The preventive effect of low molecular weight heparin on CCL4-induced necrosis and apoptosis in rat liver.

INTRODUCTION: Heparin having anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties may have therapeutic effect on liver injury. The present study investigated the effect of low molecular weight heparin (Enoxaparin) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic necrosis and apoptosis in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty male rats were divided into 5 groups. Group I: Control; Group II: Olive oil dissolved CCl4 at dose of 1 mL/kg, ip, twice per week; Group III: CCl4 and Enoxaparin at dose of 180 IU/kg, sc, daily; Group IV: Enoxaparin; Group V: Olive oil at dose of 1 mL, ip, twice per week. The liver histology at the forth week was examined by haematoxylin-eosin, Masson.s trichrome, Toluidine blue and Periodic acid schiff stains. Proliferative and apoptotic activities were assessed semi-quantitatively by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3 immune staining and TUNEL method. Semi-quantitative values formulated by the equation HSCORE =ΣP(i) (i+1) including both distribution and intensity of staining. Additionally, nidogen and a-smooth muscle actin were labeled by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: CCl4 group had marked hepatocelluar necrosis around the vena centralis and increased inflammatory cells and mast cells. Hepatocytes showed deposition of lipid droplets, decrease in glycogen, apoptosis, and picnotic or enlarged nuclei. Enoxaparin reduced necrosis, apoptosis, and number of mast cells but had no effect on lipid droplets in hepatocytes. HSCORE.s of caspase-3 and PCNA were also significantly decreased by administration. CONCLUSION: Enoxaparin have beneficial effects against necrosis as well as apoptosis at the early stage of CCL4 induced liver injury.

Prevention of torsion-induced testicular injury by Rhodiola rosea.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Rhodiola rosea (R. rose) extract in terms of preventing tissue injury induced by testicular torsion and subsequent ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). METHODS: Twenty-one Wistar albino male rats were divided into 3 groups: group 1 = control group, group 2 = I/R group, and group 3 = I/R + extract group. After 2 hours of ischemia and 4 hours of reperfusion, testes were removed and evaluated histologically by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Apoptosis in spermatogonial cells of seminiferous tubules was determined by transferase biotin-2'-deoxyuridine, 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL). To assess oxidative damage, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured. RESULTS: Median MDA and GSH levels were, respectively, 12 ± 3 pmol/mL and 24.8 ± 3.8 µM in group 1, 38 ± 11 pmol/mL and 10.3 ± 1.7 µM in group 2, and 19 ± 5 pmol/mL and 17.6 ± 1.3 µM in group 3 (P <.001 and P <.001, respectively). Median MDA levels, apoptotic cell density, and histopathologic scoring were significantly lower in groups 1 and 3 compared to group 2 (P <.017 for all). Median GSH levels were higher in groups 1 and 3 compared to group 2 (P <.017). CONCLUSION: R. rosea extract was shown to have partially preventive effects on testicular injury induced by torsion in this rat model. The mechanism by which R. rosea extract cause these effects merits further investigation.

Alleviation of kidney damage induced by unilateral ureter obstruction in rats by Rhodiola rosea.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of Rhodiola rosea extract in terms of alleviating the renal damage induced by unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty Wistar albino male rats were divided into five groups: (I) Control, (II) UUO 7 days, (III) UUO 7 days+extract,(IV) UUO 14 days, and (V) UUO 14 days+extract. Seven or 14 days after the initiation of the experimental procedure, the left kidneys of rats in all five groups were removed for histological examination, and their blood was drawn for biochemical measurements. RESULT: Median malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were, respectively, 39.4 (5.04) nmol/mL and 25.8 (8.01) nmol/minute/mL in group I, 77.9 (12.38) nmol/mL and 5.8 (1.95) nmol/minute/mL in group II, 48.7 (12.1) nmol/mL and 9.1 (2.3) nmol/minute/mL in group III, 58.5 (23.83) nmol/mL and 8.4 (2.1) nmol/minute/mL in group IV, and 44.8 (4.97) nmol/mL and 13.8 (3.73) nmol/minute/mL in group V. There was a statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of MDA and GPx levels (p<0.05 for both). The median numbers of apoptotic cells were 1 (1), 8 (2.25), 3 (1.25), 23.5 (9), and 7 (I) in groups I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively. There was a statistically siginificant difference among the groups in terms of apoptotic cell number (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: R. rosea extract was shown to alleviate the renal damage induced by UUO through its antioxidant effects. The mechanism by which R. rosea extract causes these effects merits further investigation.