Evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of red raspberries on chronic nicotine-induced damage: an experimental study

Background: As an addictive substance, nicotine has been recognized as a risk factor to induce oxidative tissue damage, which is a main risk factor for development of lung-related diseases.  Red raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) have been used for the treatment of several tissue damage for decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation. For this purpose, authors aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of raspberry on nicotine-induced lung damage in rats.Methods: 32 male Sprague–Dawley rats included in present study. The rats were divided into the following four groups, with eight rats in each group: control, raspberry 100 mg/kg, nicotine 5 mg/kg, nicotine + raspberry 100 mg/kg treated (concomitant nicotine and raspberry extract) groups. The assessment of lung structure was made on light and stereo investigator microscope, immunohistochemical analysis was performed by determining anti-Caspase-3 immunostaining.Results: The lung of the nicotine applied group exhibited emphysematous air spaces, massive congestion areas, disrupted alveoli, thickened septa and inflammatory cell infiltration. Much improvement was observed in the raspberry-treated group despite the presence of mild residual changes. Moreover, loss of massive congestion areas and decreased Caspase-3 level were detected in the raspberry-treated group.Conclusions: Our results indicate that the raspberry extract attenuate the pathological changes of nicotine in the lung rats through antioxidative and anti- inflammatory mechanisms

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

Protective effects of pomiferin isolated from Maclura pomifera on ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat ovary: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of pomiferin, a prenylated flavonoid was purified from Maclura pomifera by thin layer chromatography method, on oxidative stress, sterile inflamation and ovarian tissue damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion model. Methods: Thirty female Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups. In the group CN only laparotomy operation was performed. In group CNPomiferin, rats received 200 mg/kg pomiferin. In group IRVehicle, reperfusion for 3 h performed after an ischemic period of 3 hours. In groups IRPomiferin100 and IRPomiferin200 rats received 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses of pomiferin, by oral gavage 1 houes before reperfusion. After the experiments, tissue level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined, and histopathological changes were examined in all rat ovarian tissue. Results: It was determined that irreversible cell damage such as apoptotic and necrotic deaths and reversible cell damage occurred in follicular, endothelial and stromal cells due to oxidative stress in the group IRVehicle. In this group, it was determined that the LPO level exceeded the cellular antioxidant capacity (SOD and CAT enzyme activities) and the PMNL infiltration and activity (MPO), an indicator of sterile inflammation, increased. It was determined that oxidative stress sterile inflammation and irreversible cell damage decreased in a dose-dependent manner with pomiferin treatment. Conclusions: Pomipherin treatment strongly protects ovarian follicles and vascular structures against ischemia-reperfusion injury, thus it may prevent the reduction of ovarian follicle reserve, which is an indicator of female fertility

Protective effects of estrogen and bortezomib in kidney tissue of post-menopausal rats: an ultrastructural study

Mercantepe, Tolga/0000-0002-8506-1755; Mercantepe, Filiz/0000-0002-4325-1534WOS: 000382175000016PubMed: 27198138Purpose: Symptoms and disorders related to menopause and its associated estrogen deficiency have become a considerable health concern worldwide. Ovarian hormone depletion/estrogen deficiency can be usefully studied using animal models after removal of the ovaries [ovariectomy (Ovx)]. This study assessed renal changes after Ovx-induced estrogen deficiency in a rat model.Methods: Rats were randomly allotted into one control group (group I, healthy) and three study groups (group II, Ovx group; group III, Ovx +17-estradiol group; and group IV, Ovx+bortezomib group).Results: in the Ovx group (group II), thickening of glomerular capillary walls, narrowing of Bowman's capsular space, glomerular hypertrophy, atrophic tubules, and loss of the basal membranes of the tubules were observed. Mesangial cell proliferation was observed, particularly in the glomerulus. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining studies in this group showed dense staining in the mesangial cells, tubular cell Nf-KB/p65, and caspase-3. Groups III and IV (Ovx +17-estradiol and Ovx+bortezomib) showed decreased NF-kB/p65 and caspase-3 expression compared with the Ovx group (p<0.05).Conclusion: in renal failure related to estrogen deficiency caused by Ovx, 17-estradiol and bortezomib have a protective effect on renal tissue

Protective effects of beta glucan in brain tissues of post-menopausal rats: a histochemical and ultra-structural study

Mercantepe, Filiz/0000-0002-4325-1534WOS: 000370659100015PubMed: 26486170Decline of estrogen during menopause has been associated with numerous significant changes that have been linked to many pathophysiological complications. in addition, ovarian hormone deficiency increases the production of reactive oxygen radicals which could result in oxidative stress and cell damage. While estrogen therapy is often considered to overcome the behavioral and physiological shortcomings, antioxidants are gaining popularity for their beneficial property. For this purpose, in the present study, utilizing the antioxidant properties of beta glucan has been examined in treatment of menopause induced oxidative stress in cerebral neurons. Four groups of female Wistar rats were used: control, ovariectomy, ovariectomy + estrogen treated and ovariectomy + beta glucan treated. We observed a significant increase in neural degeneration in ovariectomized rats as compared to controls. Moreover, increased oxidative stress in the brains of the ovariectomized rats has been detected by performing immunohistochemical analysis. A large number of immuno-positive cerebral neurons have been observed in ovariectomy group rat brains. Interestingly, providing beta glucan treatment to ovariectomized rats reduced the number of degenerated neurons. Our study is the first to examine light and electron microscopic examination and immunohistochemical and stereological analysis of estrogen depletion in rats and to test protective role of beta glucan in the experimental study

Efficacy of L-Carnitine Administration on Lungs of Neonatal Rats Exposed to Hyperoxia

Oxygen toxicity is believed to play a prominent role in the lung injury that leads to the development of bonchopulmonary dysplasia. L-carnitine (LCAR) is an antioxidant and prevents the accumulation of end products of lipid peroxidation, acts as a free radical scavenger and protects cells from reactive oxygen species. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of LCAR on the histopathologic characteristics of oxygen-induced lung injury. Thirty one rat pups were divided into 4 groups: Healthy control group (group 1, n = 8), hyperoxia-exposed group (group 2, n = 7), hyperoxia-exposed and 100 mg kg(-1) LCAR-treated group (goup 3, n = 10), hyperoxia-exposed and 200 mg kg(-1) LCAR-treated group (goup 4, n = 6). Although in group given 100 mg kg(-1) LCAR together with hyperoxia-exposure, it was observed some improvement, histopathologic findings obtained from animals treated with 200 mg kg(-1) LCAR were similar to normal surprisingly. In conclusion, it should be focused on more the possible protective effect mechanism of LCAR and it should be made more effort to be able to use it in routine