Amelioration of testicular damages in renal ischemia/reperfusion by berberine: An experimental study

Background: Ischemic acute kidney injury is associated with an inflammatory reaction. Objective: In the current study, berberine was assessed for its effect on the functional disorders and histological damages of testis induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight adult male Wistar rats (260-300 gr) were equally divided into four groups (n = 7/each): sham and I/R groups which received distilled water as well as berberine (BBR) and BBR + I/R groups which received berberine (15 mg/kg/day) orally seven days before the surgery. In both groups of sham and BBR, renal arteries were not clamped. Renal I/R was induced by occluding right and left renal artery for 45 min followed by a 24 hr reperfusion period. Blood samples were taken for determining the plasma levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), and testosterone. Then the rats were killed under deep anesthesia and the left testis was immediately isolated and preserved. Results: The renal I/R injury led to testicular histological damages accompanied with increased plasma levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, LH, and FSH, as well decrease of plasma testosterone concentration at the end of 24 hr reperfusion (All p < 0.001, except for FSH p < 0.01). Berberine diminished histological damage to the testis and attenuated the increase in plasma creatinine, urea nitrogen, LH, FSH, and decrease in plasma testosterone concentration in the BBR + I/R group (All p < 0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that ischemic acute renal failure induces functional disorders and tissue damages in testis of rat, which was improved through the administration of berberine. Key words: Ischemia/reperfusion, Acute kidney injury, Berberine, Testis, LH, FSH

The role of nitric oxide in the protective action of remote ischemic per-conditioning against ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute renal failure in rat

Objective(s): We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the protective effects of remote ischemic per-conditioning (rIPerC) on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in male rats. Materials and Methods: I/R treatment consisted of 45 min bilateral renal artery ischemia and 24 hr reperfusion interval. rIPerC was performed using four cycles of 2 min occlusions of the left femoral artery and 3 min reperfusion at the beginning of renal ischemia. The animals were given normal saline (vehicle), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or L-arginine. Following the reperfusion period, renal functional- and oxidative stress- parameters, as well as histopathological changes were assessed. Results: In comparison with the sham group, I/R resulted in renal dysfunction, as indicated by significantly lower creatinine clearance and higher fractional excretion of sodium. This went along with decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) activity in the I/R group, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and histological damages. In comparison with the I/R group, the rIPerC group displayed improved renal function, increased activity of GPX and CAT enzymes, and decreased MDA level. However, these effects were abrogated by L-NAME injection and augmented by L-arginine treatment. Conclusion: According to the results, the functional and structural consequences of rIPerC against I/R-induced kidney dysfunction, which is associated with reduction of lipid peroxidation and intensification of anti-oxidant systems, is partially dependent on NO production

Remote ischemic per-conditioning protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury via suppressing gene expression of TLR4 and TNF-α in rat model

The pathogenesis of renal ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) involves both inflammatory processes and oxidative stress in the kidney. This study determined whether remote ischemic per-conditioning (RIPerC) is mediated by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway in rats. Materials and Methods: Renal I/R injury was induced by occluding renal arteries for 45 min followed by 24 h reperfusion. RIPerC included four cycles of 2 minutes ischemia of left femoral artery followed by 3 minutes reperfusion performed at the start of renal ischemia. Rats were grouped into sham, I/R, and RIPerC. At the ending of reperfusion period, urine, blood and tissue samples were gathered. Results: I/R created kidney dysfunction, as ascertained by significant decrease in creatinine clearance, and significant increase in sodium fractional excretion. This was occurred with a decrease in the activities of gluthatione peroxidase, catalase and superoxidae dismutase with an increment in malondialdehyde levels, mRNA expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-Îą) and histological damages in renal tissues. RIPerC treatment diminished all these changes. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that RIPerC has protective effects on the kidney after renal I/R, which might be related with inhibition of TLR4 signaling pathway and augmentation of anti-oxidant systems.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

The protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) against iron-induced functional and histological damages in rat liver and kidney

Objective: Iron overload in the body is related with toxic effects and threatens the health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of hydroalcoholic extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale) against ferrous sulfate-induced hepatic and renal functional disorders and histological damages in rats. Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into four groups (n=7): Sham, Sham + G.E (ginger extract, 400 mg/kg/day for 14 days), FS (ferrous sulfate, 30 mg/kg/day for 14 days), FS+G.E (ferrous sulfate, 30 mg/kg/day for 14 days; ginger extract, 400 mg/kg/day for 11 days from the fourth day of ferrous sulfate injection). After 24 hr, blood, urine and tissue samples were collected. Results: Compared with Sham and Sham + G.E groups, administration of ferrous sulfate resulted in liver and kidney dysfunction as evidenced by significantly higher levels of serum hepatic markers and bilirubin, and lower levels of serum albumin, total protein, triglyceride, cholesterol and glucose, as well as lower creatinine clearance and higher fractional excretion of sodium (

The effect of swimming exercise on the expression of CYP17A1 and CYP19A1 genes in ovary tissue of healthy Wistar rats

Background and aims: CYP17A1 and CYP19A2 enzymes are key proteins in constructing and regulating steroid hormones such as cortisol, testosterone and estrogen. But the effect of exercise on these two proteins in ovary tissue has not been investigated yet. The purpose of present study was investigating the effect of swimming training on CYP17A1 and CYP19A1 gene expression in ovary tissue of healthy Wistar rats.   Method: 20 two months healthy Wistar rats, mean weight of 180±20 gr were selected and divided to two groups of exercise (n=10) and control (n=10) randomly. Exercise group performed swimming five days in a week for 6 weeks. Statistical test of Mann-Whitney was used for data analysis.   Results: CYP17A1 and CYP19 gene expression increased significantly in exercise compared to control group (P=0.05).   Conclusion: regarding the role of CYP17 and CYP19 in steroid hormone synthesis, probably six weeks of swimming can be an important non pharmacological intervention for treatment of ovulation and infertility problems