Melatonin and its therapeutic actions on peripheral nerve regeneration

Melatonin has many different roles in the human body, including its importance in circadian rhythms, sleep physiology, mental status, reproduction, tumour development, ageing, and many other physiologic processes. Although there are more than hundreds of studies on effects of melatonin in several tissues, its effects on peripheral nerve has been documented in a limited number of studies. This paper focused to review the available literature in terms of several actions and effects of melatonin (beneficial or toxic effects) on well-known peripheral nerve injury models.

Immunophilin ligands in peripheral nerve regeneration

Immunophilins are a family of receptors for immunosuppressive drugs like cyclo­sporin A, FK506, rapamycin and their non-immunosuppressive analogues, which are collectively referred to as immunophilin ligands. The present study aimed to review neuroprotective and neuroregenerative actions of immunophilin ligands on peripheral nerve injuries. The special emphasis was given to well-known immunosuppressive drug FK506. Its historical background, administration routes, dosages, neuroregenerative, neuroprotective actions, therapeutic time window in administration, action mechanism and side effects of FK506 were reviewed

Is the effect of melatonin on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 associated with angiogenesis in the rat ovary?

OBJECTIVES Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors play important roles in angiogenesis. Melatonin plays an important role in gonadal development; thus, its effect on the reproductive system is evident. We investigated the influence of melatonin on the expression of VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), as well as on changes in oxidative stress markers and follicle numbers in rat ovaries. METHODS For this purpose, 45 Wistar rats were separated into the following groups: Group 1, control; Group 2, vehicle; and Group 3, melatonin. Rats in Group 3 were treated with melatonin at 50 mg/kg/day for 30 days. The effects of melatonin on the expression of VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were established by immunohistochemistry analysis. The effects of melatonin on antioxidant enzyme activities were demonstrated by spectrophotometric analysis. RESULTS Based on immunohistochemistry analysis, VEGFR2 was predominantly localized to theca cells in the ovary. Our data indicate that melatonin treatment can significantly increase VEGF and VEGFR1 expression in the ovary ( p <0.05). Additionally, the number of degenerated follicles significantly decreased with melatonin treatment ( p <0.05). Melatonin administration also led to significant increases in antioxidant enzyme levels in the ovary. CONCLUSION Melatonin treatment exerts protective effects on follicles against increased lipid peroxidation through modulating tissue antioxidant enzyme levels. These effects may be related to angiogenesis and antioxidant activities

Assessment of axonal sprouting and motor performance after hypoglossal-facial end-to-side nerve repair: experimental study in rats

Hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFA) aims to reanimate denervated mimic muscles with hypoglossal axons when the transected facial nerve is not accessible. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recovery of HFA using a Y tube in two variants: (1) the proximal stump of the hypoglossal nerve was entubulated to the Y tube (classic Y tube HFA) and (2) the Y tube was sutured to an epineurial window of a slightly damaged hypoglossal nerve (end-to-side Y tube HFA). A total of 48 adult female rats were divided into four groups: intact controls (group 1), sham operated (group 2), classic Y tube HFA (group 3) and end-to-side Y tube HFA (group 4). The abdominal aorta with both common iliac arteries of isogeneic male rats served as the Y-tube conduit. Animals from group 4 recovered better than those from group 3: the degree of collateral axonal branching (3 +/- 1%) was significantly lower than that determined in group 3 (13 +/- 1%). The mean deviation of the tongue from the midline was significantly smaller in group 4 (6 +/- 4 degrees) than that measured in animals from group 3 (41 +/- 6 degrees). In the determination of vibrissal motor function in group 3 and group 4, a decrease in amplitude was found to be - 66% and - 92%, respectively. No differences in the reinnervation pattern of the target muscles were detected. As a result, these surgical models were not determined to be able to improve vibrissal movements. It was concluded that performance of end-to-side Y tube HFA diminishes collateral axonal branching at the lesion site, which in turn, promotes better recovery of tongue- and vibrissal-motor performance

Serological testing for celiac and autoimmune thyroid diseases in infertile women suffering from endometriosis, unexplained infertility and recurrent miscarriage

30th Annual Meeting of the European-Society-of-Human-Reproduction-and-Embryology (ESHRE) -- JUN 29-JUL 02, 2014 -- Munich, GERMANYWOS: 000359745300517…European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryolog

Whole body vibration (WBV) following spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats: Timing of intervention

Background: Following spinal cord injury (SCI), exercise training provides a wide range of benefits and promotes activitydependent synaptic plasticity. Whole body vibration (WBV) in SCI patients improves walking and spasticity as well as bone and muscle mass. However, little is known about the effects of timing or frequency of intervention. Objective: To determine which WBV-onset improves locomotor and bladder functions and influences synaptic plasticity beneficially. Methods: SCI was followed by WBV starting 1, 7, 14, 28 days after injury (WBV1, WBV7, etc.) and continued for 12 weeks. Intact animals and those receiving SCI but no WBV (No WBV), SCI plus WBV twice daily (2xWBV) and SCI followed by passive hindlimb flexion-extension (PFE) served as controls. Locomotor [BBB rating, foot stepping angle (FSA) and rump-height index (RHI)] as well as bladder function were determined at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks. Following perfusion fixation at 12 weeks, lesion volume and immunofluorescence for astrogliosis (GFAP), microglia (IBA1) and synaptic vesicles (synaptophysin, SYN) were determined. Results: Compared to the No WBV group, the WB7 and WBV14 groups showed significantly faster speeds of BBB score recovery though this effect was temporary. Considering RHI we detected a sustained improvement in the WBV14 and PFE groups. Bladder function was better in the WBV14, WBV28, 2xWBV and PFE groups. Synaptophysin levels improved in response to WBV7 and WBV14, but worsened after WBV28 in parallel to an increased IBA1 expression. Correlation- and principal components analysis revealed complex relationships between behavioural (BBB, FSA, RHI) and morphological (GFAP, IBA1, SYN) measurements. Conclusions: WBV started 14 days after SCI provides the most benefit (RHI, bladder); starting at 1day after SCI provides no benefit and starting at 28 days may be detrimental. Increasing the intensity of WBV to twice daily did not provide additional benefit