Protective effect of Cassia fistula fruit extract on bromobenzene-induced nephrotoxicity in mice.

The efficacy of a crude hydro-alcoholic extract of Cassia fistula (golden shower tree) fruit to protect the kidney against bromobenzene-induced toxicity was studied. Negative control mice received normal saline; positive control mice were given 460 mg/kg of bromobenzene; Cassia fistula treated mice received 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg of Cassia fistula fruit extract followed by 460 mg/kg bromobenzene (daily by oral gavage for 10 days). On the 11th day, the mice were sacrificed, blood samples were obtained to assess blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels, and kidneys were removed for histological examination. We found that bromobenzene induced significant nephrotoxicity reflected by an increase in levels of BUN and creatinine that was dose dependently prevented by the Cassia fistula fruit extract. The nephroprotective effect of the Cassia fistula fruit extract was confirmed by the histological examination of the kidneys. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the protective effect of Cassia fistula in nephrotoxicity.

Adenosine deaminase inhibition enhances the inotropic response mediated by A1 adenosine receptor in hyperthyroid guinea pig atrium.

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that inhibition of adenosine deaminase (ADA) enhances the efficiency of signal-transduction of myocardial A1 adenosine receptors in hyperthyroidism. The inotropic response to N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), a selective A1 adenosine receptor agonist resistant to ADA, was investigated in the absence or presence of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), an ADA and cGMP-stimulated 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE2) inhibitor, or of pentostatin (2'-deoxycoformycin; DCF), an exclusive ADA inhibitor, in left atria isolated from eu- or hyperthyroid guinea pigs. Both ADA inhibitors enhanced the effect of CPA only in hyperthyroid atria. EHNA significantly increased the Emax (mean+/-S.E.M.) from 83.8+/-1.2% to 93.4+/-1.2%, while DCF significantly decreased the logEC50 from -7.5+/-0.07 to -7.83+/-0.07 in hyperthyroid samples. Conversely, EHNA also diminished the logEC50 (from -7.5+/-0.07 to -7.65+/-0.07) and DCF also raised the Emax (from 83.8+/-1.2% to 85.7+/-2%) in hyperthyroidism, but these changes were not significant. In conclusion, ADA inhibition moderately but significantly enhanced the efficiency of A(1) adenosine receptor signaling pathway in the hyperthyroid guinea pig atrium. This suggests that elevated intracellular adenosine level caused by ADA inhibition may improve the suppressed responsiveness to A1 adenosine receptor agonists associated with the hyperthyroid state. Alternatively or in addition, the role of decreased concentration of adenosine degradation products cannot be excluded. Furthermore, in the case of EHNA, inhibition of PDE2 also appears to contribute to the enhanced A1 adenosine receptor signaling in the hyperthyroid guinea pig atrium.

Influence of hyperthyroidism on the effect of adenosine transport blockade assessed by a novel method in guinea pig atria.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hyperthyroidism on the trans-sarcolemmal adenosine (Ado) flux via equilibrative and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI)-sensitive nucleoside transporters (ENT1) in guinea pig atria, by assessing the change in the Ado concentration of the interstitial fluid ([Ado]ISF) under nucleoside transport blockade with NBTI. For the assessment, we applied our novel method, which estimates the change in [Ado]ISF utilizing the altered inotropic response to N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), a relative stable selective agonist of A1 Ado receptors, by providing a relative index, the equivalent concentration of CPA. Our results show an interstitial Ado accumulation upon ENT1 blockade, which was more extensive in the hyperthyroid samples (CPA concentrations equieffective with the surplus [Ado]ISF were two to three times higher in hyperthyroid atria than in euthyroid ones, with regard to the negative inotropic effect of CPA and Ado). This suggests an enhanced Ado influx via ENT1 in hyperthyroid atria. It is concluded that hyperthyroidism does not alter the prevailing direction of the Ado transport, moreover intensifies the Ado influx in the guinea pig atrium.