Electron microscopic investigation of benzo(a)pyrene-induced alterations in the rat kidney tissue and the protective effects of curcumin.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic hydrocarbon with carcinogenic and DNA damaging properties. Curcumin, primary yellow pigment in turmeric, has a wide range of biological, pharmacological properties in addition to being a powerful antioxidant. The aim of this study was to investigate protective effects of curcumin against benzo(a)pyrene damage in rat kidney. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups (n = 6) as: control, corn oil, Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), BaP (10 mg/kg/day), Curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), Curcumin+BaP (100 mg/kg/day+10 mg/kg/day). Agents were daily and orally administered for six weeks. Kidney tissues were removed and examined ultrastructurally. Glomerular and tubular structures in control, corn oil, and DMSO groups demonstrated normal features. Glomerular capillary dilation, thickening, and folding of basement membrane and disruption of organelle contents were distinguished in BaP group. Deletion of podocyte cell and pedicels also sponge-like appearance of glomerular surface were remarkable in this group. Tissue components were protected in curcumin treated group. Proximal tubules and glomerular basement membrane exhibited normal features in Curcumin+BaP group. The abnormalities that accompanied BaP administration clearly revealed the detrimental effects of this agent. Therefore, this study provided substantial evidence that curcumin protects against benzo(a)pyrene nephrotoxicity.

The effect of di-n-butyl phthalate on testis and the potential protective effects of resveratrol.

This study aimed to observe the possible protective effects of resveratrol (RSV) against the damage of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) on the testis. The study was conducted in 6 groups of rats with 6 animals in each group aged 20 days. The groups include group 1: control group; group 2: solvent (carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), 10 ml/kg); group 3: 500 mg/kg/day DBP; group 4: 500 mg/kg/day DBP + 20 mg/kg/day RSV; group 5: 1000 mg/kg/day DBP; and group 6: 1000 mg/kg/day DBP + 20 mg/kg/day RSV. Groups were treated by gavage for 30 days. Indirect immunohistochemical staining was performed with c-kit, AT1, and ER-α antibodies. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method was used for apoptosis. It was found in the DBP-applied groups the C-kit immunostaining, which is parallel to increasing dose, decreased in comparison with the control. C-kit reactivity was similar to that of the control group in the group applied with 500 mg/kg/day + RSV; however, the reactivity was not same in the 1000 mg/kg/day DBP-applied group. It was observed that the reactivity of AT1 increased in the DBP-applied groups. RSV reversed these changes with its protective effects. While there was not much difference between the groups in terms of estrogen receptor reactivity, it was observed that the high dose of DBP reduced the level of estrogen receptor and the resveratrol was not at enough levels in all doses. In TUNEL analysis, high doses of DBP increased the apoptosis in all types of cells; nevertheless, the resveratrol application decreased the apoptosis in the low-level DBP dose. In the statistical analysis, while the length of epithelium and the diameter of seminiferous tubules decreased for all the other groups, it reverted to its original state in the RSV-applied groups. In conclusion, DBP (with increasing dose) administration caused cycle and hormonal changes in testis, resveratrol were recovered the cyclic changes but in hormonal changes, RSV is efficient too but inadequate.

Does vitamin E prevent tubal damage caused by smoking? A light microscopy and animal study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the histomorphological effects of smoking on the cilia of fallopian tubes in mice and the effect of vitamin E on the negative effects of smoke. STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen 12-14 week-old Swiss albino type female mice were randomly divided into three groups, each consisting of six mice: Group A: control group; Group B: mice exposed to cigarette smoke; Group C: mice exposed to cigarette smoke together with vitamin E. Groups B and C were exposed to cigarette smoke for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, tubal excision was performed in all animals. Histopathologic examination of excised tubal tissue was conducted under light microscopy. RESULTS: The number of cilia was significantly lower in Group B. Although not statistically significant, the median number of cilia in Group C was measured to be higher than in Group B but lower than in Group A. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, it can be concluded that smoking decreases tubal cilia numbers. Supplementation by vitamin E may treat or at least help to slow down the decrease in number of cilia caused by smoking; therefore it could be used therapeutically in the treatment of smoking-related tubal damage.

Effects of green tea and vitamin E in the testicular tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible therapeutic or protective effects of green tea in diabetic rat's testicular tissue, either as a single agent, or together with vitamin E. METHODS: The present study was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey from May to August 2011 for 10 weeks. Forty-eight adult male Wistar albino rats, weighting 250-300 g, were divided into 8 groups: control; nondiabetic vitamin E (0.4 mg/kg/NG); nondiabetic green tea (300 mg/kg/NG); nondiabetic vitamin E plus green tea administered groups; diabetic group (60 mg/kg/IV streptozotocin); diabetic vitamin E; diabetic green tea; and diabetic vitamin E plus green tea administered groups. Proliferative and apoptotic indexes were determined using anti-PCNA antibody immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assays respectively. Tubule degeneration was evaluated using the Johnson's score and also seminiferous tubules diameters, epithelial thickness were measured. RESULTS: Histopathological examination in diabetic group revealed degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules together with a statistically significant decrease in PCNA positive cells, in epithelial thickness, diameter of the tubules and in Johnson's score, while exhibited an increase in the number of apoptotic cells. When all these findings are considered together, the most successful protective effects in diabetes were obtained in the combined antioxidant group. CONCLUSION: Combined therapy of vitamin E and green tea in diabetes was more effective than monotherapy. Therefore, these antioxidants may be use as a supporting therapy for reproductive dysfunction.

Chemoprotective effect of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and selenium on cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in the rat ovarium.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and selenium by measuring the glutathione (GSH) levels and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) expression in the ovarian tissues of rats treated with cyclophosphamide (CP) therapy. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each: (I) control, (II) only CP, (III) CP + ascorbic acid, (IV) CP + α-tocopherol, and (V) CP + selenium. Immunohistochemical stainings and GSH protocol were then applied. RESULTS: Following CP administration, the rats exhibited significantly lower GDF-9 expression in oocytes and PCNA expression in granulosa cells of follicles in all stages of development (P < 0.05). In CP + antioxidant groups (Groups III, IV, V), GDF-9 immunoreaction in oocytes and PCNA immunoreaction in granulosa cells of the developing follicles were found to show an increase towards the levels observed in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CP was found to cause remarkable degenerative effects in normal ovarian tissue, and we believe that this damage can be reduced and ovarian tissue can be spared from the toxic effects of CP by using antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and selenium.

Transmission electron microscopy study of the effects of zinc overdose on mouse liver tissue.

Thirty adult male mice were divided into three groups. The animals in group I were used as controls and drank only water during the entire period of experimentation. Group II animals drank water containing 1.5 g/100 mL zinc as ZnSO4, and group III animals received 2.5 g/100 mL zinc. After 3 wk supplementation with high doses of zinc, the animals were killed and the livers were removed and examined by electron microscopic techniques. After the supplementation period, the animals in groups II and II showed various degrees of degenerative changes in the hepatocytes, such as increased size and the presence of spaces and an abundance of lipid globules in the cytoplasm. The mitochondria showed a crystalline appearance, a diluted matrix, and dense aggregations. Some smooth endoplasmic reticulum tubules showed dilation and were filled with a dense substance. None of these changes were present in the group I control animals.