Ufuk Tas

Effects of v-3 essential fatty acids against formaldehyde-induced nephropathy in rats:

The aim of this study was to examine the toxicity of formaldehyde (FA) on the kidney and the protective effects of v-3 essential fatty acids against these toxic effects. Twenty-one male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Rats in Group I comprised the controls, while the rats in Group II were injected every other day with FA. Rats in Group III received v-3 fatty acids daily while exposed to FA. At the end of the 14-day experimental period, all rats were killed by decapitation and the kidneys removed. Some of the kidney tissue specimens were used for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The remaining kidney tissue specimens were used for light microscopic evaluation. The levels of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly decreased, and MDA levels were significantly increased in rats treated with FA compared with those of the controls. Furthermore, in the microscopic examination of this group, glomerular and tubular degeneration, vascular congestion and tubular dilatation were observed. However, increased SOD and GSH-Px enzyme activities, and decreased MDA levels were detected in the rats administered v-3 fatty acids while exposed to FA. Additionally, kidney damage caused by FA was decreased and structural appearance was similar to that of the control rats in this group. In conclusion, it was determined that FA-induced kidney damage was prevented by administration of v-3 essential fatty acids.

Protective effect of melatonin against formaldehyde-induced kidney damage in rats:

This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effects of melatonin against formaldehyde-induced renal damage in rats. For this purpose, 21 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The animals in Group I were used as a control, whereas the rats in group II were injected every other day with formaldehyde. The rats in group III received melatonin daily while exposed to formaldehyde. At the end of the 14-day experimental period, all rats were killed by decapitation, and the kidneys were removed. Some of the renal tissue specimens were used for determination of superoxide dismutase, glutatione peroxidase enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde levels. The remaining kidney tissue specimens were used for light microscopic evaluation. The renal tissue activities of superoxide dismutase and glutatione peroxidase were significantly decreased, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in rats treated with formaldehyde compared with those of the control animals. In the light microscopic evaluation of this group, degenerative glomerules, vacuolization and dilatation of distal tubules, and vascular congestion were detected. However, an increase was observed in activities of superoxide dismutase and glutatione peroxidase enzymes, and a decrease of malondialdehyde levels in animals treated with formaldehyde plus melatonin was observed. Furthermore, the histopathological changes caused by formaldehyde were disappeared except for minimal tubular dilatation in this group. In conclusion, the biochemical and histological findings of our study suggest that melatonin administration prevents formaldehyde-induced oxidative renal damage in rats.

Effects of testosterone on orchiectomy-induced oxidative damage in the rat hippocampus

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological changes of the hippocampus after orchiectomy and the protective effects of testosterone on these changes. Animals were divided into 3 groups. The rats in group I were used for sham-orchiectomy. Orchiectomy was performed on the rats in group II. The rats in group III were administrated testosterone propionate 0.5mg/kg/day for 30 days after the orchiectomy. Some of the hippocampal tissues were used for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The remaining hippocampal tissue specimens were stained with routine histological methods and examined under the light microscope. Additionally, the samples were immunohistochemically stained by using avidin-biotin-peroxidase for determination of bax immunoreactivity. The SOD and GSH-Px enzyme activities of the hippocampus were decreased, and MDA levels were increased in group II rats compared to the sham-orchiectomy group. In the light microscopic evaluation of the tissue specimens from group II, significant increases were detected in the number of picnotic cells and in bax immunoreactivity compared to the sham-orchiectomy group. However, an increase was observed in activities of SOD and GSH-Px enzymes and a decrease of the MDA levels in animals with orchiectomy, but having externally administered testosterone. It was determined that the increase of bax immunoreactivity and histopathological changes in this group were regressed by testosterone. The results of our study revealed that orchiectomy-induced oxidative damage and morphological changes in the hippocampal tissue were suppressed by testosterone.

Hepatotoxic activity of toluene inhalation and protective role of melatonin

This study was designed to investigate the harmful effects of toluene inhalation in the liver of rats and possible protective effects of melatonin on these detrimental effects. For this purpose, 21 adult male Wistar-albino rats were randomly divided into three equal groups. Animals in group I were used as control. The rats in group II were exposed to toluene (3000 ppm/1 hour/day) for 4 weeks, while the rats in group III were treated with melatonin (10 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally [ip]) plus toluene inhalation. At the end of the experimental period, liver and blood samples were taken from the decapitated animals. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and albumin levels were determined. Liver tissue sections were stained with routine histological methods and examined under the light microscope. In addition, the sections were immunohistochemically stained using avidin-biotin-peroxidase method for determination of apoptosis. The liver tissue activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also measured. Toluene inhalation significantly increased serum ALT, AST and tissue MDA, and decreased serum albumin, but did not affect serum ALP, total bilirubin levels and tissue SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activity when compared with controls. The increases in tissue MDA and serum ALT and AST levels induced by toluene inhalation were significantly inhibited by melatonin treatment. In light microscopic observations of tissues from toluene-inhaled rats, massive hepatocyte degeneration, ballooning degeneration and mild pericentral fibrosis were observed. Bax immune reactivity was also increased significantly. Melatonin treatment decreased the balloon degeneration, fibrosis and Bax immune reactivity in the liver of toluene-inhaled rats. In view of the present findings, it is suggested that melatonin has hepatoprotective effects against toluene toxicity via primarily antioxidative properties.

Rose oil inhalation protects against formaldehyde-induced testicular damage in rats

In this experimental study, harmful effects of formaldehyde (FA) inhalation on sperm concentration, sperm quality, serum testosterone levels and the rat testes were investigated. In addition, the possible protective effects of rose oil against to these harmful effects were evaluated. For this purpose, 21 albino‐Wistar rats were used. The rats in Group I were used as control group. When the rats of Group II were exposed FA (10 ppm/1 h) for 35 days, the rats of Group III inhalated rose oil (1 ml/1 h) after FA. The epididymal tissues were taken for sperm analysing and the testes were removed for histological examination. In addition, testosterone levels were determined from the blood samples. Although the testosterone levels, the epididymal sperm concentration, and the progressive sperm motility significantly decreased, the abnormal sperm rate significantly increased in the Group II when compared to Group I. In the Group III, these damages were seen less. When the rats in the Group II compared with the control group, there were serious histological damages. In the Group III, it was determined that the histological changes were less than group II. It can be expressed that serious damages occurred via formaldehyde exposure in male reproductive system and that the rose oil had protective effects against these damages.

Investigating the Effect of Aromatherapy in Patients with Renal Colic

AIM The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of rose essential oil as a supplementary and adjunctive therapy for the relief of renal colic, specifically because rose essential oil is soothing and can act as a muscle relaxant. MATERIALS Eighty patients who were diagnosed with renal colic in the emergency room were included in the study, with ages ranging from 19 to 64 years. Half of the patients (n=40) were treated with conventional therapy (diclofenac sodium, 75 mg intramuscularly) plus placebo (physiological serum, 0.9% NaCl), while the other half (n=40) were given aromatherapy (rose essential oil) in addition to conventional therapy. In each patient, the severity of pain was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (0 [no pain] to 10 [very severe pain]). FINDINGS The VAS values prior to the start of therapy, and 10 and 30 minutes after therapy were 8.18 ± 1.36, 5.60 ± 2.02, and 3.75 ± 2.08 for the conventional therapy plus placebo group, while for the conventional therapy plus aromatherapy group, the VAS values were 8.63 ± 1.03, 4.25 ± 1.72, and 1.08 ± 1.07, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the starting VAS values of the two groups, but the VAS values 10 or 30 minutes after the initiation of therapy were statistically lower in the group that received conventional therapy plus aromatherapy. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that rose essential oil therapy in addition to conventional therapy effectively reduces renal colic pain.

Aquaporin-1 and Aquaporin-3 Expressions in the Intervertebral Disc of Rats with Aging

OBJECTIVE The intervertebral disc (IVD) undergoes biochemical and morphologic degenerative changes during the process of aging. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water channel proteins that facilitate water and small solute movement in tissues and may have a potential role in the aging degeneration of IVDs. One of the important problems in understanding disc degeneration is to find cellular molecules which contribute to the pathogenesis of IVDs. XThe aim of this study was to demonstrate the expression of aquaporin 1 and 3 in nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF) cells of rat lumbar intervertebral discs from both young and aged animals using immunohistochemistry. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty Wistar-albino rats were included in the study. The rats were separated into two groups: 2-month-old rats (n=10) as the young group, 18-month-old rats (n=10) as the old group. The intervertebral disc tissues obtained from the lumbar spine (L1-L4, 4 discs) were used for immunohistochemical staining of AQP-1 and 3. RESULTS This study demonstrated that AQP-1 and AQP-3 immunoreactivity significantly decreased in NP and AF of aged rats compared to the young rats. CONCLUSION We suggest that AQP-1 and 3 may contribute to the age related degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

Protective effect of thymoquinone against testicular torsion induced oxidative injury

We aimed to determine the protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ), against ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in the testis tissue of rats. Twenty‐seven male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three equal groups as follows: Group I, sham group; Group II, torsion group; and Group III, torsion + thymoquinone group. The ischaemia period was 2 h, and orchiectomy was performed after 30 min of detorsion. Testis tissue sections were analysed with the terminal transferase mediated dUTP‐nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay to determine in situ apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Additionally, Caspase 3 and Bax proteins were analysed immunohistochemically. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity levels in the testis tissue were also measured. The superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde levels in the torsion group were significantly higher than those of the sham group (P < 0.05). Thymoquinone administration significantly reduced these levels. Torsion significantly increased active‐Caspase 3 and Bax expression, which was decreased by thymoquinone. The apoptotic index of the torsion group was significantly higher than that of the control group. However, thymoquinone significantly reduced the apoptotic index (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that thymoquinone plays a protective role in oxidative stress induced ischaemia–reperfusion in the testis tissue of rats.

Age-related changes of aquaporin expression patterns in the postnatal rat retina

Previous studies revealed that the rat retina contains numerous membrane-located water channels, the aquaporins (AQPs). Protein expression patterns of AQP1-4, 6 and 9 were examined by immunohistochemistry. In the present study, we investigated the immunolocalization of AQP1-4, 6 and 9 during postnatal development in the rat retina and examined the effect of age on the tissue distribution of these channels. AQP1, 3, 4, 6 and 9 showed gradually increased expression in rat retinas from postnatal week 1 to week 12, and decreased in the 40-week-old rat retinas. AQP2 expression was barely seen in the first week in rat retinas and displayed a significant increase from week 1 to week 4, however no significant alteration of AQP2 was observed after 4weeks of development. AQP1 and 4 immunoreactivities were present in the inner limiting membrane (ILM), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner nuclear layer (INL) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the 4-, 12- and 40-week-old rat retinas. The RPE, OLM and ILM showed a remarkable expression of AQP1-4, 6 and 9 in the 4, 12 and 40-week-old rat retinas. The reduced expression of AQPs in aged rat retinas may indicate the involvement of AQPs in the pathogenesis of age-related retinal diseases.

The protective effects of omega-3 fatty acid against toluene-induced neurotoxicity in prefrontal cortex of rats.

Objective: Toluene is used as an organic solvent, and it has neurotoxic effects. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid required for brain development. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of omega-3 fatty acid against toluene-induced neurotoxicity in prefrontal cortex of rats. Materials and methods: A total of 21 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups with seven rats in each group. Rats in group I were the controls. Toluene was intraperitoneally injected into the rats of group II with a dose of 0.5 ml/kg. Rats in group III received omega-3 fatty acid with a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day while exposed to toluene. After 14 days, all the rats were killed by decapitation. Enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were spectrophotometrically studied in the prefrontal cortex of rats. Results: Enzymatic activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased, and MDA levels were significantly increased in rats treated with toluene compared with the controls. However, the increased SOD and decreased GSH-Px enzymatic activities and MDA levels were detected in the rats administered with omega-3 fatty acid while exposed to toluene. Conclusion: The results of this experimental study indicate that omega-3 fatty acid treatment can prevent toluene-induced neuronal damage in the prefrontal cortex of rats.