Immunohistochemical investigation of caspase-3 in neuronal apoptosis after experimental closed head trauma

The aim of this study was to investigate the caspase-3 activity in neuronal apoptosis after experimental closed head trauma model in rats. Twenty adult male rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and trauma groups. In trauma group, a cranial impact was delivered to the skull from a height of 7 cm at a point just in front of the coronal suture and over the right hemisphere. Rats were sacrificed at 12 hours after the onset of injury. Brain tissues were removed for histopathological investigation. In the trauma group, the neurons became extensively dark and degenerated into picnotic nuclei. The number of apoptotic neurons in frontal cortex tissue of trauma group was significantly more than control groups. In conclusion, the caspase 3 immunopositivity was increased in degenerating neurons of the frontal cortex tissue following trauma. The present results indicate that closed head trauma caused degenerative changes and increased caspase 3 immonupositivity in neurons. © 2011 OMU All rights reserved

Morphological investigation of alcohol-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury in rats

The aim of this study was to morphologicall investigation of alcohol-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury in rats. A total of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: control, and alcohol treated; each group contain 10 animals. The rats in alcohol treated group was given a daily dose of 6 g/kg ethanol by using intragastric intubation. Control group was given the same volume of saline. This application was continued daily for a total of 6 weeks. The end of the experiment all animals were anesthetized. The anesthetized rats were sacrificed and liver tissues were removed for histopathological investigation. Liver damage was examined by using hematoxylin-eosin and apoptosis was determined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl- transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). There existed hepatocyte diffuse steatosis and hemorrhage in alcohol treated group. Our data indicate an enhancement in the activity of TUNEL in hepatocyte apoptosis of the alcholol treated group. The effects of alcohol on liver can be clearly detected as a hepatocyte cell death and liver injury. © 2011 OMU All rights reserved

Effects of experimental diabetes on testis proliferations and apoptosis in rats

This work aimed to investigate the role of diabetes on cell proliferation, and apoptosis in testis. The rats were randomly allotted into one of two experimental groups: control and diabetic group; each group contain 10 animals. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). Testicular damage was examined by using hematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and apoptosis was determined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Potential disorders associated with seminiferous tubular sperm formation were evaluated using the Johnsen score. The mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD) and mean testicular biopsy score (MTBS) values were significantly decreased in diabetic group was compared to the control group. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the expression of PCNA and an enhancement in the activity of TUNEL in testis tissues of the diabetic group. The effects of diabetes on spermatogenesis can be clearly detected as a testicular cell death and decrease in MTBS, MSTD, and PCNA expression. © 2011 OMU All rights reserved

Quercetin ameliorates methotrexate-induced renal damage, apoptosis and oxidative stress in rats

Background: In the present study, the protective and therapeutic effects of quercetin (QE) on renal injury induced by methotrexate (MTX) have been examined. Materials and methods: A total of 24 male rats were divided into the following three groups: control group, MTX group, and MTX+QE group. Rats in MTX group received 20mg/kg of single dose of MTX, while those in MTX+QE group received 20mg/kg of single dose MTX, in addition to 15mg/kg of QE administered 30min prior to MTX and in the following 5-day period as a single daily dose. At the end of the experimental period, renal tissues were removed for histopathological and biochemical assessments. Results: Light microscopic examination showed a disruption of the renal structure in rats in MTX group in the form of tubular degeneration and dilation, with shedding of the tubular epithelial cells into the lumen. QE treatment was associated with less marked degenerative changes, with a similar histological appearance to that of controls. Furthermore, QE treatment resulted in decreased the number of apoptotic cells. Biochemical assessments showed significantly higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in MTX group as compared to control and MTX+QE groups. superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) levels showed a significant decrease in MTX group as compared to controls. However, QE significantly suppressed MDA level, compensated deficits in the anti-oxidant defenses [reduced SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT levels] in kidney tissue resulted from MTX administration. Conclusions: In conclusion, renal toxic effects of MTX may be alleviated by QE

Effect of Mitomycin - C and Triamcinolone on Preventing Urethral Strictures

Urethral stricture is a common disease with high recurrence rate. Several manipulations were defined to prevent the recurrence but the results were disappointing. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of triamcinolone and mitomycin-C on urethral stricture formation and their effect on inhibition of urethral fibrosis. A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups. Urethras of rabbits were traumatized with pediatric resectoscope. Resection area was irrigated with 10mL saline, swapped with a cotton wool soaked with 0.5mg/mL MMC and injected by 40mg triamcinolone in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Retrograde urethrogram was performed at 28th day of procedure and the urethra was removed for histopathologic evaluation. There were significant differences in urethral diameters and in lumen reduction rate between the control and study groups (p< 0.001). Compared to control group, all treatment groups showed mild fibrosis, less collagen bundle irregularity, and lower numbers of fibroblasts (p= 0.003). The Tunnel assay showed that the number of apoptotic cells in the submucosal connective tissue was quantitatively higher in control groups (p= 0.034). In the view of efficacy and safety, MMC and triamcinolone have the potential to replace the use of stents, clean intermittent catheterization, or long term catheters following internal urethrotomy. There were no statistically significant differences between two agents in terms of preventing urethral stricture formation in the present study. Mitomycin C and triamcinolone decreased the recurrence rates of urethral stricture

Protective Effect of Curcumin on Liver Damage Induced by Biliary Obstruction in Rats

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible protective effects of curcumin against cholestatic oxidative stress and liver damage in common bile duct ligated rats. Material and Methods: A total of 18 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control, common bile duct ligation (BDL) and BDL+curcumin. Each group contained 6 animals. The rats in the curcumin treated group were given curcumin (100 mg/kg) once a day orally for 14 days, starting 3 days prior to BDL operation. Following 14 days of treatment, all the animals were decapitated and liver tissue samples were obtained for histopathological investigation. Results: The changes demonstrating the bile duct proliferation and fibrosis in expanded portal tracts, including the extension of proliferated bile ducts into lobules, mononuclear cells, and neutrophil infiltration into the widened portal areas, were observed in BDL group. Treatment of BDL with curcumin attenuated liver damage. Both the elevated alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and the activity of TUNEL in the BDL were observed to be reduced with the curcumin treatment. Conclusion: Our data indicate that curcumin reduced BDL-induced cholestatic liver injury, bile duct proliferation, fibrosis

The Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on the Rat Brain: An Experimental Study

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the structural changes of electromagnetic waves in the frontal cortex, brain stem and cerebellum. MATERIAL and METHODS: 24 Wistar Albino adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups: group I consisted of control rats, and groups II-IV comprised electromagnetically irradiated (EMR) with 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz. The heads of the rats were exposed to 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz microwaves irradiation for 1h per day for 2 months. RESULTS: While the histopathological changes in the frontal cortex and brain stem were normal in the control group, there were severe degenerative changes, shrunken cytoplasm and extensively dark pyknotic nuclei in the EMR groups. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that the Total Antioxidative Capacity level was significantly decreased in the EMR groups and also Total Oxidative Capacity and Oxidative Stress Index levels were significantly increased in the frontal cortex, brain stem and cerebellum. IL-1 beta level was significantly increased in the EMR groups in the brain stem. CONCLUSION: EMR causes to structural changes in the frontal cortex, brain stem and cerebellum and impair the oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine system. This deterioration can cause to disease including loss of these areas function and cancer development.Turkish Neurosurgery Society Scientific Research CommitteeThis study was supported by the Turkish Neurosurgery Society Scientific Research Committee. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper

Deneysel Olarak Oluşturulan Testiküler İskemi Reperfüzyon Hasarına Karşı Urtica Dioica’Nın Koruyucu Etkisinin Apoptotik Ve Proliferatif Olarak İncelenmesi

Amaç: Testis torsiyonu çocukluk çağın akut skrotum tablosuna yol açan önemli sebeplerden biridir. Zamanında ve uygun tedavi edilmediği takdirde organ kaybıyla sonlanan ağır bir acil cerrahi problemdir. Testis torsiyonunun tedavisinde amaç İ/R’nin bozucu etkilerini azaltmak veya yok etmektir. Burada hücre membran bütünlüğünü koruyan etkili ajanlardan birisi antioksidanlardır. Bu çalışmada sıçanlarda deneysel testiküler İ/R modelinde antioksidan özellikleri olan Urtica dioica'nın (UD) antiapoptotik ve proliferatif olarak etkilerinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmamızda 24 adet erkek Sprague Dawley cinsi rat 3 gruba ayrılmıştır: Kontrol grubu, İ/R grubu ve İ/R+UD (2 mg/kg) grubu. Dört saat torsiyon ve 4 saatlik detorsiyon süresi sonunda sıçanlar anestezisi altında sakrifiye edildiler ve testis dokuları çıkartılarak histopatolojik değerlendirmeler yapıldı. Histopatolojik olarak STÇ ölçümü, Johnsen skorlaması, Hematoksilen-Eozin boyaması, proliferatif hücre çekirdek antijeni (PCNA) immünboyaması ve bir apoptozis belirteçi olan TUNEL boyaması yapıldı. Ayrıca tüm verilerin istatistiksel analizi ve gruplar arası karşılaştırmaları da yapıldı. Bulgular: Urtica dioica tedavisinin, ?/R sonrası dü?en STÇ ve JTBS’nu yükselttiği görüldü. İ/R sonrasında testislerin interstisyel yapısında bozulma, seminifer tübül yapılarında düzensizlik ve germ hücre dökülmesi gözlendi. Testisteki bu yapısal bozulmaların UD tedavisi sonrasında hafiflediği görüldü. Ayrıca UD tedavisinin İ/R sonucu azalan PCNA aktivitesini yükselttiği, artan TUNEL pozitif hücre sayısını ise düşürdüğü görüldü. Sonuç: Antiapoptotik ve koruyucu etkileri olan UD'nın, İ/R hasarının sıçan testislerinde neden olduğu histopatolojik değişiklikleri ve apoptozisi önlediği görüldü.Objective: Testicular torsion is one of the most important reasons that cause to acute scrotum table in childhood and it is an urgent surgical problem that result in losing the organ as long as not treating timely and appropriately. The aim is to reduce or eliminate the disruptive effects of ischemia reperfusion (?/R) in the treatment of the testicular torsion. Antioxidants are the one of the effective agents that protect the integrity of the cell membrane. In this study, it is aimed to examine the effects of urtica dioica (UD) that have antioxidant feature in the experimental testicular ?/R model in rats in terms of antiapoptatic and proliferative. Material and Method: In our study, 24 male rats have been divided into three groups: control group, ?/R group and ?/R+ UD (2 mg/ kg) group. At the end of the four hourly torsion and detorsion process, the rats have been sacrificed under anaesthesis and histopathological evaluations have been made by removing the testicular tissues. Seminiferous tubule caliber measurement, Johnson score, Haematoxylan-Eosin staining, proliferative cell nucleus antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemical staining and TUNEL as histopathological have been conducted Results: It has been observed that the treatment of UD has increased the Johnson score and seminife tubule caliber that decrease after ?/R, and deterioration in the interstitial structure of testicular, irregularities in the seminife tubule structure, and germ cell loss have been seen after ?/R. This structural deterioration in the testicular has reduced after the treatment of UD. It has also observed that the treatment of the UD has increased the activity of PCNA that decreases as a result of ?/R and this treatment has also reduced the number of the TUNEL positive cells that increase. Conclusion: It has observed that the protective effects of UD and histopathological changes in the testicular of the rat have been prevented the apoptosis and histological damage

A morphological study on leydig cells of scrotal hyperthermia applied rats

Yüksek Lisans TeziMemelilerde testiküler sıcaklık vücut sıcaklığından daha düşüktür. Testiküler fonksiyon ısıya bağımlı olarak değişir. Skrotal ısının artması düşük kalitede sperm üretimine ve infertiliteye neden olur. Spermatogenik disfonksiyon çoğu zaman Leydig hücrelerinin disfonksiyonu ile ilişkilidir. Testosteron normal spermatogenezisin sürdürülmesi ve fertilite için gerekli önemli bir faktördür. Bu çalışmada; skrotal hipertermi ile oluşturulan testiküler hasarda, Leydig hücrelerinde kısa ve uzun dönemde gözlenen morfolojik değişiklikler ışık ve elektron mikroskobik düzeyde incelenmiştir. Bu amaçla çalışmamızda 49 adet Wistar-albino erkek rat kullanılmıştır. Her biri 7 denek içeren 1'i konrol, 6'sı deney olmak üzere 7 grup oluşturulmuştur. Skrotal hipertermi oluşturmak amacı ile deney grubuna ait ratların skrotumları, 43'C ye ayarlanmış benmaride 6 gün boyunca her gün 30 dakika, kontrol grubuna ait ratların skrotumları ise 22'C ye ayarlanmış benmari içinde 6 gün boyunca her gün 30 dakika süre ile tutulmuştur. Hipertermi uygulanan denekler; uygulamadan 1, 14, 35, 70, 105 ve 140 gün sonra 50 mg/kg ketamin anestezisi altında sakrifiye edilerek, ışık ve elektron mikroskobik incelemeler için, testise ait biyopsi materyalleri alınmıştır. Alınan materyaller yapılacak incelemelere göre işlemlendirilmiştir. Çalışmamızda uyguladığımız hipertermi sonucunda, skrotal hiperterminin Leydig hücrelerinde hasara neden olduğunu gözlemledik. Işık mikroskobik incelemelerde, akut dönemde interstisyel alanda çok sayıda Leydig hücrelerinin hasara uğradığını ve testosteron pozitif reaksiyon veren hücrelerin sayıca azaldığını; kronik dönemde ise haifif bir iyileşmenin olduğunu tespit ettik. Leydig hücrelerinin elektron mikroskobik incelemelerinde ise, tübüler kristalı mitokondrilerde düzensizlikler, düz endoplazmik retikulum sisternalarında belirgin dilatasyonlar dikkat çekiciydi. Sonuç olarak, vücut sıcaklığından daha yüksek sıcaklıkların Leydig hücrelerinde hasar oluşturarak infertiliteye sebep olabileceği kanısına varıldı. Anahtar Kelimeler: Leydig hücresi, skrotal hipertermi, testosteron, infertilite, sıçan.Testicular temperature is lower than body temperature in mammals. Testicular function varies depending on temperature. Increase in scrotal temperature causes low quality sperm production and infertility. Spermatogenic dysfunction is mostly associated with dysfunction of Leydig cells. Testosterone is a crucial factor needed for the maintenance of spermatogenesis and fertility. In this study, morphological changes observed in Leydig cells in short and long term were examined at light and electron microscopic level in testicular damage done by scrotal hyperthermia. For this purpose, 49 Wistar-albino male rats were used in our study. 7 groups, 1 control and 6 test, were formed each with 7 subjects. In order to form scrotal hyperthermia, scrotums of rats in test groups were kept in double boiler at 43'C for 30 minutes each day for 6 days, and scrotums of control rats were kept at 22'C for 30 minutes each day for 6 days. Hyperthermia applied rats were sacrificed under 50 mg/kg ketamine anesthesia after 1, 14, 35, 70, 105 and 140 days, and biopsy materials of testis were collected for light and electron microscopic examinations. The collected materials were processed according to examinations to be done. As a result of hyperthermia that we applied in our study, we observed damage on Leydig cells caused by scrotal hyperthermia. Light microscopic examinations indicated damage of several Leydig cells in interstitial area in the acute period, decrease in number of testosterone positive Leydig cells, but little improvement in the chronic period. It was interesting to note deformation of tubular crystal mitochondria and distinct dilatations in endoplasmic reticulum cisterna in electron microscopic examinations of Leydig cells. As a conclusion, we claim that temperatures higher than the body temperature may cause infertility by damaging Leydig cells. Key Words: Leydig cell, scrotal hyperthermia, testosterone, infertility, ra

Curcumin attenuates testicular damage, apoptotic germ cell death, and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Scope: The present study was designed to examine the protective and antioxidative effects of curcumin (Cur) on streptozotocin (STZ) induced testicular damage, apoptotic germ cell death, and oxidative stress. Methods and resultsDiabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). The rats in the Cur-treated group were given Cur (100 mg/kg) once a day intragastrik for 8 weeks starting 3 days prior to STZ injection. Cur treatment significantly decreased the elevated tissue malondialdehyde levels and increased the reduced superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities in testis tissues samples. The Cur-treated rats in the diabetic group showed an improved histological appearance and serum testosterone levels. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of in situ identification of apoptosis using terminal dUTP nick end-labeling and there was a rise in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in testis tissues of Cur-treated rats in the diabetic group. ConclusionThese results demonstrate that Cur attenuated testicular damage in diabetic rats by decreasing oxidative stress