Mycophenolate mofetil attenuates uterine ischaemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model.

This study evaluated the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on uterine tissue preservation following ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Uterine I/R injury was induced in rats by clamping the lower abdominal aorta and ovarian arteries for 30 min. Group I/R + V (n = 7) received vehicle alone while Group I/R + M (n = 7) received 20 mg/kg/day MMF. Control groups underwent sham surgery and received vehicle (Group C) or 20 mg/kg/day MMF (Group M) (n = 7 for both). Four hours after detorsion, uterine tissue 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum ischaemia modified albumin (IMA) concentrations were measured. Histopathological analyses were performed. The I/R + M group showed significant reduction in serum IMA and uterine tissue 8-OHdG, MDA and MPO and significant increase in SOD concentrations compared with the I/R + V group, indicating a protective effect against I/R oxidative damage (P = 0.009, P = 0.006, P = 0.002, P = 0.003 and P = 0.009, respectively). Histopathological evaluation revealed MMF treatment resulted in significantly less tissue and cellular damage and apoptosis compared with the I/R + V group. These results indicate MMF is effective in attenuating uterine tissue damage and preventing apoptosis following uterine I/R injury, probably via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative action.

Ameliorative effect of chronic moderate exercise in smoke exposed or nicotine applied rats from acute stress.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity has been found to be related with many health benefits. Our aim was to investigate the effect of chronic moderate exercise from acute stress on nicotine and cigarette smoke exposed rats. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats (200-250g, n = 48) were divided into 6 groups as non-exercised, exercised, smoke exposed, smoke exposed and exercised, nicotine applied, and nicotine applied and exercised. Nicotine bitartarate was applied intraperitoneally (0.1mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks, and cigarette smoke was exposed in a ventilated chamber. After 1 week of nicotine application or smoke exposure, moderate exercise training protocol was applied to exercise groups. At the end of the experiments, acute stress induction was made to all groups by electric foot shock. Holeboard tests were performed before and after the experiments. Biochemical and histological analyses were performed in lung, liver, colon, stomach, and gastrocnemius tissues. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde levels were increased in all tissues of smoke exposed group (p < .05-.01) except gastrocnemius tissue compared to non-exercised group and were decreased with exercise (p < .05-.001). Myeloperoxidase levels were increased in lung, liver and colon tissues of smoke exposed group (p < .05-.001) and liver and colon tissues of nicotine applied rats (p < .01-.001) and decrease with exercise in liver and colon tissues of both smoke exposed or nicotine applied groups (p < .05-.01). In all tissue samples, increased histological injury scores (p < .05-.001) decreased significantly with exercise (p < .01-.001). CONCLUSION: Biochemical parameters and histological scoring indicated increased tissue injury due to nicotine application and cigarette smoke exposure and exercise training ameliorated these effects in most of the tissues of acute stress induced rats.

Microvascular anastomosis using Ankaferd blood stopper: demonstration of long-term histopathologic effects on vascular tissue.

Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) (Ankaferd Ilaç Kozmetik A.S., Turkey) is a medicinal plant extract, which is used in Turkish traditional medicine as a haemostatic agent. The aim of this study was to investigate the haemostatic effect of ABS in preventing microvascular leakage on an anastomosis site and to look into its long-term impact on vascular tissue. Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. The animals in the second and third groups were pretreated with acetylsalicylic acid. All of the right femoral arteries were divided and anastomosed in an end-to-end fashion. Following microvascular anastomosis, saline-soaked gauze tampons were applied in the first and second groups. In the third group, ABS-soaked tampons were applied to the anastomosis sites. The mean bleeding time of group 3 was significantly shorter than group 2 and group 1. Three weeks after the operation, there were aneurysms on all of the anastomosis sites in group 3 and none of the anastomoses were patent. Histologic examination demonstrated increased inflammatory cell infiltration, tunica media degeneration and contraction of tunica intima in group 3. This is the first study reporting the long-term effects of ABS on microvascular anastomosis. Contrary to previously reported studies, this agent is not appropriate for use on injured or anastomosed vessels.