Iloprost Pretreatment Before Unilateral Nephrectomy: An Experimental Study in Rats

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of iloprost administration before unilateral nephrectomy on postoperative interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), and oxidant/antioxidant status.METHODSMalondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase were measured in the blood and remnant kidney of Adult male Wistar albino rats to asses oxidant and antioxidant status. The rats were divided into three experimental groups: sham group (S) (n = 12); unilateral nephrectomized group (N) (n = 12); an hour before unilateral nephrectomy iloprost (1 ng/mL/kg, intraperitoneal) administered group (IN) (n = 12).RESULTSIloprost administration before unilateral nephrectomy lowered oxidant parameters and IL-6 levels significantly. NO levels were increased in both N and IN groups.CONCLUSIONIloprost pretreatment before unilateral nephrectomy can reduce oxidative stress and IL-6, which increases due to anaesthesia and surgery and causes organ damage during surgery and in the short-term postoperative period

Donor heart preservation with iloprost supplemented St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution in isolated rat hearts

This study was designed to assess the influence of St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution (St. Th.) on heart preservation in rat hearts subjected to 6 h ischemia when supplemented with iloprost. In the control group (n = 8), nothing was added to St. Th., whereas 10 or 1000 nmol L(-1) iloprost was added in the second (n = 7) and third (n = 8) groups, respectively. Mechanical contraction parameters, cardiac tissue damage and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. The 10 nmol/L iloprost group peak systolic pressure (71.0+/-30.9 versus 41.0+/-9.4 mm Hg) and -dp/dt(max) (1103.8+/-94.3 versus 678.6+/-156.8 mm Hg s(-1)) were significantly higher than control group at 30 min of reperfusion (p<0.05). Iloprost supplemented groups had higher GSH and catalase levels of coronary perfusate at reperfusion, in comparison with initial values (p < 0.05). AST, CK, CK-MB values increased at 0 min of reperfusion and cTnI values at 45 min of reperfusion (p<0.05) in all groups with no difference between groups. According to our results, iloprost supplementation had mild but significant improvement in postischemic values in mechanical and oxidative stress parameters, resulting in better heart preservation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects Of Darbepoetin Alpha on Brain Tissue Oxidative Stress in Experimental Ethanol Administration

Objectives: The hyperglycosylated erythropoietin analogue darbepoetin alpha (alpha) has longer half-life and higher in vivo activity. There is no data about the effects of darbepoetin-alpha on ethanol-induced oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of darbepoetin-alpha on brain tissue oxidant/antioxidant status and nitric oxide levels in experimental ethanol administration