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Objective  To investigate the effect of pretreatment with obestatin (OB), an endogenous hormone also found in mother's milk, in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Study Design  Pups were randomized into four groups: control, OB-control, NEC, and OB-NEC. NEC was induced by asphyxia and hypothermia in the NEC and OB-NEC groups. OB was administered to the OB-control and OB-NEC groups. Macroscopic scoring of the intestinal tract was evaluated and tissue samples were obtained for histopathological and biochemical examination on the fourth day. Results  OB improved the macroscopic appearance of the gut and the clinical score during the experiment (p   <  0.05). The rate of occurrence of NEC in the OB-NEC group was lower than the NEC group (p   =  0.001). OB prevented necrosis and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in the OB-NEC group compared with the NEC group (p   =  0.006). Furthermore, interleukin-6 and malondialdehyde levels in the OB-NEC group were lower than the NEC group (p   <  0.05). Conclusion  OB reduced intestinal damage and prevented necrosis through anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects in experimental NEC. This effect of OB should be confirmed in clinical studies. Furthermore, future research should investigate whether OB plays a role in NEC pathogenesis or NEC is associated with OB levels in the serum and in breast milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is known that depression reduces the pain threshold and neurogenesis. New drugs for the treatment of depression and secondary effects of depression continue to be produced. Despite these drugs, depression is still an important health problem. The aim of this study was to show the effect of agomelatine on neurogenesis and pain threshold in depressive rats. Methods: 40 male Wistar albino rats (10-12 weeks old) were used in the study. Rats were divided into four groups as control (CONT), control-agomelatine (KONT-AGO), depression (DEP), depression-agomeletin (DEP-AGO) groups. Depression model was developed based on the method developed by Porsolt and saline applied to this group for 15 days. DEP-AGO group was administered agomelatin (1 mg/kg) with gavage for 15 days after the depression model was developed. CONT-AGO was applied agomelatin (1 mg/kg) for 15 days without ZST. Sucrose preference test was applied to all groups. The pain thresholds were measured with hot plate and tail flick methods of all groups. Sections from the hippocampus region of the brain were taken and neurogenesis was demonstrated by evaluating doublecortin (DCX) immunoreactivity intensity. Statistical comparisons between groups were evaluated by one-way ANOVA followed post-hoc LSD test. Results: When the sucrose preference, pain threshold (avoidance times) and DCX immunoreactivity were evaluated, it was found that DEP group rats decreased significantly compared that in CONT and CONT-AGO group (p<0.05). In addition, when the same parameters were evaluated, it was found that DEP-AGO group rats increased significantly compared to DEP group (p<0.05). No significant difference was found between the CONT, CONT-AGO and DEP-AGO groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Study findings support that depression decreases pain threshold and neurogenesis and that melatonin analog agomelatine, which is used as antidepressant, normalizes these effects of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A standard experimental sciatic nerve injury model was created with Bulldog clamp by applying constant pressure. • EPO and umbilical cord-derived MSCs contributed to nerve regeneration. • The combined useage of MSC and EPO had a synergistic effect on the physiological recovery of rats with sciatic nerve damage. We aimed to investigate the effects of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and erythropoietin on nerve regeneration in the sciatic nerve 'crush injury' in a rat model. Experimental animals were randomly divided into 5 groups: Crush Injury, Sham, Crush Injury + Erythropoietin, Crush Injury + Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Crush Injury + Erythropoietin + Mesenchymal Stem Cell groups. Crush injury made with bulldog clamp. Mesencyhmal stem cells delivered by enjection locally. Erythropoietin administered by intraperitoneally. On the 0th, 14th and 28th days, all groups underwent a sciatic functional index test. On 28th day, sciatic nerves were harvested and histopathological appearance, axon number and axon diameter of the sciatic nerves were evaluated with Oil Red O staining. Immunoreactivity of nerve growth factor, neurofilament-H and caspase-3 were determined by immunofluorescence staining in nerve tissue. In histopathological examination, axons and nerve bundles exhibiting normal nerve architecture in the Sham group. Crush Injury + Mesenchymal Stem Cell group has similar histological appearance to the Sham group. The number of axons were higher in the Mesenchymal Stem Cell groups compared to the Crush Injury group. Nerve growth factor immunoreactivity intensity was significantly lower in Crush Injury + Mesenchymal Stem Cell group compared to Crush Injury group. Neurofilament-H density was higher in the treatment groups when compared to the Crush Injury group. In this study, it was found that umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and erythropoietin treatments effects positively regeneration of crush injury caused by bulldog clamp in the sciatic nerve of rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]