The effect of glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist on behavioral despair and anxiety-like behavior in ovariectomized rats: Modulation of BDNF/CREB, Nrf2 and lipocalin 2.

Ovariectomized (OVX) rodents show behavioral despair and anxiety-like behaviors. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) possess neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, thereby preventing synaptic loss. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of GLP-1RA, namely liraglutide, on emotional behaviors, and to identify the level of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and BDNF signaling in the hippocampus of OVX rats. Forty female young Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: Control, Control+liraglutide treated, OVX, OVX+fluoxetine, and OVX+liraglutide (150 µg/kg for 15 days, sc). Open field test and elevated plus-maze test were used to evaluate behaviors that are suggestive of anxiety. A forced swimming test was used to evaluate behavioral despair. At the end of the experiments, blood glucose level and body weight gain were measured. The levels of BDNF, CREB, Nrf2, and lipocalin 2 in the hippocampal tissue were measured by ELISA. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione levels were also evaluated. Statistical analysis was conducted through ANOVA and Bonferroni tests. Seven weeks post-OVX rats exhibited high anxiety related behavior and behavioral despair in comparison with the control groups. These behavioral changes were associated with increased lipocalin 2 and MDA levels in rats. Moreover, BDNF, CREB, and Nrf2 levels decreased significantly in the hippocampus of OVX rats. Liraglutide treatment limited the reduction of BDNF and Nrf2 levels in the hippocampus, maintaining them at the control levels. Liraglutide treatment also prevented the symptoms of behavioral despair and anxiety related behavior. As the main finding of the study GLP-1RA reduced behavioral despair and anxiety level and this may be related to the preservation of BDNF/Nrf2 levels and the decrease in oxidative stress and lipocalin 2 levels in the hippocampus.

Melatonin reverses depressive and anxiety like-behaviours induced by diabetes: involvement of oxidative stress, age, rage and S100B levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats.

Diabetes is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. The current investigation was designed to explore the effect of melatonin on depressive and anxiety like-behaviours, oxidative stress, levels of AGE, RAGE and S100B in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The animals were divided into four groups: Normoglycemic; Normoglycemic + melatonin; diabetic; diabetic + melatonin (10 mg/kg, for 4 weeks). The malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), AGE, RAGE and S100B were measured and the depressive and anxiety like-behaviours were assessed by forced swimming and elevated plus maze tests, respectively. Melatonin ameliorates depressive and anxiety like-behaviours. Concomitantly, melatonin reversed diabetes induced increase of MDA, AGE and decrease of GSH and S100B levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, our results showed that melatonin administration may exert antidepressant-like and anxiolytic effects in diabetic rats through normalising of AGE/RAGE, S100B and oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

Agmatine attenuates intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in rats.

AIMS: Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are major factors causing several tissue injuries in intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Agmatine has been reported to attenuate I/R injury of various organs. The present study aims to analyze the possible protective effects of agmatine on intestinal I/R injury in rats. MAIN METHODS: Four groups were designed: sham control, agmatine-treated control, I/R control, and agmatine-treated I/R groups. IR injury of small intestine was induced by the occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for half an hour to be followed by a 3-hour-long reperfusion. Agmatine (10mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally before reperfusion period. After 180min of reperfusion period, the contractile responses to both carbachol and potassium chloride (KCl) were subsequently examined in an isolated-organ bath. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured in intestinal tissue. Plasma cytokine levels were determined. The expression of the intestinal inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was also assessed by immunohistochemistry. KEY FINDINGS: The treatment with agmatine appeared to be significantly effective in reducing the MDA content and MPO activity besides restoring the content of GSH. The treatment also attenuated the histological injury. The increases in the I/R induced expressions of iNOS, IFN-γ, and IL-1α were brought back to the sham control levels by the treatment as well. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings indicate that the agmatine pretreatment may ameliorate reperfusion induced injury in small intestine mainly due to reducing inflammatory response and oxidative stress.

Evaluation of the protective effect of agmatine against cisplatin nephrotoxicity with 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy and cystatin-C.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to investigate whether agmatine (AGM) has a protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Saline (control); (2) Cisplatin (CDDP; 7.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally); (3) Agmatine (AGM; 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally); (4) Cisplatin plus agmatine (CDDP + AGM). Agmatine was given before and two consecutive days after cisplatin injection. All the animals underwent renal scintigraphy with 99mTc-DMSA. The levels of serum creatinine, cystatin C, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured in addition to examination of the tissue samples with light microscopy. Acute renal injury was assessed with biochemical analyses, scintigraphic imaging, and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: In the cisplatin group, the levels of BUN, creatinine, and cystatin C were significantly higher than that of the controls. Histopathological examination showed remarkable damage of tubular and glomerular structures. Additionally, cisplatin caused markedly decreased renal 99mTc-DMSA uptake. AGM administration improved renal functions. Serum creatinine, BUN, and cystatin C levels had a tendency to normalize and, scintigraphic and histopathological findings showed significantly less evidence of renal toxicity than those observed in animals receiving cisplatin alone. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that AGM has a protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Therefore, it may improve the therapeutic index of cisplatin. In addition, the early renal damage induced by cisplatin and protective effects of AGM against cisplatin nephrotoxicity was accurately demonstrated with 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy.

Pretreatment with mineralocorticoid receptor blocker reduces intestinal injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion: involvement of inhibition of inflammatory response, oxidative stress, nuclear factor κB, and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

BACKGROUND: Spironolactone (Sp), a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, protects against the ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury of retina, kidney, heart, and brain. We aimed to investigate the effects of Sp on intestinal IR injury. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into: (1) a sham control group; (2) an IR control group, subjected to 30 min ischemia and 3 h reperfusion; (3) a group treated with Sp (20 mg/kg) for 3 d before the IR; and (4) a sham-operated control group treated with Sp (20 mg/kg). After the reperfusion, blood and intestinal tissue samples were collected to evaluate histopathologic state, neutrophil infiltration (by measuring myeloperoxidase activity), levels of the cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1α [IL-1α], interferon γ, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, and IL-4), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione contents, and immunohistochemical expressions of nuclear factor κB, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and caspase-3. RESULTS: MDA content, myeloperoxidase activity, and plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor α, IL-1α, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were all elevated in IR, indicating the oxidative stress and local and systemic inflammatory response. Sp administration markedly reduced the MDA content and the cytokine levels. The pretreatment alleviated intestinal injury, neutrophil infiltration, and the expressions of caspase-3, iNOS, and NFκB. CONCLUSIONS: The results implicate that Sp may have a strong protective effect against the intestinal IR injury. The effect can be mediated via suppression of both systemic inflammatory response and apoptosis through amelioration of oxidative stress and generation of proinflammatory cytokines, iNOS, caspase-3, and nuclear factor κB. Therefore, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism might be of potential therapeutic benefit in cases of intestinal IR damage.

Comparação dos efeitos da infiltração com bupivacaína, lidocaína e tramadol na cicatrização de feridas em ratos / Comparison of the effects of bupivacaine, lidocaine, and tramadol infiltration on wound healing in rats / Comparación de los efectos de la infiltración con bupivacaína, lidocaína y tramadol en la cicatrización de heridas en ratones

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi o de investigar os efeitos da solução salina, da bupivacaína, lidocaína e da infiltração de tramadol na cicatrização de feridas em ratos. MÉTODOS: Trinta e dois ratos Wistar machos albinos foram alocados aleatoriamente em quatro grupos, que receberam 3 mL de solução salina no grupo controle (Grupo C, n = 8); 3 mL de lidocaína a 2% (Grupo L, n = 8); 3 mL de bupivacaína a 0,5% (Grupo B, n = 8) e 3 mL de tramadol a 5% (Grupo T, n = 8). As medidas de tensão de ruptura, contagem de fibras de colágeno e avaliação histopatológica foram avaliadas nas amostras de tecido retiradas dos ratos. RESULTADOS: A comparação do grupo controle com os grupos onde bupivacaína e lidocaína foram usadas para infiltração da ferida mostrou que nestes últimos a produção de colágeno foi menor e a resistência na tensão de ruptura, enquanto se observou edema mais intenso, vascularização e escores de inflamação significantes (p < 0,0125). Entre o grupo controle e o grupo tramadol não houve diferenças significativas na produção de colágeno, tensão de ruptura e edema, vascularização, e escores de inflamação (p > 0,0125). CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo, verificou-se que tanto bupivacaína como lidocaína reduziram a produção de colágeno, resistência à ruptura da cicatriz e causaram edema, vascularização e inflamação significantes quando comparadas com o grupo controle. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos controle e tramadol para estas variáveis. Os resultados deste estudo experimental preliminar em ratos indicam que o tramadol pode ser utilizado para a anestesia por infiltração em incisões sem efeitos adversos sobre o processo de cicatrização cirúrgica. Estes resultados precisam ser verificados em seres humanos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of saline solution, bupivacaine, lidocaine and tramadol infiltration on wound healing in rats. METHOD: Thirty-two male Wistar Albino rats were randomly separated into four groups, receiving 3 mL saline solution in control group (Group C, n = 8), 3 mL of 2% lidocaine in lidocaine group (Group L, n = 8), 3 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine in bupivacaine group (Group B, n = 8), and 3 mL of 5% tramadol in tramadol group (Group T, n = 8). Breaking-strength measurements, collagen bundle counting, and histopathologic evaluation were evaluated in the tissue samples taken from the rats. RESULTS: Comparing the control group with the groups where bupivacaine and lidocaine were used for wound infiltration, collagen production was lower, breaking-strength measurements showed reduced resistance while significantly high edema, vascularity, inflammation scores were found (p < 0.0125). Between the control and the tramadol group there were no significant differences in collagen production, breaking-strength measurements, and edema, vascularity, inflammation scores (p > 0.0125). CONCLUSION: In our study, we found bupivacaine and lidocaine reduced the collagen production, wound breaking strength, and caused significantly high scores for edema, vascularity, and inflammation when compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the control and the tramadol group. Results of this experimental preliminary study on rats support the idea that tramadol can be used for wound infiltration anesthesia without adverse effect on the surgical healing process. These results need to be verified in humans.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos de la solución salina, de la bupivacaína, lidocaína y de la infiltración de tramadol en la cicatrización de heridas en ratones. MÉTODOS: Treinta y dos ratones Wistar machos albinos fueron ubicados aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos que recibieron 3 mL de solución salina en el grupo control (grupo C, n = 8); 3 mL de lidocaína al 2% (grupo L, n = 8); 3 mL de bupivacaína al 0,5% (grupo B, n = 8) y 3 mL de tramadol al 5% (grupo T, n = 8). Las medidas de tensión de ruptura, conteo de fibras de colágeno y evaluación histopatológica se evaluaron en las muestras de tejido retiradas de los ratones. RESULTADOS: La comparación del grupo control con los grupos donde la bupivacaína y la lidocaína fueron usadas para la infiltración de la herida mostró que en esos últimos, la producción de colágeno fue menor, junto con la resistencia en la tensión de ruptura, mientras se observó un edema más intenso, vascularización y puntajes de inflamación significativos (p < 0,0125). Entre el grupo control y el grupo tramadol no hubo diferencias significativas en la producción de colágeno, tensión de ruptura y edema, vascularización y puntaje de inflamación (p > 0,0125). CONCLUSIÓN: En este estudio, verificamos que tanto la bupivacaína como la lidocaína redujeron la producción de colágeno, la resistencia a la ruptura de la cicatriz y causaron edema, vascularización e inflamación significativas cuando se les comparó con el grupo control. No hubo diferencia significativa entre los grupos control y tramadol para estas variables. Los resultados de este estudio experimental preliminar en ratones indican que el tramadol puede ser utilizado para la anestesia por infiltración en incisiones, sin efectos adversos sobre el proceso de cicatrización quirúrgica. Esos resultados necesitan ser verificados en los seres humanos.

Comparison of the effects of bupivacaine, lidocaine, and tramadol infiltration on wound healing in rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of saline solution, bupivacaine, lidocaine and tramadol infiltration on wound healing in rats. METHOD: Thirty-two male Wistar Albino rats were randomly separated into four groups, receiving 3 mL saline solution in control group (Group C, n=8), 3 mL of 2% lidocaine in lidocaine group (Group L, n=8), 3 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine in bupivacaine group (Group B, n=8), and 3 mL of 5% tramadol in tramadol group (Group T, n=8). Breaking-strength measurements, collagen bundle counting, and histopathologic evaluation were evaluated in the tissue samples taken from the rats. RESULTS: Comparing the control group with the groups where bupivacaine and lidocaine were used for wound infiltration, collagen production was lower, breaking-strength measurements showed reduced resistance while significantly high edema, vascularity, inflammation scores were found (p<0.0125). Between the control and the tramadol group there were no significant differences in collagen production, breaking-strength measurements, and edema, vascularity, inflammation scores (p>0.0125). CONCLUSION: In our study, we found bupivacaine and lidocaine reduced the collagen production, wound breaking strength, and caused significantly high scores for edema, vascularity, and inflammation when compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the control and the tramadol group. Results of this experimental preliminary study on rats support the idea that tramadol can be used for wound infiltration anesthesia without adverse effect on the surgical healing process. These results need to be verified in humans.