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The possible protective effects of Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract on a high fat diet (HFD)-induced testicular injury in a rat model were investigated using histological and biochemical methods. Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: a standard diet control group; a HFD group; and an HFD+MC group. The HFD and HFD+MC groups were fed with a HFD for 16 weeks. MC extract (100 mg/kg) was given orally five days a week to the rats in the HFD+MC group during the last four weeks of the experiment. Leptin, triglyceride, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, estrogen, testosterone, LH and FSH were analyzed in blood serum. Sperm parameters were evaluated from the epididymis. Testicular morphology, proliferative, apoptotic and NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2)-positive cells were evaluated histologically. Testicular oxidative stress parameters were analyzed biochemically. In the HFD group, lipid and hormone profiles were changed, abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated seminiferous tubules with apoptotic and NOX2-positive cells were increased in number, and sperm motility and germinal proliferative cells decreased compared to the control group. Moreover, testicular malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and myeloperoxidase levels increased, whereas glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels decreased in the HFD group compared to the control group. All these histological and biochemical features were ameliorated by MC treatment of HFD-fed rats. In conclusion, HFD caused alterations in sperm parameters and testicular morphology by increasing oxidative damage and apoptosis. MC extract may have potential protective effects by inhibiting oxidative damage.

Obesity and male infertility are problems that affect population. Exercise is a nonpharmacological way to reduce the negative health effects of obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise on hormone levels, blood-testis barrier, and inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers in rats that became obese due to a high-fat diet (HFD). Male rats received a standard diet (STD group) or a HFD (HFD group) for 18 weeks. During the final 6 weeks of the experiment, swimming exercises (1 h/5 days/week) were given to half of these animals (STD + EXC and HFD + EXC groups). Finally, blood and testicular tissues were analysed by biochemical and histological methods. Body weight, leptin, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, TNF-alpha and myeloperoxidase levels, apoptotic cells and DNA fragmentation were increased, and testis weight, insulin, FSH, LH, testosterone, glutathione and superoxide dysmutase levels, proliferative cells, ZO-1, occludin, and gap junction protein Cx43 immunoreactivity were decreased in the HFD group. All these hormonal, morphological, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers were enhanced in the HFD + EXC group. It is thought that exercise protected testicular cytotoxicity by regulating hormonal and oxidant/antioxidant balances and testicular function, inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, as well as preserving blood-testis barrier., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Sepsis leads to systemic hypotension, disturbed perfusion, inflammation, and tissue toxicity in vital organs. Neuropeptide W (NPW) has modulatory effects in the control of blood pressure and inflammatory processes, implicating a potential beneficial effect against sepsis-induced oxidative damage. Under anesthesia, male Sprague Dawley rats underwent cecal ligation and puncture. Immediately after surgery, either saline or TNF-alpha inhibitor (etanercept; 1 mg/kg) antibiotic (ceftriaxon; 10 mg/kg) combination or NPW (0.1, 1, or 3 μg/kg) was given subcutaneously, and injections were repeated on the 12th and 24th h. The sham-operated control group was treated with saline at the same time points. All rats were euthanized on the 25th h of surgery. Sepsis resulted in oxidative damage of the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney. Elevations in blood urea nitrogen and alkaline phosphatase, showing renal and hepatic dysfunction, were not evident when septic rats were treated with NPW. NPW reduced serum levels of C-reactive protein, corticosterone, and interleukin-6, while histopathologically verified tissue damage in all the studied tissues was ameliorated. NPW treatment suppressed lipid peroxidation in the heart, lung, and brain, and the depleted antioxidant GSH levels of the brain and heart were replenished by NPW. Moreover, sepsis-related neutrophil recruitment to the liver and lung was also suppressed by NPW. Although the survival rate of the rats was not significantly prolonged by NPW, most of these improvements in systemic and local inflammatory events were comparable with those reached by the etanercept and antibiotic combination, suggesting the therapeutic impact of NPW during the acute period of sepsis., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim: To investigate the effects of electromagnetic waves (EMWs) from mobile phones (MPs) on rat brains of rats by morphological and biochemical analysis., Material and Methods: EMW was applied for two hours/day until birth in stand-by fetal and EMW fetal groups and postnatal 60 < sup > th < /sup > day in stand-by and EMW groups. The control group was not exposed to MP. On postnatal 60 < sup > th < /sup > day, brain malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured, and western blot analysis was performed to determine glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and GFAP immunohistochemistry were applied. Trigeminal nerves were examined using the transmission electron microscope., Results: In comparison to controls, rats exposed to MP in stand-by or talk modes had significantly increased neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampus. Increased MDA levels in the EMW group and decreased GSH levels in the stand-by, EMW fetal and EMW groups were found compared with controls. Increased GFAP content in the EMW group and increased GFAP staining in the EMW fetal and EMW groups compared to controls were observed. EMW group had a significantly decreased number of myelinated axons than control animals., Conclusion: The results of this study suggests that 1800 MHz EMWs (SAR=1.79 W/kg) exposure in the prenatal and early postnatal life may lead to trigeminal nerve damage in addition to oxidative stress-induced neuronal degeneration and astroglial activation in the rat brain. Effects seem to be mode related, being more detrimental in groups exposed to MP during talk mode.

Aims: Acetaminophen-induced hepatorenal toxicity varies among sexes with controversial results among species. The aim was to compare the impact of sex and ovarian hormones on hepatorenal toxicity and to elucidate protective effects of estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER) agonists., Main Methods: Under anesthesia, female rats underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or sham-OVX. Starting at postsurgical 40th day, OVX-rats received subcutaneously (each, 1 mg/kg/day) 17β-estradiol (E 2 ), ERβ-agonist (DPN) or ERα-agonist (PPT) for 10 days, while male and sham-OVX rats received vehicle for 10 days. Then, rats received either acetaminophen (3 g/kg) or saline by orogastric gavage and were decapitated at 24th h. Blood samples were obtained to measure serum ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine levels. Liver and kidney samples were obtained for histopathologic examination and for analyzing levels of luminol- and lucigenin-chemiluminescence, glutathione and myeloperoxidase activity., Key Findings: Compared to their control groups, levels of AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine, hepatic and renal myeloperoxidase activity and chemiluminescence levels were increased, and hepatic glutathione level was decreased in acetaminophen-administered male groups, while ALT and hepatic chemiluminescence levels were not elevated in sham-OVX-rats. Both ER-agonists and E 2 reduced BUN, creatinine and reversed all oxidative parameters in renal tissues of OVX-rats. Additionally, ERα-agonist reversed all hepatic injury parameters, while ERβ-agonist elevated hepatic glutathione level., Significance: Acetaminophen toxicity in female rats presented with a more preserved hepatic function, while renal toxicity was not influenced by sex or by the lack of ovarian hormones. Pretreatment with estrogen or ER agonists, via their antioxidant actions, provided protective effects on acetaminophen-induced hepatorenal toxicity., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

We investigated the protective effects of swimming exercise on high-fat diet-induced heart and aorta damage by evaluating oxidative stress and the endothelial nitric oxide (NO) system. Sprague Dawley rats were fed either standard chow (STD, 6% fat) or high-fat diet (HFD; 45% fat) for 18 weeks, with half of the animals trained by daily swimming sessions (EXC; 1 h per day for 5 days/week) for the last 6 weeks of the experimental period and half kept sedentary (SED). Heart and aorta tissues were prepared for routine light and electron microscopy evaluation. Endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) distribution in the tissue samples were examined by immunohistochemistry. Biochemical examinations, including blood serum lipid profiles, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and tissue NO levels were measured. Deteriorated heart and aorta morphology, increased MDA levels and iNOS-immunoreactivity (iNOS-ir), as well as decreased GSH, NO, SOD, and eNOS-ir parameters were observed in the HFD + SED group. These morphological and biochemical parameters were ameliorated in the HFD + EXC group. Our study revealed that obesity-induced iNOS activation and increased oxidative stress in cardiac and aorta tissues. Exercise protected the obesity-induced cardiac and aortic tissue damage by modulating oxidant/antioxidant balance via involvement of the NO system., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the potential antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and sperm function-preserving effects of estrogen, estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ agonists in a rat model of testis torsion-detorsion (T/D)., Main Methods: Under anesthesia, 6-8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sham-operation or testicular torsion by fixing left testis rotated at 720° for 2 h. After detorsion, rats were treated with ERα agonist (1 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously, sc) or ERβ agonist (1 mg/kg/day, sc) or estradiol (E 2 , 1 mg/kg/day, in drinking water) or vehicle on the following two days. On the third day, testicular blood-flow was recorded and then left testes were extracted for molecular and histochemical analysis., Key Findings: The findings showed that reduced testicular blood-flow following torsion was partially restored on the 3rd day of detorsion, while treatments with either of the ER agonists or E 2 returned blood flow fully back to the control levels. When the testis-torsioned rats were given ERβ agonist during the detorsion period, tubular injury was lessened, sperm count and motility were increased, while the production of reactive oxygen metabolites and apoptosis in the testis tissues were totally suppressed. Although a down-regulated expression of androgen receptor (AR) along with a reduction in serum testosterone level was observed in the vehicle-treated T/D group, all three treatments up-regulated the expressions of AR and its mRNA, while ERα agonist and E 2 suppressed the testosterone level., Significance: ERβ receptor activation during the post-ischemic period may be beneficial in protection against torsion-related oxidant testicular injury and infertility., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In order to demonstrate the possible protective effects of estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ERβ receptor subtypes in the pathogenesis of colonic and gastric oxidant damage, experimental ulcer and colitis were induced by acetic acid, and the animals were randomly divided as colitis, ulcer, and their corresponding non-ulcer and non-colitis control groups. Each group of rats was treated intramuscularly with the vehicle, selective ERα agonist propylpyrazole-triol (1 mg/kg), ERβ agonist diarylpropionitrile (1 mg/kg), non-selective ER agonist 17β estradiol (E2; 1 mg/kg), or E2 plus non-selective ER antagonist ICI-182780 (1 mg/kg). The results revealed that induction of ulcer or colitis resulted in systemic inflammation as assessed by increased levels of plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels. In both tissues, the presence of oxidant damage was verified by histological analysis and elevated myleoperoxidase activity. In the colitis and ulcer groups, both ER agonists and the non-selective E2 reversed the oxidative damage in a similar manner. These findings indicate that estrogen acts via both ERα- and ERβ-mediated and direct antioxidant mechanisms, where both ER subtypes play equal and efficient roles in the anti-inflammatory action of estrogen, in limiting the migration of neutrophils to the inflamed tissue, reducing the release and activation of cytokines and thereby alleviating tissue damage.

Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic used for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. We aimed to investigate whether S. boulardii could alter the effects of clarithromycin (CLA) and methotrexate (MTX) on oro-caecal intestinal transit and oxidative damage in rats. Rats were divided into two groups receiving a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) or CLA (20 mg/kg per d) for 1 week. Groups were treated with either saline or S. boulardii (500 mg/kg) twice per d throughout the experiment. The control group was administered only saline. Following decapitation, intestinal transit and inflammation markers of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase were measured in intestinal and hepatic tissues. CLA and MTX increased intestinal transit, while S. boulardii treatment slowed down CLA-facilitated transit back to control level. Both MTX and CLA increased lipid peroxidation while depleting the antioxidant GSH content in the hepatic and ileal tissues. Conversely, lipid peroxidation was depressed and GSH levels were increased in the ileal and hepatic tissues of S. boulardii-treated rats. Increased ileal neutrophil infiltration due to MTX and CLA treatments was also reduced by S. boulardii treatment. Histological analysis supported that S. boulardii protected intestinal tissues against the inflammatory effects of both agents. These findings suggest that S. boulardii ameliorates intestinal injury and the accompanying hepatic inflammation by supporting the antioxidant state of the tissues and by inhibiting the recruitment of neutrophils. Moreover, a preventive effect on MTXinduced toxicity is a novel finding of S. boulardii, proposing it as an adjunct to chemotherapy regimens.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatorenal oxidative damage in rats., Methods: Following a single dose of methotrexate (20 mg/kg), either vehicle (MTX group) or CAPE (10 µmol/kg, MTX + CAPE group) was administered for five days. In other rats, vehicle (control group) or CAPE was injected for five days, following a single dose of saline injection. After decapitation of the rats, trunk blood was obtained, and the liver and kidney tissues were removed for histological examination and for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and sodium potassium-adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+)/K(+) -ATPase) activity. TNF-α and IL-1β levels were measured in the blood., Key Findings: Methotrexate administration increased the tissue MDA levels, MPO activity and decreased GSH levels and Na(+)/K(+) -ATPase activity, while these alterations were reversed in the CAPE-treated MTX group. Elevated TNF-α and IL-1β levels were also reduced with CAPE treatment., Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that CAPE, through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, alleviates methotrexate-induced oxidative damage, which suggests that CAPE may be of therapeutic benefit when used with methotrexate., (© 2011 The Authors. JPP © 2011 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Our aim was to investigate the effects of moderate load, regular swimming exercise on stress-induced anxiety, and associated oxidative organ injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were either kept sedentary or submitted to swimming exercise for 8 weeks. Rats were then divided as non-stressed, acute stress, and chronic stress groups. After acute or chronic stress (electric foot shocks) applications, rats were placed on a holeboard and the exploratory behavior was recorded to assess the anxiety. Rats were decapitated after the stress application. Acute and chronic stress induction led to increased serum cortisol levels as compared to non-stressed groups. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase levels that were elevated in sedentary rats with both stress exposures were lower in trained rats. Malondialdehyde levels and myeloperoxidase activity were increased in the cardiac muscle, liver, stomach, and brain of the stressed rats with a concomitant reduction in the glutathione levels, while stress-induced changes in malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and glutathione levels were reversed in the trained animals. Exercise, which led to increased malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione levels in the skeletal muscle of the non-stressed rats, also protected against stress-induced oxidative damage. Regular exercise with its anxiolytic and antioxidant effects ameliorates stress-induced oxidative organ damage by a neutrophil-dependent mechanism.

The present study aimed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of the cysteinyl leukotriene-1 receptor antagonist montelukast on contractility and oxidant damage after ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) of rat urinary bladder. The abdominal aorta of Sprague-Dawley rats was occluded to induce I/R. Montelukast (10 mg kg(-1)) or saline was administered intraperitoneally before I/R. In the sham-operated group, the abdominal aorta was left intact and the animals were treated with montelukast or saline. After decapitation, the bladder was removed and the tissue was either used for functional studies or stored for biochemical assays. In the I/R group, the isometric contractile responses of the bladder strips to carbachol (10(-8)-10(-4) M) were lower than those of the control group and were reversed by treatment with montelukast. Lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity of the bladder tissues in the I/R group were greater than in the sham-operated group. Montelukast treatment in the I/R group decreased these parameters compared with I/R alone. Similarly, the significant decrease in tissue glutathione level in the I/R group compared with controls was also prevented by montelukast. Treatment with montelukast almost completely reversed the low contractile responses of rat urinary bladder to carbachol and prevented oxidative tissue damage following I/R.

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of grape seed extract (GSE) against oxidative liver injury and fibrosis induced by biliary obstruction in rats., Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups; control (C), GSE-treated, bile duct ligated (BDL), and BDL and GSE-treated (BDL + GSE) groups. GSE was administered at a dose of 50 mg/kg a day orally for 28 days. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined to assess liver function and tissue damage, respectively. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and antioxidant capacity (AOC) were assayed in plasma samples. Liver tissues were taken for determination of the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen content. Production of reactive oxidants was monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) assay., Results: Serum AST, ALT, LDH and plasma TNF-alpha were elevated in the BDL group as compared to the control group and were significantly decreased with GSE treatment. Plasma AOC and hepatic GSH level, depressed by BDL, was elevated back to the control level in the GSE-treated BDL group. Increases in tissue MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content due to BDL were also attenuated by GSE treatment. Furthermore, luminol and lucigenin CL values in the BDL group increased dramatically compared to the control and were reduced by GSE treatment., Discussion: These results suggest that GSE protects the liver from oxidative damage following bile duct ligation in rats. This effect possibly involves the inhibition of neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation; thus, restoration of oxidant and antioxidant status in the tissue.

Oxidative stress, in particular lipid peroxidation, induces collagen synthesis and causes fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant and antifibrotic effects of erdosteine on liver fibrosis induced by biliary obstruction in rats. Liver fibrosis was induced in Wistar albino rats by bile duct ligation (BDL). Erdosteine (10 mg/kg, orally) or saline was administered for 28 days. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined to assess liver functions and tissue damage, respectively. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 and antioxidant capacity (AOC) were assayed in plasma samples. Liver tissues were taken for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen content. Production of reactive oxidants was monitored by chemiluminescence assay. Serum AST, ALT, LDH, and plasma cytokines were elevated in the BDL group as compared to controls and were significantly decreased by erdosteine treatment. Hepatic GSH level and plasma AOC, depressed by BDL, were elevated back to control level with erdosteine treatment. Furthermore, hepatic luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL), MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content in BDL group increased dramatically compared to control and reduced by erdosteine treatment. Since erdosteine administration alleviated the BDL-induced oxidative injury of the liver and improved the hepatic functions, it seems likely that erdosteine with its antioxidant and antifibrotic properties, may be of potential therapeutic value in protecting the liver fibrosis and oxidative injury due to biliary obstruction.

Epidemiological studies have shown that exercise protects the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the risk of diverticulosis, gastrointestinal haemorrhage and inflammatory bowel disease, while many digestive complaints occurring during exercise are attributed to the adverse effects of exercise on the colon. In order to assess the effects of regular exercise on the pathogenesis of colitis, Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were either kept sedentary or given exercise on a running wheel (0.4 km h(-1), 30 min for 3 days week(-1)). At the end of 6 weeks, under anaesthesia, either saline or acetic acid (4%, 1 ml) was given intracolonically. Holeboard tests were performed for the evaluation of anxiety at 24 h before and 48 h after induction of colitis. Increased 'freezing time' in the colitis-induced sedentary group, representing increased anxiety, was reduced in the exercised colitis group (P < 0.05). On the third day following the colonic instillation, the rats were decapitated under brief ether anesthesia and the distal 8 cm of the colons were removed. In the sedentary colitis group, macroscopic and microscopic damage scores, malondialdehyde level and myeloperoxidase activity were increased when compared to the control group (P < 0.01-0.001), while exercise prior to colitis reduced all the measurements with respect to sedentary colitis group (P < 0.05-0.001). The results demonstrate that low-intensity, repetitive exercise protects against oxidative colonic injury, and that this appears to involve the anxiolytic effect of exercise, suggesting that exercise may have a therapeutic value in reducing stress-related exacerbation of colitis.

Methotrexate is an antifolate that is widely used in the treatment of rheumatic disorders and malignant tumors. The efficacy of methotrexate is often limited by severe side effects and toxic sequelae, where oxidative stress is noticeable. In the present study, the possible protective effect of beta-glucan in methotrexate-induced toxicity was investigated. Following a single dose of methotrexate injection (20 mg/kg), either saline or beta-glucan (50 mg/kg; orally) was administered for 5 days. After decapitation of the rats, trunk blood was obtained and the ileum, liver and kidney were removed to measure tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen content, as well as histological examination. Methotrexate caused a significant decrease in GSH levels, while MDA levels, MPO activity and collagen content were increased in all the tissues (P<0.05-0.001). On the other hand, administration of beta-glucan following methotrexate abolished the depletion of GSH and inhibited the increases in MDA, MPO activity and collagen content, while the histological analysis revealed that beta-glucan attenuated the tissue damage. Stimulation index, an indicator of oxidative burst in the neutrophils, was decreased by methotrexate (P<0.001), while beta-glucan abolished this effect. Furthermore, increased leukocyte apoptosis and cell death in methotrexate-treated animals were inhibited by beta-glucan (P<0.05). Thus, the findings of the present study suggest that beta-glucan, through its antioxidant and immunoregulatory effects, may be of therapeutic value in alleviating the leukocyte apoptosis, oxidative tissue injury and thereby the intestinal and hepatorenal side effects of methotrexate treatment.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possible beneficial activities of resveratrol (3,5,4'-trans-trihydroxystilbene), a natural phytoalexin, on contractility and oxidant damage after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of the rat urinary bladder., Materials and Methods: The abdominal aorta of Sprague-Dawley rats was occluded for 60 min to induce ischemia and then allowed 60 min of reperfusion. Resveratrol (10 mg/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally 15 min before ischemia and immediately before reperfusion. In the sham-operated group, the abdominal aorta was left intact and the animals were treated with resveratrol or saline. The bladder samples were either used for functional studies or stored for biochemical assays., Results: In the I/R group, the isometric contractile responses of the bladder strips to carbachol (CCh; 10(-8)-10(-4) mol/l) were lower than those of the control group and were reversed by treatment with resveratrol. Histological evaluation revealed loss of urothelial cells, detachment and loss of urothelial cells and local ulcerated areas and severe inflammatory cell infiltration in the untreated I/R group, and regeneration of luminal mucosa and a significant decrease in the density of the inflammatory cell population in the resveratrol-treated I/R group. Lipid peroxidation and the myeloperoxidase activity of the bladder tissues in the I/R group were higher than in the sham-operated group. Resveratrol treatment in the I/R group decreased these parameters compared with I/R alone. Similarly, the significant decrease in tissue glutathione level in the I/R group compared with controls was also prevented by resveratrol., Conclusion: Treatment with resveratrol almost completely reversed the low contractile responses of the rat urinary bladder to CCh and prevented oxidative tissue damage following I/R., (Copyright 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) against oxidative organ damage distant from the original burn wound. Under brief ether anesthesia, the shaved dorsum of the rats was exposed to 90 degrees C (burn group) or 25 degrees C (control group) water bath for 10 seconds. EGb (50 mg/kg/day) or saline was administered intraperitoneally immediately and at 12 hours after the burn injury. Rats were decapitated 24 hours after burn injury and tissue samples from the liver and kidney were taken for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and collagen contents. Formation of reactive oxygen species in the tissue samples was monitored by the chemiluminescence technique. Tissues also were examined microscopically. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels and tumor necrosis factor- and lactate dehydrogenase activity were assayed in serum samples. Severe skin scald injury (30% TBSA) caused a significant decrease in GSH levels and significant increases in MDA levels, MPO activity, and collagen content of hepatic and renal tissues. Treatment of rats with EGb significantly increased the GSH level and decreased the MDA level, MPO activity, and collagen contents. Similarly, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and blood urea nitrogen levels, as well as lactate dehydrogenase and tumor necrosis factor-, were increased in the burn group as compared with the control group. However, treatment with EGb reversed all these biochemical indices, as well as histopathological alterations that were induced by thermal trauma. Our results show that thermal trauma-induced oxidative damage in hepatic and renal tissues is protected by the administration of EGb, with its antioxidant effects. Therefore, its therapeutic role as a "tissue injury-limiting agent" must be further elucidated in oxidant-induced tissue damage.

This study was designed to examine the effects of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) on hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. For this purpose, Wistar albino rats were subjected to 45 min of hepatic ischaemia, followed by a 60-min reperfusion period. AGE (1 mL kg(-1), i. p., corresponding to 500 mg kg(-1)) or saline was administered twice, 15 min before ischaemia and immediately before the reperfusion period. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were determined to assess liver functions. Liver tissues were taken for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an end product of lipid peroxidation; glutathione (GSH) levels, a key antioxidant; and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, as an indirect index of neutrophil infiltration. Hepatic collagen content, as a fibrosis marker, was also determined. Plasma ALT and AST activities were elevated in the I/R group as compared with the control group, while these increases were significantly decreased by AGE treatment. Hepatic GSH levels, significantly depressed by I/R, were elevated back to control levels in the AGE-treated I/R group. Increases in tissue MDA levels and MPO activity due to I/R injury were reduced back to control levels by AGE treatment. Similarly, increased hepatic collagen content in the I/R group was reduced to the control level with AGE treatment. Since AGE administration alleviated the I/R-induced injury of the liver and improved the hepatic structure and function, it seems likely that AGE, with its antioxidant and oxidant-scavenging properties, may be of potential therapeutic value in protecting the liver against oxidative injury due to ischaemia-reperfusion.

We investigated the effects of an ethanolic extract of Myrtus communis subsp. communis (MC) leaves on the pancreases of rats fed with a high fat diet (HFD). Wistar albino rats were fed either with standard lab chow (Control group) or with a 45% fat diet (HFD and HFD+MC groups) for 4 months, with the MC extract (100 mg/kg) being administered by orogastric gavage to rats in the HFD+MC group during the last month. Blood and pancreas samples were collected from all experimental groups at the end of the study. Insulin and leptin levels, and the lipid profile, were analyzed in the blood serum. Pancreatic injury was assessed histologically. Insulin, nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were assessed using immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) immunohistochemistry. In addition, oxidant/antioxidant activity was analyzed by biochemical methods. Increased body weight, serum insulin and leptin levels, blood glucose level and pancreatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and decreased tissue glutathione (GSH) level were observed in the HFD group compared to the Control group, in addition to dyslipidemia. An increased histopathological damage score, pancreatic islet area, insulin, TUNEL, NF-κB and α-SMA immunoreactivity were seen in animals from the HFD group compared to the Control group. However, such pathological changes were reduced in the HFD+MC group. Our data indicate further investigation of MC extract as a therapeutic adjuvant for HFD-induced pancreatic injury, acting via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, is worth carrying out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of apocynin (APO) on the factors involved in obesity-related endothelial dysfunction (ED) and atherosclerosis (AS). Materials and Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were divided into control (CNT), high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD+APO groups. HFD and HFD+APO groups were fed HFD for sixteen weeks. APO (25 mg/kg) was administered to the HFD+APO group for the last four weeks. The effects of APO on: AS-related metabolic parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, insulin and leptin), oxidative stress (OS), [ malondialdehyde, glutathione, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase-2, oxidised-low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine], low-density lipoprotein and ox-LDL uptake potential (activin receptor-like kinase-1 and lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1, respectively), tissue inflammation (myeloperoxidase, monocyte-chemoattractant-protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha), ED (endothelial-nitric oxide synthase, inducible-nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide), programmed cell death (terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-dUTP-nick-end labeling, cleaved-poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase, gasdermin-D N-terminal fragment, caspase-1), smooth muscle cell transformation (alpha-smooth muscle actin), histology and ultrastructure of thoracic aorta were evaluated. Results: In obesity, APO had an ameliorative effect on metabolic parameters, OS, inflammation, ED, programmed cell death and ox-LDL uptake potential, but not on foam cell formation and LDL uptake potential. Conclusion: Apocynin may improve ED and AS in obesity by suppressing OS-linked factors involved in the early stage of AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative damage plays an important role in organ toxicities caused by methotrexate (MTX). This study aimed to determine the antioxidant effects of Panax ginseng (PxG) extract against MTX-induced liver, lung, ileum and kidney damage. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley male rats (weight 250-300 g) were used in the study. The animals were randomly separated into three groups: a) Control, b) MTX-treated (MTX) and c) MTX+PxG-treated (MTX+PxG) groups. MTX was administered intraperitoneally at 20 mg/kg, as a single dose to MTX and MTX+PxG groups. PxG was administered orally at 100 mg/kg to the MTX+PxG group for five days. Saline was given to the control and MTX groups for 5 days. At the end of the experiment, liver, lung, ileum, and kidney samples were obtained. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and tissue factor (TF) activities were determined in all tissues. In addition, histological examinations were done through light microscopy. GraphPad Prism 5v. was used for statistics, and p<0.05 were considered significant. Administration of MTX caused severe injury in tissues. Findings showed that MDA level, SOD, and GST activities were significantly normalized in the MTX+PxG group compared to the control group. A significant reduction in GSH level observed in the MTX group was reversed with PxG administration In addition, TF activity and total protein levels were found to be impaired in the MTX group, but TF activity was significantly improved in liver and lung tissues and total protein level was significantly reversed in lung and ileum in MTX+PxG group. The results of histological examinations showed that MTX-induced damage was ameliorated with the PxG administration. In conclusion, this study shows that Panax ginseng, thanks to its antioxidant properties, reversed MTX-induced tissue damage and therefore may be beneficial against side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy, which is routinely used to treat a wide range of oncological disorders, primarily affects the malignant tissue in the targeted area, but also have negative effects in the surrounding tissues. Pelvic radiotherapy causes early and late effects on the colon and rectum. Resveratrol (RVT) has been revealed to have a number of pharmacological effects in a variety of experimental models and clinical circumstances, therefore it has piqued the interest of scientists in recent years. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of resveratrol (RVT), a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagenic agent, against toxicity of colonic and rectal tissues seen in the early and late stages after pelvic radiation. The treatment durations of the current study were designed as one week and ten weeks interval by following radiation exposure. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (8 animals/group) as the control, radiation-early effects (Rd-E), radiation-late effects (Rd-L), and RVT-treated Rd-E (Rd-E+RVT) and RVT-treated Rd-L (Rd-L+RVT) groups. İonizing radiation was performed to the pelvic area that covers colon and rectum in single fraction of 20 Gy in a linear accelerator using with 6 MV photon energy. RVT was orally administered (10 mg/kg/day) immediately following the radiation exposure and continued daily for 1 and 10 weeks for early and late groups, respectively. Pelvic radiation caused a significant decrease in glutathione level, while malondialdehyde levels, myeloperoxidase activity and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were increased in both Rd-E and Rd-L groups in the colon and rectum tissues. Additionally, light microscopic evaluations (H&E staining) revealed degeneration of epithelium and inflammatory cell infiltration in the colonic and rectal tissues in radiation groups. RVT treatment reversed all conducted biochemical parameters and ameliorated histomorphological changes following early and late effects of pelvic radiation in tissues. In conclusion, resveratrol may be a candidate as a radioprotector for normal tissues during and after radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent that causes testicular toxicity used in the cure of various types of cancer. The anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects of Panax ginseng (PxG) have been reported in both experimental and clinical studies. This study aims to examine the healing effect of PxG on testicular damage induced by MTX. Materials and Methods: Sprague Dawley male rats (8-week-olds) were used in the study. A single dose ofMTXdissolved in saline (20 mg/kg) was given to MTX and MTX+PxG groups by intraperitoneal injection. PxG dissolved in saline (100 mg/kg) was given by orogastric gavage once a day for 5 days to the MTX+PxG group. Saline was given to the control and MTX groups orally during the experiments. After decapitation, the testis sampleswere obtained. Seminiferous tubules and basement membranewere evaluated histopathologically. Seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelium thickness were measured. Furthermore, oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-S-transferase were measured. Results: MTX treatment caused seminiferous tubule degeneration with a decrease in Johnsen's score, the seminiferous tubule's diameter, and the germinal epithelium's thickness. Parallel with the histopathological results increased testicular oxidative stress with an increase in malondialdehyde level and a decrease of endogenous anti-oxidant activity with a decrease in glutathione level and glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismutase activities. PxG treatment improved these histological and biochemical parameters in MTX-induced testis cytotoxicity. Conclusion: MTX treatment causes testicular damage via the oxidative processes. PxG treatment ameliorates MTX-induced testicular damage by inhibiting oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the protective effects of Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract on high fat-diet (HFD) induced heart and aorta damage by evaluating oxidative stress and the endothelial nitric oxide system (eNOS). Materials and Methods: Wistar albino male rats were divided into 3 groups (n=7) as control, HFD, and HFD+MC. Rats in HFD and HFD+MC groups were HFD fed for 16 weeks and in the last 4 weeks saline or MC (100 mg/kg) was administered orally (5 days/week). Triglyceride, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were estimated in blood serum. Tissue oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters were evaluated biochemically. Tissue morphologies, eNOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), and NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX-2)-immunopositive and apoptotic cells were evaluated histologically. Results: Altered serum lipid profiles, degenerated heart, and aorta morphology, increased malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2- deoxyguanosine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and myeloperoxidase levels, and iNOS, NOX-2 immunopositive and apoptotic cells, decreased NO levels, eNOS-immunopositive cells in both tissues were observed in HFD group. All these parameters improved in the HFD+MC group. Conclusion: This study revealed that HFD-induced obesity increased iNOS activation and oxidative stress in the cardiac and aortic tissues of the rats. MC improved oxidant/antioxidant balance and prevented heart and aorta damage via eNOS involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obesity is associated with many diseases, including urinary system disorders such as chronic kidney disease and overactive bladder syndrome. Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of MC extract on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced kidney and bladder damage. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino male rats were divided into three experimental groups: control, HFD and HFD+MC. Experimental groups were fed a standard diet (control group) or HFD (HFD and HFD+MC groups) for 16 weeks. MC extract (100 mg/kg) was administered to the HFD+MC group orally during the last 4 weeks (5 days/week) of the experiment. Highdensity lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglyceride and leptin levels were measured in blood serum. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were evaluated biochemically. Kidney and bladder morphology, NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-KB)-positive and apoptotic cells were evaluated histologically. Results: Lipid profiles altered and leptin levels increased in blood serum. MDA, 8-OHdG and MPO levels increased and GSH level decreased in kidney and bladder in the HFD group. Moreover, degenerated kidney and bladder morphology, increased NOX-2 and NF-κB-positive and apoptotic cells were observed in this group. All of these biochemical and histological parameters were ameliorated in the HFD+MC group. Conclusion: HFD-induced obesity causes kidney and bladder damage by oxidative and inflammatory processes. MC extract may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and play a protective role in obesity-related kidney and bladder damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug commonly used for the treatment of malign neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bitter melon (BM) were reported. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of BM fruit extract on MTX-induced testicular and epididymal damage. Materials and Methods: Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into three groups (n=8) as control, MTX and MTX+BM. A single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to the MTX and MTX+BM groups. BM fruit extract (600 mg/kg) was applied to the MTX+BM group orally for 5 days. Testes were examined for general histopathology, proliferating and apoptotic cells. The epididymis samples were used for the evaluation of sperm morphology. Oxidative and inflammatory markers were analysed biochemically. Results: Increased abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated seminiferous tubules with increased apoptotic cells and decreased proliferative cells were observed in the MTX group. TNF-α, IL-1β, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and caspase-3 levels increased, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels decreased in both testis and epididymis samples. All these histological and biochemical parameters were ameliorated in the MTX+BM group. Conclusion: Methotrexate causes testis damage by decreasing spermatogenic cells and increasing apoptosis through oxidative stress and inflammation. BM extract improves testis and epididymis damage with its possible anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent that is the first to enter treatment from organic platinum-derived drugs. Nephrotoxicity and cytotoxicity are major factors that limit its use. The aim of the study is to investigate the possible protective effects of quercetin against cisplatin-induced urogenital organ toxicity. In our study, Sprague Dawley four month old male rats were divided into 4 groups; control + saline (SF), control + quercetin (20 mg/kg for 21 days), cisplatin (7 mg/kg as a single dose) + SF and cisplatin + quercetin groups. After decapitation, the kidney, bladder, testis and corpus cavernosum tissue samples were taken to analyze caspase-3, an index of apoptosis, and oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), gluta-thione (GSH), and 8-hydroxy-2' -deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Furthermore, tissues were also examined histologically. Cisplatin caused significant increases in MDA and 8-OHdG levels, demonstrating increases in lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage, respectively, in all tissues. In parallel with the oxidant stress increase, the endogenous strong antioxidant GSH levels were decreased. Caspase activity and caspase 3 expressions, which we measured as an indicator of apoptosis, increased significantly with cisplatin treatment. On the other hand, treatment with quercetin, a powerful antioxidant flavonoid, reversed these changes. Histological findings also demonstrated well-preserved tissues due to quercetin treatment. In conclusion, our results suggested that quercetin, when given with cisplatin, can be protective against the chemotherapeutic induced toxicity and thus provide therapeutic benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protective effects of ACE inhibitor, Captopril, and angiotensin receptor blocker, Valsartan, were evaluated in the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF) with and without the presence of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The renal mass of Wistar albino rats was reduced at a rate of 5/6. Captopril, Valsartan and NAC were applied intra-peritoneal alone or in combination. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored at weekly intervals over a period of six weeks. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) concentrations, urinary volume, creatinine, and both serum and urinary electrolyte levels were measured. In addition, the apoptosis rate of white blood cells was analysed from plasma samples. Tissue samples from the brain, heart, aorta and kidneys were used for analysis of the collagen content besides tissue luminol, lucigenin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. A significant difference was determined between the CRF group and the control group with regard to heart rate, blood pressure, serum creatinine, BUN, LDH, cytokines and urinary electrolyte levels. Furthermore, monocyte and neutrophil apoptosis, tissue luminol, lucigenin, malondialdehyde and collagen levels were found to increase. Tissue glutathione levels were found to decrease indicating oxidative damage. These results indicate that oxidative mechanisms induce tissue damage in CRF, and the angiotensin receptor blocker, Valsartan, improved oxidative tissue damage when used in combination with the ACE inhibitor, Captopril or NAC, yielded better results and could be a novel approach for the treatment of CRF when used in combination with anti-oxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery / Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Marmara Medical Journal is the property of Marmara Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Marmara Medical Journal is the property of Marmara Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with oxidative stress that promotes production of reactive oxygen species and cytokine release. We aimed to investigate the possible protective and antioxidant effects of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) in a rat model of CRF. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned as either CRF group with 5/6 reduction in the renal mass or sham-operated control group. CRF group received either saline or AGE (250 mg/kg/day/1 mL) orally for 3 weeks. At the end of the 3 weeks, rats were decapitated and trunk blood was collected. Creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and TNF-αα and IL-1ββ levels were measured in the serum samples, while malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) levels, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined in the kidney, lung, and heart samples. CRF caused significant decreases in tissue GSH, which were accompanied with significant increases in MDA levels and MPO activities, while the circulating levels of the LDH activity, creatinine, BUN, TNF-αα, and IL-1ββ were elevated. AGE treatment alleviated CRF-induced oxidative changes in the injured tissues, while CRF-induced elevations in the blood levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and LDH were reduced. In conclusion, CRF-induced oxidative tissue injury occurs via the activation of pro-inflammatory mediators and by neutrophil infiltration into tissues and that the protective effects of garlic on CRF-induced injury can be attributed to its ability to inhibit neutrophil infiltration and pro-inflammatory mediators. These findings suggest that garlic, as a supplementary to diet, may have a potential therapeutic use in delimitating the systemic oxidant effects of CRF on remote organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin as an antioxidant, on prevention and treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic renal injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) untreated, (2) melatonin-treated, (3) untreated diabetic (UD), (4) melatonin-treated diabetic (MD). Experimental diabetes was induced by single dose (60 mg/kg, i.p.) STZ injection. For 3 days prior to administration of STZ, melatonin was injected (200 μ g/kg/day, i.p.); these injections were continued until the end of the study (4 weeks). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker of lipid peroxidation were significantly increased in the renal homogenates of UD animals and decreased after melatonin administration. The activity of the antioxidative enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was significantly reduced in UD rats. Melatonin treatment reversed STZ-induced reduction of GSH-Px activity without having an effect on blood glucose. Upon histopathological examination, it was observed that the melatonin treatment prevented the renal morphological damage caused by diabetes. Upon immunohistochemical investigation, glomerular anti-laminin β 1 staining decreased in MD rats. Additionally, no tubular anti-IGF-1 staining was observed in melatonin-treated rats. In conclusion, chronically administered melatonin reduced renal injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats and thus it may provide a useful therapeutic option in humans to reduce oxidative stress and the associated renal injury in patients with diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate possible protective effects of apocynin (APO), an NADPH oxidase (NOX2) inhibitor, on cisplatin (CIS)‐induced testicular damage. Four groups of Sprague Dawley rats were used: control, APO, CIS and CIS+APO. Following a single intraperitoneal dose of CIS (7 mg/kg), either dimethyl sulfoxide or APO (25 mg/kg) was administered orally for 5 days. Testis samples were evaluated microscopically for general histopathology and ultrastructure, proliferating and apoptotic cells, and NOX2 localization. Sperm parameters were evaluated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and 8‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG) activities were analysed biochemically. The CIS group had a greater number of abnormal spermatozoa, atrophic seminiferous tubules, apoptotic and NOX2‐immunoreactive cells; numerous large vacuole formations in the cytoplasm of germinal epithelial cells; degenerated intercellular tight junctions; higher MDA, 8‐OHdG and MPO levels; decreased numbers of spermatozoa; and lower proliferative index and GSH and SOD levels. All these histologic and biochemical results were better in the CIS+APO group. CIS causes testicular damage by decreasing spermatogenic cell lines and increasing NOX2 activity and apoptosis through oxidative stress. APO prevents testicular damage, possibly by its antioxidant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Nesfatin-1 reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions in torsioned rat testis. • Apoptosis and seminiferous tubular degeneration were depressed by nesfatin-1. • Nesfatin-1 elevated expressions of TGF-β and reduced AKT and CREB in testis. • Nesfatin-1 ameliorated oxidative damage and preserved spermatogenic cells. Abstract Testicular torsion causes ischemia-reperfusion injury and an increased risk of infertility. Nesfatin-1 is a novel peptide with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the putative beneficial effects of nesfatin-1 on oxidative injury and impaired testicular function induced by testis torsion. Under anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats (180–230 g; n = 24) had sham-operation or they underwent testicular torsion by rotating the left testis 720° and fixing it for 2 h, followed by a 2-h detorsion. Rats in each group were treated intraperitoneally with either nesfatin-1 (0.3 μg/kg) or saline prior to the torsion or sham-torsion. At the end of the 4-h experimental period, tissue samples were removed for evaluation of spermatozoa, molecular and histochemical analyses. In saline-treated torsion/detorsion group, a high percentage of abnormal spermatozoa with head defects was observed, which was abolished in nesfatin-1-treated torsion/detorsion group. The levels of 8-OHdG, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, caspase-3 were increased in the saline-treated torsion/detorsion group as compared to sham-operated group, while nesfatin-1 pre-treatment significantly decreased the expressions of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, depressed apoptosis, and also reduced the tubular degeneration. In addition, nesfatin-1 in torsion/detorsion group elevated expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and reduced expressions of protein kinase B (AKT) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the testis tissue. The present findings show that nesfatin-1, by regulating AKT and CREB signaling pathways and pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokine balance, preserves the spermatogenic cells and ameliorates torsion-detorsion-induced tubular degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gibberellic acid (GA3), a plant growth regulator, is used commonly in agriculture. Its potential hazardous effects on human health, however, were relatively unexplored. Several studies demonstrated that in animals chronic GA3 consumption increased tumor formation and oxidative stress. Mast cells and Substance P (SP) play an important role in inflammation. Because chronic inflammation triggers serious conditions, including tumor formation, we examined changes in mast cell recruitment and activation as well as SP levels in skin and urinary bladder. Wistar Albino rats were treated with either a single GA3 dose or multiple GA3 doses for 30 days. Sub-chronic exposure to GA3 markedly increased mast cell recruitment and activation in both tissues. Treatment with 2mg/kg GA3 dose for 30 days decreased SP levels in skin and bladder. SP levels returned to control values in bladder and further increased in skin following 30-day treatment with the 20mg/kg GA3 dose. There was marked urothelial loss and inflammatory cell infiltration in bladder of 30-day GA3 treated groups. In skin, single GA3 doses also decreased SP levels and enhanced mast cell activation and recruitment. Since both SP and mast cell activation elicit inflammatory responses, these results demonstrate that exposure to plant growth regulators may increase inflammatory skin and bladder disease and that use of GA3 should be clearly monitored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]