Lithium Modulates the Chronic Stress-Induced Effect on Blood Glucose Level of Male Rats

In the present study we examined gross changes in the mass of whole adrenal glands and that of the adrenal cortex, as well as the serum corticosterone and glucose level of mature male Wistar rats subjected to three different treatments: animals subjected to chronic restraint-stress, animals injected with lithium (Li) and chronically stressed rats treated with Li. Under all three conditions we observed hypertrophy of whole adrenals, as well as the adrenal cortices. Chronic restraint stress, solely or in combination with Li treatment, significantly elevated the corticosterone level, but did not change the blood glucose level. Animals treated only with Li exhibited an elevated serum corticosterone level and blood glucose level. The aim of our study was to investigate the modulation of the chronic stress-induced effect on the blood glucose level by lithium, as a possible mechanism of avoiding the damage caused by chronic stress. Our results showed that lithium is an agent of choice which may help to reduce stress-elevated corticosterone and replenish exhausted glucose storages in an organism

Changes of Hippocampal Noradrenergic Capacity in Stress Condition

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic restraint stress (CRS) on the protein levels of dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), noradrenaline transporter (NET), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as the concentration of noradrenaline (NA) in the rat hippocampus. The investigated parameters were quantified by Western blot analyses and ELISA kits. We found that CRS increased the protein levels of DBH by 30 %, VMAT2 by 11 %, BDNF by 11 % and the concentration of NA by 104 %, but decreased the protein levels of NET by 16 % in the hippocampus of chronically stressed rats. The molecular mechanisms by which CRS increased the hippocampal NA level are an important adaptive phenomenon of the noradrenergic system in the stress condition. © 2020 Charles University. All rights reserved

Antioxidant Status and Sex Hormones in Women with Simple Endometrial Hyperplasia

Cancer of the reproductive tract is an important source of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Factors affecting endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia are known to be similar. Endometrial hyperplasia is abnormal proliferation of the glands and the stroma resulting in architectural and cytological modifications. Due to hormonal changes, this condition is most common among women who are nearing the menopause or have reached the menopause. Antioxidant system has a role in preventing cancer initiation and promotion. Since the carcinogenesis occurs in several stages, it is likely that the antioxidant defense depends on the type of cell and tissue. The objective of this study was to investigate whether antioxidant enzymes activities and lipid hydroperoxides concentration in patients with endometrial hyperplasia are influenced by the changes in sex hormones level (estradiol, progesterone, FSH, and LH) during the menstrual cycle and in postmenopause. The material we used consisted of blood and endometrial tissue specimens of women diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia simplex. Patients were divided in groups depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle: follicular phase, luteal phase and postmenopause. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and the lipid hydroperoxides level were compared among the phases to test the differences and a linear regression model was used to evaluate the associations between hormone levels and antioxidant/oxidant variables. In the blood of examined patients, we observed a phase-related changes of LOOH concentrations. Significant negative correlation between FSH concentration and GR activity (r= -0.42, p<0.05) and significant positive correlation between LH and LOOH concentrations (r= 0.038, p<0.05) was found. In hyperplasia simplex tissue we recorded significant phase-related changes of LOOH level as well as of AO enzyme activities. SOD and CAT had similar activity pattern, which was higher in luteal phase and in postmenopause, compared to follicular phase (p<0.05). GPx and GR activities did not show any statistical difference. Also, negative correlation between progesterone and GR activity (r=-0.036, p<0.05) was observed. Hormonal influence on AO system is of importance in gynecological diseases etiology since they may promote cell proliferation but are also used in conservative therapy, especially for hyperplasia simplex. However, the role of ROS production as a risk factor for endometrial hyperplasia still needs to be clarified as well as the role of AO status in response to gonadotropins and sex steroids

Antioxidant Enzymes in Women with Hyperplasia Complex: Relation with Sex Hormones

Endometrial hyperplasia complex is gynecological disorder characterized by morphological irregularities of glands shape and size. Antioxidant enzymes (AOE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), have an essential role in preventing oxidative damage in cell caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we examined the AO status in hyperplastic tissue of patients in menstrual cycle (follicular and luteal phase) and in postmenopause, as well as the relationship between sex hormones and AO parameters. The phase-related activity of GPx and GR in examined patients was significantly different than in healthy women. A significant negative correlation between FSH/LH level and GPx activiy was observed. Endometrial hyperplasias are considered as precancerous lesions and are treated either conservatively or surgicaly, and also by radiation therapy. Since the effects of these therapies are associated with AO and hormonal changes, our results may contribute to the prediction of potential therapeutic efficacy and to selection of the most effective treatment for hyperplasia complex.3rd International Conference on Radiation and Applications in Various Fields of Research (RAD), Jun 08-12, 2015, Budva, Montenegr

Animal Models for Chronic Stress-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Spleen: The Role of Exercise and Catecholaminergic System

We examined the effects of daily exercise on the gene expression of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH), and phenyl ethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT)), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT 2), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), concentrations of catecholamines (noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A)) and malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of monoamine oxidase (MAO), and antioxidant enzymes in the spleen of chronically psychosocially stressed rats. Exposure of chronically stressed rats to exercise increased the levels of PNMT protein by 19%, VMAT 2 mRNA by 100%, NA by 160%, and A by 140%; decreased/unchanged MAO enzyme activity; returned concentrations of MDA to control level; and increased CAT and GPx mRNA levels (50% and 150%, respectively). Exercise induced the accumulation of the catecholamines and a decrease of stress-induced oxidative stress in the spleen, which may significantly affect the immune-neuroendocrine interactions in stress conditions. Also, exercise induced the catecholaminergic system and antioxidant defense to become more ready to a novel stressor, which indicates that exercise may induce potentially positive physiological adaptations. Our combined model of chronic social isolation and long-term daily treadmill running in rats may be a good animal model in the research of therapeutic role of exercise in human disease caused by chronic stress

Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) Genotypes from the Western Balkan Countries

The yield components participate in the formation of the overall yield and vary within the genotype and environmental factors. The aim of this research was to evaluate yield components of spelt genotypes originating from different Western Balkan countries. Spelt genotypes were examined during two growing seasons 2015/16 and 2016/17 in the agro-ecological conditions of Banja Luka. Nine spelt genotypes were used, i.e. landrace Sitnica from Manjača mountain (the Republic of Srpska, B&H), seven Montenegrin landraces KP34LJ5-1/34 (SP1), KR16LJ5-1/16 (SP2), KR29LJ5-1/29 (SP3), KR12LJ5-1/12 (SP4), KR15LJ5-1/15 (SP5), LJ5-1/9 (SP6), KR20LJ5-1/20 (SP7) and cultivar Nirvana from Serbia. Standard production practices were applied for these spelt genotypes. Five traits were analyzed: the number of spikes m-2, plant height, spike length, the number of grains spike-1 and spike index. A two-factorial analysis of variance was performed and significant differences between treatment means were tested by the Fisher's LSD test at P≤0.05 and P≤0.01 significance level. Genotypes SP4 (140.38 cm), SP5 (138.82 cm), Sitnica (137.66 cm) and SP6 (135.65 cm) showed tendency of forming a relatively higher plants. Sitnica had the longest spikes (14.07 cm), while Montenegrin genotypes had relatively shorter spikes of 6.79 cm on average. Genotypes SP2, SP4, SP5, SP6 and SP7 obtained the highest number of grains per spike while the highest average spike index was obtained in SP7 (0.81)

Antioxidant status in women with uterine leiomyoma: relation with sex hormones

Uterine leiomyomas are benign soft-tissues tumors that arise from uterine smooth muscle tissue. Etiopathogenesis of leiomyomas is not well understood. We aimed to examine whether antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid hydroperoxides level in patients with leiomyoma are influenced by changes in sex hormones and gonadotropins (estradiol (E2), progesterone, FSH, and LH) during menstrual cycle and in postmenopause. The material consisted of blood and uterine tissue specimens. Hormone concentrations were determined and assays for superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities and lipid hydroperoxides concentration were performed. In blood of examined women, a significant difference in catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity was recorded among the phases. There was also a positive correlation between the estradiol/progesterone concentration and the catalase activity. Progesterone negatively correlated with lipid hydroperoxides level. In myoma tissue, we recorded a phase-related difference in lipid hydroperoxides level and activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities, and glutathione reductase. Negative correlation was observed between FSH and glutathione peroxidase. The results suggest that antioxidant status in patients with uterine leiomyoma is influenced by the changes in sex hormones during the menstrual cycle and in postmenopause, indicating a role of the observed relationship in the leiomyoma etiology

The effect of antioxidant status on overall survival in renal cell carcinoma

Introduction The oxidative stress contributes to all three phases of carcinogenesis and represents a concomitant condition in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RCC is the most common type of neoplasm of the kidney, and despite numerous studies the set of predictive and prognostic markers of survival are still unknown. The aim of our study was to examine the relation between antioxidant (AO) status and overall survival (OS) in RCC patients. Material and methods Our study included 95 patients with RCC, who underwent radical nephrectomy. We analysed the prognostic role of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione, and malondialde-hyde) and other clinicopathological factors (size, grade, stage, and histological subtype) on the OS of RCC patients. Results The 5-year OS was 54.6%. The survival analysis related to AO parameters showed no significant difference in survival of RCC patients. The concentration of malondialdehyde, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, also had no significant effect on the survival rate of RCC pa-tients. Univariate and multivariate analysis confirmed the significance of clinicopathological parameters (size, p < 0.001; Fuhrman grade, p = 0.001, and stage, p < 0.001) for patients’ survival. Conclusions In our cohort of patients, different antioxidant parameters were not found to be predictors for OS of patients with RCC, who underwent radical nephrectomy

Treadmill exercise does not change gene expression of adrenal catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in chronically stressed rats

Chronic isolation of adult animals represents a form of psychological stress that produces sympatho-adrenomedullar activation. Exercise training acts as an important modulator of sympatho-adrenomedullary system. This study aimed to investigate physical exercise-related changes in gene expression of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding (CREB) in the adrenal medulla, concentrations of catecholamines and corticosterone (CORT) in the plasma and the weight of adrenal glands of chronically psychosocially stressed adult rats exposed daily to 20 min treadmill running for 12 weeks, Also, we examined how additional acute immobilization stress changes the mentioned parameters. Treadmill running did not result in modulation of gene expression of catecholamine synthesizing enzymes and it decreased the level of CREB mRNA in the adrenal medulla of chronically psychosocially stressed adult rats. The potentially negative physiological adaptations after treadmill running were recorded as increased concentrations of catecholamines and decreased morning CORT concentration in the plasma, as well as the adrenal gland hypertrophy of chronically psychosocially stressed rats. The additional acute immobilization stress increases gene expression of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in the adrenal medulla, as well as catecholamines and CORT levels in the plasma. Treadmill exercise does not change the activity of sympatho-adrenomedullary system of chronically psychosocially stressed rats

Antioxidant Enzymes in Women with Hyperplasia Complex: Relation with Sex Hormones

Endometrial hyperplasia complex is gynecological disorder characterized by morphological irregularities of glands shape and size. Antioxidant enzymes (AOE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), have an essential role in preventing oxidative damage in cell caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we examined the AO status in hyperplastic tissue of patients in menstrual cycle (follicular and luteal phase) and in postmenopause, as well as the relationship between sex hormones and AO parameters. The phase-related activity of GPx and GR in examined patients was significantly different than in healthy women. A significant negative correlation between FSH/LH level and GPx activiy was observed. Endometrial hyperplasias are considered as precancerous lesions and are treated either conservatively or surgicaly, and also by radiation therapy. Since the effects of these therapies are associated with AO and hormonal changes, our results may contribute to the prediction of potential therapeutic efficacy and to selection of the most effective treatment for hyperplasia complex.3rd International Conference on Radiation and Applications in Various Fields of Research (RAD), Jun 08-12, 2015, Budva, Montenegr