The effects of astaxanthin on salivary gland damage caused by cisplatin in the rat

Background: Cisplatin is a potent antineoplastic agent widely used for a variety of malignancies. However, it has many dose-limiting side effects such as neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity and ototoxicity. The aim of our study was to determine the effectiveness of astaxanthin (ASX) as a cytoprotective agent against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in the submandibular glands of rats.Methods: Thirty-six adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups as follows: group I: saline control; group II: 75 mg/kg/day ASX; group III: 16 mg/kg cisplatin; group IV: 25 mg/kg/day ASX + cisplatin; group V: 75 mg/kg/day ASX + cisplatin; group VI: olive oil + cisplatin. In all groups, submandibular gland histopathological and histochemical investigations were done using a light microscope. Every rat section was semi-quantitatively scored. Neutrophil infiltration density, myoepithelial cell density in the degeneration area, degenerative granular duct cell density, degenerative seromucous acinus cell density, and changes in the content of the secretory granules of seromucous acini and granular ducts of the parenchyma and stroma were calculated.Results: The results of the analysis of the mean acinus area of the submandibular gland revealed that there was a significant decrease in cisplatin group rats when compared to control rats (p0.05, p=0.921). Similarities were observed in the mean ducts area with the group IV and the group V (p>0.05, p=0.571).Conclusions: These results suggest the possibility that the clinical use of ASX could reduce or prevent damage to the salivary gland of patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy

Effect of 900-MHz electromagnetic field on the cerebellum: a histopathological investigation

Objectives: The currently widely used technological devices give rise to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at various frequencies. Recent studies have reported that EMFs damage the central nervous system. The cerebellum is of considerable importance to human life due to its involvement in motor control, language, and cognitive-sensory functions. Damage occurring in the histological layers of the cerebellar cortex causes various neurological and psychiatric diseases, such as paralysis, tumor, autism, and schizophrenia. Our study involved a histopathological evaluation of the effects of communication systems’ standard 900-MHz EMF on the cerebellum. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned into two groups containing six animals each: control and EMF. The EMF group was exposed to a 24-h 900-MHz radiofrequency EMF over 20 days with a digital modulation signal generator installed in the middle of their cage. Ten days after EMF application, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation under anesthesia induced with 50 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride and 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal xylazine HC1. Results: Intense caspase-3 expression was seen in the Purkinje cells and granular cells exposed to a 900-MHz frequency EMF (p0.05). Conclusion: A 900-MHz EMF causes deleterious effects on the cerebellum by giving rise to apoptosis accompanied by caspase-3 expression in the Purkinje and granular cells in particular

Resveratrol against lung injury in an ischemia/reperfusion model of abdominal aortic rupture

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effects on the lungs of ischemia/reperfusion injury in a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm model in rats and to investigate the potential protective effects of resveratrol. Methods: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, ischemia/reperfusion, sham (ischemia/ reperfusion + solvent/dimethyl sulfoxide), and ischemia/reperfusion + resveratrol. In the groups subjected to ischemia/reperfusion, following 60-min shock to the abdominal aorta, vascular clamps were attached from the levels of the infrarenal and iliac bifurcation. A total of 60-min ischemia was applied, followed by 120-min reperfusion. In the ischemia/ reperfusion + resveratrol group, intraperitoneal 10 mg/kg resveratrol was administered 15 min before ischemia and immediately after reperfusion. Malondialdehyde, glutathione, and catalase levels were analyzed and histopathological examination of the lung tissues was performed. Results: Malondialdehyde levels increased in the ischemia/reperfusion and ischemia/reperfusion + dimethyl sulfoxide groups, compared to the control group, while catalase levels decreased, and no significant difference was observed in the glutathione levels. Malondialdehyde levels decreased with the administration of resveratrol, while glutathione levels increased, and catalase levels remained unchanged. The increased inflammation in interstitial spaces, thickening in the alveolar septal walls, increased numbers of cleaved caspase-3 apoptotic pneumocytes, and increased histopathological lung damage scores observed in the ischemia/reperfusion and ischemia/reperfusion + dimethyl sulfoxide groups improved with the application of resveratrol. Conclusion: These findings suggest that resveratrol may exhibit a protective effect in preventing acute lung injury developing due to ischemia/reperfusion in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery by reducing oxidative damage

The effects of dexmedetomidine against ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm injury to myocardial tissue induced by abdominal aorta clamping

Objectives: This study aims to examine the potential protective effect of the selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist dexmedetomidine (DEX) against aortic occlusion-induced myocardial injury. Patients and methods: A total of 30 rats were randomly assigned into three groups of 10 animals each as control, ischemia+reperfusion (I/Rep), and I/Rep+DEX. In the I/Rep and I/Rep+DEX groups, after the completion of the shock stage, 60-min lower torso ischemia was induced with the application of cross-clamps to the abdominal aorta, followed by 120-min reperfusion. The I/Rep+DEX group received intraperitoneal 100 µg/kg DEX 30 min before the ischemia period. Results: Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in myocardial tissue increased with the application of I/Rep, while glutathione (GSH) levels decreased. We also observed swollen, degenerative, apoptotic cardiac myofibrils exhibiting caspase-3 positivity, widespread edematous areas, vascular congestion, and an increase in the heart damage scores. The MDA levels decreased with DEX administration, while the GSH levels increased. Degenerative, apoptotic cardiac myofibrils exhibiting loss of cytoplasm content, and vascular congestion also decreased. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that DEX may have a future role in the treatment of myocardial damage occurring due to reperfusion, following ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

The protective effects of red ginseng and amifostine against renal damage caused by ionizing radiation

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of amifostine (ethyol) (AM), a synthetic radioprotector, and red ginseng (RG), a natural radioprotective agent, against the toxic effect of ionizing radiation (IR) on kidney tissues through changes in biochemical and histopathological parameters in addition to contributions to the use of amifostine and RG in clinical studies. Five groups were established: Group I (control, receiving only saline by gavage), Group II (IR only), and Group III (IR+AM, 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.). Group IV (IR + RG, 200 mg/kg orally once a day for 4 weeks), and Group V (IR+RG+AM, 200 mg/kg orally once/day for 4 weeks before IR and 200 mg/kg AM administered (i.p.) 30 min before IR). All groups, except for the control group, were subject to 6-Gy whole-body IR in a single fraction. 24 h after irradiation, all animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. IR enhanced MDA, 8-OHdG, and caspase-3 expression while decreasing renal tissue GSH levels (p < .05). Significant numbers of necrotic tubules together with diffuse vacuolization in proximal and distal tubule epithelial cells were also observed. The examination also revealed substantial brush boundary loss in proximal tubules as well as relatively unusual glomerular structures. While GSH levels significantly increased in the AM, RG, and AM+RG groups, a decrease in KHDS, MDA, 8-OHdG, and caspase-3 expression was observed, compared to the group subject to IR only (p < .05). Therefore, reactive oxygen species-scavenging antioxidants may represent a promising treatment for avoiding kidney damage in patients receiving radiation

Comparison of linear versus macrocyclic gadolinium chelates in rat skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects on skeletal muscle of gadolinium based linear and macrocyclic radiocontrast agents applied at experimental intervals using histopathological methods. METHODS: Thirty-two male Sprague–Dawley rats were included in the study for histopathological analysis. No procedure was performed on the healthy control group. The sham group received 0.1 ml/kg intravenous (IV) saline solution through the tail vein 4 times weekly for 5 weeks. The gadodiamide group received total 2 mmol/kg IV gadodiamide through the tail vein 4 times weekly for 5 weeks. The gadoteric-acid group received 2 mmol/kg IV gadoteric acid through the tail vein 4 times weekly for 5 weeks. RESULTS: We determined no marked apoptotic myofibrils associated withcaspase-3 expression in these two groups. Furthermore, no calcineurin expression was observed in myofibrils in the two groups. However, quantitative analyses revealed a decrease in muscle-fiber area in the gadodiamide and gadoteric-acid groups compared to the control group (Respectively; p=0.001 and p=0.017). CONCLUSION: In our experimental study, linear and macrocyclic GBCAs applied at repeated doses played no role in myofibril damage induced by caspase-3 and calcineurin – nuclear factor of activated T-cells in skeletal muscle tissue

The effect of white tea on serum TNF-α/NF-κB and immunohistochemical parameters in cisplatin-related renal dysfunction in female rats

The study was funded by a grant from the scientific research foundation of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University .Objective: Nephrotoxicity is the most important side effect of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin, thereby restricting its use. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of white tea infusions (WT) against renal damage induced by cisplatin (CP) in rats by biochemical and histopathological means. Materials and methods: This study used 24 female Sprague Dawley rats at 12–14 weeks of age and weighing 250–300 g. Rats were divided into three groups: Control, CP and CP + WT groups. CP was injected 7 mg/kg i.p as a single dose/rat in the CP group. White tea was given at a dose of 0.5% (w/v) for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) along with caspase-3 in the kidney were evaluated in study. Results: BUN, creatinine, TNF-α NF-κB and IL-6 levels of the CP group showed a statisically significant increase in comparison to the control group. TNF-α NF-κB and IL-6 levels showed a statistically significant decrease in the CP + WT group with respect to the CP group. Caspase-3 levels in tubular epithelial cells decreased in CP + WT group compared with CP group (p = 0.02). Conclusion: White tea infusions reduced significantly the nephrotoxicity of CP. The anti-nephrotoxic feature of the infusion may be attributed primarily to its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic characteristics

The protective effect of astaxanthin on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity

Background. Promising studies have been conducted with many substances to reduce the ototoxic effects of cisplatin, but there is no treatment that completely eliminates the ototoxic effect. Objectives. To determine the effectiveness of astaxanthin (ASX) as a protective agent against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Materials and methods. Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Group 1 received no drug injections except for anesthetics; group 2 received intraperitoneal (IP) olive oil only for 8 days; group 3 received only IP ASX 75 mg/kg dissolved in olive oil for 8 days; group 4 received a single dose of only IP 16 mg/kg cisplatin on the 5th day; group 5 received 25 mg/kg ASX IP daily for 8 days and a single 16 mg/kg dose of cisplatin on the 5th day; group 6 received 75 mg/kg ASX IP daily for 8 days and a single 16 mg/kg dose of cisplatin on the 5th day. The animals were tested for distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) before and 3 days after cisplatin treatment. The animals in all groups were sacrificed under anesthesia on the 10th day. Before sacrifice, inferior vena cava blood samples were drawn into commercial tubes for biochemical analysis and their cochlea were prepared for histological analysis. Results. The ASX+cisplatin groups demonstrated significantly higher DPOAE thresholds when compared to the cisplatin-only group (p < 0.05). The ASX 25 mg/kg/day+cisplatin group showed a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity compared to the cisplatin-only group, whereas the ASX 75 mg/kg/day+cisplatin group had significantly lower total oxidative stress and oxidative stress index. Histologic results showed that the cortical organ was better preserved in the ASX+cisplatin groups compared to the cisplatin-only group, and the degeneration in the spiral ganglion and inner and outer hair cells was less visible in the ASX groups. Conclusions. Astaxanthin can protect hearing from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, prevent cellular degeneration and significantly reduce oxidative stress

Protective effects of curcumin and amifostine against gamma radiation-induced gastric mucosal damage: a light and electron microscopic study

Gamma radyasyonun metabolik ve yapısal olarak birçok sistem üzerinde etkili olduğu bilinmekle beraber mide üzerindeki etkilerine karşı yapılan araştırmalar sınırlıdır. Radyasyonun mide üzerine olan etkilerinin patogenezi hakkında çok az bilgi olmasına karşın, yapılan son çalışmalar bu etkide oksidatif stresin rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Antioksidan maddelerin, radyasyon hasarına karşı yararlı etkiye sahip olduğu ileri sürülmektedir. Sıçanlar üzerinde yapılan bu çalışmada; farklı dozlarda gamma radyasyona bağlı, mide mukozasında meydana gelen hasarlara karşı, curcumin ve amifostinin muhtemel koruyucu etkilerinin ışık ve elektron mikroskopik düzeylerde incelenmesi amaçlandı. Hayvanlar biri kontrol, biri sham 3'ü deney grubu olmak üzere toplam 5 gruba ayrıldı. Radyasyon hasarı oluşturmak amacıyla, kontrol grubu ve sham grubu dışındaki deneklerin bütün batın bölgelerine 15 Gy'lik gamma ışını verildi. Radyasyon hasarını önleyebilmek amacı ile IV. grup deneklere, ışınlamadan 10 gün önce başlayıp sakrifikasyon zamanlarına kadar 100 mg/kg curcumin dimetilsülfoksit içinde çözülerek intragastrik yoldan; V. grup deneklere; ışınlamadan 30 dakika önce 200 mg/kg amifostin i.v. yoldan verildi. Tüm deneklerden, ışınlamadan sonraki 4. günde, anestezi altında alınan mide biyopsi materyalleri ışık ve elektron mikroskopik gözlemlerimiz için işlemlendirildi. Çalışmamızda, 15 Gy gamma radyasyonun mide mukozasında hasara sebep olduğu, mide mukoza hücrelerinin şekil ve yerleşimlerinde bozukluklara yol açtığı gözlendi. Yüzey örtü epitel hücrelerinin kaybına bağlı olarak, mukozada ülseratif alanların açığa çıktığı görüldü. Özellikle düz tübüler mide bezlerinin müköz boyun hücrelerinde ki kayıpların ciddi boyutta olduğu gözlendi. Elektron mikroskopik düzeyde, hücrelerin salgı granüllerinde, mikrovilluslarında ve nükleuslarında bozulmalar olduğu, mitokondrilerin kristalarında silinmeler ve özellikle granüllü endoplazmik retikulum sisternalarında dilatasyonların meydana geldiği saptandı. Yüksek gamma radyasyona bağlı mide mukozasında meydana gelen hasarların önlenmesinde, klinikte kullanılan tek radyoprotektif ajan olan amifostinin etkili bir koruma sağladığı görüldü. Curcuminin ise mukozal hasarı kısmen önlediği tespit edildi. Sonuç olarak; radyoterapi esnasında, antioksidan maddelerin normal dokuların korunmasında yararlı etki sağlayabileceği kanısına varıldı.Although gamma radiation is known to have metabolic and structural effects on various systems, studies done to determine its effects on stomach are limited. There is limited information on the pathogenesis of the effects of radiation on stomach; however in the previous studies it was found that oxidative stress has a role on this effect. Antioxidant elements are claimed to have positive effects against radiation damage. In this study, which was done on rats; it was aimed to examine the possible protective effects of curcumin and amifostine against damages formed on the stomach mucosa caused by gamma radiation at different doses, at light and electron microscopic levels. The rats were divided into 5 groups, one which was the control, one of which was the sham, and 3 of which were the experimental groups. All the rats except for the control and the sham group were exposed to 15 Gy of gamma rays on their abdominal areas. In order to prevent radiation damage, the IVth experimental group was given 100 mg/kg of curcumin dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide via intragastric way starting 10 days before the radiation until sacrification; the Vth experimental group was given 200 mg/kg of amifostine i.v. 30 minutes before the radiation. Stomach biopsy materials taken from all subjects under anesthesia on the 4th day after radiation were prepared for light and electron microscopic examinations. It was observed in our study that 15 Gy of gamma radiation caused damage on the stomach mucosa and it caused misformation and mislocation of the stomach mucosal cells. Ulcerative areas were observed to be formed on the mucosa because of the loss in the epital cells of the surface layer. Especially the loss in the flat tubular stomach glands on the mucous neck cells was observed to be serious. At the electron microscopic level, it was determined that there were damages on the secretion granules, microvilluses and nucleuses of the cells, and erasements on the cristas of the mitochondrias, and also dilatations occurred particularly on the granular endoplasmic reticulum cisterns. Amifostine, which was the only radioprotective agent used in clinic was observed to provide an efficient protection in preventing the damage on the stomach mucosa caused by high gamma radiation. On the other hand, curcumin was determined to partly prevent the mucosal damage. As a result; antioxidant elements were considered to have positive effects in protection of the normal tissues during radiotherapy

Effects of Infliximab against Methotrexate Toxicity in Splenic Tissue via the Regulation of CD3, CD68, and C200R in Rats

Mercantepe, Tolga/0000-0002-8506-1755WOS: 000484667700003PubMed: 31284287Methotrexate (MTX), which has been used in clinical practice for approximately 70 years, is still widely employed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and cancer. Although MTX toxicity causes nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, pulmonary fibrosis, and gastrointestinal damage, previous studies have not addressed splenic toxicity. This is the first study to examine the effectiveness of infliximab (INF) against MTX-induced toxicity in splenic tissues via the regulation of CD3, CD68, and C200R. We investigated the effects of MTX on macrophages and T lymphocytes in the spleen at the molecular level and examined the protective potential of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonist INF against MTX toxicity. Three groups of rats were set up. Group 1 received saline solution only, group 2 a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg), and group 3 INF (7 mg/kg) before administration of a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg). All injections were given intraperitoneally. Spleen tissues were removed 5 days after MTX administration and evaluated for CD3, CD68, and CD200R using immunohistochemical staining. Finally, the mean numerical density of CD3+, CD68+, and CD200R+ cells was estimated by a histopathologist using StereoInvestigator 8. MTX increased the numerical densities of CD3+, CD68+, and CD200R+ cells (p < 0.05). We also observed that INF reduced the numerical densities of these cells following MTX administration (p < 0.05). INF may, therefore, be a promising candidate for the prevention of the deleterious effects on spleen tissue of MTX, used in the treatment of RA and cancer