Mesenchymal stem cell therapy improves erectile dysfunction in experimental spinal cord injury

The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AD-MSC) from brown adipose tissue on erectile dysfunction (ED) in experimentally induced spinal cord injury in rats. 24 male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups; control, spinal cord injury (SCI) + vehicle, and SCI + AD-MSC. To induce SCI, a standard weight-drop method that induced a moderate to severe injury (100 g/cm force) at T7-T10, was used. AD-MSC (3 x 105 cells /5 mu L) was applied by local transplantation into the region of injury. At the end of four-weeks, rats underwent neurological examinations and then intracavernosal and mean arterial pressures (ICP and MAP) measurements. After decapitation, spinal cord and cavernosal tissue samples were taken to analyze neuronal nitric oxide synthase (n-NOS), proto-oncogene protein c-FOS and nerve growth factor (NGF). Tissues were also examined histologically. Spinal cord injury caused decrease on NGF and n-NOS levels while c-FOS was increased. The ICP/MAP value in vehicle-treated SCI rats was found to be significantly higher than the control group. On the other hand, in SCI + AD-MSC group, all these parameters were reversed back to control levels. AD-MSC therapy may be beneficial against erectile dysfunction in experimentally induced SCI by ameliorating neuronal damage

Platanus orientalis (Plane Tree) Extract Protects Against Hyperoxaluria Induced Kidney Damage

The aim of this study is to determine whether Platanus orientalis (PO) which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and diuretic properties and used in the treatment of kidney stones as traditional folk medicine, will reduce or prevent the stone formation in the urinary system. To simulate the urolithiasis model 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) and 1% ammonium chloride (AC) were applied to Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into four groups (n=8). The control group was given standard drinking water for 5 weeks. EG group received 0.75% EG in their drinking water containing 0.75% EG and 1% AC. PO extract (100 mg/kg) was given orally for 5 weeks to the preventive group and for last 2 weeks to the therapeutic group, respectively. At the end of experiment, 24-hour urine and kidney samples were obtained. In urine samples, calcium and citrate levels were decreased and oxalate level was increased in the EG group. In kidney samples myeloperoxidase, caspase-3, N-acetyl-β-glycosaminidase (NAG) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels were increased while superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione levels were decreased in the EG group. These biochemical parameters returned to control levels in both PO treatment groups. Histological findings also correlate with these results. Our findings are suggested that PO treatments is effective in both preventive and therapeutic groups

The effects of Urtica dioica L. ethanolic extract against urinary calculi in rats

Nephrolithiasis is common urological problem and stone formation has multiple underlying pathogenetic factors. We investigated the possible preventive and therapeutic effect of Urtica dioica ethanol extract (UD) on ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis model in rats. Sprague-Daw ley rats were divided into lour groups (n = 10). The control group was given normal drinking water for 8 weeks and was administered vehicle by gastric gavage. Stone formation was induced by adding 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) to their drinking water. UD (700 mg/kg) was given orally lor 8 weeks to the preventive group and I or last 4 weeks to the treatment respectively. At the end of the experiment, urine, blood samples and kidney tissues were obtained. In 24-hour urine samples, calcium and citrate levels were decreased and oxalate levels were increased in EG whereas LID treatment groups reversed these parameters back to control levels. In addition, serum levels of creatinine and urea were increased in EG while LID significantly reduced these parameters. Malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and tumor necrosis alpha levels, and caspase- 3 and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities were elevated in EG group and showed a decrease in LID treated groups. Glutathione level was decreased in EG group, whereas it was increased in UD preventive group. Histological examination showed an improvement in UD treated groups. Our results suggest that UD is effective both in prevention and treatment for kidney stones. The mechanism underlying this effect may be the antioxidant effect of UD and the effect on the concentration of stone-forming components in the urine