Effects of quercetin on gentamicin-induced experimental testicular injury in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of gentamicin (GEN) on the testis and whether quercetin (QUE) has any protective effect. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into equal four groups: control (0.9% saline solution), GEN (80 mg∕kg GEN), QUE (50 mg∕kg QUE) and GEN+QUE (80 mg∕kg GEN + 50 mg∕kg QUE). Histopathological (HP) evaluation of testis was performed, epididymal sperm parameters were analyzed and oxidative status was evaluated. The use of QUE improved the HP findings, such as decrease in the germinal epithelial thickness in the testicular tissue of the GEN group, decrease in the Johnsen's tubular biopsy score (JTBS), increase in the rate of immature cell shedding tubules, and the apoptotic index (AI). In the GEN group, sperm count, and abnormal morphology increased compared to the control group; the viability and motility decreased according to the sperm analysis results. In the GEN+QUE group, QUE was found to improve sperm viability and morphology. In the GEN group, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased while superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels decreased. Compared with the GEN+QUE group, it was found that the tissue MDA level decreased, while the levels of SOD, CAT and GPx increased. The results demonstrate that GEN impairs testicular structure and function, and QUE treatment can prevent this adverse effect.

Protective potential of pterostilbene against cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity and cystitis in rats.

PURPOSE: Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is an antitumor drug. However, in addition to its antitumor affect, CYP can also lead to nephrotoxicity and hemorrhagic cystitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential protective effects of Pterostilbene (Pte), a natural antioxidant as a resveratrol analog against CYP-induced nephrotoxicity and cystitis in rats. METHODS: Twenty-one male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 equal groups. The control group and the CYP group (CYPG) received 1 ml/kg sunflower oil per day, and the CYP + Pte group (CYP + PteG) 40 mg/kg per day Pte dissolved in sunflower oil once a day via the oral route for 14 days. In addition, on day 9 of the experiment, CYPG and CYP + PteG received a single dose of 200 mg/kg CYP dissolved in saline solution, while the control group received a single dose of 10 ml/kg saline solution, via the intraperitoneal route. Bladder and kidney tissues were collected for histological and biochemical evaluations. RESULTS: Pte was observed to reduce CYP-derived increases in malondialdehyde level, total oxidant status (TOS), the oxidative stress index (OSI), and apoptosis in kidney tissues and to cause an increase in superoxide dismutase levels. It also reduced CYP-derived increases in TOS, OSI, and apoptosis in bladder tissue. Moreover, Pte also ameliorated histopathological findings associated with CYP-induced tissue damage in both the kidney and bladder. CONCLUSION: Our study findings show that Pte may exhibit a protective effect against CYP-induced nephrotoxicity and cystitis.

Propolis ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion-induced testicular damage by reducing oxidative stress.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of Turkish propolis (EEP) on testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage in rats in terms of biochemistry and histopathology, for the first time. METHODS: A total of 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups with six rats in each group: control, torsion/detorsion (T/D), and T/D+EEP (100mg/kg). Testicular torsion was performed by 720° rotating the left testicle in a clockwise direction. The duration of ischemia was 4h and orchiectomy was performed after 2h of detorsion. EEP was applied only once 30min before detorsion. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were determined using colorimetric methods. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated by proportioning tissue TOS and TAS values to each other. Tissue glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Johnsen's testicle scoring system was used for histological evaluation. RESULTS: In the T/D group, it was determined that statistically significant decreasing in TAS, GSH, GPx levels and Johnsen score, and increasing in TOS, OSI and MDA levels (p<0.05) compared with control group. EEP administration statistically significantly restored this I/R damage (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that propolis prevent I/R-induced testicular damage through its antioxidant activity. More comprehensive studies are needed to see the underlying mechanisms.

Effects of titanium prepared platelet rich fibrin on facial nerve regeneration: an experimental study.

INTRODUCTION: Facial nerve damage is a condition that causes functional, psychological, and cosmetic problems; and treatment methods need to be improved. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin as a healing enhancer at the region of transection of the facial nerve. METHODS: Twenty-seven New Zealand male rabbits were used in this study, divided into three experimental groups. Group 1, the sham group (n=7); Group 2, the suture group (n=10); and Group 3, the suture+T-PRF group (n=10). In Group 1, the facial nerve trunk was dissected, and no additional surgical intervention was performed. For Group 2, a transection was made to the facial nerve trunk and the nerve endings were sutured together. In Group 3, nerve endings were sutured after transection, and a titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin membrane was wrapped in a tube around the damaged area. All animals were followed up weekly for the presence of corneal reflex, whisker movement and low ears. Bilateral facial electromyography was performed both preoperatively and postoperatively at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th weeks. Tissue samples obtained at the 10th week were histopathologically examined, and intra-group and inter-group comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Subjects in Group showed improvement in whisker movement and ear drop one week earlier than Group 2. In Group 3, the nerve stimulation threshold required to trigger the compound muscle action potential had returned to values similar to the preoperative control values (11.31±2.16V) by 5 weeks postoperatively (12.51±3.97V), (p=0.249). CONCLUSION: Titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin administration contributed to partial nerve healing both on a functional and an electrophysiological level.