Investigation of the effects of astaxanthin in experimental polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats

Objective(s): The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Astaxanthin (ASX) on ovaries in letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model in female rats by histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques.Materials and Methods: Seventy two Sprague-Dawley female rats with an average weight of 200-250 gr and 10-12 weeks old were randomly divided into 9 groups. PCOS model was applied to all groups except healthy group. In the study, low (10 mg / kg) moderate (20 mg / kg) and high (40 mg / kg) doses of ASX were given to the experimental animals in the PCOS-induced groups for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, ovarian tissues were evaluated histopathologically, immunohistochemically, and biochemically.Results: When the histopathological findings were examined, many cystic follicles, apoptotic and necrotic cells were found in the follicles in the PCOS group. In addition, significant decrease in apoptotic and necrotic cells were observed in PCOS+MET+ASX and PCOS+ASX groups. In immunohistochemical staining findings, while TNF-α, NF-κB and IL-6 expression levels showed significant increase in PCOS group, these expression levels were decreased in PCOS+MET+ASX and PCOS+ASX groups. In the biochemical evaluations, while MDA were increased, SOD were decreased in the PCOS group. MDA level were decreased while SOD levels were increased in the PCOS+MET+ASX and PCOS+ASX groups. Conclusion: In addition to the formation of insulin resistance in the tissue, severe oxidative stress damage occurs in ovarian tissue during PCOS. Metformin improved PCOS by correcting insulin resistance. In this period, the administration of ASX with Metformin protected the ovary from oxidative stress damage

Potential therapeutic effect of pomegranate seed oil on ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Objective(s): The aim of this study is to determine the therapeutic effects of pomegranate seed oil, which is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, on ovarian-ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats.Materials and Methods: Fifty-six  female albino Wistar rats were divided into 7 equal groups. Group 1; Sham Operation, Group 2; Ischemia, Group 3; Ischemia + Reperfusion, Group 4; Ischemia + Pomegranate 0,32 ml / kg (IP), Group 5; Ischemia + Pomegranate 0.64 ml / kg, Group 6; Ischemia + Pomegranate 0,32 ml / kg + reperfusion, Group 7; Ischemia + Pomegranate 0,64 ml / kg + reperfusion. Three hours after ischemia and 3 hours after reperfusion, the study was terminated. Results: While NADPH oxidase activity, MDA and TNF-α levels were significantly increased, SOD activity and GSH levels were reduced in ischemia and I/R groups. Low dose pomegranate seed oil  application reduced significantly oxidative stress and NADPH oxidase activity in both ischemic and ischemic/reperfusion groups. At the same time, low-dose pomegranate seed oil extract reduced TNF-α levels and significantly increased antioxidant activity.Conclusion: PSO demonstrated an important therapeutic effect in the treatment of ovarian ischemia and reperfusion injury

Protective Effects of Berberis Vulgaris Plant Extract on Paracetamol-induced Liver Toxicity in Rats

INTRODUCTION: Berberis vulgaris extract is known to be protective against many damages due to its anti-inflamatory and antioxidant properties. Paracetamol toxicity is one of the most common toxicities. In our study, we aimed to reduce the damage caused by paracetamol toxicity with the beneficial effects of Berberis vullgaris extract. METHODS: In our study, 42 Sprague Dawley 8-week-old rats were used. 7 groups were formed with 6 female animals in each group. At the 24th hour of the study, all groups underwent laparotomy under anesthesia and liver dissection was performed. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining was used to evaluate liver histopathology, and PAS staining was used to show glycogen and basement membrane staining in liver tissue. In addition, scoring was done by showing apoptotic cells with TUNEL stain RESULTS: Hepatic degeneration and peritubular inflammation were quite evident in the groups to which we applied paracetamol. In this study, we observed that the number of positive cells increased in the group given paracetamol in TUNEL staining. As a result of the PAS staining we performed, glycogen accumulation in the hepatocytes of the group we induced with paracetamol was remarkable. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Berberis vulgaris plant extract appears to reduce Paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity. As a result of the PAS staining, glycogen accumulation in the hepatocytes was remarkable in the group which was induced with paracetamol. Further studies are required for the use of determined molecules of Berberis vulgaris plant extract against the hepatotoxic effect of paracetamol in paracetamol toxicity

Protective effects of melatonin receptor agonists on endotoxin- induced uveitis in rats

Objective(s): Melatonin has an important role in regulating a variety of physiological functions of the body. We investigated the protective effects of Agomelatine (AGO) and Ramelteon (RAME) on Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis (EIU) in rats. Materials and Methods: 70 rats were randomly divided into fourteen groups. Healthy group normal saline, (IP), Uveitis group (200 pg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS), SC), DEX group (200 pg/kg LPS plus 1 mg/kg dexamethasone, IP), AGO20 group received 200 pg/kg LPS plus 20 mg/kg AGO, AGO40 group received 200 pg/kg LPS plus 40 mg/kg AGO, RAME2 group received 200 pg/kg LPS plus 2 mg/kg RAME, and group RAME4 received 200 pg/kg LPS plus 4 mg/kg RAME. Each group had two subgroups: the 3rd and 24th hour. The eye tissues were collected and investigated biomicroscopically (clinical manifestations and scoring, molecularly(qRT-PCR analyses of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and Caspase 3 and Caspase 9 mRNA expression), biochemically (Superoxide dismutase activity, Glutathione, and Malondialdehyde levels) and histopathologically (staining with Harris Hematoxylin and Eosin Y). Results: Melatonin receptor agonist treatment reduced the clinical score count of ocular inflammation in the uveitic rats. TNF-alpha, VEGF, Caspase 9, and Caspase 3 levels markedly decreased in the uveitic rats. Melatonin receptor agonists significantly ameliorated fixed changes in GSH, SOD, and MDA levels. Melatonin receptor agonists also ameliorated histopathological injury in eye tissues associated with uveitis. Conclusion: Melatonin receptor agonists ameliorated the inflammatory response in EIU. These findings suggest that melatonin receptor agonists may represent a potential novel therapeutic drug for uveitis treatment

Roflumilast as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Cecal Ligation and Puncture-Induced Septic Lung Injury

Purpose/Aims This study focused on delineating the possible effects of roflumilast (ROF), a selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, in rats with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced polymicrobial sepsis, and investigated whether ROF can act as a protective agent in sepsis-induced lung damage. Material and methods Four experimental groups were organized, each comprising eight rats: Control, Sepsis, Sepsis + ROF 0.5 mgkg−1, and Sepsis + ROF 1 mgkg−1 groups. A polymicrobial sepsis model was induced in the rats by cecal ligation and puncture under anesthesia. Twelve hours after sepsis induction, the lungs were obtained for biochemical, molecular, and histopathological analyses. Results In the sepsis group’s lungs, the TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA expression levels peaked in the sepsis group’s lung tissues, and ROF significantly decreased these levels compared with the sepsis group dose-dependently. ROF also significantly decreased MDA levels in septic lungs and increased antioxidant parameters (SOD and GSH) compared with the sepsis group. Histopathological analysis results supported biochemical and molecular results. Conclusions ROF, a PDE4 inhibitor, suppressed the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, alleviated lung damage (probably by blocking neutrophil infiltration), and increased the capacity of the antioxidant system