The effects of myricitrin and chebulinic acid on the rat hippocampus exposed to gamma radiation: A stereological, histochemical and biochemical study.

AIM: Gamma radiation, a form of ionizing radiation, is used in many different areas, especially in the health field and in the treatment of cancer. However, gamma radiation used for therapeutic purposes also has numerous harmful effects on human health. This study was planned to investigate the impacts of exposure to gamma radiation on the hippocampal area and the preventive effects of myricitrin and chebulinic acid against that damage. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups. The control group was exposed to no treatment. The chebulinic acid and myricitrin groups were injected with the relevant drug at a dosage of 0.033 mg/kg) (vehicle; normal saline) per day. The gamma groups were placed in a plexiglass test setup with their heads positioned close to the source. The subjects were exposed to radiation with a mixed source containing radioactive Cs-137 and Co-60 isotopes obtained from Ondokuz Mayis University Physics Department Nuclear Physics Laboratory for 1 h. Gamma radiation was applied 16 mGy for one hour per day for 10 days. The gamma radiation+chebulinic acid and the gamma radiation myricitrin groups also received 0.033 mg/kg per day of these drugs via injection. Immediately after the experimental procedure, all animals were subjected to behavioural tests, and perfused brain tissues were analyzed using stereological methods. RESULTS: Stereological analysis showed that gamma radiation caused a decrease in the numbers of neurons in the hippocampal area (p < 0.01; One-way ANOVA) and that chebulinic acid and myricitrin reduced this decrease (p < 0.01; One-way ANOVA). Decreases in learning and memory capacity were detected in behavioural tests in rats from the Gamma group. CONCLUSION: The study findings showed that that the adverse health effects of Gamma radiation can be ameliorated using myricitrin and chebulinic acid. Myricitrin was more effective in terms of cell proliferation and defence against oxidative stress than chebulinic acid, and exhibited a more neuroprotective effect. However, more detailed analyses should be performed before using either antioxidant for therapeutic purposes.

An investigation of the potential effects of amitriptyline on polycystic ovary syndrome induced by estradiol valerate.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is frequently observed in adolescent women and usually progresses with depression. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of amitriptyline (Ami), a drug used in the treatment of depression, in individuals with PCOS. Forty 12-week-old female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, sham, PCOS, Ami, and PCOS + Ami. To induce the syndrome in the PCOS groups, a single dose of 4 mg/kg estradiol valerate was administered by intraperitoneal injection; 10 mg/kg Ami was administered by intraperitoneal injection for 30 days in the Ami groups. After 30 days, all the animals were sacrificed and blood, ovary, and brain tissues were collected and subjected to routine tissue processing. Stereological, histopathological analyses were performed on the ovarian sections, while luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were investigated in blood samples. The volume of the corpus luteum and preantral follicles increased in the PCOS group, while a decrease was determined in the number of antral follicles using stereological methods. Biochemical analysis revealed that FSH levels increased and CAT enzyme levels decreased in the PCOS group. Significant morphological changes were observed in ovaries from the PCOS group. The volume of the corpus luteum in the PCOS + Ami group decreased compared to the PCOS group. Serum FSH levels decreased in the PCOS + Ami group, while CAT enzyme levels increased compared to the PCOS group. Degenerative areas were also seen in the PCOS + Ami group ovaries. Ami administration was unable to sufficiently ameliorate the morphological and biochemical changes caused in the ovarian tissues by PCOS. In addition, this study is one of the few studies examining the effects of amitriptyline, an antidepressant frequently used in depression treatment of individuals with PCOS. We also observed firstly that use of amitriptyline caused PCOS-like ovarian morphology in healthy rat ovaries, while it had a healing effect by volume decreasing of cystic structures in the ovary with PCOS.

Potential Effects of Stem Cells Derived from the Peripheral Nerve and Adipose Tissue after the Nerve Crush Injury in Control and Obese Rats.

Aim of this study is to investigate effects of stem cells derived from the peripheral nerve and adipose tissues following the nerve crush injury in control and obese rats. For this aim, 41 Wistar Albino female rats were separated into eight equal groups; non-obese control (NOC) obese control (OC), non-obese injury (NOH), obese injury (OH), non-obese adipose (NOY), obese adipose (OY), non-obese nerve (NOPS), obese nerve (OPS). At the end of 8 weeks, all experimental animals without control groups were subjected to nerve crush procedure and sciatic nerve or fat stem cell homogenates were injected on the treatment group rats, and then, recovery process has been observed and histopathological, stereological, electrophysiological analyses and bioinformatic evaluation were made on removed sciatic nerves. Stereological results showed that adipose homogenate gave more successful results than peripheral nerve homogenates in the NOY group in comparison to the NOPS group in terms of myelinated axon number. Peripheral nerve homogenate has shown more successful results in the OPS group in comparison to the OY group. The number of unmyelinated axons was increased following treatment with adipose tissue homogenate in NOY and OY groups. In terms of myelin sheath thickness; we detected that treatments by peripheral nerve and especially adipose tissue homogenates lead to increase in the thickness of the axons of the peripheral nerves belong to the control and obese injury groups. All results showed that mesenchymal stem cell treatment by fresh tissue homogenates is successful in peripheral nerve regeneration and fat tissue is a considerable source of the stem cells for clinical applications.

Is vagal stimulation or inhibition benefit on the regulation of the stomach brain axis in obesity?

Objective: Possible effects of the vagus inhibition and stimulation on the hypothalamic nuclei, myenteric plexes and the vagus nerve were investigated.Methods: The female rats divided to the inhibition (INH), stimulation (STI) and, sham (SHAM) groups were fed with high fat diet (including 40% of energy from animal fat). After nine weeks, the rats were allowed to recover for 4 weeks in INH group. In STI group, the left vagus nerve stimulated (30 Hz/500 msn/30 sec.) starting 2nd post operative day for 5 minutes during 4 weeks. Healthy female rats used as control (CONT). Then, tissue samples were analyzed by biochemical, histological and stereological methods.Results: The mean number of the neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the INH group was significantly less; but, that is significantly more in the STI group compared to the other groups. The neuronal density of ventromedial nucleus in the STI group was higher; while the density in the INH group was lower than the other groups. In the dorsomedial nucleus, neuron density of the INH group was lower than the other groups. In terms of the myenteric plexus volumes, that of the INH group was lowest. The myelinated axon number in the INH group was significantly highest. The myelin sheath thickness and axon area of the INH group was significantly lower than the other groups.Discussion: The results of the study show that the vagal inhibition is more effective than the vagal stimulation on the weight loss in the obesity.

Hippocampal neural cell loss in high-fat diet-induced obese rats-exploring the protein networks, ultrastructure, biochemical and bioinformatical markers.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity, which has become one of the main health problems, results from irregular and unhealthy nutrition. In particular, an increase in the intake of high-fat foods leads to obesity and associated disorders. It is noteworthy to specify that obese individuals have memory problems. This study aims to examine the effects of high-fat diet on hippocampus, with stereological, histopathological methods and STRING bioinformatic tool. METHODS: Female Adult Sprague Dawley rats (n = 20) were equally divided into control (CONT) and high-fat diet (HFD) groups. The control group was given standard rat pellet feed, while the high-fat diet group was fed with a 40 % fat content for 2 months. Following the feeding program, rats were sacrificed. The collected blood samples were analyzed biochemically to determine the level of oxidative stress while performing a stereological and histopathological examination of the brain tissues. Functional protein-protein networks for BDNF, C-Fos, CAT, LPO, SOD and MPO by gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were evaluated. FINDINGS: The number of neurons decreased in the HFD group compared to the CONT group. Damage to the histological structure of the hippocampus region; such as degenerate neurons, damaged mitochondria and extended cisterns of the endoplasmic reticulum was observed. Although C-Fos level and oxidative stress parameters increased in HFD group, BDNF level decreased. While BDNF and C-Fos were observed in pathways related to neuron death, oxidative stress and memory, BDNF was pronounced in the mitochondria, and C-Fos in the endoplasmic reticulum. DISCUSSION: This study shows that changes in both BDNF and C-Fos levels in obesity due to high-fat diet increase oxidative stress and cause neuron damage in the hippocampus.

The protective effect of curcumin on the diabetic rat kidney: A stereological, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical study.

The prevalence of diabetes in the world is increasing rapidly. Kidney diseases are among the most common medical disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on the diabetic kidney. Thirty-five female Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups. No procedure was performed on the Cont group. The Sham group received corn oil via gavage for 14 days. The curcumin (Curc) group received 30-mg/kg curcumin for 14 days, while the diabetes mellitus (DM) group received 50-mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) in a single dose intraperitoneally. The DM + curcumin 1 (DC1) group received 30 mg/kg curcumin for 14 days, seven days after the application of STZ, while the DM + curcumin 2 (DC2) received 30 mg/kg curcumin for 14 days, 21 days after the application of STZ, and the DM + curcumin 3 (DC3) group received single-dose STZ at the same time as the application of 30 mg/kg curcumin for 14 days. Medulla, cortex, tubule, and glomerulus volume ratios were calculated using stereological techniques. Cortex volumes in the Sham and DM groups were significantly lower than in the Cont group (p < 0.05). The cortex volume in the DC3 group was also significantly lower than in the Curc group (p < 0.05). Medullary volume was significantly higher in the DC3 group compared to the DM group (p < 0.05). Curcumin was determined to exhibit a protective effect on the diabetic kidney since the glomerulus in the curcumin-exposed group exhibited a well-protected structure following experimentally induced diabetes based on light and electron microscopic analysis findings. These findings suggest that curcumin used following experimentally induced diabetes exhibits protective effects on the diabetic kidney.

A study on the toxic effect of different doses of diclofenac sodium on the development of the kidney in the postnatal period / Estudio sobre el efecto tóxico de diferentes dosis de diclofenaco sódico en el desarrollo del riñón en el período postnatal

The toxic effects of different doses of diclofenac sodium (DS) on the kidney on the postnatal period (0-7 days) by morphometrical and immunohistochemical methods were investigated. For this purpose, 15 female adult wistar albino rats were used and divided into 5 main groups. Group Ia served as normal control, physiologic group Ib received normal saline, group II received low dose (3.9 mg/kg), group III received medium dose (9 mg/kg) and group IV received high dose (18 mg/kg). Male offspring's from 0-7 days after birth were used in this study. On the 8th day of postnatal life, all animals were anesthetized. Then, the kidney samples were analyzed. Haematoxylin and eosin staining showed degeneration and necrosis, apparent atrophy of the glomeruli, mononuclear cell infiltration, congested vessels, increased fibrous tissue and distortion of the proximal convoluted tubules with interruption of the brush margin of the DS treated group. Increased level of Caspase-3 and upregulation of TNF-α with different doses of DS. In light of our findings, DS may lead to adverse effects that are dose-dependent in the prenatal subjected kidney to this drug.

Se investigaron los efectos tóxicos de diferentes dosis de diclofenaco sódico (DS) en el riñón de ratas, durante su período postnatal (0-7 días), por métodos morfométricos e inmunohistoquímicos. Para este propósito, se utilizaron 20 crías macho, de ratas Wistar albinas, y se dividieron en 5 grupos principales. El grupo Ia sirvió como control normal, el grupo fisiológico Ib recibió solución salina normal, el grupo II recibió una dosis baja de DS (3,9 mg/kg), el grupo III recibió una dosis media de DS (9 mg/kg) y el grupo IV recibió una dosis alta de DS (18 mg/kg). Se administraron los medicamentos de 0 a 7 días después del nacimiento de las ratas. En el octavo día de vida postnatal, todos los animales fueron sacrificados. Luego, se analizaron las muestras de riñón. Mediante hematoxilina-eosina se evidenció degeneración y necrosis, aparente atrofia de los glomérulos, infiltración de células mononucleares, vasos congestionados, aumento del tejido fibroso y distorsión de los túbulos contorneados proximales, con interrupción del margen en cepillo del grupo tratado con DS. Se detectó un aumento del nivel de caspasa-3 y regulación al alza de TNF-α con diferentes dosis de DS. A la luz de nuestros hallazgos, la DS puede provocar efectos adversos en el riñón, que dependen de la dosis de este medicamento administrada en el período posnatal.

The investigation of the effects of topiramate on the hypothalamic levels of fat mass/obesity-associated protein and neuropeptide Y in obese female rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of topiramate on the fat mass/obesity-associated protein (FTO) and on the neuropeptide Y (NPY) level in the hypothalamus depending on the recently increased prevalence of obesity. METHOD: In this study, twenty-four female rats were divided into four equal groups: Non-obese control, obese control, non-obese topiramate, and obese topiramate. Obese groups were fed with a 40% high-fat diet. At the end of the 9th week, the drug treatment started and the subjects were treated with topiramate once a day for 6 weeks. All animals underwent cardiac perfusion under high-dose anesthesia on the 15th week. Tissues were analyzed using biochemical, histological, and stereological methods. RESULTS: In terms of neuron number in the arcuate nucleus area, a significant difference was observed among all groups (P < 0.01). The neuron number of the non-obese topiramate group was found to be significantly higher than that of the non-obese control group (P < 0.01). In the examination of the ventromedial nucleus of the entire group, it was observed that the neuron number of the non-obese control group was significantly lower than those of the other groups (P < 0.01). A significant increase in the NPY levels of the obese groups compared to the groups treated with topiramate was observed. Furthermore, the amount of the FTO protein increased in obese rats, while FTO and NPY levels decreased in the groups treated with topiramate. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, the mechanism of the effect of topiramate to create a state of obesity is thought to involve the decrease in the levels of NPY and FTO.

Effects of electromagnetic fields exposure on the antioxidant defense system.

Technological devices have become essential components of daily life. However, their deleterious effects on the body, particularly on the nervous system, are well known. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have various chemical effects, including causing deterioration in large molecules in cells and imbalance in ionic equilibrium. Despite being essential for life, oxygen molecules can lead to the generation of hazardous by-products, known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), during biological reactions. These reactive oxygen species can damage cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. Antioxidant defense systems exist in order to keep free radical formation under control and to prevent their harmful effects on the biological system. Free radical formation can take place in various ways, including ultraviolet light, drugs, lipid oxidation, immunological reactions, radiation, stress, smoking, alcohol and biochemical redox reactions. Oxidative stress occurs if the antioxidant defense system is unable to prevent the harmful effects of free radicals. Several studies have reported that exposure to EMF results in oxidative stress in many tissues of the body. Exposure to EMF is known to increase free radical concentrations and traceability and can affect the radical couple recombination. The purpose of this review was to highlight the impact of oxidative stress on antioxidant systems. Abbreviations: EMF, electromagnetic fields; RF, radiofrequency; ROS, reactive oxygen species; GSH, glutathione; GPx, glutathione peroxidase; GR, glutathione reductase; GST, glutathione S-transferase; CAT, catalase; SOD, superoxide dismutase; HSP, heat shock protein; EMF/RFR, electromagnetic frequency and radiofrequency exposures; ELF-EMFs, exposure to extremely low frequency; MEL, melatonin; FA, folic acid; MDA, malondialdehyde.

Effects of 900-MHz radiation on the hippocampus and cerebellum of adult rats and attenuation of such effects by folic acid and Boswellia sacra.

The radiation emitted from mobile phones has various deleterious effects on human health. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure to the 900-MHz radiation electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by mobile phones on Ammon's horn and the dentate gyrus (DG) in the hippocampus and cerebellum of male Wistar albino rats. We also investigated the neuroprotective effects of the antioxidants Boswellia sacra (BS) and folic acid (FA) against exposure to EMF. Twenty-four adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each, an EMF group, an EMF + FA exposure group (EFA), an EMF + BS exposure group (EBS) and a control group (Cont). The EMF, EFA and EBS groups were exposed to 900-MHz EMF radiation inside a tube once daily over 21 days (60 min/day). The Cont group was not exposed to 900-MHz EMF. The results showed that EMF caused a significant decrease in total pyramidal and granular cell numbers in the hippocampus, and DG and in Purkinje cell numbers in the cerebellum in the EMF group compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). BS and FA attenuated the neurodegenerative effects of EMF in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Significant differences were also determined between the numbers of neurons in the EFA and EMF groups, and between the EBS and EMF groups (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences among Cont, EFA and EBS (p > 0.05). Our results may contribute to ongoing research into the effects of 900-MHz EMF exposure. Abbreviations: BS, Boswellia sacra; CA, cornu ammonis; CAT, catalase; CE, coefficient of error; CV, coefficient of variation; DG, dentate gyrus; DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid; EMF, electromagnetic field; EBS, the group that is exposed to EMF and received a single daily gavage of BS (500 mg/kg/day) during 21 days; EEG, electroencephalogram; EFA, the group that is exposed to EMF and received a single daily gavage of folic acid (50 mg/kg/day) during 21 days; FA, folic acid; gr, granular layer; H2O2, hydrogen peroxide; MHz, Megahertz; ml, molecular layer; RF, radiofrequency; ROS, reactive oxygen specimens; SEM, standard error of the mean.