Potential neuroprotective effect of ?-glutamylcysteine ethyl ester on rat brain against kainic acid-induced excitotoxicity

PubMed ID: 20214503The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ?- Glutamylcysteine Ethyl Ester (GCEE) on the levels of GSH, caspase-3 activity, DNA damage and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and p53 mRNAs in rat hippocampus after status epilepticus (SE) induced by systemic kainic acid (KA). The male rats were divided into four groups as controls, KA (10 mg/kg), GCEE (10 mg/kg) and KAGCEE. Glutathione (GSH) levels and caspase-3 activity were determined spectrophotometrically and colourimetrically, respectively. DNA damage and Bcl-2, Bax and p53 mRNA expressions were quantifi ed by comet assay and reverse transcription followed by RT-PCR, respectively. KA treatment signifi cantly depleted GSH levels, induced DNA damage, caspase-3 activity and the expressions of p53 and Bax mRNA. GCEE treatment protected GSH levels, decreased DNA damage and the levels of p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA against KA injection. These results indicate that GCEE treatment at the dose of 10 mg/kg is capable to protect the depleted levels of GSH and shows an anti-apoptotic activity due to the decreased levels of apoptotic biomarkers in the rat hippocampus after SE induced by KA. © 2010 Informa UK Ltd. (Informa Healthcare, Taylor & Francis AS)

Effects of vitamin E and prednisolone on biochemical and haematological parameters in endotoxaemic New Zealand white rabbits

Effects of prednisolone and vitamin E on biochemical and haematological values were investigated in endotoxaemic rabbits. Forty rabbits were used and divided into four equal groups. Group 1 served as the control group; group 2 was infused with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 6 h; group 3 was injected with prednisolone before LPS administration; group 4 was injected with vitamin E for 4 consecutive days before LPS administration. Serum and blood samples were collected 8 h after the onset of LPS injection. Serum myoglobin, alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, amylase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, globulin, total protein, cholesterol, total lipids, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, sodium, potassium and magnesium contents were measured. Red blood cell, white blood cell, platelet counts and percentage of differential leukocyte values were determined. It was found that prednisolone and vitamin E had a protective effect in endotoxaemic shock. Prednisolone was more effective in endotoxaemia than vitamin E

Effects of vitamin E and prednisolone on some oxidative stress markers in endotoxemic rabbits

Effects of prednisolone (PR) and vitamin E (VE) on oxidative stress and antioxidant systems were investigated in endotoxemic rabbits. Forty rabbits were used and divided into four equal groups. Group I served as the control group. In group II, lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 µg/kg/h) was infused for 6 hours, whereas rabbits of groups III and IV received prior treatments with subcutaneous injection of prednisolone (10 mg/kg) (group III) or with intra-peritoneous injections of vitamin E (10 mg/kg) for 4 consecutive days (group IV). Serum, liver, heart and kidney samples were obtained at 8 hours after infusion. Malonedialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) concentrations and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities were spectrophotometrically determined in tissues plus in serum (for MDA). LPS caused statistically significant (p<0.05) increases of MDA and antioxidants in serum and in all tissues. PR and VE significantly (p<0.05) suppressed increases of MDA, SOD, CAT and GSH. As a consequence, prednisolone and vitamin E had protective effects on oxidative stress in endotoxemic rabbits