Anti-proliferative effects of salmon calcitonin on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma in vitro

Aim: We aimed to examine the potential cytotoxic effect of salmon calcitonin, which is one of the components that regulates mineral metabolism and prevents the increase in the amount of calcium, on SH-SY5Y cells, a neuroblastoma cell line. Methods: SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in DMEM medium in the presence of 37°C and 5% CO2 in conventional culture flasks. MTT assay was applied to investigate the effect of calcitonin individually on SH-SY5Y cells by treatment different concentrations for 24 h and performed. Results: In cells cultured with salmon calcitonin applied at different concentrations (0.1, 1, 3.125, 6,25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 nM/ml), anti-proliferation was statistically significant at concentrations of 50 and 100 nM/ml compared to the control group. It showed that 50 nM/ml and 100 nM/ml had the highest cytotoxic effect on SH-SY5Y for 24 h Conclusions: Considering the proliferation curve of SH-SY5Y, the results show that salmon calcitonin treatment potentiated the proliferative activities by inhibiting cell viability in SH-SY5Y cells at concentrations of 50 and 100 nM/ml. Further studies exploring salmon calcitonin’s protective effects may prove successful and maybe it is a promising agent for cancer treatment

Effects of the ATP-dependent K (+)-channel effectors pinacidil and glibenclamide on liver tissue in an experimental model of epilepsy: A histopathological study

Aim: It is known that most of the antiepileptic drugs have negative effects on the liver. Pinacidil is a nonselective opener of KATP channels, including the plasma membrane and mitochondria.  Glibenclamide is an ATP -dependent K channel blocker ensuring the intake of calcium. Our aim in this experimental study was to examine the effects of pinacidil and glibenclamide on the liver tissue of rats with focal epilepsy. Method: Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats (2-4 months old, 200-250 gr) were used in the study. The rats were divided into 4 groups, 15 in each group. The groups were divided into control group, penicillin group, penicillin + pinacidil group and penicillin + glibenclamide group. The craniums of the rats in the control group were opened and normal saline was given; Penicillin (2 µl 500 IU) was intracortically administered to other groups and an experimental epilepsy model was created. At the end of the study, liver tissue of rats was taken and evaluated in terms of vacuolar degeneration, lymphocyte infiltration, vascular congestion, sinusoidal dilatation, necrosis, and Kupffer cell proliferation, radial alignment of hepatic cords, central vein and portal vein dilatation in hepatocytes. Results: Venous congestion, cytoplasmic vacuolization, Kupffer cell proliferation, portal vein dilatation and necrosis were distinct in the group to which pinacidil was administered, and distortion was present in the radial sequence (p<0.001).  In addition, inflammation, venous congestion and hepatocyte necrosis were found to be lower in the glibenclamide given group compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: It can be suggested that pinacidil treatment caused negative results in liver histopathological parameters, whereas glibenclamide was more protective by reducing inflammation, venous congestion and hepatocyte necrosis

The effects of treadmill exercise on oxidative stress in Mongolian gerbils with penicillin-induced epilepsy

Aim: To evaluate the role of treadmill exercise on the oxidative stress in Mongolian gerbils with penicillin-induced epilepsy. Methods: This experimental study included 18 male Mongolian gerbils which were divided into three groups; sham-control group, penicillin group (500 units) and exercise + penicillin (500 units) group. Each animal group was composed of six Mongolian gerbils. The epileptiform activity was verified by electrocorticographic recordings.  Results: The latency of the penicillin+exercise group was longer than the penicillin group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Following the penicillin administration, spike wave frequencies of epileptiform activity in the 10, 30, and 35 minutes were significantly lower in the penicillin+exercise group, compared with the penicillin group. There were generally significant decreases in the spike wave amplitude medians in the penicillin+exercise groups compared with the penicillin group in all time periods between 0 and 5 minutes. The serum superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels increased in the penicillin+exercise group compared with those in the penicillin group.  Conclusion: The results of present study indicate that regular exercise may contribute to the amelioration of epileptic activity by increasing the antioxidant effect. Keywords: Penicillin-induced epilepsy; treadmill exercise; oxidative stress; Mongolian gerbils.                  &nbsp

Use of salidroside in a lipopolysaccharide-induced periventricular leukomalacia model

Aim: Research into the different treatment methods based on the intrauterine lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) model, as one of the main causes of morbidity in preterm infants still continues to be relevant. The present study investigates the effect on PVL of salidroside obtained from Rhodiola Rosea (golden root, orpin rose), which is a plant with known for its medicinal qualities. Method: To develop an induced PVL model, a 500 microgram/kg dose of LPS (Escherichia coli, serotype 055:B5, Sigma) was applied to two pregnant rats intraperitoneally on day 18, day 19 and day 20 of gestation. One of the LP applied rats was given 25 mg/kg Salidroside (250 mg Rhodiola root extract capsules, which include 3 mg Salidroside) by oral gavage (LPS+Salidroside), and a physiological saline solution was given to the control group. After delivery, 10 offspring of the LPS-applied mother, nine offspring of the LPS+Salidrosideapplied mother and seven offspring of the control mother were sacrificed on postnatal Day 7 with ether anesthesia. The caspase enzyme located in apoptosis pathways of 10 percent neutral-buffered formalin fixed brain tissue was stained immunohistochemically, and apoptotic cells were counted. Results: No statistically significant difference was noted between the LPS+Salidroside group and the control group, while a statistically significant difference was noted between the LPS and LPS+Salidroside groups. It was observed that Salidroside reduced LPS induced apoptosis. Conclusion: The intended experimental neuroprotective effect of Salidroside usage was provided through the inhibition of apoptosis in a PVL-damaged brain

Evaluating the efficiency of different propofol doses associated with age and gender in rats

Aim: To investigate the effect of different intraperitoneal (IP) doses of propofol on the duration and depth of anesthesia according to age and gender. Method: The rats were divided into three main groups according to propofol dose (GI: 5 mg/kg, GII: 10 mg/kg and GIII: 15 mg/kg). These three groups were divided into two subgroups as male and female. (M: Male, F: Female). Male and female groups in each dose group were divided into five different sub-age groups:  1: 2-6 months (0-12 years = Childhood), 2: 7-12 months (12-18 years = Adolescent), 3: 13-18 months (30-45 years = Young adult), 4: 19-24 months (45-60 years = Adult) and 5: older than 25 months (65 years old = Elderly). The duration and depth of anesthesia in different ages and genders were compared statistically. Results:  There were differences with regard to the palpebral, pinch, corneal and muscle tone reflexes at propofol administration doses of 5 mg/kg (GI), 10 mg/kg (GII) and 15 mg/kg (GIII) in different ages and genders (Table 1). We detected that 50 minutes of deep anesthesia was achieved with a dose of 10 mg/kg up to 18 months and older than 24 months male rats. A dose of 10 mg/kg was sufficient for short-term (20-minute deep anesthesia) procedures in male rats aged 19-24 months. We detected that 50 minutes of deep anesthesia was achieved with a dose of 15 mg/kg in 7-12 and 13-18 month old female rats. A dose of 10 mg/kg dose was sufficient for short-term procedures in 0-6 month old female rats. However, only superficial anesthesia was detected at the dose of 15 mg/kg in female rats older than 18 months. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that 10 or 15 mg/kg low doses of intraperitoneal propofol administration affected the duration and depth of anesthesia in different ages and genders in rats

Histopathological effects on kidney of diclofenac potassium and diazepam used in an experimental epilepsy model

Aim: To investigate the effects of diazepam, which has anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects, and diclofenac potassium, which has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects, on rat kidney tissue, used in an experimental epilepsy model. Methods: 32 Wistar albino rats (2-4 months old, 200-250 gr) were used in the study. The rats were grouped in four as 8 rats in each group: Epilepsy, Epilepsy + Diazepam, Epilepsy + Diclofenac potassium, Epilepsy + Diazepam + Diclofenac potassium. Epileptic seizure model was created with penicillin (500.000 IU) injected intracortically under urethane anesthesia. 30 minutes later, diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) and diclofenac potassium (10 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally. At the end of the study, rat kidneys were removed and evaluated histopathologically in terms of inflammation, glomerular shrinkage, tubular dilatation, tubular epithelial thinning, desquame epithelium, brush epithelial loss, vacuolization, hemorrhage and congestion. Results: No difference was found between diazepam and diclofenac potassium in terms of vacuolization, glomerular shrinkage, tubular dilatation and hemorrhage. Inflammation, congestion and tubular epithelial thinning rate were found to be lower inEpilepsy + Diclofenac potassium and Epilepsy + Diazepam + Diclofenac potassium group when compared with Epilepsy + Diazepam group. While brush epithelial loss and desquame epithelial rate was found to be lowest in the epilepsy group, these parameters were not found to show a significant difference between drug groups. Conclusion: It was concluded that combined use of diazepam and diclofenac potassium in their effects on kidney are more useful than their single use

Effects of gestational exercise on hyperoxia-induced brain damage in the newborn

Aim: Preterm infants encounter hyperoxia relatively early on as they leave the intrauterine environment earlier than expected, while also being exposed to a higher level of hyperoxic stress due to insufficiencies in their antioxidant defense mechanisms. With that in mind, we investigate whether running exercises performed during pregnancy can contribute to the development of tolerance to neonatal hyperoxic brain damage. Method: While two female rats maintained a sedentary pregnancy, one female rat performed the mandatory running exercise for 30 minutes for five days a week throughout the pregnancy. Following delivery, the sedentary rats and the exercised rat were kept together with their offspring for five days at oxygen concentrations above 80 percent in order to induce brain damage. The offspring were sacrificed on postnatal Day 7 and brain/body ratio measurements were obtained. Results: The brain/body ratios in the control, hyperoxia and exercise-hyperoxia groups were found to be median (IQR) 0.074(0.68-0.77), 0.065(0.06-0.067) and 0.064(0.060-0.068), respectively. The brain/body ratios of the offspring of the mothers in the hyperoxia group were found to be significantly lower than the control group (p=0.002), irrespective of exercise (p=0.007). No statistically significant difference was noted between the offspring of the sedentary and the exercised mothers in the hyperoxia group (p=0.94). Conclusion: Hyperoxia was found to result in lower brain mass relative to total body mass. This finding, which indicates the presence of microcephaly, reflects the negative effects of hyperoxia on brain development. Contrary to expectations, exercises performed during pregnancy had no significant effect on the brain/body weight ratio of the offspring

Can gestational exercise have a positive effect on cognitive functions resulting from brain injury? A rat study

Aim: The effects of gestational exercise on potential pathological conditions is not known yet.  Therefore, in the present study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of forced running exercise on LPS-induced brain damage in pregnant rats. Method: Pregnant females in the experimental group were forced to exercise 30 min daily for five days a week. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced brain injury model was created by administering 500 µg/kg body weight of LPS on gestational days 18 and 19.   To evaluate injury histopathologically, brain tissues were fixed at the postnatal day seven through transcardial perfusion (n=4 pups/group). When the remaining pups reached 30-day of age, Morris water maze test (MWM) was performed to assess memory and learning, open filed (OP) and elevated plus maze (EPM) for testing anxiety, and Porsolt test (PT) for evaluating depression. The groups were defined as brain injury group (BI, n=13) and exercise+brain injury group (E+BI, n=7).  Results: The results obtained from MWM test indicated that animals found the platform in a shorter duration and distance at the day five compared to the day three. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. No significant difference was found in OP test regarding the distance traveled, time spent at the margins, movement at the center and the time spent as immobile. However, in the EPM test, the offspring at the BI group displayed higher mobility and increased number of entry to the open arms compared to the E+BI groups (p=0.01).  There was no significant difference regarding mobility duration and total distance traveled in the PT test. Conclusion: In the present study, we tested the impact of gestational exercise using the brain injury model. The results of the EPM test suggests that the gestational exercise can suppress the stress factors in the pregnant females with brain injury leading to the prevention of hyperactivity-induced negative learning behavior

Antioxidant effect of Abelmoschus Esculentus against acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity: an experimental study

Acetaminophen(APAP) intoxication is an important cause of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. N-acetylcysteine(NAC) is used in the treatment, but it has some serious side effects. Abelmoschus esculentus(AE) has various benefits as well as antioxidant effects. This study aims to investigate the effect of AE in APAP-induced acute nephrotoxicity. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups: Control, AE, APAP, APAP+AE, and APAP+AE+NAC. Significant changes were observed in serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin(NGAL) and Kidney Injury Molecule-1(KIM-1) after induction with APAP. NGAL and KIM-1 in the AE group remained low compared to those receiving APAP (p=0.022 and p0.001, respectively). When the APAP group was compared with the AE and AE+NAC groups, it was found that even the administration of AE alone significantly decreased NGAL and KIM-1(p=0.036 vs.p=0.029 and p0.001 vs. p0.001, respectively), these results were attributed to the effects of AE on reducing MDA and increasing SOD. Histopathological studies also confirmed these results. These results demonstrated that AE had protective and therapeutic effects on APAP-induced nephrotoxicity. This benefit of AE is due to its antioxidant effect. In addition, AE may also increase the regenerative capacity of the kidney, which APAP reduces

Effects of magnesium sulphate on liver ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model

Aim: To investigate the protective efficacy of magnesium sulphate in a model of rat liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Method: 32 adult female Wistar-Albino rats (250 to 350 g) were used in this experimental study. Rats were divided into 4 groups according to liver ischemia and magnesium sulfate application methods. Group 1 (C); control, group 2 (M); magnesium sulphate, group 3 (I/R); liver I/R, group 4 (I/R+M); I/R + magnesium sulphate treated. The blood samples were centrifuged for the study of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR) troponin I, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) assays. The livers of the animals were removed at the end of the study and samples were taken for histopathological examination. Results: AST and INR values were significantly decreased in I/R+M group compared to I/R group. There was no significant difference in ALT values of the groups. Although not statistically significant, the TAS values were increased in I/R + M group compared to I/R group rats. In addition, the value of TOS was found to be lower in I/R + M group rats. In the histopathological examination, the mean values of apoptosis and necrosis were lower in the IR+M group compared to the IR group. Conclusion: The main finding of the present study suggested that magnesium sulphate pretreatment moderately decreased the liver damage through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in a rat model of liver I/R