Oxidant and antioxidant status in experimental rat testis after testicular torsion/detorsion

The aim of this study was to determine oxidative stress [OS] parameters after testicular torsion/detorsion in adult rats. In this experimental study, male adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups, each consisting of seven animals: group I-one hour right testicular torsion with subsequent orchiectomy, group II-one hour right testicular torsion followed by detorsion, group III-unilateral right-sided orchiectomy without previous torsion and group IV-control. After 30 days, bilateral orchiectomies were performed in rats with both testes and unilateral orchiectomies in rats with single testicles. Parameters of OS were determined in testicular tissue and in plasma. Plasma concentrations of advanced oxidation protein products [AOPP] and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] were higher [p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively], whilst the plasma concentration of the total sulfhydryl [T-SH]-groups was lower [p<0.05] in group I compared to the control group. Group II had higher plasma concentrations of AOPP compared to group IV [p<0.05], as well as significantly increased TBARS and decreased T-SH-group levels compared to groups III [p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively] and IV [p<0.01, for both parameters]. There were significant differences in OS markers between the ipsilateral and contralateral testis, as well as significant correlations among levels of both plasma and tissue markers of OS. The increase in TBARS levels seen throughout the experimental period indicated that OS development was caused by ischemia/reperfusion in the testicular tissue. The oxidant-antioxidant system of the testicular tissue was altered during torsion as well as detorsion

Polyamine oxidase and diamine oxidase activities in human milk during the first month of lactation

Human milk [HM] is the ideal food for all newborns and infants. Apart from various bioactive compounds, including cytokines, antibodies, hormones, vitamins, it also contains polyamines, such as spermine [Sp], spermidine [Spd] and putrescine [Put]. The present study investigated polyamine metabolism in colostrums and mature human milk by measuring the polyamine oxidase [PAO] and diamine oxidase [DAO] enzyme activities, which are necessary for polyamine catabolism, as well as by determining the malondialdehyde [MDA] levels, the final product of polyamine biodegradation. The PAO, DAO activity and MDA levels were quantified in colostrums [1st and 2nd day] as well as in mature human milk, 30th day of lactation. We found the steady increase of PAO activity and steady decrease of DAO activity and MDA levels during first month of lactation. Since the products of PAO activity such as, amino aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2]] might have potential antimicrobial effects, promoting the oxidative stress, it is likely that human milk PAO throughout the lactation period, contributes to the protective effects of human milk