Does isotretinoin affect spermatogenesis in the long term? A rat model.

OBJECTIVES: Spermatogenesis, in which cell regeneration continues, can be affected by environmental, chemical, psychological factors or various diseases. There is conflicting information in the literature about the effect of isotretinoin, which is widely used in acne treatment, on testes and spermatogenesis. Therefore, we planned a rat study to evaluate the long-term efficacy of oral isotretinoin on testicular tissues and spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Group 1 (n = 6) 7.5 mg/kg/day and the Group 2 (n = 6) received isotretinoin at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day dissolved in sunflower oil, the Sham Group (n = 6) received only sunflower oil by gavage, and the control group (n = 6) received standard feed and water for four weeks. After the 4th week, all animals were fed with standard feed and water and followed for the next four weeks. At the end of the 8th week, all animals were sacrificed under deep anesthesia. Seminiferous tubule diameters, epithelial thickness, apoptotic index, sperm number and motility recorded Results: Sperm count, motility, vitality, diameter of seminiferous tubule and germinal epithelium thickness were decreased and apoptotic index increased in the groups received isotretinoin. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of testosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that further comprehensive studies, including human clinical trials, should be conducted to examine the negative effects of isotretinoin on spermatogenesis in the long term especially when there is a need using isotretinoin in men for various reasons and to eliminate the contradictions in the literature in this regard.

Comparison of Thalamus Volume on Magnetic Resonance and Cadaveric Section Images.

AIM: To measure and to compare the volume of thalamus using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the anatomical sections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 13 brain specimens were used. First, the images were taken in 3 mm sections on MRI, the thickness of the thalamus was measured. Subsequently, 4 mm coronal sections were prepared using a microtome. The thalamic volumes calculated from cadaveric specimens were compared with the measurements obtained using MRI. RESULTS: On MRI, the mean thalamic volumes on the right and left hemispheres were found to be 5843.4 ± 361.6 mm3 and 5377.0 ± 666.2 mm3 respectively. The mean volumes of the cadaveric sections were 5610.8 ± 401.3 mm3 on the right side and 5618.5 ± 604.1 mm3 on the left hemisphere. No statistically significant difference was found between the volume calculated from MRI and that obtained from the cadaveric section (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows a correlation between measurement of thalamus volume based on MRI and those calculated from anatomical sections. Our findings support the reliability of DBS procedures using MRI and stereotactic method.

Effect of Ginkgo biloba on brain volume after carotid artery occlusion in rats: a stereological and histopathological study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study investigated the effect of Ginkgo biloba (GB) on brain volume in cerebral ischemia induced by stopping carotid artery blood flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four adult male rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. No procedure was performed on the control group. Ischemia was applied to the rats in the ischemia and ischemia + GB groups by clamping the arteria carotis communis for 30 min. The rats in the ischemia + GB group were given 100 mg/kg drops (Tebokan Fort Drop, Abdi Ibrahim Ilaç Sanayi A.$., Turkey) containing dry GB leaf extract orally, every day for 14 days from the day of ischemia. In the sham group, surgical stress alone was applied by performing a skin incision. On the 14th day, brain tissues were extracted and evaluated stereologically and histopathologically. RESULTS: The only statistically significant difference was observed between the sham and control groups. CONCLUSION: This result may be interpreted as surgical stress, established by cutaneous incision, having an adverse effect on brain volume. Additionally, the absence of any difference in terms of brain volume following 30 min of ischemia between the ischemia and control groups suggests that a probable postischemic rise in brain volume disappears within 14 days.

[Healing of osteochondral defects in canine knee with avocado/soybean unsaponifiables: a morphometric comparative analysis]. / Avokado/soya fasülyesinin sabunlasmayan ekstresi verilen köpeklerin dizlerinde osteokondral defekt iyilesmesi: Bir karsilastirmali morfometrik analiz.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the effects of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) on healing in a canine osteochondral defect model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen dogs were included in the study and randomly divided into two groups. Two osteochondral defects were produced in the lateral aspect of the trochlear groove of the knee joint. The treatment group (group 1; n=7) was given 300 mg ASU capsules every three days whereas the control group (group 2; n=7) was given a normal diet. Animals were then allowed to ambulate normally until euthanasia at 15 weeks. The knees were dissected and the trochlear grooves with defects were removed for pathological examination. The amount of regenerated tissue was determined quantitatively using image analysis and the tissue content was evaluated semi-quantitatively using Safranin-O and Masson trichrome histochemical stains. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) increase was evaluated semi-quantitatively with immunohistochemical staining methods. RESULTS: Morphometric analysis revealed a significantly more immature repair tissue in group 1 (p<0.002). Both collagen and chondral tissue content of the regenerated tissue were significantly increased in group 1 (p<0.002). Compared to that in group 2, cartilage tissue in group 1 showed a much more marked immunostaining reaction of TGF-beta. CONCLUSION: Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables treatment stimulates the healing of the osteochondral defects in canine knee possibly by increasing TGF-beta in the tissues.

Oral administration of avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) reduces ischemic damage in the rat hippocampus.

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) are known as an antiarthritic agent. This experimental study presents the effects of ASU on oxidant/antioxidant systems and the number of apoptotic neurons of hippocampal formation after ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Eighteen rats were divided into three equal groups: group I rats were used as controls; group II rats were fed with standard diet and group III rats were fed with standard diet plus ASU pills for 10 days. One day after electrocauterization of bilateral vertebral arteries for groups II and III, bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 30 min and then reperfused for 30 min. After these procedures, rats of all groups were sacrificed. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in the left hippocampus. The number of apoptotic neurons was counted by Tunel method in histological samples of right hippocampus. RESULTS: MDA and NO levels increased in group II compared with group I rats (p = 0.002, p = 0.015). In group III, MDA and NO levels decreased as compared to group II (p = 0.041, p = 0.002). SOD and CAT activities increased in group III as compared to group II rats (p = 0.002, p = 0.002). The number of apoptotic neurons was lower in group III as compared to group II rats. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that ASU could decrease oxidative stress and apoptotic changes in ischemic rat hippocampus. Dietary supplementation of ASU may be beneficial to prevent or ameliorate ischemic cerebral vascular disease.

The protective effect of fish n-3 fatty acids on cerebral ischemia in rat hippocampus.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral injury after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Fish n-3 essential fatty acids (EFA), contain eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) and docosahexoenoic acids (DHA), exhibit antioxidant properties. DHA is an important component of brain membrane phospholipids and is necessary for the continuity of neuronal functions. EPA prevents platelet aggregation and inhibits the conversion of arachidonic acid into thromboxane A(2) and prostaglandins. They have been suggested to be protective agents against neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of fish n-3 EFA on oxidant-antioxidant systems and number of apoptotic neurons of the hippocampal formation (HF) subjected to cerebral I/R injury was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Six rats were used as control (Group I). Cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of both the common carotid arteries combined with hypotension for 45 min, followed by reperfusion for 30 min, in rats either on a standard diet (Group II) or a standard diet plus fish n-3 EFA (Marincap((R)), 0.4 g/kg/day, by gavage) for 14 days (Group III). At the end of procedures, the rats were sacrificed and their brains were removed immediately. The levels of malonedialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in left HF. In addition, the number of apoptotic neurons was counted by terminal transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay in histological samples of the right HF. We found that SOD activities and MDA levels increased in Group III rats compared with Group II rats. On the other hand, CAT activities and NO levels were found to be decreased in Group III rats compared with Group II rats. Additionally, the number of apoptotic neurons was lower in Group III in comparison with Group II rats. The present findings suggest that fish n-3 EFA could decrease the oxidative status and apoptotic changes in ischemic rat hippocampal formation. Dietary supplementation of n-3 EFA may be beneficial to preserve or ameliorate ischemic cerebral vascular disease.