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Dimethoate is an organophosphorus pesticide used against agricultural insects, which causes oxidative stress and damage in many organs, including the reproductive ones. Cherry laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis Roem.) fruit is rich in vitamins and phenolic compounds with antioxidant effect. The aim of this study was to investigate how effective its extract would be against dimethoate-induced testis and sperm damage in rats. Sixty animals were divided in six groups of 10. Group 1 (control) received only 1 mL of saline (0.9 % NaCl). Group 2 received 7 mg/kg of dimethoate in 1 mL of saline. Group 3 received 4 mg/kg of extract in 1 mL of saline. Group 4 received the extract 30 min before dimethoate administration. Group 5 received vitamin C (positive control, 100 mg/kg in 1 mL of saline) 30 min before dimethoate administration. Group 6 received only dimethoate for the first four weeks and then a combination of dimethoate and extract for another four weeks. All doses were administered daily by oral gavage. After eight weeks of treatment, the rats were euthanised and their reproductive organs removed. We took their body and reproductive organ weights and evaluated testicular oxidative stress, semen characteristics, sperm DNA damage, testicular apoptosis, and histopathological changes. Dimethoate significantly decreased body and reproductive organ weights, sperm motility and concentration, testicular superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-peroxidase activities and significantly increased lipid peroxidation, abnormal sperm rate, sperm DNA damage, testicular apoptosis, and caused histopathological lesions. Cherry laurel extract significantly countered many dimethoate-induced adverse effects, both as pre- and post-treatment, including reproductive organ weight, semen parameters, oxidant-antioxidant balance, sperm DNA integrity, testicular apoptosis, and histological structure. Our findings clearly suggest that the beneficial effects of the extract are associated with countering oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation in particular.

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Objective: The study aims to investigate the protective role of pycnogenol extract against liver damage in whole-body gamma- irradiated rats by assessing DNA damage, histopathological changes and biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: Rats were irradiated to a single fraction 900 cGy dose of gamma radiation. The pycnogenol extract was dissolved 5% DMSO and daily administrated before starting irradiation. The pycnogenol was administered orally via a gastric tube at a dose of 37.5 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg in 24, 48 and 72 h before irradiation. Irradiation was applied single fraction using Cobalt-60 teletherapy device. The animals were divided into ten groups that included control, pycnogenol extract groups only irradiation group (γ-ray) and pycnogenol extract + γ-ray groups. DNA damage, histopathological changes, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver tissue of rats were evaluated three days after irradiation Results: Our results obtained that pycnogenol extract was induced to liver damage depend on pycnogenol extract dose, but the pycnogenol extract + γ-ray groups were significantly ameliorated the changes induced in liver antioxidant system; CAT, SOD and MDA. Also, the P300+γ-ray was significantly reduced irradiation-induced liver injury and it was possible to observed significantly preservation in the histopathological evaluation. The pycnogenol extract groups were significantly increased to comet parameter depend on pycnogenol doses compared to control. The pycnogenol extract + γ-ray were significantly decreased the comet parameter compared to the γ-ray group. Conclusion: The administration of pycnogenol extract might provide substantial protection against radiation-induced oxidative, DNA damage and histopathological changes in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Health Sciences / Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Erciyes Universitesi Saglik Bilimleri Dergisi 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.)

Objective: The radioprotective and antioxidant effect of pycnogenol against gamma radiation-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated at single cell level, tissue level and biochemical parameters in adult male Wistar Albino rats.*Material and Methods: The study was included control group (n=10), antioxidant groups (P37.5, P75, P150, P300, n= 10), only radiation group (y-ışını, n=10) and antioxidant + radiation groups (P37.5+y-ışını, P75+y-ışını, P150+y-ışını, P300+y-ışını, n= 10) on 100 rats. Pycnogenol was dissolved in 5% DMSO. Radiation was applied single fraction with Cobalt-60 teletherapy device. Control and radiation groups were received 5% DMSO. Antioxidant and antioxidant + radiation groups were received pycnogenol at 24, 48 and 72 hours before the irradiation. Twenty-four hours after the administration, the rats were sacrificed with general anesthesia and their kidneys were removed. DNA damage, histopathological evaluation, CAT, SOD activities and MDA levels were evaluated in renal tissue. Results: We were evaluated increased levels of MDA, decreased SOD and CAT activities in the radiation group; however, MDA level was decreased and increased SOD and CAT activities in the antioxidant + radiation group. Comet parameters were increased in the other groups compared to the control group and these parameters were decreased in the antioxidant + radiation groups compared to the radiation group (p <0.001). Histopathologically, impaired histopathology was observed in the other groups compared to the control group and improved histopathology was observed in the antioxidant + radiation groups compared to the radiation group. Conclusion: Pycnogenol is which has been shown to have antioxidant effects, as a protective against kidney damage due to ionized radiation, may be suggested based on the data of our study. However, preclinical and clinical studies are also needed to better understand the mechanism of action and molecular basis and to clarify dose, toxicity and tolerability issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate effects MAPK proteins on hippocampal levels in two-generation male rat brain the prenatally exposure to 2450 MHz radiofrequencyelectromagnetic field (RF-EMF). Methods: Wistar Albino genus 12 female rats and 4 male rats were used this study. They were divided into a control and three exposure groups including a male and three female rats. The exposure groups were exposed by 2450 MHz RFEMF 12h/day through the experiment. Control group was not exposed.1st groups were exposed male rat but not exposed female rats. 2nd groups were exposed both male rat and female rats. 3th groups were not exposed male rat and were exposed female rats. Before 30 days from fertilization was exposed RF for 12 h/day. At the end of 30 days all groups were fertilized. When male rats were two months old, six male rats from each group were sacrificed under general anesthesia and hippocampus was taken. The hippocampal levels of selected kinases of all male rats were measured using Western Blotting technique. The other male and female rats were used in the second generation studies. Results: First generation male rats;There were statistical significantly difference between the control group and exposure groups in pERK level (p<0.05).But there were not statistical significantly difference between the control group and exposure groups in ERK, p38 and p-P38 levels. Second generation male rats;p-ERK and p-P38 MAPK levels were statistical significantly decreased in the 2nd group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Total protein levels were not statistical significantly difference between the control group and exposure groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Study findings confirmed that phosphorylation levels of pERK and p-P38 were significantly increased after EMF exposed in exposure groups. These findings indicated that EMF exposed rats may lead to changes in the function of the MAPK pathway affecting cognitive processes such as learning and memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the prenatal effects of 2450 MHz radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RFEMF) exposure on development of brain tissue in rat fetus and on histopathological changes in female rats and on hippocampal levels of protein kinases including ERK/ MAPK and p38/38 in male rats. Methods: 12 Wistar Albino female rats (150-250 g) and 4 Wistar Albino male rats (250-350 g) were used this study. They were divided into a control and three exposure groups including a male and three female rats. The exposure groups were exposed by 2450 MHz EMF. Control group was not exposed. 1st groups were exposed male rat but not exposed female rats. 2nd groups were exposed both male rat and female rats. 3th groups were not exposed male rat and were exposed female rats. Exposing time was 12 hours for 30 days. At the end of 30 days all groups were fertilized. Brain of all fetus and all female rats were took 10% formaldehyde for histopathological evaluation. The hippocampal levels of selected kinases of all male rats were measured using Western Blotting technique. Results: There were statistical significant difference between the control group and exposure groups in pERK level (p<0.05).But there were not statistical significant difference between the control group and exposure groups in ERK, p38 and p-P38 levels.The histological appearance of the brain tissue of the control groups was normal. Females and fetuses exposed to EMF had irregular cortex-cellular placement and vascular dilatation in the 1st and 2nd groups compared to the control. Conclusion: Western blot analysis confirmed that the expression of pERK was significantly increased after EMF exposed in exposure rats, and thus can activated the ERK pathway which affected the function of learning and memory in rats. EMF can causes damage to both the fetus and the adult brain. Acknowledgments:This work was supported by the Erciyes University-The Scientific Research Projects of Turkey (ERUBAP); Project number: TCD-2017-7275. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy is one of the inevitable treatment approaches for several types of cancer. We aimed to show the protective and therapeutic effects of daily use of melatonin on liver tissues subjected to a single dose of 10 Gy (gamma-ray) total body radiation. Rats were divided into 6 groups, of which 10 were in each: control, sham, melatonin, radiation, radiation+melatonin, and melatonin+radiation. The rats received 10 Gy of external radiation throughout their entire bodies. The rats were given 10 mg/kg/day of melatonin intraperitoneally before or after radiation treatment, depending on the group. Histological methods, immunohistochemical analysis (Caspase-3, Sirtuin-1, α-SMA, NF Κ B-p65), biochemical analysis by ELİSA (SOD, CAT, GSH-PX, MDA, TNF-α, TGF-β, PDGF, PGC-1α) and the Comet assay as a marker of DNA damage were applied to the liver tissues. Histopathological examinations showed structural changes in the liver tissue of the radiation group. Radiation treatment increased the immunoreactivity of Caspase-3, Sirtuin-1 and α-SMA, but these effects were relatively attenuated in the melatonin-treated groups. The melatonin+radiation group had statistically significant results close to those of the control group, in terms of Caspase-3, NF Κ B-p65 and Sirtuin-1 immunoreactivity. In melatonin treated groups, hepatic biochemical markers, MDA, SOD, TNF-α, TGF-β levels, and DNA damage parameters were decreased. Administration of melatonin before and after radiation has beneficial effects, but using it before radiation may be more efficient. Accordingly, daily melatonin usage could mitigate ionizing radiation induced damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paclitaxel is a widely used drug for the treatment of cancer, but it possesses toxic effects on male reproductive system. Administering paclitaxel with an antioxidant has become a strategy for preventing the side effects of paclitaxel. Although curcumin is an antioxidant, data concerning the effect of curcumin on paclitaxel-induced testis tissue are lacking. The present study was established to examine the protective impact of curcumin against testicular damage induced by paclitaxel., Methods: In the study, 40 Wistar albino male rats were used and randomly divided into 4 groups (n:10). The control group received only saline solution; the curcumin group received curcumin throughout the experiment; the paclitaxel group received a total of four doses of paclitaxel on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of the experiment; curcumin + paclitaxel group received curcumin throughout the experiment and a total of four doses of paclitaxel on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, the rats were decapitated under xylazine and ketamine anesthesia and their testicles were removed. The sections obtained from the testicles were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin and histopathological damage was evaluated. The TUNEL method was applied to determine apoptotic cells. Testosterone levels were measured in the blood serum. The Johnsen testicular biopsy score (JTBS) was used to evaluate testicular tubules. DNA damage was evaluated in sperm samples taken from the ductus epididymis using the comet assay technique., Results: Testicular tissue was severely damaged in the paclitaxel group. In the curcumin + paclitaxel group, it was determined that the administration of curcumin with paclitaxel reduced the histological damage in the testicular tissue. Moreover, according to the JTBS, the value was significantly higher in the testicular tubules (p < 0.05). Testosterone levels were higher in curcumin + paclitaxel group than in paclitaxel group. DNA damage also decreased significantly in curcumin + paclitaxel group when compared to paclitaxel group (p < 0.05)., Discussion: The results showed that curcumin may be protective against damage caused by paclitaxel in the testicles of rats.