Heme oxygenase 1 improves glucoses metabolism and kidney histological alterations in diabetic rats

One important concern in the treatment of diabetes is the maintenance of glycemic levels and the prevention of diabetic nephropathy. Inducible heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is a rate-limiting enzyme thought to have antioxidant and cytoprotective roles. the goal of the present study was to analyze the effect of HO-1 induction in chronically hyperglycemic rats. the hyperglycemic rats were divided into two groups: one group, called STZ, was given a single injection of streptozotocin; and the other group was given a single streptozotocin injection as well as daily injections of hemin, an HO-1 inducer, over 60 days (STZ + HEME). A group of normoglycemic, untreated rats was used as the control (CTL).Body weight, diuresis, serum glucose levels, microalbuminuria, creatinine clearance rate, urea levels, sodium excretion, and lipid peroxidation were analyzed. Histological alterations and immunohistochemistry for HO-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were assessed. After 60 days, the STZ group exhibited an increase in blood glucose, diuresis, urea, microalbuminuria, and sodium excretion. There was no weight gain, and there was a decrease in creatinine clearance in comparison to the CTL group. in the STZ + HEME group there was an improvement in the metabolic parameters and kidney function, a decrease in blood glucose, serum urea, and microalbuminuria, and an increase of creatinine clearance, in comparison to the STZ group.There was glomerulosclerosis, collagen deposition in the STZ rats and increase in iNOS and HO-1 expression. in the STZ + HEME group, the glomerulosclerosis and fibrosis was prevented and there was an increase in the expression of HO-1, but decrease in iNOS expression and lipid peroxidation. in conclusion, our data suggest that chronic induction of HO-1 reduces hyperglycemia, improves glucose metabolism and, at least in part, protects the renal tissue from hyperglycemic injury, possibly through the antioxidant activity of HO-1.Universidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Nephrol, Dept Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Morphol Dept, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Nephrol, Dept Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Morphol Dept, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Heme oxygenase 1 improves glucoses metabolism and kidney histological alterations in diabetic rats

Abstract One important concern in the treatment of diabetes is the maintenance of glycemic levels and the prevention of diabetic nephropathy. Inducible heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is a rate-limiting enzyme thought to have antioxidant and cytoprotective roles. The goal of the present study was to analyze the effect of HO-1 induction in chronically hyperglycemic rats. The hyperglycemic rats were divided into two groups: one group, called STZ, was given a single injection of streptozotocin; and the other group was given a single streptozotocin injection as well as daily injections of hemin, an HO-1 inducer, over 60 days (STZ + HEME). A group of normoglycemic, untreated rats was used as the control (CTL). Body weight, diuresis, serum glucose levels, microalbuminuria, creatinine clearance rate, urea levels, sodium excretion, and lipid peroxidation were analyzed. Histological alterations and immunohistochemistry for HO-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were assessed. After 60 days, the STZ group exhibited an increase in blood glucose, diuresis, urea, microalbuminuria, and sodium excretion. There was no weight gain, and there was a decrease in creatinine clearance in comparison to the CTL group. In the STZ + HEME group there was an improvement in the metabolic parameters and kidney function, a decrease in blood glucose, serum urea, and microalbuminuria, and an increase of creatinine clearance, in comparison to the STZ group. There was glomerulosclerosis, collagen deposition in the STZ rats and increase in iNOS and HO-1 expression. In the STZ + HEME group, the glomerulosclerosis and fibrosis was prevented and there was an increase in the expression of HO-1, but decrease in iNOS expression and lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, our data suggest that chronic induction of HO-1 reduces hyperglycemia, improves glucose metabolism and, at least in part, protects the renal tissue from hyperglycemic injury, possibly through the antioxidant activity of HO-1.</p

17 beta-Estradiol and steady-state concentrations of H2O2: antiapoptotic effect in endometrial cells from patients with endometriosis

Increased levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can initiate protective responses to limit or repair oxidative damage. However, H2O2 signals also fine-tune responses to growth factors and cytokines controlling cell division, differentiation, and proliferation. Because 17 beta-estradiol (E-2) also plays important roles in these processes, and is considered a major risk factor in the development and progression of endometriosis, this study evaluated whether E-2 has an antiapoptotic effect on oxidative stress in endometrial cells in combination with steady-state H2O2 levels ([H2O2]ss). Endometrial stromal cells were prepared from the eutopic endometrium of 18 women with and without endometriosis to produce primary cells. These cells were stimulated with E-2 for 20 h, exposed to [H2O2]ss, and examined for cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis. the endometrial cells from women with endometriosis maintained the steady state for 120 min at high H2O2 concentrations. When they were pretreated with E-2 and exposed to [H2O2]ss, a decrease in apoptosis level was observed compared to the control cells (p < 0.01). the endometrial cells from patients with endometriosis subjected to both E-2 and [H2O2]ss showed increased ERK phosphorylation. These findings suggested that H2O2 is a signaling molecule that downregulates apoptosis in endometrial cells, supporting the fact that endometriosis, albeit a benign disease, shares some features with cancer such as decreased catalase levels. These results link the E-2 effects on [H2O2]ss to resistance to apoptosis and progression of endometriosis. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Associacao Beneficente de Coleta de SangueFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Gynecol, BR-04044 São Paulo, BrazilCharitable Assoc Blood Collect, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04044 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04044 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Gynecol, BR-04044 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biochem, BR-04044 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04044 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Diet of Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in three limnic systems in Southern Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

The aim of the present work was to study the diet of Lontra longicaudis in three limnic systems (anthropogenic shallow lakes, pluvial channel and coastal stream) in Rio Grande do Sul State coastal plain, southern Brazil. Fishes were the most consumed item in all the three systems, being Mugilidae the most representative family in the pluvial channel and coastal stream and Cichlidae in the shallow lakes. Other identified items were mollusks, insects, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and vegetal fragments. The high frequency of birds in the shallow lakes was remarkable, considering the lower frequencies of this item in previous investigations on the species diet. There was a high frequency of swamp eels (Synbranchidae, Synbranchus marmoratus) in the pluvial channel and shallow lakes, which were usually absent or found in low frequencies in previous studies