Hasan Akkoc

Oxytocin ameliorates remote liver injury induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) causes remote liver damage. Oxytocin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective function of oxytocin (OT) in remote liver damage triggered by renal IR in rats. Twenty four rats were randomly divided into four different groups, each containing 8 rats. The groups were as follows: (1) Sham operated group; (2) Sham operated+OT group (3) Renal IR group; (4) Renal IR+OT group. OT (500µg/kg) was administered subcutaneously 12 and 24 hours before and immediately after ischemia. At the end of experimental procedure, the rats were sacrificed, and liver specimens were taken for histological assessment or determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), paraoxonase (PON-1) activity and nitric oxide (NO). The results showed that renal IR injury constituted a notable elevation in MDA, TOS, Oxidative stress index (OSI) and significantly decreased TAS, PON-1 actvity and NO in liver tissue (p<0.05). Additionally renal IR provoked significant augmentation in hepatic microscopic damage scores. However, alterations in these biochemical and histopathological indices due to IR injury were attenuated by OT treatment (p<0.05). These findings show that OT ameliorates remote liver damage triggered by renal ischemia-reperfusion and this preservation involves suppression of inflammation and regulation of oxidant-antioxidant status.

The effects of intravenous immunoglobulin on cerebral ischemia in rats: An experimental study.

Stroke is one of the major reasons of death in the United States and related to adult disability. Despite aggressive research, the treatment approaches of stroke still remains a major clinical problem. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a polyspecific Ig G preparation obtained from plasma of several thousand healthy people (donors). IVIg is an important treatment approach and used for several disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the potentially beneficial effects of IVIg therapy in experimentally induced ischemia in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models of rats. A total of 30 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were used. The rats were divided into two equal groups, each consisting of 15 randomly selected rats: control group (n = 15) and IVIg group (n = 15). Intraluminal filament method was used for establishment of cerebral ischemia. Intraluminal filament was withdrawn after 2 h of MCAo and reperfusion started again and passed to therapeutic stages for all the groups. Physiologic saline solution of 0.5 ml/kg was administered to the control group and 400 mg/kg IVIg was given to the IVIg group rats intravenously. In neurological evaluation, the worst score was determined as 3 and the best score as 0. After routine process, the brain tissue was prepared histopathological investigation. The IVIg group showed significantly better recovery with respect to the control group by neurological examination. The observation of specimens obtained from IVIg groups showed that findings correlate with grade 1 and -2 histopathologically. Nevertheless, ischemic amendments were observed to comply with grade 3 in ischemic areas in control group. IVIg therapy can be used in the treatment of ischemic stroke patients.

Protective effects of ethyl pyruvate in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

This study was performed to investigate the effect of ethyl pyruvate on changes in renal functions and oxidative stress related renal injury caused by cisplatin (cis-dichlorodiammine platinum-II; CDDP). Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): (1) control group (1 ml Ringers lactate solution i.p.); (2) ethyl pyruvate (EP) group (50 mg/kg Ringers EP solution (REPS) i.p.); (3) cisplatin group (a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.); and (4) cisplatin + EP group (a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) + REPS 50 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for five days. At the sixth day, kidneys of rats were mounted to a Langendorff apparatus. Renal perfusion pressures were recorded. Blood samples were taken for serum urea, creatinine, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stres index (OSI) evaluations. Kidney tissues were obtained for malondialdehyde (MDA) analyses and histopathological examination. Perfusion pressures, serum urea, creatinine, TOS, OSI and tissue MDA levels were found significantly higher, whereas TAS was notably lower in cisplatin group. Histopathological examination showed apparent renal paranchymal injury in cisplatin group. In cisplatin + REPS group, perfusion pressures, serum urea, creatinine and tissue MDA levels were decreased. Moreover, EP co-administration provided less inflammatory cell infiltration, tubular dilatation, whereas TOS, TAS and OSI improved significantly versus cisplatin group. These findings show that EP has protective effects against cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

The Prophylactic Effects of Folic Acid and Vitamin E against Valproic Acid During Fetal Thymus Development: an Ultrastructural Study

Se realizo este estudio para evaluar las diferencias histopatologicas en el timo de fetos de ratas Wistar Albinas expuestas prenatalmente a acido valproico (VPA), acido folico (AF) y vitamina E (Vit-E). VPA (400 mg/kg), FA (400 mcg/kg) y vitamina E (250mg/kg) administradas a ratas en los dias 8, 9 y 10 de gestacion. Los fetos (n=24) fueron divididos en cuatro grupos: control, APV, APV + vitamina E y VPA + FA. En el dia 20 de gestacion, todas las ratas prenadas fueron sacrificadas y los fetos fueron extraidos. Se obtuvieron secciones delgadas del timo de los fetos y se tineron con citrato de uranilo - acetato de plomo, siendo examinados al microscopio electronico de transmision. Los hallazgos histopatologicos del grupo control fueron normales. En el grupo VPA, se observaron cambios degenerativos en todos los compartimentos de tejido en comparacion con los controles. En el grupo VPA+FA, las vacuolas, cristalisis mitocondrial e inflamacion se redujeron en el citoplasma. En grupo VPA + Vitamina E, se observo el almacenamiento de lipidos y vacuolizacion. La cristalisis mitocondrial disminuyo. El estudio permitio analizar los cambios histopatologicos que pueden ocurrir en un modelo experimental de alto riesgo despues de la administracion de VPA, ademas, las funciones de proteccion por la administracion de AF y vitamina E.

Impact of N-acetylcysteine and etodolac treatment on systolic and diastolic function in a rat model of myocardial steatosis induced by high-fat-diet.

OBJECTIVES Obesity is a worldwide problem, leading to cardiomyopathy. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been reported to play significant roles in developing obesity cardiomyopathy. N-acetylcysteine is a glutathione prodrug that preserves liver against steatosis via constraining the production of reactive oxygen species. Etodolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug which has been demonstrated to protect liver against fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the effects of N-acetylcysteine and etodolac on impaired cardiac functions due to high-fat-diet (HFD) induced myocardial steatosis in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Control group was maintained on standard-rat-basic-diet (SD) for 20 weeks, while HFD was given to three study groups for 20 weeks. Then N-acetylcysteine was given to one of the study groups (HFD+NAC), and etodolac to another group (HFD+ETD) as a supplement for 4 weeks while all groups were continued on SD. At the end of the study periods, hearts were examined by Langendorff technique and rat livers were evaluated histologically. RESULTS HFD and HFD+ETD groups presented with significantly higher steatosis and fibrosis in liver compared to other groups. HFD+NAC preserved diastolic functions. Also HFD+NAC and HFD+ETD groups had significantly better systolic funtions than HFD group. CONCLUSIONS Obesity is associated with diastolic dysfunction rather than systolic dysfunction. NAC may protect the heart against diastolic dysfunction due to obesity. NAC and etodolac treatment improve systolic function, even in the absence of systolic dysfunction.

Investigating the effect of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor 5-aminoisoquinolinone and the Na⁺-H⁺ exchanger inhibitor zoniporide on isolated perfused rat hearts during ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The goal of this study was to investigate whether the combination of the Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor 5-aminoisoquinolinone (5-AIQ) and the Na+-H+ exchanger inhibitor zoniporide (ZN) provides increased protection against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rats were separated into 5 groups (n=8): Group 1: Control group, Group 2: I/R, Group 3: 5-AIQ, Group 4: ZN and Group 5: Mix (5-AIQ+ZN). Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia, followed by 120 min of reperfusion using Langendorffs apparatus. In groups 3, 4 and 5, 5-AIO (7.5 μM/L) and ZN (50 nM/L) were added to Tyrode Solution after a stabilization period. The level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was determined in the sample perfusate. Myocardial infarct size was determined using the triphenyltetrazolium chloride method. Heart tissues were stored to determine the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS). Compared to the 5-AIQ and ZN groups, there was no notable difference in the LDH, MDA, TOS, TAS and hemodynamic parameters of the 5-AIQ+ZN group, but myocardial infarct size decreased significantly, as determined by volume and weight measurements. These results show that the combined use of Zoniporide and 5-Aminoisoquinolinone provides increased protection against I/R injury by reducing myocardial infarct size.

Siçan Akciğerinde Oluşturulan İskemik Önkoşullamanin Kalpteki İskemi Reperfüzyon Hasari Üzerine Etkileri

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of carbamazepine onserum lipid levels in epileptic patients who were on long-termcarbamazepine monotherapy. The study group were comprised of 30epileptic patients (10 female, 20 male) who have been on carbamazepinemonotherapy for at least one year whereas control group consisted of 30 ageand sex matched healthy controls. Serum cholesterol (total cholesterol,HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol) and triglyceride levels were measuredand LDL/HDL ratio was calculated in all subjects. Serum HDL cholesteroland triglyceride levels of study group were significantly higher than controlgroup whereas serum LDL cholesterol levels and LDL/HDL ratios of studygroup were lower than control group. Mean total cholesterol level of studygroup was lower than control group, however the difference did not reachstatistical significance level. Because of its effect on cholesterol levels, longterm carbamazepine could possibly have a positive influence in decreasingthe risk of developing aterosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Long termprospective follow-up studies would be helpful to us in enlightening this issuedefinitely.

Sıçan Modelinde Uzak İskemik Önkoşullamanın Akciğerdeki İskemi Reperfüzyon Hasarı Üzerine Etkileri

Ectopic neurohypophysis is an anomaly of the Pituitary gland which may be associated with short stature due to Growth hormone deficiency. MRI is the modality of choice in diagnosing this condition. We present a case of pituitary dwarfism and ectopic neurohypophysis with clinical and radiological findings. 21 year-old male admitted with short stature. All hormones, except prolactin, of anterior hypophysis were low. Bright spot was ectopically located at level of median eminence on enhanced MRI of hypophysis and stalk of hypophysis was not observed. Ectopic neurohypophysis may be present with pituitary dwarfism. Cranial MRI may be useful to investigate related pathologies in such cases.