Sima Sahinduran

Pathological and immunohistochemical examinations of the pancreas in subacute endosulfan toxicity in rabbits.

Objectives: Pancreas pathology in subacute endosulfan toxicity and the effect of vitamin C in rabbits were studied. Methods: Twenty-four rabbits in 4 groups were used. The rabbits in group END were given a daily sublethal dose (1 mg/kg of body weight) of endosulfan in corn oil by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Group END+C received the same dose of endosulfan and also vitamin C (20 mg/kg) every other day. Group OIL+C received oral corn oil daily and vitamin C (20 mg/kg) every other day. Group OIL received corn oil daily by oral gavage throughout the experiment. Serum amylase, lipase, and glucose levels were analyzed 1 week after the last treatment. Histopathological and immunohistochemical methods were used. Results: The amylase levels were normal, but the lipase levels were increased in all the groups. Marked increases in glucose levels were observed in the END and the OIL+C groups. Microscopy examination of the pancreases indicated degenerative changes in the END group. The pancreases of the END+C group were relatively normal in appearance. The immunohistochemistry of the pancreas showed marked decreases in proinsulin-, insulin-, and amylin-secreting cells and slight decreases in glucagon-secreting cells, whereas cells expressing caspase 3 increased. Conclusion: Endosulfan can cause toxic effects on rabbit pancreases, but vitamin C has an ameliorative effect.

Effects of etanercept on sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis in rats

In this study, we examined the effects of etanercept (ETA) on experimentally induced pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced with Na taurocholate. ETA was simultaneously administered to treatment groups. Serum amylase and lipase activity, pancreatic histopathology, apoptosis, malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase enzyme activity (MPO) were assessed. Although rats in the groups 1, 2, and 3 were sacrificed 24h later, groups 4, 5, and 6 were sacrificed 5 days later. ETA treatment significantly decreased serum amylase activity (nontreated, 2636.16+/-191.94; treated, 1898.71+/-262.53; control, 506.28+/-17.31 U/L, P<0.001), lipase activity (nontreated, 3049.67+/-972.65; treated, 2538.85+/-660.45; control, 88.57+/-7.54 U/L, P<0.001), histopathologic score (nontreated, 5.43+/-0.43; treated, 2.57+/-0.20; control, 0.71+/-0.18, P<0.001), MDA (nontreated, 105.77+/-13.29; treated, 92.89+/-10.39; control, 41.26+/-2.54 nmol/g, P<0.001), and MPO (nontreated, 0.64+/-1.15; treated, 0.59+/-0.13; control, 0.17+/-0.02 units/g/wet weight, P<0.001) activity in 24-h groups. In 5-day groups, ETA treatment decreased amylase activity (nontreated, 738.67+/-48.60; treated, 497.14+/-47.25; control, 389.00+/-9.17 U/L, P<0.001), lipase activity (nontreated, 101.33+/-39.32; treated, 34.57+/-7.29; control, 23.42+/-2.12 U/L, P<0.001), histopathologic score (nontreated, 5.43+/-0.43; treated, 3.71+/-0.68; control, 0.00+/-0.00, P<0.001), MDA (nontreated, 67.91+/-4.28; treated, 60.91+/-3.57; control, 14.85+/-1.16 nmol/g, P<0.001), and MPO (nontreated, 0.36+/-0.04; treated, 0.27+/-0.02; control, 0.14+/-0.02 units/g/wet weight, P<0.001) activity. Caspase-positive cells numbers around the necrosis significantly decreased by ETA treatment in both 24-h groups (nontreated, 74.28+/-3.26; treated, 67.00+/-1.15; control, 3.85+/-0.63, P<0.001) and 5-day groups (nontreated, 79.85+/-3.01; treated, 47.85+/-5.76; control, 2.22+/-0.63, P<0.001). These results showed that ETA has an ameliorating effect on sodium taurocholate-induced acute necrotic pancreatitis.

Coagulation profile, haematological and biochemical changes in kids naturally infected with peste des petits ruminants

The aim of this study was to examine the coagulation profile in peste des petits ruminant (PPR) in kids. Five kids from a group of 150 animals (72 goats and 78 kids) were brought to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from a farm in Burdur province (Turkey) with nasal and ocular discharges and diarrhea. Fifteen goats and 41 kids had died due to diarrhea and three kids were presented to the Department of Pathology for diagnosis. Blood samples were taken from 12 ill animals (infected group) for haematological and biochemical analysis. In addition, five healthy kids were examined from another healthy flock (control group). Leukocyte and lymphocyte numbers of infected group showed significant declinations in comparison to control group (≤0.001). Haemorrhages in all organs of digestive system and small haemorrhagic areas in liver were caused to decrease in erythrocyte and haematocrit values (p ≤ 0.001) in infected group. Concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (p ≤ 0.01) and creatinine (p ≤ 0.001) in infected group were significantly higher than control group. Compared to control group, significant increases were determined in serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p ≤ 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p ≤ 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p ≤ 0.001) in the infected group. No significant differences were observed between the infected and control groups for serum gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT) concentration value. In our study, thrombocytopenia (p ≤ 0.001) together with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT; p ≤ 0.01) and prothrombin time (PT; p ≤ 0.001) may show that disseminated intravascular coagulopathy which can occur in kids with PPR.

Effects of Certolizumab on Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats.

Objectives To evaluate the effects of certolizumab, a pegylated monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF-&agr;), on experimentally induced acute pancreatitis. Methods Healthy Wistar Albino male rats (n = 36) were randomly divided into 4 groups (9 rats in each group): group 1, control group; group 2, certolizumab group; group 3, cerulein group; and group 4, cerulein + certolizumab group. Acute edematous pancreatitis was induced via intraperitoneal injection of 80-&mgr;g/kg cerulein (20 &mgr;g/kg, 4 times at 1-hour intervals) in groups 3 and 4. Certolizumab (10 &mgr;g) was intraperitoneally administered in groups 2 and 4. Serum levels of amylase, lipase, TNF-&agr;, and lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the pancreatic tissue for assessing the activities of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, TNF-&agr;, and caspase-3 were also performed after 72 hours. Results Certolizumab treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of amylase, lipase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Histopathological edema, hemorrhage, parenchymal necrosis, and infiltration scores were also decreased, along with a decrease in malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, TNF-&agr;, and caspase-3 activities. Conclusion This study suggests that certolizumab is a beneficial treatment mode for reducing the severity of acute pancreatitis.