The protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids on rat testicular tissue

Objectives: In this study, the protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids on testicular tissue was aimed to investigate at biochemical levels.Materials and methods: Totally, 16 adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. Rats in Group I were used as control and only saline was given by intragastric gavage. Rats in Group II, 400 mg/kg dose ω-3 fatty acids were given daily by intragastric gavage. At the end of the six-week experimental period, all rats were killed by decapitation. The testicular tissue specimens taken from animals, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, enzyme activities were measured spectrophotometrically. In addition, blood testosterone levels were examined.Results: In our study, ω-3 fatty acids in rats were given a statistically significant increase in the levels of superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase a statistically significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels were determined when compared to control group. In addition, ω-3 fatty acids in rats given a statistically significant increase in blood testosterone levels were observed.Conclusion: We concluded that ω-3 fatty acid had favorable effects in rat testis tissue by preventing oxidative damage and increasing the level of testosterone

Ultrastructural Interrelationship between the Pineal Gland and the Testis in the Male Rat

The ultrastructural interrelationship between the pineal gland and testis was evaluated in the rat. Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. Groups I and II were sham-orchidectomized and orchidectomized rats, respectively. Rats in group III were orchidectomized and daily injected with testosterone propionate (TP) for 1 month. Groups IV and V were sham-pinealectomized and pinealectomized, respectively. Group VI was pinealectomized and daily injected with melatonin for 2 months. All animals were anesthetized with ketamine for fixation by vascular perfusion. Pineal glands of groups I, II, and III and the testes of groups IV, V, and VI were removed and weighed. All specimens were examined by electron microscopy. Orchidectomy caused an increase of lipid droplets, cytoplasmic dense bodies, and lysosomes. Rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria were extensive in the cytoplasm. TP administration to orchidectomized rats resulted in formation of less extensive lipid droplets and mitochondria. In pinealectomized rats, golgi complex, mitochondria, and enlarged smooth endoplasmic reticulum were extensive in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells. Formation of cytoplasmic secretory granules and osmiophilic bodies was observed. Testicular weight increased compared to group IV. Melatonin decreased testicular weight in comparison to group V and prevented ultrastructural changes. Pinealectomy and orchidectomy caused hyperactivity in Leydig cells and pinealocytes, respectively, which suggests a mutual relationship between the pineal gland and testis in the rat

The Toxic Effects of Formaldehyde on the Nervous System

[No Abstract Available

Effects of melatonin hormone on the thyroid follicular cells in rats: AgNOR staining and electron microscopic study

Bu çalışma, pinealektominin ve pinealektomi sonrası uygulanan melatoninin tiroid bezi üzerine etkisinin araştırılması amacıyla yapıldı. Bu amaçla 18 adet Wistar-Albino cinsi erkek sıçan kullanıldı. Hayvanlar üç gruba ayrıldı. Grup l ve Grup II sırasıyla kontrol (Sham-pinealektomi) ve pinealektomili sıçanlar olarak düzenlendi. Grup lll'deki sıçanlara da pinealektomi sonrası günlük olarak ve bir ay süresince melatonin enjeksiyonu yapıldı. Deney süresi sonunda hayvanlar vasküler perfüzyonla öldürüldü. Daha sonra sıçanlardan alınan tiroid doku örneklerinden bir kısmı AgNOR tekniği ile boyandı ve ışık mikroskopta incelenerek tiroid hücre çekirdeklerindeki AgNOR sayıları belirlendi. Tiroid doku örneklerinin bir kısmında da elektron mikroskobik inceleme yapıldı. Çalışmamızda, pinealektomi sonrası tiroid epitel hücre çekirdeklerindeki AgNOR taneciklerinin sayısında artışla birlikte mitoz aktivasyon artışını gösteren bulgular gözlendi. Ayrıca hücre sitoplazmalarındaki lizozom ve salgı granüllerinde artış görüldü. Melatonin enjekte edilen grupta ise, hücre çekirdeklerindeki AgNOR taneciklerinin sayısında düşüş olduğu belirlendi. Bununla birlikte, pinealektomi sonrası tiroid epitel hücrelerinde gözlenen ve hücre aktivasyon artışını gösteren ultrastruktürel değişikliklerin melatonin uygulaması ile kaybolduğu tespit edildi. Sonuç olarak, pinealektomi sonrası tiroid epitel hücre proliferasyonunda ve hücre aktivasyonunda artış meydana geldiği, melatonin enjeksiyonu ile de bu artışın gerilediği görüldü.This study was undertaken to examine effects of pinealectomy and pinealectomy followed by melatonin administration on thyroid gland. For this purpose 18 male Wistar rats were used. Animals were divided into three groups. Group I and II were designated as sham-pinealectomized (control) and pinealectomized, respectively. The rats in Group III were pinealectomized and daily injected with melatonin for 1 month. At the end of the experiment, all animals were killed by vascular perfusion. The thyroid glands of rats were removed, then some of the thyroid tissue specimens were stained with AgNOR technique and examined by light microscopy. AgNOR numbers in nuclei of thyroid follicular cells were counted. Some of the tissue specimens were examined by electron microscopy. In our study, some findings proving the increase of mitoz activation along with the increase in the number of AgNOR granules in cell nuclei of thyroid epithet were observed after pinealectomy. Furthermore,lizozomes and secretory granules in the cytoplasm of thyroid follicular cells were increased. In the melatonin injected group, the number of AgNOR granules in cell nuclei were decreased. Additionally, ultrastructural changes, which indicate the increase of cell activation and is visible in thyroid epithet cells after pinealectomy were disappeared following injection of melatonin. In conclusion, it was observed that there has been an increase in thyroid epithet cell proliferation and in cell activation after pinealectomy and this increase has been reversed by melatonin injection

Effects of Formaldehyde Inhalation on Zinc, Copper and Iron Concentrations in Liver and Kidney of Male Rats

In the present study, adult Wistar albino male rats were exposed to formaldehyde at different periods (subacute and subchronic) and concentrations (5.0 and 10.0 ppm) in order to figure out the changes in the concentration of Zn, Cu and Fe. It was observed that the formaldehyde inhalation caused gradual decline of body weights in the experimental groups when compared with control groups. It was found that subacute (4-week) or subchronic (13-week) exposure to formaldehyde for rats may cause growth retardation. After inhalation procedure, concentration of copper, zinc and iron were determined in liver and kidney tissues of rats using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In addition, concentrations of Cu, Zn and Fe changed by the effect of formaldehyde in subacute and subchronic groups

Oxidative tissue damage in the prefrontal cortex of pinealectomized rats and protective effects of melatonin hormone

Amaç: Çalışmamızda, pinealektomili ve pinealektomi sonrası melatonin uygulanan sıçanlara ait prefrontal korteks doku örneklerinin biyokimyasal düzeyde incelenmesi amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntem: 21 adet Wistar-Albino cinsi erkek sıçanlar üç eşit gruba ayrıldı. Grup I’deki sıçanlar kontrol (sham-pinealektomi) olarak kullanıldı. Grup II’ye ait hayvanlara cerrahi olarak pinealektomi yapıldı. Grup III’deki sıçanlara ise pinealektomi sonrası günlük olarak, üç ay boyunca, melatonin hormonu (1 mg/kg/) intraperitoneal yoldan enjekte edildi. Deney süresi sonunda bütün sıçanlar dekapite edilerek öldürüldü ve prefrontal korteksleri çıkartıldı. Prefrontal korteks doku örneklerinde süperoksit dismutaz (SOD), glutatyon peroksidaz (GSH-Px) enzim aktiviteleri ile malondialdehit (MDA) seviyeleri biyokimyasal olarak belirlendi. Bulgular: Pinealektomili sıçanlarda, prefrontal korteks SOD ve GSH-Px enzim değerlerinin kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı bir şekilde azaldığı, MDA düzeylerinin ise yine istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde arttığı tespit edildi. Pinealektomi sonrası melatonin enjekte edilen sıçanlarda ise, doku SOD ve GSH-Px enzim aktivitelerinin yükseldiği, MDA seviyelerinin de azaldığı tespit edildi. Sonuç: Bu çalışma sonucunda, sıçanlarda pinealektomiye bağlı olarak prefrontal korteks’te meydana gelen oksidatif doku hasarının melatonin enjeksiyonu ile önlendiği tespit edildi.Aim: An attempt was made to investigate the tissue samples of prefrontal cortex from pinealectomized rats and melatonin applied rats following pinealectomy in biochemical basis. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one, male Wistar rats were divided equally into three groups. Rats in Group I were used as control (sham-pinealectomy). Rats in Group II were pinealectomized. Rats in Group III were injected daily with melatonin (1 mg/kg/) intraperitoneally for 3 months following pinealectomy. At the end of the experimental period, all rats were killed by decapitation and the prefrontal cortexes of rats were removed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined at biochemical levels in the prefrontal cortex specimens. Results: The levels of SOD and GSH-Px in the prefrontal cortex tissue were significantly decreased and MDA levels were significantly increased in pinealectomized rats compared with those of the controls. However, increased activities of SOD and GSH-Px enzymes and decreased levels of MDA were detected in the rats administered melatonin following pinealectomy. Conclusion: As a result of this study, pinealectomy-induced oxidative damage in the prefrontal cortex tissue in rats were prevented by administration of melatonin hormone

Protective effects of omega-3 essential fatty acids against formaldehyde-induced cerebellar damage in rats

This study aimed to investigate changes in the cerebellum of formaldehyde-exposed rats and the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on these changes. The study involved 21 male Wistar-Albino rats which were divided into three groups. The rats in Group I comprised the control group. The rats in Group II were injected with intraperitoneal 10% formaldehyde every other day. The rats in Group III received omega-3 fatty acids daily while exposed to formaldehyde. At the end of the 14-day experimental period, all rats were killed by decapitation and the cerebellum removed. The activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), xanthine oxidase (XO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined in cerebellum specimens by using spectrophotometric methods. In our study, levels of SOD and CAT were significantly decreased, and GSH-Px, XO, MDA levels were significantly increased in rats treated with formaldehyde compared with those of the controls. Whereas, it was seen that there was an increase in SOD and CAT enzyme activities and decrease in MDA, XO, and GSH-Px levels in rats administered to omega-3 fatty acids with exposure of formaldehyde. It was determined that exposure of formaldehyde increased free radicals in cerebellum of rats and this increase was prevented by administration of omega-3 fatty acids

The effects of inhaled formaldehyde on the activities of some metabolic enzymes in the liver of male rats: Subchronic (13-weeks) effects

We aimed to investigate the effects of different formaldehyde (FA) concentrations on some enzyme activities that take part in metabolic pathways in the liver. The enzymes studied were hexokinase (HK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) which are included in the three main metabolic pathways; glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and pentose phosphate pathway. Thirty male Wistar albino rats were raudemly divided into 3 separate groups (10 per group). The first ten rats were used as control (grup I). Rats were exposed to atmosphere containing 10 and 20 ppm FA continuously (8 hours per day, 5 days per week) in groups II and III. HK, G6PD, 6PGD, LDH, and MDH activities were measured in liver tissues. The results showed a remarkable reduction in G6PD and 6PGD activities, significant increase in MDH activity in liver tissues from rats exposed to 10 ppm FA for 13-weeks. There were no differences in the activities of HK and LDH between test and control groups. Conversely G6PD activity was decreased and MDH activity was increased in liver tissues from rats exposed to 20 ppm FA for 13-weeks. These results may suggest the possible changing effect of FA inhalation on metabolic enzymes in liver

Aquaporin-1 and Aquaporin-3 Expressions in the Intervertebral Disc of Rats with Aging

Objective: The intervertebral disc (IVD) undergoes biochemical and morphologic degenerative changes during the process of aging. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water channel proteins that facilitate water and small solute movement in tissues and may have a potential role in the aging degeneration of IVDs. One of the important problems in understanding disc degeneration is to find cellular molecules which contribute to the pathogenesis of IVDs. XThe aim of this study was to demonstrate the expression of aquaporin 1 and 3 in nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF) cells of rat lumbar intervertebral discs from both young and aged animals using immunohistochemistry.Material and Methods: Twenty Wistar-albino rats were included in the study. The rats were separated into two groups: 2-month-old rats (n=10) as the young group, 18-month-old rats (n=10) as the old group. The intervertebral disc tissues obtained from the lumbar spine (L1–L4, 4 discs) were used for immunohistochemical staining of AQP-1 and 3. Results: This study demonstrated that AQP-1 and AQP-3 immunoreactivity significantly decreased in NP and AF of aged rats compared to the young rats. Conclusion: We suggest that AQP-1 and 3 may contribute to the age related degeneration of the intervertebral disc

Ghrelin expression in liver of the toluene inhaled rats

Tolüen endüstride çok sık kullanılan, bağımlılık yapıcı ve toksik etkileri olan aromatik bir hidrokarbondur. Ghrelin ise yakın zamanda keşfedilen birçok doku gibi karaciğer dokusunda da bulunan çok fonksiyonlu bir hormondur. Bu çalışmada, karaciğer üzerine toksik etkileri olduğu bilinen tolüenin deneysel olarak sıçanlara uygulanması sonucunda karaciğer dokusunda ghrelin ekspresyonunun immünohistokimyasal yöntemlerle araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, 14 adet Wistar-Albino cinsi erkek sıçan iki eşit gruba ayrıldı. Grup I'deki sıçanlar kontrol olarak düzenlendi. Grup Il'deki sıçanlar, dört hafta boyunca solunum yoluyla tolüen'e (3000 ppm/lsaat/gün) maruz bırakıldı. 30. günün sonunda tüm ratlar dekapite edilerek karaciğer dokuları ışık mikroskobu takibi için %10'luk nötral formalin ile fikse edilip, rutin histolojik takip serilerinden geçirilerek parafin bloklara gömüldü. Ghrelin dağılımını belirlemek amacıyla parafin bloklardan 5 µm kalınlığında kesitler polilizinli lamlara alındı. Avidin-biotin-peroksidaz yöntemi ile ghrelin immünreaktivitesi belirlendi. Karaciğer dokusunda ghrelin immünreaktivitesi Grup I'de şiddetli (+3), Grup Il'de bazı hepatositlerde hafif (+1) olarak izlenirken, bazı hepatositlerde ise immünreaksiyon gözlenmedi. Negatif kontrol için yapılan boyamalarda, hepatositlerde herhangi bir immünreaktivite görülmedi. Pozitif kontrol olarak ise, mide dokusunda ghrelin immünreaktivitesi belirlendi. Bu çalışmanın sonucunda, tolüen maruziyetinin karaciğer dokusunda ghrelin ekspresyonunu azalttığı belirlendi.Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon has addictive and toxic effect that is used widely in the industry. Ghrelin was a recently identified multifunctional hormone that is found in many organs, including the liver. This study aimed to determine ghrelin expression via immunohistochemical methods in rats that were experimentally administered toluene, a toxic agent for liver. For this purpose, 14 adult male Wistar-albino rats were divided into two equal groups. Animals in group I were used as control group. The rats in group II were exposed toluene (3000 ppm/1hour/day) for four-weeks. Rats from both groups were decapitated 30 days after the operation. The liver tissues were removed and fixed in % 10 neutral formalin solution. Then tissue specimens were embedded in paraffin and sectioned (thickness, 5 µm). The sections were immunohistochemically stained using avidin-biotin-peroxidase method for determination ghrelin immunoreactivity. Ghrelin immunoreactivity in the hepatocytes was determined as strong (+3) in the control group and low (+1) or no staining in the toluene inhaled group. No immunoreactivity was observed in negative control specimens. Ghrelin immunoreactivity was detected in sections of rat stomach used as a positive control. The results obtained in our study indicate that toluene inhalation causes a decrease in ghrelin expression in the liver