Seda Tasdemir

Protective Effect of Infliximab on Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Damage in Rat Kidney

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of infliximab on ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury of the rat kidney. Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated, I/R, I/R with infliximab administered before ischemia [I/R + infliximab (bi)], and I/R with infliximab administered before reperfusion [I/R + infliximab (br)]. After a right nephrectomy to produce damage, the left renal vessels were occluded for 60 min, followed by 24-h reperfusion in rats. Changes in the rat kidney were observed by measuring the tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and by evaluating hematoxylin–eosin (H&E)-stained and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) sections. Results: The MDA and MPO levels in the I/R group were significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05), and the SOD and GSH levels in the I/R + infliximab (bi) and I/R + infliximab (br) groups were significantly higher than in the I/R group (p < 0.05). However, histological examination revealed that the I/R + infliximab (bi) group and the I/R + infliximab (br) group had significantly fewer tubular changes and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration than the I/R group. Conclusion: These results show that infliximab may protect against I/R injury in the rat I/R model.

Effect of endogen-exogenous melatonin and erythropoietin on dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid–induced colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease has been linked to elevated T cells. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis are known to be accompanied by intestinal inflammation. This study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin (MEL) and erythropoietin (EPO), which is a known anti‐inflammatory and antiapoptotic agent, in dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)–induced colitis in pinealectomized (Px) rats. In microscopically results, epithelial and goblet cell loss, absence of crypts, and increased colonic caspase‐3 activity were observed in the DNBS group. Also, in flow cytometric analysis, the percentage of CD4+ T cells was highest in the DNBS group. Treatment with MEL or EPO had a curative effect on DNBS‐induced colitis. The MEL + EPO groups showed significantly greater improvement when compared with the other treatment groups. Our results indicate that the combination of EPO and MEL may exert more beneficial effects than either agent used alone.

Role of vagal activity on bradicardic and hypotensive effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a phenolic active component of propolis of honeybee hives and reduces heart rate and blood pressure in rats. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of vagal activity and atropine blockage on the bradycardic and hypotensive effects of CAPE in rats. The rats were divided into five groups (n=8). Saline and vehicle (10% ethanol) of CAPE were given to the first and second groups, respectively. Group 3 was treated with 5 mg/kg CAPE. Group 4 bivagotomized and treated with 5 mg/kg CAPE. Group 5 treated with atropine (5 μg/μL/min) continuously and treated with CAPE. The electrophysiological monitoring was done for each experiment under urethane anaesthetize. As a result, CAPE caused intense and transient bradycardia and hypotension. Vagotomy completely abolished bradycardia occurred via CAPE injection; however atropine attenuated bradycardic effects of CAPE. On the other hand, hypotensive effect of CAPE was affected from neither bilateral vagotomy nor atropine treatment. It was thought that CAPE may exert its effects on heart rate via a central parasympathetic control mechanism, but not on central parasympathetic blood pressure control system.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba on plasma oxidant injury induced by bleomycin in rats

Bleomycin is an anti-neoplastic agent and its clinical usage is limited by its toxicity, which is mostly induced by oxygen radicals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba on plasma indices of oxidants induced by bleomycin in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: none medicated or 0.9% NaCl injected or only Ginkgo biloba (orally, 100 mg/kg per day for 14 days) or only a single dose of bleomycin (intratracheal, 2.5 U/kg) or Gingko biloba and bleomycin-treated groups. After 14 days, blood was taken before the rats were sacrificed. The plasma was removed and stored at −85°C until the study day. Plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme activities with malondialdehyde and nitric oxide (NO) levels were studied. The levels of malondialdehyde and NO with activity of XO were higher in plasma of bleomycin group than the other groups (P B / 0.05). The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased in the bleomycin plus Gingko biloba group in comparison with the bleomycin group (P B / 0.05). There was a positive correlation between malondialdehyde and NO levels in the bleomycin group (r-/0.859, P B / 0.05). There were positive correlations between SOD and GSH-Px activities (r-/0.760, P B/0.05) and between XO activity and malondialdehyde level (r-/0.822, P B/0.05) in the bleomycin plus Gingko biloba group. In conclusion, it was thought that bleomycin induced oxidative stress can be prevented by Gingko biloba treatment via high anti-oxidant enzyme activity together with decreased radical production from XO.

Intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate alone and in combination for urinary tract infection: Assessment of protective effects in a rat model

Objective:  To determine the protective effects of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate in treating urinary tract infections in a rat model.