The effect of Ferula elaeochytris root extract on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important complication of diabetes. The aim of our study was to determine whether Ferula elaeochytris (FE) root extract could affect ED in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Seventy-five adult male Wistar albino rats were equally divided into five groups; control (C), FE (40 mg/kg-d), STZ-induced diabetes (60 mg/kg) (DM), diabetes + F. elaeochytris (DM + FE), and ethanol (EtOH). After 8 weeks, in vitro and in vivo parameters (intracavernosal pressure [ICP]), testicle and body weight, serum glucose levels, and histopathology were assessed. In the STZ-induced diabetic group, acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation responses, and electrical field stimulation-induced neurogenic and nitrergic relaxation responses were decreased significantly, while FE administration to diabetic rats reversed the decreased nitrergic and neurogenic responses. In the diabetic group, ICP/MAP (0.1375 ± 0.02 cm/H2O), spermatogenesis in testicles (53.73 ± 0.81), and testicle weights (257.8 ± 20.63) were decreased significantly; however, FE administration to diabetic rats restored the decreased values (0.350 ± 0.019 cm/H2O, 75.07 ± 0.35, and 416 ± 24.11, respectively). In the DM group, blood glucose levels were increased (411.7 ± 18.30) compared to the C group. However, FE administration to diabetic rats reduced glucose levels (230.6 ± 25.60 mg/dL) compared to the DM group. In conclusion, FE recovered neurogenic and endothelial dysfunction and decreased glucose levels in diabetic rats.

Impact of alternating wet and dry periods on long-term seasonal phosphorus and nitrogen budgets of two shallow Mediterranean lakes.

The water balance, with large seasonal and annual water level fluctuations, has a critical influence on the nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics of shallow lakes in the semi-arid climate zone. We constructed seasonal water and nutrient budgets for two connected shallow lakes, Lakes Mogan and Eymir, located in Central Anatolia, Turkey. The study period covered 20years with alternations between dry and wet years as well as restoration efforts including sewage effluent diversion and biomanipulations in Lake Eymir. Both lakes experienced a 1-2m water level drop during a drought period and a subsequent increase during the wet period, with seasonal water level fluctuations of 0.60 to 0.70m. During wet years with high water levels, small seasonal differences were observed with a nutrient peak in spring caused by external loading and nutrient loss via retention during summer. During years with low water levels, nutrient concentrations increased due to internal and external loading, exacerbated by evaporative water loss. In Lake Eymir, a shift to eutrophic conditions with turbid water occurred under low water level conditions and consequent internal loading of P from the sediment, causing high nutrient concentrations in summer. Our results indicate a threat of lakes drying out in the semi-arid climate zone if evaporation increases and precipitation decreases as anticipated from the global climate change predictions. In addition, our results show the influence of the water balance on the eutrophication of shallow lakes in the Mediterranean climate zone and highlight the ultimate consequences for lake management.

Impacts of ß-estradiol on intestinal injury in newborn rats.

OBJECTIVE: Necrotizing enterocolitis has been investigated and debated extensively in recent years; however, there is still no effective treatment. The aim of this study was thus to examine the effects of ß-estradiol on intestinal injury in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four newborn female rat pups were divided into three groups. In group 1 (sham), hypoxia-re-oxygenation was not performed. In group 2 (saline), the rats were injected with saline after hypoxia-re-oxygenation, and the process was repeated for 5 d. In group 3 (ß-estradiol treatment), the rats were subjected to hypoxia-re-oxygenation and then given ß-estradiol intraperitoneally once a day for 5 d. After these procedures, the terminal ileum was removed for analysis. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in histological grades were found between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.000), groups 1 and 3 (p = 0.028), and groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.021). There were also differences in TNF-α and IL-6 levels between groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.000 and p = 0.038, respectively) and between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.000 and p = 0.000); there was no difference between groups 1 and 3 (p = 0.574 and p = 0.195, respectively). Electron microscopy examination revealed a decrease in lipid droplets at the apical cytoplasm of the columnar cells in group 2; in group 3, the absorption of the lipids as lipid droplets was similar to that of group 1. CONCLUSION: In this study, ß-estradiol was found to decrease the intensity of intestinal injury significantly by inhibiting TNF-α and IL-6.

Effect of silymarin on bladder overactivity in cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis rat model.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of silymarin, a phytotherapeutic agent, on bladder overactivity in a cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis rat model. Female Wistar Albino rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of CYP (150 mg/kg) or saline and after 72 h, bladder function was evaluated by in vitro preparations of whole bladders and cystometry with continuous saline infusion under urethane anesthesia. Silymarin or a vehicle was orally given for 7 days in rats. CYP was injected on the 5th day of silymarin or vehicle treatment and then the animals were killed on the 8th day. CYP-treatment dramatically potentiated the basal spontaneous contractions of isolated whole bladders compared to control rats. In anesthetized rats, during continuous infusion cystometry, intercontraction interval (ICI) was significantly shorter, but bladder voiding pressure was not significantly changed in CYP-injected rats compared to control rats. In the CYP-injected group, silymarin treatment significantly decreased the amplitude, frequency (contractions/min) and area under the curve of spontaneous contractions, but failed to change carbachol-induced contraction in isolated whole bladder. Also, silymarin treatment significantly increased the ICI in comparison to the vehicle treatment. In the saline-injected group, no significant changes in the bladder function were observed between the silymarin and vehicle-treated groups. Histopathological examination showed that CYP-induced bladder inflammation tended to be lower in the silymarin+CYP-treated group. In conclusion, the oral administration of silymarin suppressed CYP-induced bladder overactivity. Silymarin may be considered as an attractive treatment for CYP-induced bladder overactivity.

Effects of sodium valproate on renal functions in rats.

In recent years, it has been reported that sodium valproate occasionally can cause renal tubular impairment. This study was designed to demonstrate the renal tubular and glomerular functions in rats given sodium valproate as monotherapy, as well as to determine any reversibility of dysfunctions. Female rats were randomly allocated to three groups: group 1 received sodium valproate 500 mg/kg/d intraperitoneal for six weeks; after the same injection period, group 2 was housed for another six weeks, after which laboratory investigations were completed; and group 3 served as a control group made up of 20 healthy rats living in same condition without any treatment. Serum ALT, total protein, uric acid, ALP, phosphorus, sodium levels, and urine Ca/cr ratio were significantly different between groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.025), but this difference was not seen between groups 2 and 3. On the other hand, other parameters such as TRP, Ccr, NAG, and MDA were not significantly different among the three groups ( p > 0.025) These results suggest that SV does not have a significant dose- or time-related side effect on renal functions. Minor biochemical dysfunctions related to long-term sodium valproate therapy is reversible, and the minimal renal fibrosis that showed histopathologically is not clinically important. The renal tissues of rats are known to show similar metabolic and histological patterns with human renal tissues. No renal dysfunction was expected in humans because there were no clinically statistically significant renal side effects in this study.

Nonsynergistic effects of trimetazidine and selenium combination therapy on renal ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been postulated to play a major role in postischemic acute renal injury. Moreover, lipid peroxidation has been described as an important pathway of ROS-induced postischemic acute renal failure. To evaluate effects of selenium (Se) and trimetazidine (TMZ) on postischemic renal failure, renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations were measured in Wistar rats with ischemic renal failure. Treatment groups consisted of rats treated with TMZ (5 mg/kg orally) or Se (30 microg/kg orally) or TMZ+Se for 15 days. Ischemic groups consisted of rats with clamped left renal arteries for 1 hour. Before left renal arterial clamping, right nephrectomy was performed; after 24 hours, left nephrectomy was done. The animals were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 (n=7) was the nonischemic control group without treatment; Group 2 (n=6) was the ischemic control group treated with physiologic solution; Group 3 (n=5) received TMZ; Group 4 (n=5) received Se; and Group 5 (n=6) received TMZ+Se for 15 days. After TMZ and Se treatment, right renal tissue MDA significantly decreased in Groups 3-5 when compared with those in Group 1. There was no significant difference between nonischemic and ischemic renal tissue MDA in Groups 3, 4, and 5. Postischemic renal tissue SOD levels were higher than nonischemic levels in Group 3. In Groups 4 and 5, no significant differences were observed between nonischemic and ischemic renal tissue SOD levels. Moreover, total scores obtained from histopathologic evaluation of ischemic and nonischemic kidney samples in Groups 3, 4, and 5 were similar, but these scores in Group 2 were significantly different from those of Groups 3, 4, and 5. These results indicate that, under these study conditions, TMZ, Se, and TMZ+Se treatments prevent lipid peroxidation in ischemic and nonischemic renal tissue. Moreover, these treatments prevent histologic findings of postischemic-perfusion renal injury.