A preliminary study of the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of crocin against gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o efeito protetor da crocina em lesões da mucosa gástrica causadas por isquemia-reperfusão (I/R) em ratos. Trinta e dois ratos machos aleatoriamente divididos em grupos de ratos normais, operados como controle, I/R. I/R + pré-tratamento com crocina e crocina sozinha. Para induzir lesões I/R, a artéria celíaca foi grampeada durante 30 minutos e, em seguida, o grampo foi removido para permitir a reperfusão por 3 h. Ratos com pré-tratamento com crocina receberam crocina (15 mg/kg, ip) 30 minutos antes da indução do dano I/R. Amostras de mucosa gástrica foram coletadas para qiuantificar a expressão da proteína da caspase-3, o fator apoptótico, e óxido nítrico sintase induzível (iNOS), uma proteína anti-inflamatória, pela técnica de Western Blot. O pré-tratamento com crocina diminuiu a área total de lesões gástricas e a expressão de níveis de caspase-3 e iNOS induzidas pelo dano I/R. Nossos resultados mostraram o efeito protetor da crocina na mucosa gástrica contra o dano I/R. Este efeito foi mediado, principalmente, por diminuição da expressão das proteínas iNOS e caspase-3.The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of crocin on gastric mucosal lesions caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into sham, I/R, I/R + crocin pretreatment and crocin alone groups. To induce I/R lesions, the celiac artery was clamped for 30 min, and the clamp was then removed to allow reperfusion for 3 h. Crocin-pretreated rats received crocin (15 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to the induction of I/R injury. Samples of gastric mucosa were collected to quantify the protein expression of caspase-3, an apoptotic factor, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a pro-inflammatory protein, by Western blot. Pretreatment with crocin decreased the total area of gastric lesions and decreased the protein expression levels of caspase-3 and iNOS induced by I/R injury. Our findings showed a protective effect of crocin in gastric mucosa against I/R injury. This effect of crocin was mainly mediated by reducing the protein expression of iNOS and caspase-3

Modes of drainage of kidneys with bilateral malignant obstruction

Malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) is an unpleasant finding resulting from a wide range of malignancies with limited survival prognosis. Its presentation and progression show that it can resist treatment with some stents, including single polymer ureteral stents. With most treatment failures, several treatments are available for the initial management and treatment of benign ureteral obstruction, including therapy with percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN), metallic stents, tandem stents, and other stents. Considering the variety of methods and the heterogeneous population of patients, evaluating the merit of each approach is challenging and needed. Due to the lack of significant studies in this field, these methods leave their performance up to the individual provider. This review aims to provide a framework for urologists to use for individual care and apply it appropriately to patients with MUO. Prospective clinical studies are needed to empower patients with MUO to receive evidence-based treatment and recommendations

Rosmarinic Acid Protects the Testes of Rats against Cell Phone and Ultra-high Frequency Waves Induced Toxicity

Background: Cell phone and Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) waves produce oxidative stress and cause testicular toxicity. This investigation was directed to evaluate the effectiveness of Rosmarinic Acid (RA) against oxidative stress caused by UHF radiation in rats.Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into six groups. The control received 5 mL normal saline (0.9% NaCl) by gavage, the cell phone group received 915 MHz, the UHF waves group just received 2450 MHz, the RA/cell phone group received RA plus 915 MHz, RA/UHF waves group received RA plus 2450 MHz, and RA just received RA (20 mg/kg). After 30 days of consecutive radiation, the biochemical and histopathological parameters of their testes were measured. Statistical comparison was made using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test.Results: Cell phone and UHF wave radiation significantly diminished the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione content (P<0.001). On the opposite, UHF significantly increased oxidative stress indices including malondialdehyde level, nitric oxide level, and protein carbonyl content (P<0.001). UHF also significantly reduced the number of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, epithelial height, and seminiferous tubular and luminal diameters (P<0.001). RA, as an effective antioxidant, reverses the above-mentioned harms and moderates the adverse effects of UHF on the testes of rats by significantly diminishing the oxidative stress indices and antioxidant enzyme rise and improving the histological parameters (P<0.001).Conclusion: RA can protect the testes of rats from UHF-induced toxicity by reducing oxidative stress. RA as a food supplement might be useful for protecting humans exposed to UHF environmental contamination

Antioxidant effects of proanthocyanidin from grape seed on hepatic tissue injury in diabetic rats

Objective(s): Diabetes plays an important role in the induction of the liver injury. Grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) have a wide range of medicinal properties against oxidative stress. In this study we evaluated antioxidant effects of GSP on liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, untreated diabetic and diabetic rats treated with GSP. Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). GSP were administered via oral gavage (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Results: GSP produced significant hepatoprotective effects by decreasing activities of serum aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase, and decreasing liver malondialdehyde and bilirubin (P&lt;0.05) levels. It increased liver superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and albumin level (P&lt;0.05). Administration of GSP significantly ameliorated structural changes induced in liver of diabetic rats. Conclusion: GSP have protective effects against hepatic tissue injury due to antioxidant properties

Anti-fertility effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) seed in male Wistar rats

The study aimed to investigate the anti-fertility effect of fennel (Foeniculim vulgare Mill) seed extract in male rats. Material and Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. The control group received distilled water and the experimental groups were orally administered 1 ml of hydro-alcoholic extract of fennel seed in four doses of 35, 70, 140, and 280 mg/kg/b.w. daily for 60 days. After the last gavage, the rats were anaesthetised and the caudal part of the right epididymis was used for sperm counting. After fixation of the testes, microscopic sections were prepared and histological changes were evaluated. Results: The number of spermatogonia after doses of 140 and 280 mg/kg and Sertoli cells after a dose of 140 mg/kg decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The number of primary spermatocytes and sperm count decreased significantly in the experimental groups (70, 140, and 280 mg/kg) when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, thickening of the basement membrane, cell apoptosis, and irregular arrangement of the germinal epithelium were observed in the experimental groups. Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic fennel seed extract at these doses could reduce reproductivity and has anti-fertility activity in male rat

Protective Effect of Gemfibrozil on Hepatotoxicity Induced by Acetaminophen in Mice: the Importance of Oxidative Stress Suppression

Purpose: Gemfibrozil (GEM) apart from agonist activity at peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of GEM on acute liver toxicity induced by acetaminophen (APAP) in mice. Methods: In this study, mice divided in seven groups include, control group, APAP group, GEM group, three APAP groups pretreated with GEM at the doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively and APAP group pretreated with N-Acetyl cysteine. GEM, NAC or vehicle were administered for 10 days. In last day, GEM and NAC were gavaged 1 h before and 1 h after APAP injection. Twenty four hours after APAP, mice were sacrificed. Serum parameters include alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and liver tissue markers including catalase enzyme activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels determined and histopathological parameters measured. Results: GEM led to significant decrease in serum ALT and AST activities and increase in catalase activity and hepatic GSH level and reduces malondialdehyde and ROS levels in the liver tissue. In confirmation, histopathological findings revealed that GEM decrease degeneration, vacuolation and necrosis of hepatocytes and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Conclusion: Present data demonstrated that GEM has antioxidant properties and can protect the liver from APAP toxicity, just in the same pathway that toxicity occurs by toxic ROS and that GEM may be an alternative therapeutic agent to NAC in APAP toxicity

Preparation and physicochemical characterization of N-succinyl chitosan-coated liposomes for oral delivery of grape seed extract and evaluation of its effect on pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in rats

Objective(s): This study aimed to develop an oral succinyl chitosan-coated liposomal formulation containing grape seed extract and assess its therapeutic efficacy in rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Materials and Methods: N-succinyl chitosan was synthesized, and the liposomal formulations were prepared and characterized regarding phenolic content assay and morphology. Size, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, and stability. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal bleomycin injection, and hydroxyproline measurements, lung weight, animal body weight, as well as histopathological studies were performedResults: Succinyl chitosan increases the physical stability of the formulation, especially in acidic conditions. Drug release studies revealed that 66.27% of the loaded drug was released from CF2 in an acidic medium in 2 hr, but 92.31% of the drug was released in 8 hr in a pH=7 medium. An in vivo study demonstrated that rats exposed to bleomycin significantly lost weight, while those treated with CF2 (400 mg/kg) partially regained weight. Bleomycin treatment increased the mean lung weight and the amount of hydroxyproline in the lungs; these values were significantly decreased in the group treated with 400 mg/kg CF2 (P<0.05). Histopathological examination confirmed that treatment with 400 mg/kg CF2 improved lung fibrosis. Conclusion: In rats, oral administration of N-succinyl chitosan-coated liposomes containing grape seed extract at the 400 mg/kg dose ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Effects of sodium hydrogen sulfide (a H2S donor) on acute kidney injury

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Hydrogen sulfide plays an important role in renal pathology and shows the protective role under pathological conditions in some of experimental models of renal disease

EFFECT OF KIDNEY STEM CELLS ON BIOCHEMICAL ANALAYSIS AND SMAD2/3 PHOSPHORYLATION IN RATS WITH DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were proposed as a critical therapeutic candidate in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Renal stem cells as a source for repairing are controversial. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of kidney rat stem cells on DN. Materials and methods: After separation of renal stem cells from rat kidney, the surface Stem cell markers were assessed by flow cytometry analysis. To establish the diabetic nephropathy rat model STZ(60mg/kg) was used. The cells were injected to experimental groups via tail vein (2×106cells/rat). Biochemical and histological parameters were evaluated in order to determining the impact of stem cells on kidney structure. Phosphorylation of Smad2/3 two weeks after induction of early diabetic nephropathy was evaluated by using standard western blotting.Result: The cells significantly reduced blood nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and 24 urinary proteins. The phosphorylation of smad2 and smad3 significantly down-regulated. PAS staining showed in the presence of adult kidney stem cells histopathological changes were improved.Conclusion: Adult kidney stem cells may be a candidate for treatment of early DN to improve the kidney function and regenerating kidney tissues in DN rats

Renoprotective effect of crocin following liver ischemia/ reperfusion injury in Wistar rats

Objective(s): The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the effects of hepatic ‎ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, biochemical factors, and ‎histopathological changes in rat kidney, and to investigate the effect of crocin on IR-‎related changes. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n=8). They were ‎sham-operated, IR, crocin pre-treatment, and crocin pretreatment+IR groups. Sham-operated ‎and Crocin pre-treatment groups received normal saline (N/S, 2 ml/day) and crocin (200 mg/kg) ‎for seven consecutive days intraperitoneally (IP), respectively, then rats underwent laparotomy, only. ‎IR and crocin pretreatment+IR groups received N/S and crocin with the same dose, time, and route, ‎respectively, then rats underwent partial (70%) ischemia for 45 min that was followed by reperfusion ‎for 60 min. At the end of the experiment, kidney specimens were taken for histopathological and ‎antioxidant evaluations and also blood samples were obtained for biochemical analysis. Results: The results of the present study showed that crocin pre-treatment significantly increased ‎the activity of antioxidants, decreased the serum levels of liver enzymes and blood urea nitrogen ‎following IR-induced hepatic injury. Crocin also ameliorated kidney´s histopathological ‎disturbance beyond IR-induced hepatic injury. Conclusion: Crocin as an antioxidant agent protected renal insult following liver IR injury by ‎increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reducing serum levels of liver enzymes, and ‎improving histopathological changes.