Ismail Can

Royal Jelly Modulates Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Liver and Kidneys of Rats Treated with Cisplatin

Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer and has adverse side effects such as nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. The present study was designed to determine the effects of royal jelly (RJ) against oxidative stress caused by CDDP injury of the kidneys and liver, by measuring tissue biochemical and antioxidant parameters and investigating apoptosis immunohistochemically. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, group C: control group received 0.9% saline; group CDDP: injected i.p. with cisplatin (CDDP, 7 mg kg−1 body weight i.p., single dose); group RJ: treated for 15 consecutive days by gavage with RJ (300 mg/kg/day); group RJ + CDDP: treated by gavage with RJ 15 days following a single injection of CDDP. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined in liver and kidney homogenates, and the liver and kidney were also histologically examined. RJ elicited a significant protective effect towards liver and kidney by decreasing the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA), elevating the level of GSH, and increasing the activities of GST, GSH-Px, and SOD. In the immunohistochemical examinations were observed significantly enhanced apoptotic cell numbers and degenerative changes by cisplatin, but these histological changes were lower in the liver and kidney tissues of RJ + CDDP group. Besides, treatment with RJ lead to an increase in antiapoptotic activity hepatocytes and tubular epithelium. In conclusion, RJ may be used in combination with cisplatin in chemotherapy to improve cisplatin-induced oxidative stress parameters and apoptotic activity.

Protective effect of Panax ginseng against serum biochemical changes and apoptosis in liver of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible beneficial effects of Panax ginseng (PG) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. CCl(4) challenge elevated serum enzyme activities of liver and some biochemical parameters, but these effects were prevented by the pretreatment of rats with PG. Histologically, a great amount of mononuclear cells infiltration, necrotic cells and few fibroblasts were observed in liver of CCl(4) group. Also, CD68(+) and caspase-3 staining cells were diffused in both lobular and portal areas. However, PG pretreatment had a little influence on the number of caspase-3 immunopositive staining cells in the liver, but CD68(+) staining areas were significantly decreased in the PG+CCl(4) when compared to CCl(4) group. We conclude that PG treatment may play a protective role by enhancing liver enzyme activities and recovering biochemical parameters, and improving the changes in histological structure against CCl(4)-induced liver damages in rats.

The effects of high-fat diet on the renal structure and morphometric parametric of kidneys in rats

To characterize the kidney in a high‐fat‐induced obesity model, we examined the renal structure of adult Sprague–Dawley rats fed a control diet or a high‐fat diet for 3 months. Ten adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a diet consisting highly of fat (30%) for a period of 3 months. Ten control rats were maintained with standard rat chow. All animals were weighed every 10 days for 3 months. At the end of the experiment, the naso‐anal length of the anaesthetized rats was measured to calculate body mass index, and subsequently whole kidneys of intracardially formalin‐perfused animals were removed. Quantitative features of the kidney were analysed with the Cavalieri and physical dissector methods applied to serial paraffin sections. Kidney samples were also examined histologically. The body mass indices of the control and treatment groups were 4.528 ± 0.242 and 5.876 ± 0.318 kg m−2, respectively. The difference between the body mass indices of the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01, Mann–Whitney U‐test), suggesting that the animals fed with a high‐fat diet may be overweight. Stereological examination of the kidneys revealed differences in kidney weight, total kidney volume, volume of cortex, medulla, glomeruli, proximal and distal tubules, and numerical density of glomeruli and glomerular height in the treatment group compared with the control group. Light microscopic investigation showed a dilatation in blood vessels and Bowmans space, mononuclear cell infiltration, degeneration in nephrons, including glomerulosclerosis and tubular defects, and an increase in the connective tissue in the kidneys in the treatment group. We concluded that a fatty diet is responsible for the rats’ obesity and may lead to renal deformities as a result of histopathological changes such as dilatation, tubular defects, inflammation and connective tissue enlargement of the kidney.

Effects of melatonin on islet neogenesis and beta cell apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: an immunohistochemical study

This investigation was carried out to explore the antidiabetic, antiapoptotic and neogenetic effects of melatonin (MLT) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Sixty-four male rats were assigned randomly to one of four groups for periods of 21 and 42 d as follows; i) control, ii) MLT, iii) diabetic (DM), and iv) DM + MLT. Immunohistochemical methods were used -with pancreatic tissue to determine the intensity of insulin, caspase-3 and Bcl-x(L) immune reactivities, and new islet formation. In untreated DM rats, BW loss, increased plasma glucose and MLT concentrations, as well as cytoplasmic degranulation and vacuolization were observed. We also observed a marked increase in the number of apoptotic caspase-3 positive cells and a few insulin- positive cells, but not antiapoptotic Bcl-x(L) positive cells. Observations in the DM + MLT-treated group revealed a high intensity of insulin- and antiapoptotic Bcl-x(L) immune reactivities at 21 and 42 d. Moreover, data indicated that MLT may cause beta cell proliferation and that new small islets originate from cells associated with ductal epithelium and from centroacinar cells by day 21. These data indicate that; i) MLT treatment may stimulate neogenesis in the pancreas of diabetic rats, and ii) MLTs antiapoptotic action may increase beta cell differentiation and caspase-3 inactivation or Bcl-x(L) activation.

Nigella Sativa Reduces Tissue Damage in Rat Ovaries Subjected to Torsion and Detorsion: Oxidative Stress, Proinflammatory Response and Histopathological Evaluation

Background: To evaluate biochemically and histopathologically the effects of Nigella sativa (NS) in experimental ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries. Methods: Thirty-six female rats were divided into 6 groups: group I = sham operation; group II = 500 mg/kg NS + sham operation; group III = bilateral ovarian ischemia; group IV = 500 mg/kg NS + ischemia; group V = 3-hour period of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion, and group VI: 3-hour period of ischemia + 500 mg/kg NS 2.5 h after the induction of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion. At the end of ischemia, the bilateral vascular clips were removed, and 3-hour reperfusion was continued. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokine levels in serum, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined. Results: I/R increased the MDA level and MPO activity while significantly decreasing the SOD activity and GSH level when compared to the sham. The 500-mg/kg dose of NS before I/R reversed the trend in MDA levels, MPO activity, SOD activity, and GSH levels. Ischemia and I/R increased the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, while the administration of NS decreased the serum levels of these cytokines. Conclusions: The administration of NS is effective in reversing tissue damage induced by ischemia and/or I/R in ovaries.

Stereological and histological analysis of the developing rat heart.

With 9 figures and 1 table

PROGNOSTIC VALUES OF LESION VOLUME AND BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN ISCHEMIC AND HEMORRHAGIC STROKE: A STEREOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL STUDY

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between lesion volume, serum level of biochemical markers, and clinical situation in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: MRI was obtained on 33 ischemic and 28 hemorrhagic strokes. The Cavalieri method was used to measure the volume. To evaluate neurological situation of the patients, we used the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Rankin Disability Scores at the first, third, seventh, and thirtieth days. We measured the level of leptin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), insulin, cortisol, fibrinogen, protein C, protein S, von Willebrand factor, D-dimer, Antitrombin III, and Factor VIII (F VIII) at the same time intervals. Results: In ischemic events, cortisol level at third and seventh days, and fibrinogen level at the first day were correlated with lesion volumes (r = 0.5, p = .02; r = 0.4, p = .02; r = 0.5, p = .005, respectively). In hemorrhagic events, only fibrinogen level was correlated with lesion volumes at third day (r = 0.6, p = .04). No significant differences were found among all these biochemical parameters, neurological situation (p > .05), and lesion volumes at all times. Conclusion: In the prediction of stroke prognosis, lesion volume and all of the evaluated biochemical parameters are not deterministic factors.

Effects of Diabetes on Post-Menopausal Rat Submandibular Glands: A Histopathological and Stereological Examination.

OBJECTIVE The menopause in elderly women is a physiological process where ovarian and uterine cycles end. Diabetes means higher blood glucose level that is a metabolic disease and has an increased incidence. The aim of the study was to examine the single or combined effects of menopause and diabetes that causes pathophysiological processes on submandibular gland on ovariectomy and diabetes induced rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sprague Dawley twelve weeks old female (n=24) rats were divided randomly into four groups; Healthy control group (n=6), diabetic group (DM, n=6), ovariectomized group (OVX, n=6), post ovariectomy diabetes induced group (DM+OVX, n=6) individually. Histopathological, histochemical and stereological analyses were done in these groups. RESULTS Significant neutrophil cell infiltrations and myoepithelial cell proliferations, granular duct and seromucous acini damages and changes in the content of especially seromucous acini secretion in DM and/or OVX groups and distinctive interstitial and striated duct damages in post ovariectomy diabetes induced group were detected. Alterations ingranular ducts hypertrophic and in seromucous acini atrophic were determined in DM and/or OVX groups. CONCLUSION The results revealed the pathophysiological processes that lead to morphological and functional alterations on the cellular level in submandibular glands. The molecular mechanisms related with pathogenesis of diabetes and menopause need further investigation.