Protective effects of safranal on kidney tissue in a rat model of distant ischemia-reperfusion injury with infrarenal aortic occlusion.

Background/aim: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury to a part of the body can cause damage to distant organs such as the kidney and heart. This study investigated the protective effects of safranal against IR-induced renal injury. Materials and methods: Used in this study were 24 Wistar Albino male rats, which were divided into 3 equal and randomised groups. The sham group underwent laparotomy only. In the IR group, the infrarenal aorta was clamped for 1 h, and then reperfused for 2 h. In the IR-safranal group, safranal was administered 30 min before the procedure and IR injury was induced in the same way as in the IR group. After the procedure, blood and tissue samples were collected from the rats for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Antioxidant capacity and proinflammatory cytokine analyses were performed on the blood samples. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to determine the number of cells undergoing apoptosis in the kidney tissue. Results: The estimated glomerular filtration rate, an indicator of renal function, was lower in the IR group (p1 = 0.024 vs. p3 = 0.041, respectively) compared to the other groups, while creatinine levels were higher in the IR group compared to the other groups (p1 = 0.032 vs. p2 = 0.044, respectively). The blood urea nitrogen level was higher in the IR group than in the other groups (p1 = 0.001vs p2 = 0.035, respectively). The total antioxidant and total oxidant status, indicating tissue oxidative stress, did not differ between groups (p = 0.914 vs. p = 0.184, respectively). Among the proinflammatory cytokines, the interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the IR group (p = 0.034 vs. p = 0.001, respectively), but the tumour necrosis factor-α (p = 0.19), and interferon-γ (p = 0.311) levels did not differ between groups. Histopathological examination showed significantly less damage to glomerular and tubular cells in the IR-safranal group (p < 0.001). The number of TUNEL-positive cells was higher in the IR group compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Safranal may have protective effects against kidney damage caused by distant ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Does Anzer Propolis Have a Protective Effect on Rabbit Spinal Cord Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury?

INTRODUCTION: In this study, Anzer propolis, which can only be obtained from the Eastern Black Sea region in Turkey, is studied for its effect on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: A total of 12 healthy male New Zealand White rabbits with an average weight of 3.0 to 3.5 kg were separated into two blind and randomized groups: the ischemia/reperfusion group (n=6) and the treatment group (n=6). Each rabbit in the treatment group was given a dose of 100 mg/kg of ethanol-dissolved Anzer propolis orally 1 hour before surgery. Blood samples were examined at the 0th hour and postoperatively at the 24th and 48th hours. Tissue samples were taken at the 48th hour during the sacrification. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative Tarlov scoring (P=0.012). There was a difference between the two groups in terms of the blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) at the 48th hour, myeloperoxidase (MPO) at the 24th and 48th hours, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) at the 24th hour, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and total oxidant status (TOS) at the 48th hour (P<0.005). There was also a difference between the two groups in terms of apoptotic index data obtained with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method in the histopathological examination (P=0.001). In the transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis, while ischemia/reperfusion group generally had axon-myelin separation, axoplasmic dissolution and myelin separation, the propolis treatment group had normal myelin sequencing. DISCUSSION: In our study, after biochemical, histopathological, ultrastructural and neurological functional examination, it was demonstrated that Anzer propolis has sufficient neuroprotective effect on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits.

Effect of Boron on the Repair of Osteochondral Defect and Oxidative Stress in Rats: an Experimental Study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of boron on the repair of osteochondral defect and also on some antioxidant and oxidant parameters of both cartilage tissue and blood. A total of 24 adult male Wistar rats weighing between 350 and 400 g were used in the study. Animals were randomly divided into control (n = 8), boron (n = 8) and hyaluronic acid (HA) groups (n = 8). Under general anesthesia, a cylindrical full-thickness osteochondral defect 1.5 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth was formed using a drill on the anterior side of the articular surface of the femur condyle. Boron group received 0.1 ml (10 mg/kg) of boron and HA group received 0.1 ml of HA, whereas control group received 0.1 ml of physiological saline solution. All agents administered intraarticular route and once a week for four times. At the end of the third month, the animals were euthanized and blood and joint tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase levels were measured. Defected femoral condyles of the rats were removed for a histopathological examination. Histopathology revealed that the total cartilage repair score of the HA group was better than those detected in boron and control groups. Blood and articular cartilage GSH, SOD, and catalase levels were higher in the boron and HA groups as compared to the control group, while MDA level was lower compared to the control group. In conclusion, it was suggested that boron was not as effective as HA in the repair of osteochondral defect, but its antioxidant property was superior to HA.