Baseline prepulse inhibition dependency of orexin A and REM sleep deprivation.

RATIONALE: Prepulse inhibition (PPI) impairment reflects sensorimotor gating problems, i.e. in schizophrenia. This study aims to enlighten the role of orexinergic regulation on PPI in a psychosis-like model. OBJECTIVES: In order to understand the impact of orexinergic innervation on PPI and how it is modulated by age and baseline PPI (bPPI), chronic orexin A (OXA) injections was carried on non-sleep-deprived and sleep-deprived rats that are grouped by their bPPI. METHODS: bPPI measurements were carried on male Wistar rats on P45 or P90 followed by grouping into low-PPI and high-PPI rats. The rats were injected with OXA twice per day for four consecutive days starting on P49 or P94, while the control groups received saline injections. 72 h REMSD was carried on via modified multiple platform technique on P94 and either OXA or saline was injected during REMSD. PPI tests were carried out 30 min. after the last injection. RESULTS: Our previous study with acute OXA injection after REMSD without bPPI grouping revealed that low OXA doses might improve REMSD-induced PPI impairment. Our current results present three important conclusions: (1) The effect of OXA on PPI is bPPI-dependent and age-dependent. (2) The effect of REMSD is bPPI-dependent. (3) The effect of OXA on PPI after REMSD also depends on bPPI. CONCLUSION: Orexinergic regulation of PPI response with and without REMSD can be predicted by bPPI levels. Our findings provide potential insights into the regulation of sensorimotor gating by sleep/wakefulness systems and present potential therapeutic targets for the disorders, where PPI is disturbed.

Effects of Ankaferd BloodStopper on dermal healing in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Diabetes mellitus inhibits wound-induced angiogenesis, impairs the wound healing process, and leads to the development of chronic wounds. Ankaferd BloodStopper (ABS) is a new and promising local haemostatic agent. Although the mechanism of ABS-mediated haemostasis is well established, little is known about the associated histological and biochemical tissue reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this new-generation local haemostatic agent on short-term soft-tissue healing in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 24 Wistar albino rats used in this study were divided into STZ-treated (STZ, n = 12) and nontreated groups (control, n = 12). Four days prior to surgery, rats in the STZ group were subcutaneously administered 60 mg/kg STZ intraperitoneally, while rats in the control group were administered 1 mL saline/kg. An incision was made in the dorsal dermal tissue of all rats, and either ABS or no haemostatic agent (NHAA) was applied to the wound before suturing. All of the rats were euthanised on postoperative day 4. Blood and skin samples were evaluated biochemically and histologically. RESULTS: The results showed that STZ treatment impaired soft-tissue healing, assessed by measuring glutathione and lipid peroxidation levels. Moreover, while good histological results were obtained in the control group treated with ABS, there were fewer benefits in the STZ-treated group. CONCLUSION: ABS's benefits in the control group seemed to lose their effectiveness under STZ medication.

Perindopril, atenolol, and amlodipine prevent aortic ultrastructural changes in rats exposed to ethanol.

BACKGROUND: The effects of perindopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, atenolol, a beta adrenergic receptor blocker, and amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, were investigated in chronic alcohol administered rats. MATERIAL/METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats (240-320 g) were used in the present study. Alcohol was given to rats on a modified liquid diet for 21 days. Perindopril (2.5 and 5 mg/kg), atenolol (5 and 10 mg/kg), and amlodipine (5 and 10 mg/kg) were injected into rats in different groups intraperitoneally for 21 days. Control rats were pair fed an isocaloric liquid diet containing sucrose as a caloric substitute for alcohol. Saline was injected into the control rats for 21 days. The hearts were removed after the rats were anesthetized by ether, and 1-mm3 samples from the ascending aortas were fixed. Five fields per aorta were examined and photographed with a transmission electron microscope. Blood alcohol levels were also measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Daily alcohol consumption of the rats was in the range of 12.09-15.50 g/kg. Blood alcohol concentrations were 145.63 mg/dl on the 21st day of alcohol consumption. Chronic alcohol consumption caused some marked aortic wall injuries. Perindopril, atenolol, and amlodipine at high doses, but not low doses, produced some significant beneficial effects on alcohol-induced aortic wall damage. CONCLUSIONS: These results imply that perindopril, atenolol, and amlodipine may have protective effects on heavy chronic alcohol consumption-induced aortic wall injury in rats only in high doses.