Ekspresija mRNA agutiju srodnog peptida i mRNA melanokortin-4 receptora u arkuatnoj jezgri za vrijeme gravidnosti i laktacije štakorica.

Pregnancy is associated with a range of physiological adjustments to adapt the body to the demands of the growth of the fetus and subsequent lactation. It has been observed that agouti-related peptide (AGRP) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) are involved in energy homeostasis. A randomized controlled experimental study was planned to investigate the expression of AGRP and MC4R mRNAs in the stages of pregnancy and lactation in rat arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus. Thirty-two adult female rats were randomly divided into six groups. Pregnant rats were assigned into three groups (n = 6) of 7, 14, and 21 days of pregnancy. Two more groups were also assigned of non-suckling rats (n = 5), immediately separated from their pups after parturition, and suckling rats (n = 5), allowed to suckle five pups until day 8 (increasing milk). The sixth group consisted of four ovariectomized rats, which were assigned two weeks after surgery and served as control. Using real-time PCR, the relative expressions (compared to controls) of MC4R and AGRP mRNAs in ARC were calculated in the pregnant, suckling and non-suckling rats. Expression of AGRP mRNAs in pregnant rats on days 14 and 21 was higher than that observed in suckling and non-suckling rats (P<0.05). Expression of MC4R mRNAs in pregnant rats on days 14 and 21 was lower than that observed in suckling rats, and was higher on day 7 than that observed in both suckling and non-suckling rats (P<0.05). In conclusion, expression of AGRP in pregnancy and MC4R in lactation in ARC of rats controls energy homeostasis.Gravidnost je povezana s nizom fizioloških prilagodbi kojima tijelo odgovara zahtjevima povezanima s rastom fetusa i kasnije laktacije. Uočeno je da su agutiju srodan peptid (AGRP) i melanokortin-4 receptor (MC4R) uključeni u energetsku homeostazu. Randomiziranim kontroliranim pokusom planirano je u arkuatnoj jezgri (ARC) hipotalamusa štakorica istražiti ekspresiju mRNA AGRP i mRNA MC4R tijekom gravidnosti i laktacije. Trideset dvije odrasle štakorice nasumično su bile podijeljene u šest skupina. Gravidne su štakorice podijeljene u tri skupine (n = 6), s obzirom na 7., 14. i 21. dan gravidnosti. Još dvije skupine (n = 5) činile su nedojne štakorice koje su odvojene od svoje mladunčadi odmah nakon porođaja te dojne štakorice kojima je dozvoljeno dojenje 5 mladunaca do osmog dana rastuće laktacije. Četiri ovarijektomizirane štakorice, dva tjedna nakon operacije, dodijeljene su u 6. kontrolnu skupinu. Koristeći PCR u stvarnom vremenu, relativna ekspresija (usporedba s kontrolama) mRNA MC4R i mRNA AGRP u ARC izračunata je za gravidne, nedojne i dojne štakorice. Ekspresija mRNA AGRP kod gravidnih štakorica 14. i 21. dan bila je veća od one opažene kod dojnih i nedojnih štakorica (P<0,05). Ekspresija MC4R mRNA u gravidnih štakorica 14. i 21. dan bila je manja u odnosu na dojne štakorica i veća 7. dan u odnosu na skupine dojnih i nedojnih štakorica (P<0,05). Zaključno, ekspresija AGRP u ARC tijekom gravidnosti i MC4R u ARC tijekom laktacije kontrolira energetsku homeostazu štakorica

Ekspresija mRNA agutiju srodnog peptida i mRNA melanokortin-4 receptora u arkuatnoj jezgri za vrijeme gravidnosti i laktacije štakorica.

Pregnancy is associated with a range of physiological adjustments to adapt the body to the demands of the growth of the fetus and subsequent lactation. It has been observed that agouti-related peptide (AGRP) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) are involved in energy homeostasis. A randomized controlled experimental study was planned to investigate the expression of AGRP and MC4R mRNAs in the stages of pregnancy and lactation in rat arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus. Thirty-two adult female rats were randomly divided into six groups. Pregnant rats were assigned into three groups (n = 6) of 7, 14, and 21 days of pregnancy. Two more groups were also assigned of non-suckling rats (n = 5), immediately separated from their pups after parturition, and suckling rats (n = 5), allowed to suckle five pups until day 8 (increasing milk). The sixth group consisted of four ovariectomized rats, which were assigned two weeks after surgery and served as control. Using real-time PCR, the relative expressions (compared to controls) of MC4R and AGRP mRNAs in ARC were calculated in the pregnant, suckling and non-suckling rats. Expression of AGRP mRNAs in pregnant rats on days 14 and 21 was higher than that observed in suckling and non-suckling rats (P<0.05). Expression of MC4R mRNAs in pregnant rats on days 14 and 21 was lower than that observed in suckling rats, and was higher on day 7 than that observed in both suckling and non-suckling rats (P<0.05). In conclusion, expression of AGRP in pregnancy and MC4R in lactation in ARC of rats controls energy homeostasis.Gravidnost je povezana s nizom fizioloških prilagodbi kojima tijelo odgovara zahtjevima povezanima s rastom fetusa i kasnije laktacije. Uočeno je da su agutiju srodan peptid (AGRP) i melanokortin-4 receptor (MC4R) uključeni u energetsku homeostazu. Randomiziranim kontroliranim pokusom planirano je u arkuatnoj jezgri (ARC) hipotalamusa štakorica istražiti ekspresiju mRNA AGRP i mRNA MC4R tijekom gravidnosti i laktacije. Trideset dvije odrasle štakorice nasumično su bile podijeljene u šest skupina. Gravidne su štakorice podijeljene u tri skupine (n = 6), s obzirom na 7., 14. i 21. dan gravidnosti. Još dvije skupine (n = 5) činile su nedojne štakorice koje su odvojene od svoje mladunčadi odmah nakon porođaja te dojne štakorice kojima je dozvoljeno dojenje 5 mladunaca do osmog dana rastuće laktacije. Četiri ovarijektomizirane štakorice, dva tjedna nakon operacije, dodijeljene su u 6. kontrolnu skupinu. Koristeći PCR u stvarnom vremenu, relativna ekspresija (usporedba s kontrolama) mRNA MC4R i mRNA AGRP u ARC izračunata je za gravidne, nedojne i dojne štakorice. Ekspresija mRNA AGRP kod gravidnih štakorica 14. i 21. dan bila je veća od one opažene kod dojnih i nedojnih štakorica (P<0,05). Ekspresija MC4R mRNA u gravidnih štakorica 14. i 21. dan bila je manja u odnosu na dojne štakorica i veća 7. dan u odnosu na skupine dojnih i nedojnih štakorica (P<0,05). Zaključno, ekspresija AGRP u ARC tijekom gravidnosti i MC4R u ARC tijekom laktacije kontrolira energetsku homeostazu štakorica

Healing acceleration of acetic acid-induced colitis by marigold (Calendula officinalis) in male rats

Background/Aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease with unknown etiology. Several therapeutic strategies such as consumption of medicinal plants have been used for its treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate healing effects of Calendula officinalis hydroalcoholic extract in experimentally induced UC in rat. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six rats, weighing 200 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into eight equal groups. UC induced by 3% acetic acid and oral doses of C. officinalis extract, 1500 and 3000 mg/kg, and enema (gel 10% and 20%) were given. Two groups as positive controls were given asacol (enema) and oral mesalamine. Negative control groups were given normal saline and base gel. On days 3 and 7, intestinal histopathology and weight changes, plus oxidative stress indices including malondialdehyde (MDA) level and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were assayed. Results: A significant increase in the body weight of rats was seen in the group given C. officinalis extract 3000 mg/kg orally, oral mesalamine, and 20% intracolonic gel form of marigold extract compared with negative control and base gel groups during the experimental period. Acute inflammation and granular atrophy after UC induction were resolved completely completely by both 20% intracolonic gel and 3000 mg/kg orally. An increase in MPO activity and a decrease in MDA level in response to oral and intracolonic gel form of C. officinalis were observed 3 and and 7 days after treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results indicate that oral and enema forms of hydroalcoholic extract of C. officinalis can be offered as are potential therapeutic agents for UC induced in rats