Hepatic protective effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract against Gleevec-induced apoptosis, liver Injury and Ki67 alterations in rats

ABSTRACT Gleevec (imatinib) is an antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of many types of cancer. The current study was conducted to examine the possible modifying effects of grape seeds proanthocyandins extract (GSPE) against apoptosis, liver injury and Ki67 alterations induced by Gleevec in male rats. 40 male albino rats were equally divided into four groups (First and second groups were control and GSPE groups; third group was Gleevec group and fourth group was treated with Gleevec and GSPE). Gleevec induced elevations in P53 and depletion of Bcl2 levels in liver tissues were compared with the control group. Liver sections in rats treated with Gleevec exhibited marked cellular infiltrations, vacuolar degeneration hepatocytes, numerous apoptotic cells, and congestion in central and portal veins, as well as a significant increase in the proliferating of Ki67 after Gleevec injection as compared with control group. In contrast, treatment with Gleevec and GSPE showed a moderate to good degree of improvement in hepatocytes with a significant increase in Ki67, a decrease in P53 and an increase in Bcl2 levels in liver tissues compared to treatment with Gleevec. Therefore, Gleevec induces apoptosis, injury and Ki67 changes in rat liver, whereas GSPE modulates these alternations.

Protective effects of combined therapy of gliclazide with curcumin in experimental diabetic neuropathy in rats.

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common chronic complication of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of curcumin against neuropathy in gliclazide-treated diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg). Diabetic animals were given gliclazide (10 mg/kg, orally) alone or combined with curcumin (100 mg/kg, orally) or gabapentin (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally as a positive control). Behavioral responses to thermal (hot plate and tail flick) and mechanical (tail pinch) pain, and some biochemical tests (serum glucose, C-peptide, peroxynitrite, lipid peroxides, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were assessed after 5 consecutive weeks of daily treatment. Combined treatment of curcumin with gliclazide significantly increased hot-plate and tail-flick latencies in comparison with that of the diabetic control group. The threshold of mechanical hyperalgesia was also significantly elevated. Serum glucose and C-peptide levels were significantly increased in the combined treatment compared with the diabetic control group, whereas serum levels of peroxynitrite, lipid peroxide, and tumor necrosis factor-α production were significantly decreased. The data suggest that the combination of curcumin with gliclazide may protect against the development of diabetic neuropathy, with favorable effects with respect to the gliclazide/gabapentin combination.

Antidepressant-like effects of rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, in the rat forced swim and mouse tail suspension tests.

Several studies have evaluated thiazolidinedione therapy as medical treatments for some central nervous system disorders, such as cognitive deficits associated with neurodegenerative disorders. However, there is limited data to support a direct role for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonists in depression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate antidepressant-like activity of rosiglitazone using the mouse tail suspension test and the rat forced swimming test, two models sensitive to the effects of antidepressants. In the tail suspension test, 5 days of treatment with rosiglitazone (8.5 or 17 mg/kg, orally) reduced immobility time. In the forced swimming test, rosiglitazone (6 or 12 mg/kg, orally) treatment decreased immobility time and increased climbing. These effects were not accompanied by any alteration in locomotor activity in the open field test. Rosiglitazone treatment (6 or 12 mg/kg, orally) significantly reduced plasma corticosterone levels in rats. GW9662 significantly inhibited the rosiglitazone-induced reduction in the duration of immobility. In summary, this study suggests that rosiglitazone possesses a specific antidepressant-like activity in behavioral models and that this effect may be mediated by reduction of plasma corticosterone level.