Protective Effect of Curcumin on CA1 Region of Hippocampus in Rat Model of Ischemia/ Reperfusion Injury:.

BACKGROUND: The brain is the most complex and vital organ of the human body. It requires 20-25 % of the total oxygen supply. Because of the limited oxygen and glucose reserves, brain tissue is sensitive to ischemic injury. Indeed, the tolerance of brain tissue for ischemic injury is fragile. Currently, few therapeutic strategies could provide complete neuroprotection. Despite decades of intense research, the beneficial treatment of stroke remains limited. Hence, we aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin on the CA1 region of the hippocampus in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental research, 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=8 per group) as control, I/R, and I/R plus curcumin. All rats underwent bilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by reperfusion. In the treatment group, curcumin (300 mg/kg) was injected 30 minutes before ischemia. Morphological changes of the hippocampus were assessed using Nissl staining, and apoptosis was determined via TUNEL immunohistochemical assays. RESULTS: Nissl staining data showed that the administration of curcumin significantly ameliorated the CA1 pyramidal cell loss due to transient global I/R injury. TUNEL immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that the number of apoptotic cells was significantly lower in the curcumin group than in the I/R groups. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that curcumin had beneficial activity against ischemia and played a neuroprotective role in the pathogenesis of I/R injury.

Effect of Honey/PVA Hydrogel Loaded by Erythromycin on Full-Thickness Skin Wound Healing in Rats; Stereological Study.

BACKGROUND: Skin wounds are a significant public health risk, and treatment of wound remains a challenging clinical problem for medical teams and researchers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the healing effects of honey/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel loaded with erythromycin as wound dressing on skin wounds in rats, based on histological studies. In this study, 60 male Wistar rats, with a 1.5 ×1.5 cm2 diameter full-thickness wounds on the backs were divided into four groups: honey/PVA with the erythromycin hydrogel group, honey group, PVA group, and the control group, with no treatment. Skin biopsies were prepared at days 4, 7, and 14 for microscopic analyses. The stereological analysis, including the mean area of the wound, length of vessels, numerical density of fibroblast, macrophage, basal cell and volume of the epidermis, dermis, and fibrous tissue were performed. RESULTS: Wounds area in the honey/PVA hydrogel with the erythromycin group were significantly (P<0.05) smaller than in the other group. The numerical density of fibroblast, macrophage, basal cell and volume of the epidermis in the honey/PVA hydrogel with the erythromycin group were significantly higher than other groups. CONCLUSION: According to our results, honey/PVA hydrogel with erythromycin may promote early wound healing and has a positive influence on fibroblast proliferation and re-epithelialization, and its administration is recommended after further validation of clinical data.

Reduction in ischemic brain injury following the administration of pentoxifylline after transient global ischemia/ reperfusion in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that the hippocampus, the CA1 Pyramidal cells in particular, is selectively vulnerable during global cerebral ischemia. Recently, it is observed that pentoxifylline has a neuroprotective effect. This study explored the pharmacological relationship between ischemiainduced cell death of the hippocampus and the efficacy of a vasodilator agent (pentoxifylline) in the prevention of delayed neuronal death. METHODS: This experimental study was performed on 4 groups: control, ischemia, experimental (200mg/kg pentoxifylline injection one hour prior to and one hour following ischemia) and vehicle (normal saline). Transient global ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion. To investigate the apoptotic bodies and caspase-3 activities as a central role in the execution phase of apoptosis, the brains were prepared for the TUNEL technique. RESULTS: Pentoxifylline administration limited apoptosis and caspase-3 activities in rats' hippocampi. Our data showed no significant difference between the number of apoptotic bodies in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in the control and pentoxifylline -treated groups (p= 0.994). The results of one- way ANOVA revealed that that ischemia significantly increased caspase-3 levels in the hippocampus (p< 0.05); however, the level of caspase-3 in pentoxifylline -treated rats was less than the ischemic group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of pentoxifylline (200mg/kg) may be accompanied by a reduction in ischemic damage within the CA1 region of the hippocampus in rats subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia.

Pentoxifylline Protects the Rat Liver Against Fibrosis and Apoptosis Induced by Acute Administration of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy).

OBJECTIVE(S): 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is one of the most popular drugs of abuse in the world with hallucinogenic properties that has been shown to induce apoptosis in liver cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on liver damage induced by acute administration of MDMA in Wistar rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were administered with saline or MDMA (7.5 mg/kg, IP) 3 times with 2 hr intervals. PTX (200 mg kg, IP), was administered simultaneously with last injection of MDMA in experimental group. RESULTS: The concomitant administration of pentoxifylline and MDMA decreased liver injury including apoptosis, fibrosis and hepatocytes damages. CONCLUSION: Our results showed for the first time that PTX treatment diminishes the extent of apoptosis and fibrosis caused by MDMA in rat liver.

Effect of Pentoxifylline on Ischemia- induced Brain Damage and Spatial Memory Impairment in Rat.

OBJECTIVES: The brief interruption of cerebral blood flow causes permanent brain damage and behavioral dysfunction. The hippocampus is highly vulnerable to ischemic insults, particularly the CA1 pyramidal cell layer. There is no effective pharmacological strategy for improving brain tissue damage induced by cerebral ischemia. Previous studies reported that pentoxifylline (PTX) has a neuroprotective effect on brain trauma. The possible neuroprotector effects of PTX on behavioral deficit were studied in male Wistar rats subjected to a model of transient global brain ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals (n= 32) were assigned to control, sham-operated, vehicle, and PTX- treated (200 mg/kg IP) groups. PTX administered at 1hr before and 3 hr after ischemia. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, followed by reperfusion. RESULTS: Morris Water maze testing revealed that PTX administration in cerebral ischemia significantly improved hippocampal-dependent memory and cognitive spatial abilities after reperfusion as compared to sham-operated and vehicle-treated animals. After the behavioral test, the rats were sacrificed and brain sections were stained with Nissl staining. There were no significant differences between number of pyramidal cells in both control and PTX groups. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that pentoxifylline had a protective effect on rats with transient global ischemia and could reduce cognitive impairment.