Ghrelin ameliorates neuronal damage, oxidative stress, inflammatory parameters, and GFAP expression in traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of ghrelin on oxidative stress, working memory, inflammatory parameters, and neuron degeneration. METHODS: TBI was produced with the weight-drop technique. Rats in the G+TBI and TBI+G groups received ghrelin for 7 or 2 days, respectively. The control group received saline. On the 8th day of the study, the brain and blood tissue were taken under anesthesia. RESULTS: A significant increase in brain GSH-PX, MDA, IL-1ß, TGF-ß1, and IL-8 levels and a significant decrease in CAT levels were found in the TBI group compared to the control. Serum MDA, GSH, IL-1ß, and IL-8 levels were increased with TBI. Ghrelin treatment after TBI significantly increased the serum GSH, CAT, GSH-PX, and brain GSH and CAT levels, while it significantly decreased the serum MDA, IL-1ß, and brain MDA, TGF-ß1, and IL-8 levels. Histological evaluations revealed that ghrelin treatment led to a reduction in inflammation, while also significantly ameliorating TBI-induced neuron damage and vascular injuries. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that GFAP staining intensity was significantly increased in the cortex and hippocampus in TBI, and GFAP immunoreactivity was decreased with ghrelin treatment. CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggested that ghrelin may have curative effects on TBI.

Evaluation of repeated ghrelin administration on seizures, oxidative stress and neurochemical parameters in pentyleneterazole induced kindling in rats.

Introduction: Epileptic seizures are thought to be caused by the impaired balance between excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitor [gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)] neurotransmitters in the brain. Neuropeptides have potent modulator properties on these neurotransmitters.Objective: Ghrelin exerts anticonvulsant effects in an acute pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model. However, the effect of repeated ghrelin injections in chronic pentylenetetrazole kindling model is not known. In this study, the effects of repeated ghrelin administration on seizure scores, working memory, locomotor activity, oxidative biomarkers, and neurochemical parameters in PTZ kindling in rats was examined.Methods: For this purpose, 35 mg/kg of PTZ was administered intraperitoneally to the experimental groups. The rats also received physiological saline/diazepam or ghrelin before each PTZ injection. After behavioural analysis (Y-maze, rotarod, and locomotor activity tests), biochemical and neurochemical analyses were conducted using ELISA.Results: PTZ administration induced progression in the seizure scores and all of the rats in the PS + PTZ group were kindled with the 20th injection. Ghrelin treatment significantly reduced the seizure scores. The difference among the groups in terms of the Y-maze, locomotor activity, and rotarod tests was nonsignificant. PTZ administration significantly decreased the brain GABA, CAT, and AChE levels, and increased the MDA, NO, and protein carbonyl levels. Repeated ghrelin treatment ameliorated the GABA, AChE, CAT, MDA, NO, and protein carbonyl levels.Conclusion: Taken together, the results indicated that repeated ghrelin treatment had antioxidant, and anticonvulsant activity on PTZ kindling in rats.

Relationships between the 2D: 4D digit ratio, waist circumference, hand preferences, weight, height, waist-to-height ratio and BMI in a Turkish population / Relaciones entre el promedio de dígitos 2D: 4D, circunferencia de cintura, preferencias de mano, peso, altura, relación de cintura a altura e IMC en una población de turquía

The 2D:4D is thought as a biomarker for prenatal androgen exposure. Some studies have reported a significant difference between the sexes. Earlier studies reported variations in different ethnic and geographic groups. 2D:4D is related to several medical conditions including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study investigated the relationships between hand preference, ratio of the index finger (2nd digit: 2D) and ring finger (4th digit: 4D) lengths (2D:4D), height, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC) and weight, body mass index (BMI) in a Turkish population. The study comprised 118 healthy subjects (68 males and 50 females). 2D and 4D finger lengths and some anthropometric traits (height, weight, WC) were measured. The BMI and WHtR were calculated. Hand preference was determined by using a questionnaire (Edinburgh handedness inventory). Geschwind scores were calculated to evaluate the degree of hand preference. The mean age was 26.74 (female 27.86, male 25.89). The right hand 2D:4D was found significantly lower in males (0.9797) than in females (0.9922) (p< 0.001), but the left hand 2D:4D was insignificant. Significant correlations (negative) were observed between the 2D:4D (both left and right) and WHtR; the 2D:4D ratio (both left and right) and WC in males. However, in females, these correlations were insignificant. The R2D:4D was sexually dimorphic in a Turkish population. There were significant differences between strong right (SR) and weak left (WL) in terms of the R2D:4D. However only 5 subject's hand preference was found WL. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the relationships between hand preference and R2D:4D in Turkish population. Further studies are needed to determine whether a larger sample population alters these possible associations between the ratio of 2D:4D and other investigated traits in a Turkish population.

El 2D:4D está pensado como un biomarcador para la exposición prenatal de andrógenos. Algunos estudios han reportado una diferencia significativa entre sexos. Estudios anteriores informaron variaciones en diferentes grupos étnicos y geográficos. 2D:4D está relacionado con varias afecciones médicas que incluyen enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) y síndrome metabólico (MetS). El presente estudio investigó las relaciones entre la preferencia de la mano, la proporción del dedo índice (2º dígito: 2D) y el dedo anular (4º dígito: 4D), longitudes (2D:4D), altura, relación cintura-altura (WHtR), circunferencia de cintura y peso (WC), e índice de masa corporal (IMC), en una población de Turquía. El estudio incluyó 118 sujetos sanos (68 hombres y 50 mujeres). Se midieron longitudes de dedos 2D y 4D y algunos rasgos antropométricos (altura, peso, WC). Se calcularon el IMC y el WHtR. La preferencia de la mano se determinó mediante el uso de una escala (Edinburgh Handedness Inventory). Las puntuaciones de Geschwind se calcularon para evaluar el grado de preferencia de la mano. La edad media fue de 26,74 años (femenino 27,86; masculino 25,89). La mano derecha 2D: 4D se encontró significativamente más baja en los hombres (0,9797) que en las mujeres (0,9922) (p <0,001), pero la mano izquierda 2D: 4D fue no significante. Se observaron correlaciones significativas (negativas) entre la 2D: 4D (izquierda y derecha) y WHtR y la relación 2D: 4D (izquierda y derecha) y WC en hombres. Sin embargo, en las mujeres, estas correlaciones fueron no significantes. El R2D: 4D fue sexualmente dimorfo en una población de Turquía. Hubo diferencias significativas entre la mano derecha fuerte (SR) y la mano izquierda débil (WL) en términos de R2D: 4D. Sin embargo, sólo se encontraron 5 preferencias de mano en el sujeto con WL. Por lo tanto, se necesitan más estudios para determinar las relaciones entre la preferencia de mano y R2D: 4D en la población de Turquía. Se necesitan más estudios para determinar si una muestra mayor altera estas posibles asociaciones entre la proporción de 2D: 4D y otros rasgos investigados en una población de Turquía.

Evaluation of ghrelin, nesfatin-1 and irisin levels of serum and brain after acute or chronic pentylenetetrazole administrations in rats using sodium valproate.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aim to reveal the alterations (due to seizure) in the serum and brain levels of nesfatin-1, ghrelin and irisin after acute or chronic pentylenetetrazole administrations in rats using sodium valproate. METHODS: 35 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, Acute Pentylenetetrazole group (APTZ), Acute Pentylenetetrazole+ Valproate group (AVPA), PTZ kindling group (PTZk) and PTZ kindling+ Valproate group (KVPA). Serum and brain levels of ghrelin, nesfatin-1 and FNDC5/irisin were determined with ELISA. RESULTS: Serum levels of ghrelin were significantly decreased in APTZ and PTZk groups compared to the control (p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant decrease in brain levels of ghrelin in all groups compared to the control group (p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant increase in serum nesfatin-1 levels in the APTZ and PTZk groups compared to the control (p < 0.05). Serum levels of nesfatin-1 were similar to the control group in both the acute and the chronic treatment groups. There was a statistically significant increase in brain nesfatin-1 levels of the KVPA group compared to the control (p < 0.05). Serum and brain levels of FNDC5/irisin were found significantly increased in APTZ, AVPA and PTZk groups compared to the control (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant alterations were detected in the serum and brain levels of these three peptides in both the PTZ-induced chronic epilepsy model and acute seizure model. The results of this study may suggest that the increase in FNDC5/irisin and nesfatin-1 levels, and the decrease in ghrelin levels may contribute to seizure pathophysiology. However, further studies are needed in order to confirm our hypothesis.

Effects of Cichorium intybus on serum oxidative stress, liver and kidney volume, and cyclin B1 and Bcl-2 levels in the brains of rats with ethanol induced damage.

We investigated the effects of an aqueous root extract of Cichorium intybus on Bcl-2 and cyclin B1 levels in the brain, kidney and liver volumes and changes of serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels in ethanol induced damage in rats. The rats were divided into five groups: non-treated controls (C), maltodextrin in tap water treated (MD), 6.4% ethanol in tap water treated (ET), Cichorium intybus + maltodextrin in tap water treated (CI+MD), and Cichorium intybus + 6.4% ethanol in tap water treated (CI+ET). Rats in the CI+MD and CI+ET groups were treated with 200 mg/kg water extract of Cichorium intybus. Chronic ethanol aMDinistration significantly increased cyclin B1 and decreased Bcl-2 levels in the brain and significantly decreased TAS values, increased TOS values of serum and significantly decreased kidney volume in the ET group. There was no significant difference in the liver volume or liver cell count. Our data revealed that ethanol aMDinistration induces an overexpression of cyclin B1 and decreases levels of Bcl-2 in rat brains and induced oxidative stress in the blood. C. intybus treatment possessed a partial amelioration effect on cyclin B1 levels and TAS values.

Effects of Leontice leontopetalum and Bongardia chrysogonum on oxidative stress and neuroprotection in PTZ kindling epilepsy in rats.

We investigated the effects of Leontice leontopetalum and Bongardia chrysogonum on apoptosis, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor positive cell number, cyclin-B1 and bcl-2 levels and oxidative stress in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) kindling in rats. Kindling was produced by subconvulsant doses of PTZ treatments in rats. Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups; Control, PTZ treated (PTZ), PTZ+L. leontopetalum extract treated (PTZ+LLE) and PTZ+B. chrysogonum extract treated (PTZ+BCE) groups. Extracts were given a dose (200 mg/kg) 2h before each PTZ injection. PTZ treatment significantly decreased the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and bcl-2 levels and increased the total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), cyclin B1, oxidative stress index (OSI) and number of neurons that expressed GABAA receptors when compared to the control. LLE and BCE possessed antioxidant activity in the brain and ameliorated PTZ induced oxidative stress, decreased cyclin-B1, increased bcl-2 levels, and kept the GABAA receptor number similar to that of the control despite the PTZ application.

Investigation of role of vascular endothelial growth factor, Annexin A5 and Apelin by immunohistochemistry method in placenta of preeclampsia patients.

Preeclampsia is a disease characterized by hypertension and proteinuria occurred after 20 weeks of gestation. Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.  The pathophysiological mechanism of preeclampsia is not known exactly yet. Preeclampsia endothelial cell dysfunction, associated with inadequate trophoblastic invasion is characterized by abnormal placentation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) according to is an angiogenic cytokine, Annexin A5 is among endogenous peptides are both expressed from placental trophoblasts and Apelin is a multifunctional peptide and expressed by placental trophoblasts and endothelial cells. It was aimed to investigate roles of these parameters occurring in preeclampsia and to compare immunoreactivity of them in normal and preeclamptic placenta. In this study, placentas were collected from 20 normotensive pregnant women as controls, 16 mild-preeclamptic pregnant women, and 16 severe preeclamptic women. VEGF, Annexin A5 and Apelin were examined in samples of placenta tissues by streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemical methods. Immunoreactivity scores (IRS) were obtained for each parameter.  VEGF and Apelin IRS were increased significantly in preeclamptic groups compared with control group (p <0.026, p<0.002 respectively). But Annexin A5 IRS was decreased significantly in preeclamptic groups compared with control group (p<0.04). In correlation with the intensity of disease, increase in VEGF and Apelin, and decrease in Annexin A5 supports roles of hemo-dynamic alterations in fetoplacental circulation and structural alterations in uteroplacental bed occurring in preeclampsia.