of lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg), which caused endotoxemia. Immediately (within 5 min) after the endotoxin injection, the endotoxemic rats were untreated or treated with intraperitoneal injection of vitamin A (195 mg/kg bw), vitamin C (500 mg/kg bw) or their combination. After 24 hours, tissue and blood samples were obtained for histopathological and biochemical investigation. Endotoxin injection caused renal tissue damage and increased erythrocyte and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum nitric oxide (NO), urea and creatinine concentrations, but decreased the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities compared to the parameters of control animals. Treatment with vitamin C or with vitamins C and A significantly decreased the MDA levels and serum NO, urea and creatinine levels, recovered the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GSH-Px and CAT), and prevented the renal tissue damage in endotoxemic rats. In contrast, vitamin A alone did not change the altered parameters except for creatinine levels. Notably, the better effects were observed when vitamins A and C given together. It is concluded that vitamin C treatment, alone or its combination with vitamin A, may be beneficial in preventing endotoxin-induced oxidative renal tissue damage and shows potential for clinical use. - endotoxemia; vitamin A; vitamin C; malondialdehyde; kidney (c) 2005 Tohoku University Medical Press.

Free radicals have been reported to be responsible for many ailments including gastroduodenal ulcers. Recent studies demonstrated that quercetin (QE) has an antioxidant effects on injuries caused by various toxic agents in different experimental models. In our study, we examined anti-ulcerogen and antioxidant effects of quercetin on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. QE was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 50 mg/kg. It was found that pretreatment with QE significantly reduced ethanol-induced gastric damage and malondialdehyde levels, and significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities. We conclude that QE clearly has antioxidant properties and that the protective effect of QE against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion, at least in part, depends upon the reduction in the lipid peroxidation and an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of death among all gynecologic malignancies and a result of complex interaction of multiple oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate expression of HER-2/neu (c-erbB2), survivin and cycline D1 biomarkers in serous ovarian neoplasms and their correlations with clinicopathological variables in serous ovarian cancers. We analyzed pathological specimens of 62 patients with benign (n = 25), borderline (n = 14) and malignant (n = 23) serous ovarian neoplasms. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. Significantly more immunoreactivity with HER-2/neu was detected in malignant tumors (100 %) compared to borderline (78.6 %) and benign tumors (48 %) (P < 0.01). Survivin expression was significantly higher in malignant tumors (91.3 %) than those found in borderline (71.4 %) and benign tumors (24 %) (P < 0.001). Similarly, higher cyclin D1 expression was observed in malignant tumors (95.6 %) compared to borderline (85.7 %) and benign tumors (48 %) (P < 0.001). Expression of all biomarkers analyzed significantly and gradually increased from benign to borderline and borderline to malignant serous tumors. In terms of clinicopathological variables, only tumor grade was associated with the expression of all biomarkers others exhibited different correlations in serous ovarian cancers. The expressions of HER-2/neu (c-erbB2), survivin and cycline D1 are positively correlated with the malignant potential of serous ovarian neoplasms.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the structural changes of electromagnetic waves in the frontal cortex, brain stem and cerebellum. MATERIAL and METHODS: 24 Wistar Albino adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups: group I consisted of control rats, and groups II-IV comprised electromagnetically irradiated (EMR) with 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz. The heads of the rats were exposed to 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz microwaves irradiation for 1h per day for 2 months. RESULTS: While the histopathological changes in the frontal cortex and brain stem were normal in the control group, there were severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasm and extensively dark pyknotic nuclei in the EMR groups. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that the Total Antioxidative Capacity level was significantly decreased in the EMR groups and also Total Oxidative Capacity and Oxidative Stress Index levels were significantly increased in the frontal cortex, brain stem and cerebellum. IL-1 beta level was significantly increased in the EMR groups in the brain stem. CONCLUSION: EMR causes to structural changes in the frontal cortex, brain stem and cerebellum and impair the oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine system. This deterioration can cause to disease including loss of these areas function and cancer development. Turkish Neurosurgery Society Scientific Research Committee This study was supported by the Turkish Neurosurgery Society Scientific Research Committee. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Accidentally ingested corrosive substances can cause functional and structural damage to the esophageal tissue resulting in stricture formation. It has been reported that the administration of olmesartan (OLM) can have anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and antiapoptotic effects on injured tissue. The aim of our study was to check if OLM could prevent formation of scars in the corrosive esophageal burn model. Fifty-one Wistar Albino rats were divided into six groups: Control, Sham, OLM, Sham + OLM, Burn, and Burn + OLM. Olmesartan (5 mg/kg) was given by gavage once per day for 21 consecutive days after injury. The morphology of the esophagus was assessed after Masson trichrome staining, and apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferased UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The serum nucleosomes (as an indicator of apoptosis), serum p53 protein, and esophageal tissue p53 protein levels of each group were measured by immunoassays. Muscularis mucosa damage, submucosal collagen deposition, and tunica muscularis injury in the Burn + OLM group decreased significantly compared with the Burn group (p < 0.05). Similarly, the number of apoptotic cells in the Burn + OLM group decreased compared with the Burn group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of nucleosomes and p53 and tissue of p53 protein did not differ between the groups. Exogenously administered OLM can effectively prevent the occurrence of esophageal strictures caused by corrosive esophageal burns.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effect of quercetine (QE) against cadmium (Cd)-induced renal toxicity. Material and Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control, Cd-treated and Cd-treated with QE; each group containing 8 animals. The Cd-treated group was injected subcutaneously with CdCl2 dissolved in saline in the dose of 2 ml/kg/day for 30 days, resulting in a dosage of 1 mg/kg Cd. The rats in the QE treated groups were given QE (15 mg/kg body weight) once a day intraperitoneally starting 2 days prior to Cd injection during the study period. Results: The renal histology in Cd-treated rats showed mesangial expansion, thickening of capsular basement membranes, glomerular basement membranes and tubular basement membranes, characterized by an increase in periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive areas as compared with control animals. With the QE treatment, despite the presence of only a few swollen glomeruli, we noticed a marked protection of renal structure when compared with the Cd-treated rats. Furthermore, QE pretreatment resulted in increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity and decreased the activity of Terminal Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL). Conclusion: These findings suggest that QE may attenuate Cd-induced renal toxicity. Turkish Başlık: Sıçanlarda Kadmiyumla Oluşturulan Böbrek Toksisitesine Karşı Quercetinin Koruyucu Etkisi Anahtar Kelimeler: Böbrek toksitesi, immünohistokimya, kadmiyum, quercetin, TUNEL Amaç: Çalışmamızda kadmiyumla (Cd) oluşturulan böbrek toksisitesine karşı quercetinin (QE) koruyucu etkinliğini göstermeyi amaçladık. Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Çalışmada 24 adet Wistar albino cinsi erişkin erkek sıçan kullanıldı. Sıçanlar her grupta 8 adet olmak üzere; kontrol, Cd ve Cd+QE olmak üzere 3 gruba ayrıldı. Cd grubuna her gün 1 mg/kg Cd, 2 ml/kg serum fizyolojik içerisinde çözündürüldükten sonra CdCl2 şeklinde 30 gün boyunca subkutan enjeksiyon olarak uygulandı. Cd ile birlikte QE tedavisi verilen gruba, Cd enjeksiyonundan 2 gün önce başlanarak 15 mg/kg QE, deney süresi boyunca intraperitoneal olarak uygulandı. Bulgular: Böbrek dokularının histolojik olarak değerlendirilmesi sonucu, kontrol grubuyla karşılaştırıldığında Cd verilen sıçanlarda mezengial hücrelerde artış, kapsüler, glomerüler ve tübüler basal membranlarda kalınlaşma ile birlikte periyodik asit Schiff (PAS)-pozitif alanların artışı gözlendi. Cd ile birlikte QE tedavisi verilen grupta sadece birkaç glomerüldeki genişleme dışında, Cd'ye bağlı böbrek yapısında oluşan değişikliklere karşı QE'nin belirgin koruyucu bir etkisinin olduğu saptandı. Bulgularımız, Cd ile birlikte QE tedavisi verilen grupta böbrek kortikal dokularında TdT-(terminal deoksinukleotidil transferaz)- aracılı deoksiuridin trifosfat işaretleme (TUNEL) aktivitesinde anlamlı bir azalma ile birlikte prolifere olmuş hücre nükleer antijeninin (PCNA) ekspresyonunda da artış olduğunu göstermiştir. Sonuç: Bu sonuçlar QE'nin Cd ile oluşturulan böbrek toksisitesini azaltabileceğini göstermiştir.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) with an experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) model in rats. Twenty-four adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of 8 rats each: control, TBI, and TBI + CAPE treatment. In TBI and TBI + CAPE treatment groups, a cranial impact was delivered to the skull from a height of 7 cm at a point just in front of the coronal suture and over the right hemisphere. Rats were sacrificed at 4 h after the onset of injury. Brain tissues were removed for biochemical and histopathological investigation. To date, no biochemical and histopathological changes of neurodegeneration in the frontal cortex after TBI in rats by CAPE treatment have been reported. The TBI significantly increased tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and significantly decreased tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, but not tissue catalase (CAT) activity, when compared with controls. The administration of a single dose of CAPE (10 μmol/kg) 15 min after the trauma has shown protective effect via decreasing significantly the elevated MDA levels and also significantly increasing the reduced antioxidant enzyme (SOD and GPx) activities, except CAT activity. In the TBI group, severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasma and extensively dark picnotic nuclei in neurons, as well as vacuolization indicating tissue edema formation. The morphology of neurons in the CAPE treatment group was well protected. The number of neurons in the trauma alone group was significantly less than that of both the control and TBI +CAPE treatment groups. The caspase 3 immunopositivity was increased in degenerating neurons of the traumatic brain tissue. Treatment of CAPE markedly reduced the immunoreactivity of degenerating neurons. TBI caused severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasma, severely dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, markedly swollen mitochondria with degenerated cristae and nuclear membrane breakdown with chromatin disorganization in neurons of the frontal cortex. In conclusion, the CAPE treatment might be beneficial in preventing trauma-induced oxidative brain tissue damage, thus showing potential for clinical implications. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of CAPE may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment on neurodegeneration after TBI in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) against cholestatic oxidative stress and liver damage in the common bile duct ligated rats. A total of 18 male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, bile duct ligation (BDL) and BDL + received CAPE; each group contain 6 animals. The rats in CAPE treated groups were given CAPE (10 μmol/kg) once a day intraperitoneally (i.p) for 2 weeks starting just after BDL operation. The changes demonstrating the bile duct proliferation and fibrosis in expanded portal tracts include the extension of proliferated bile ducts into lobules, inflammatory cell infiltration into the widened portal areas were observed in BDL group. Treatment of BDL with CAPE attenuated alterations in liver histology. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen and the activity of TUNEL in the BDL were observed to be reduced with the QE treatment. The application of BDL clearly increased the tissue hydroxyproline (HP) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreased the antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) activities. CAPE treatment significantly decreased the elevated tissue HP content, and MDA levels and raised the reduced of SOD, and GPx enzymes in the tissues. The data indicate that CAPE attenuates BDL-induced cholestatic liver injury, bile duct proliferation, and fibrosis. The hepatoprotective effect of CAPE is associated with antioxidative potential.

The present study was performed to determine the effect of amifostine in the prevention of radiation-induced acute and late period morphologic damages in rat kidney via light and electron microscopic examinations.Control rats (n=6) received saline solution 30 min before sham irradiation; the radiotherapy alone group (n=12) received saline solution 30 min before irradiation (a single dose of 15 Gy, applied unilaterally to the kidney) and a final radiotherapy +amifostine group (n=12) received 200 mg/kg amifostine 30 min prior to irradiation.Microscopic examinations of irradiated kidneys revealed presence of glomerular tuft capsular adhesion, fusion of the foot processes and ballon-like cellular degeneration and loss of luminal brush border in tubules as early as eight weeks after irradiation. By 24 weeks post-irradiation, these changes were advanced and associated with focal mesangiolysis, segmental sclerosis and focal tubular atrophy. In addition, local irradiation caused interstitial fibrotic lesions in the kidney. Pretreatment of amifostine markedly prevented these glomerular and tubular changes, and interstitial fibrotic lesions.This study suggests that amifostine pretreatment may contribute to prevention of radiation-induced acute and late nephrotoxicity.

The aim of this study was to morphologicall investigation of alcohol-induced hepato¬cyte apoptosis and liver injury in rats. A total of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: control, and alcohol treated; each group contain 10 animals. The rats in alcohol treated group was given a daily dose of 6 g/kg ethanol by using intra-gastric intubation. Control group was given the same volume of saline. This application was continued daily for a total of 6 weeks. The end of the experiment all animals were anesthetized. The anesthetized rats were sacrificed and liver tissues were removed for histopathological investigation. Liver damage was examined by using hematoxylin-eosin and apoptosis was determined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). There existed hepatocyte diffuse steatosis and hemorrhage in alcohol treated group. Our data indicate an enhancement in the activity of TUNEL in hepatocyte apoptosis of the alcholol treated group. The effects of alcohol on liver can be clearly detected as a hepatocyte cell death and liver injury. J. Exp. Clin. Med., 2011; 28:103-106

This work aimed to investigate the role of diabetes on cell proliferation, and apoptosis in testis. The rats were randomly allotted into one of two experimental groups: control and diabetic group; each group contain 10 animals. Diabetes was induced by a single intra¬peritoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). Testicular damage was examined by using he¬matoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and apoptosis was determined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase medi¬ated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Potential disorders associated with seminiferous tubular sperm formation were evaluated using the Johnsen score. The mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD) and mean testicular biopsy score (MTBS) values were signifi¬cantly decreased in diabetic group was compared to the control group. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the expression of PCNA and an enhancement in the activity of TUNEL in testis tissues of the diabetic group. The effects of diabetes on spermatogenesis can be clearly detected as a testicular cell death and decrease in MTBS, MSTD, and PCNA expression. J. Exp. Clin. Med., 2011; 28:94-98

The aim of this study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on the neuronal injury in the frontal cortex after chronic toluene exposure in rats. The rats were randomly allotted into one of three experimental groups: A (control), B (toluene treated) and C (toluene treated with TQ); each group contain 10 animals. Control group received 1 ml normal saline solution and toluene treatment was performed by inhalation of 3,000 ppm toluene, in a 8 h/day and 6 day/week order for 12 weeks. The rats in TQ treated group was given TQ (50 mg/kg body weight) once a day orally for 12 weeks starting just after toluene exposure. Tissue samples were obtained for histopathological investigation. To date, no histopathological changes of neurodegeneration in the frontal cortex after chronic toluene exposure in rats by TQ treatment have been reported. In this study, the morphology of neurons in the TQ treatment group was well protected. Chronic toluene exposure caused severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasma, severely dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, markedly swollen mitochondria with degenerated cristae and nuclear membrane breakdown with chromatin disorganization in neurons of the frontal cortex. We conclude that TQ therapy causes morphologic improvement on neurodegeneration in frontal cortex after chronic toluene exposure in rats. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of TQ may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment on neurodegeneration after chronic toluene exposure in rats.