Estrogen-like Activity of Quercetin in Female Rats

Objective: Quercetin is a phytoestrogen that exerts both in vitro agonistic and antagonistic activities on estrogen receptors. The present study evaluated the in vivo estrogen-like activity of quercetin on the reproductive organs of female rats. For this purpose, a partial estrogen agonist tamoxifen (TMX) and an estrogen antagonist fulvestrant (FLV) were used to mimic and antagonize the effects of estrogen on uterine tissue, respectively. 4-Vinylcyclohexene dioxide (VCD) was used to induce primary ovarian failure in rats. Materials and Methods: In experiment 1, immature female rats (21-22 days old) were treated with a vehicle (control), quercetin (10, 30, and 90 mg/kg), 10 mg/kg of quercetin (Q10)+TMX, Q10+ FLV, 17?-estradiol (17?E), 17?E+TMX, or 17?E+FLV. In experiment 2, prepubertal female rats (28-29 days old) were treated with a vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide), VCD-alone, VCD+Q10, or VCD+17?E. A uterotrophic assay and histological analysis of uteri were performed. The partial estrogen agonist TMX and the estrogen antagonist FLV were used to mimic and antagonize the effects of estrogen on uterine tissue, respectively. VCD was used to induce primary ovarian failure in rats.Results: In immature female rats, the uterine weight was significantly higher in animals treated with Q10 compared to those treated with the vehicle. Although TMX did not result in a significant change, FLV significantly decreased the uterine weight in Q10-treated rats. In prepubertal female rats, the uterine weight significantly decreased in VCD±Q10- or 17?E-treated animals compared that in VCD-treated animals. Although the endometrial thickness was unchanged in Q10-treated animals, it was significantly decreased in the Q10+FLV-treated animals. VCD significantly decreased the endometrial thickness, which was prevented by Q10. Conclusion: Quercetin may have a dose-dependent and biphasic effect on the uterus by modulating estrogen receptors.Objective: Quercetin is a phytoestrogen that exerts both in vitro agonistic and antagonistic activities on estrogen receptors. The present study evaluated the in vivo estrogen-like activity of quercetin on the reproductive organs of female rats. For this purpose, a partial estrogen agonist tamoxifen (TMX) and an estrogen antagonist fulvestrant (FLV) were used to mimic and antagonize the effects of estrogen on uterine tissue, respectively. 4-Vinylcyclohexene dioxide (VCD) was used to induce primary ovarian failure in rats. Materials and Methods: In experiment 1, immature female rats (21-22 days old) were treated with a vehicle (control), quercetin (10, 30, and 90 mg/kg), 10 mg/kg of quercetin (Q10)+TMX, Q10+ FLV, 17?-estradiol (17?E), 17?E+TMX, or 17?E+FLV. In experiment 2, prepubertal female rats (28-29 days old) were treated with a vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide), VCD-alone, VCD+Q10, or VCD+17?E. A uterotrophic assay and histological analysis of uteri were performed. The partial estrogen agonist TMX and the estrogen antagonist FLV were used to mimic and antagonize the effects of estrogen on uterine tissue, respectively. VCD was used to induce primary ovarian failure in rats.Results: In immature female rats, the uterine weight was significantly higher in animals treated with Q10 compared to those treated with the vehicle. Although TMX did not result in a significant change, FLV significantly decreased the uterine weight in Q10-treated rats. In prepubertal female rats, the uterine weight significantly decreased in VCD±Q10- or 17?E-treated animals compared that in VCD-treated animals. Although the endometrial thickness was unchanged in Q10-treated animals, it was significantly decreased in the Q10+FLV-treated animals. VCD significantly decreased the endometrial thickness, which was prevented by Q10. Conclusion: Quercetin may have a dose-dependent and biphasic effect on the uterus by modulating estrogen receptors

Evaluation of Cisplatin Neurotoxicity in Cultured Rat Dorsal Root Ganglia via Cytosolic Calcium Accumulation

Background: Calcium homeostasis is considered to be important in antineoplastic as well as in neurotoxic adverse effects of cisplatin. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the role of Ca2+ in cisplatin neurotoxicity in cultured rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cells. Study Design: Cell culture study. Methods: DRG cells prepared from 1-day old Sprague-Dawley rats were used to determine the role of Ca2+ in the cisplatin (10-600 μM) neurotoxicity. The cells were incubated with cisplatin plus nimodipine (1-3 μM), dizocilpine (MK-801) (1-3 μM) or thapsigargin (100-300 nM). Toxicity of cisplatinon DRG cells was determined by the MTT assay. Results: The neurotoxicity of cisplatin was significant when used in high concentrations (100-600 μM). Nimodipine (1 μM) but not MK-801 or thapsigargin prevented the neurotoxic effects of 200 μM of cisplatin. Conclusion: Voltage-dependent calcium channels may play a role in cisplatin neurotoxicity

Do Resveratrol and Dehydroepiandrosterone Increase Diminished Ovarian Reserve?

Objective: In this study, the aim is to observe changes induced by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and resveratrol (RES) in diminished ovarian follicles that was induced by 4-vinylcyclohexenediepoxide (VCD)

Resveratrolün testis toksisitesi oluşturulmuş farelerde testiküler germ hücreleri üzerine koruyucu etkisi

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of resveratrol in mice subjected to vinyl cyclohexene dieposide (VCD) -induced testicular toxicity. Material and methods: A total of thirty- six Swiss albino male mice aged 28-days were used in the present study. The study was composed of two stages where mice which received or did not receive VCD (320 mg/kg/ day) were administered resveratrol. The animals were assigned into control and resveratrol-treated groups in the first stage and into groups of VCD- and VCD+resveratrol-treated groups in the second stage. At the end of the experiments, relative testicular weight (TW/BW) and dry/wet weight of testis (TDW/TWW) were calculated. Histological analysis by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical staining by BAX and Bcl-2 were performed. Serum testosterone, LH and FSH levels were measured by a commercially available ELISA kit. Results: Resveratrol caused a dose-dependent increase in TW/BW and decrease in TDW/TWW (p<0.05). Resveratrol at a dose of 20 mg/kg resulted in an improvement in testosterone, LH and FSH levels in mice with VCD-induced testicular toxicity (p<0.001). Resveratrol also improved apoptotic index and epithelial cell height of testicular seminipherous tubuli significantly after VCD exposure (p<0.001). Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that resveratrol can be used as a protective and/or therapeutic agent particularly for cases with male infertility caused by testicular toxicity.Amaç: Bu çalışmada amaç vinil sikloheksen diepoksid (VCD) ile testiküler toksisite oluşturulmuş farelerde resveratrolün olası faydalı etkilerini incelemektir. Gereç ve yöntemler: Çalışmada 28 günlük toplam otuz altı adet Swiss Albino erkek fare kullanıldı. Çalışma 320 mg/kg/gün VCD ile ve VCD kullanılmadan resveratrol verilerek iki aşamada oluşturuldu. İlk aşamada gruplar kontrol ve resveratrol tedavi grubu, ikinci aşamada ise VCD ve VCD+ resveratrol grupları olarak belirlendi. Tedavinin sonunda testis ağırlığı/ vücut ağırlığı oranları (TA/VA), testis yaş/kuru ağırlığı oranları (TKA/TYA) hesaplandı. BAX ve Bcl2 uygulanarak immunohistokimyasal boyama ve Hematoksilen ve Eozin (H&E) boyama uygulanarak histolojik analiz yapıldı. Serum testesteron, FSH ve LH seviyeleri uygun ticari ELİSA kit ile ölçüldü. Bulgular: Resveratrol doz bağımlı olarak TA/VA oranlarını artırmış, TKA/TYA oranlarını azaltmıştır (p<0,05). 20 mg/kg resveratrol VCD ile testis toksisitesi oluşturulan farelerde testesteron, LH, FSH seviyelerini iyileştirmiştir (p<0,001). Resveratrol ayrıca VCD maruziyetinden sonra apoptotik indeks ve testiküler seminifer tubul epitel yükseklik değerlerini de anlamlı bir şekilde düzeltmiştir (p<0,001). Sonuç: Bu sonuçlara göre resveratrol özellikle testiküler toksisite nedeni ile infertilite oluşan erkeklerde protektif ve/veya terapotik ajan olarak kullanılabilir