Biology

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) extract on serum urea and creatinine concentrations and on kidney tissue in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. The extract was administered to rats at a dose of 2 g/kg every day for 28 days, 14 days after animals were made diabetic. On day 42, kidney tissue and blood samples were examined. Significant degenerative changes in kidney tissue of diabetic rats were observed, but in the group given chard extract, the morphology of kidney tissue was found to be nearly the same as the controls. Serum urea and creatinine levels significantly increased in the diabetic groups, but the chard extracts significantly reduced serum urea and creatinine levels. It is concluded that the extract of this plant may reduce serum urea and creatinine levels and confer a protective effect on the kidney of diabetic rats.

Significant degenerative changes were observed in the kidney tissue of untreated neonatal streptozotocin (n0STZ)-induced type-II diabetic rats. These degenerative changes were diminished in the kidney tissue of diabetic animals given glibenclamide and Aloe leaf gel and pulp extracts. Kidney lipid peroxidation levels were increased in diabetic rats compared to healthy rats; these levels were higher in rats treated with glibenclamide than in those which received Aloe extracts. Serum urea and creatinine levels were higher in diabetic rats in comparison to healthy rats. The administration of Aloe gel extract and glibenclamide decreased serum urea and creatinine levels in comparison to diabetic controls. Only A. vera leaf gel extract showed improvement both in histological and biochemical parameters suggesting a protective effect of A. vera on mild damage caused by type-II diabetes on kidney tissue.

POSTER SESSIONS was well tolerated during the extension study. An increase of creatinine or decrease of creatinine clearance was noted in 8 (3.6%) patients. Only 3 patients had an elevation of ALAT/ASAT > 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) and no patient had a CK elevation > 10 ULN. Conclusion: Long-term coadministration of FENO plus PRA was well tolerated and more efficacious than PRA monotherapy in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia.

In this study, the effect of combination of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (α-tocopherol), and selenium (sodium selenate) on ethanol-induced liver and intestine injury in rats was investigated. The ethanol-induced injury was produced by the administration of 1 ml of absolute ethanol to each rats. Animals received vitamin C (250 mg/kg), vitamin E (250 mg/kg), and sodium selenate (Se) (0.5 mg/kg) for 3 days; 1 h after the final antioxidant administration, they were sacrificed. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels, catalase (CAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GP x) activities were determined in liver and intestine tissues. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were determined in liver tissue. Also, CAT activity, urea, creatinine, uric acid, and total lipid levels were determined in serum samples. In the ethanol group, serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, and total lipid levels; liver and intestine LDH; liver MPO, AST, ALP, ALT, and GGT activities; and liver and intestine LPO levels increased, whereas serum CAT activity, liver and intestine GSH levels, and CAT, SOD, and GP x activities decreased. On the other hand, treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E, and Se reversed these effects. As a result of these findings, we can say that the combination of vitamin C,

Chard (Beta vulgaris L. var cicla) is one of the medicinal herbs used by diabetics in Turkey. It has been reported to reduce blood glucose. We have investigated the effect of chard extracts on the liver by biochemical and morphological investigation. The plant extract was ...

This study investigated both morphologically and biochemically whether parsley (Petroselinum crispum), which is used as a folk remedy to decrease blood glucose, has any antidiabetic effect on pancreatic B cells of rats. Parsley extract was given to male diabetic rats. In the diabetic group given parsley extract, it was detected that the number of secretory granules and cells in islets and other morphologic changes were not different from the control diabetic group, while the blood glucose levels in the diabetic group given the plant extract were reduced in comparison to the diabetic group. In addition, a decrease was observed in the weight of the control diabetic group and the diabetic group given the plant extract. It is suggested that the plant therapy can provide blood glucose homeostasis and cannot regenerate B cells of the endocrine pancreas.

The growth response of the marine alga Dunaliella tertiolecta to different concentrations of lead and aluminum was investigated. Both metals had a stimulatory effect at low concentration and an inhibitory effect at high concentration (hormesis). The IC25 values of lead are ...

D-Galactosamine (D-GaIN) is a highly selective hepatotoxin that causes liver injury similar to human viral hepatitis via depletion of uridine nucleotides, which subsequently diminishes synthesis of RNA and proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ...

1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, 34134-Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey 2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts, Mustafa Kemal University, Campus of Tayfur Sokmen, 31000-Antakya, Hatay, Turkey 3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of ...

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Z-FA.FMK (benzyloxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanyl-alanine-fluoromethylketone), a pharmacological inhibitor of cathepsin B, on the proliferation of duodenal mucosal epithelial cells and the cellular ...

Background and Design.-Histopathological alterations to various organs of the different species in acute and chronic cadmium exposure have been studied by light and electron microscopy. Metallothionein is a protein inducible by heavy metal ions. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium combination on the cadmium-induced morphological and immunohistochemical changes in the thyroid gland of adult male rats. Results.-In the group given cadmium, the degenerative changes were observed in the thyroid gland. In addition, an increase in the number of metallothionein positive cells was detected in this group. These immunoreactive cells were identified as mast cells. While these degenerative changes and metallothionein immunoreactive cells in the thyroid gland were decreased in the group given cadmium and antioxidants according to the experimental group. Conclusion.-These results suggest that metallothionein participate in accumulation of cadmium in rats, since thyroid gland containing a lot of metallothionein positive cells show a tendency to accumulate of cadmium. In addition, the combination of vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium shows a protective effect against cadmium induced oxidative injury of thyroid gland. Antioxidants also may participate to regulation of the metallothionein expression.

Recent evidence suggested that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and nerve growth factor (NGF) withdrawal activated a common apoptotic pathway. Here, we aimed to investigate the possible role of apoptotic Ras effectors RASSF1 and NORE1 in NGF reduction and TNFa-related b cell apoptosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic rats. Rats were divided into four groups: the first group was given saline and citrate buffer, the second group was injected 4-methylcatechol (4-MC), an inducer of NGF synthesis, the third group received STZ, and the fourth group was given both 4-MC and STZ. 4-MC (10 lg/kg) was administered by daily intraperitoneal injection for 10 days before the animals were rendered hyperglycemic by administration of single dose STZ (75 mg/kg). With 4-MC pretreatment to hyperglycemic rats the following results were noted: (i) Decrease in pancreatic NGF level was blocked, (ii) Increase in pancreatic TNF-a level and the number of TNF-a ? beta cell in the islets were prevented, (iii) Increase in the number of b cell synthhesized apoptotic Ras effectors that RASSF1 and NORE1 was blocked, (iv) While pancreatic lipid peroxidation level decreased, antioxidant molecule glutathione and antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities increased, (v) Pancreatic caspase-3 activity and the number of cleaved caspase-3 ? b cells were decreased. These results strengthen the idea that TNF-a and reduction in NGF can activate a common apoptotic pathway. Moreover, these data display that new apoptotic Ras effector molecules RASSF1 and NORE1 play important role with oxidative stress in NGF reduction and TNF-a-related pancreatic b cell apoptosis in hyperglycemic rats. Furthermore, these findings suggest that 4-MC can prevent b cell apoptosis possibly through increasing NGF synthesis in hyperglycemic rats.

This study investigated both morphologically and biochemically whether parsley (Petroselinum crispum), which is used as a folk remedy to decrease blood glucose, has any antidiabetic effect on pancreatic B cells of rats. Parsley extract was given to male diabetic rats. In the diabetic group given parsley extract, it was detected that the number of secretory granules and cells in islets and other morphologic changes were not different from the control diabetic group, while the blood glucose levels in the diabetic group given the plant extract were reduced in comparison to the diabetic group. In addition, a decrease was observed in the weight of the control diabetic group and the diabetic group given the plant extract. It is suggested that the plant therapy can provide blood glucose homeostasis and cannot regenerate B cells of the endocrine pancreas.

This study was designed to determine the morphological and biochemical effects of zinc sulfate and the role of metallothionein in ethanol-induced intestinal injury. Rats received zinc sulfate (100 mg/kg/d) for 3 consecutive d, 2 h prior to the administration of ethanol by gavage. Ethanol administration caused intestinal injury as determined by increased serum lactate dehydrogenase activity, urea, creatinine, uric acid, and sialic acid levels, intestinal lipid peroxidation level, decreased serum catalase activity, intestinal glutathione level, and metallothionein expression. Zinc sulfate pretreatment of the ethanol group caused a decrease in histological damage, serum lactate dehydrogenase activity, urea, creatinine, uric acid, sialic acid levels, and intestinal lipid peroxidation level, but increases in serum catalase activity, intestinal glutathione level, and metallothionein expression. The present study indicates that zinc sulfate has a protective effect against ethanol-induced intestinal injury. In addition, the protective effect of zinc on ethanol-induced intestinal injury might be mediated by metallothionein, as well as having antioxidative potential.

Chard (Beta vulgaris L. var cicla) is one of the medicinal herbs used by diabetics in Turkey. It has been reported to reduce blood glucose. We have investigated the effect of chard extracts on the liver by biochemical and morphological investigation. The plant extract was administered by the gavage technique to rats at a dose of 2 g/kg every d for 28 d, 14 d after experimental animals were made diabetic. In the diabetic group, some degenerative changes were observed by light and electron microscope examination, but degenerative changes decreased or were not observed in the diabetic group given chard. In the diabetic group, blood glucose levels, serum alanine, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase activities, total lipids, sialic and uric acid levels, liver lipid peroxidation (LPO), and nonenzymatic glycosylation (NEG) levels increased, while blood glutathione, body weight, and liver glutathione (GSH) levels decreased. The diabetic group given chard, serum alanine, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase activities, total lipid level, sialic and uric acid levels, blood glucose levels, and liver LPO and NEG levels decreased, but the other values increased. As a result of all the morphological and biochemical findings obtained, it was concluded that the extract of this plant has a protective effect on the liver in diabetes mellitus.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Z-FA.FMK (benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-alanine-fluoromethylketone), a pharmacological inhibitor of cathepsin B, on the proliferation of duodenal mucosal epithelial cells and the cellular system that controls this mechanism in these cells in vivo. For this investigation, BALB/c male mice were divided into four groups. The first group received physiological saline, the second group was administered Z-FA.FMK, the third group received D-GalN (D-galactosamine) and TNF-a (tumour necrosis factor-a) and the fourth group was given both D-GalN/ TNF-a and Z-FA.FMK. When D-GalN/TNF-a was administered alone, we observed an increase in IL-1b-positive and active NF-kB-positive duodenal epithelial cells, a decrease in PCNA (proliferative cell nuclear antigen)-positive duodenal epithelial cells and an increase in degenerative changes in duodenum. On the other hand, Z-FA.FMK pretreatment inhibited all of these changes. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl and collagen levels were increased, glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity were decreased, while there was no change in catalase activity by D-GalN/TNF-a injection. On the contrary, the Z-FA.FMK pretreatment before D-GalN/TNF-a blocked these effects. Based on these findings, we suggest that Z-FA.FMK might act as a proliferative mediator which is controlled by IL-1b through NF-kB and oxidative stress in duodenal epithelial cells of D-GalN/TNF-a-administered mice.

Background Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a well-known mediator for maintaining the survival of neurons, while recent studies report that its absence induces apoptosis in cultured b cells of humans and rats. However, its relationship with other growth factors that have important roles in the survival and function of b cells such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) has not yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NGF withdrawal on the synthesis and secretion of EGF, insulin with respect to b cell apoptosis in hyperglycemic rats. Method b cells were isolated from euglycemic and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats and treated with NGF neutralizing antibody for withdrawal of NGF in culture medium. NGF, EGF and insulin levels in cell lysates and secretion samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and their gene expressions were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. Apoptosis was quantitatively determined by cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragments. Results Nerve growth factor neutralization triggered b cell apoptosis. In addition decreased insulin, increased NGF and EGF were observed at gene expression and protein levels by NGF neutralization. Moreover, NGF withdrawal decreased secretion of these peptides from b cells. Although the alterations seemed to be similar under euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions, NGF withdrawal more strongly affected b cells of hyperglycemic rats. Conclusions These important findings indicate that NGF is an important regulator for the synthesis and secretion of EGF and insulin from the b cells. Moreover, results suggested that NGF withdrawal causes apoptosis by decreasing EGF, NGF and insulin secretion from b cells of hyperglycemic rats.

The aim of this study is to examine from a biochemical and histological perspective, whether vanadium has a protective effect on the pancreas of diabetic rats. Male, 6-6.5 months old, Swiss albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I: control (intact) animals (n = 13). Group II: control rats given vanadyl sulfate (n = 5). Group III: streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals (n = 11). Group IV: streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals given vanadyl sulfate (n = 11). Vanadyl sulfate was given by gavage technique to rats in a dose of 100 mg/kg daily for 60 days, after experimental animals were made diabetic. On day 60, the pancreas tissue and blood samples were taken from the animals. In the streptozotocin-induced diabetic group, blood glucose levels significantly increased in contrast to the loss of body weight, but vanadyl sulfate in streptozotocin-diabetic rats reduced blood glucose levels and increased both blood glutathione levels and body weight. Tissue sections were immunostained using an insulin antibody. The control group given vanadyl sulfate was no different from the other intact control group considering the insulin immunoreactivity in B cells. In pancreatic islets of the diabetic group, a decrease in the number of immunoreactive B cells was observed in comparison to the control group. On the other hand, pancreatic islets of the diabetic group given vanadyl sulfate showed a higher number of immunoreactive B cells in comparison to the diabetic group. According to the immunohistochemical and biochemical results obtained, it was concluded that vanadyl sulfate can regenerate B cells of endocrine pancreas in experimental diabetes.

Acute effects of cadmium (Cd) and combined antioxidants were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rat testes. The rats were subdivided into four groups. Cadmium chloride (2 mg/kg day) injected intraperitoneally during 8 days. Vitamin C (250 mg/kg day), vitamin E (250 mg/kg day) and sodium selenate (0.25 mg/kg day) were pretreated by gavage in both of control and cadmium injected rats. Testis lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels were determined by spectrophotometrically. In Cd treated rats, lipid peroxidation levels were increased and glutathione levels were decreased and combined antioxidants treatment was effective in preventing of lipid peroxidation and normalizing glutathione. In Cd treated animals, the degenerative changes were observed, but not observed in the administrated rats with Cd and antioxidants under the light microscope. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, metallothionein and caspase-3 activities were evaluated by immunohistochemically. Proliferation activity was not seen in the spermatogonial cells of cadmium treated testis. Treatment with antioxidants in cadmium administrated testis leads to pronounced increase in proliferation activity. Cytoplasmic caspase-3 activity was determined in the spermatogenic cells but not spermatogonia in treatment of antioxidants with Cd. In control and treated with antioxidants animals, metallothionein expressions were localized in the cells of seminiferous tubules, although the expression only was observed in the interstitial cells of cadmium treated rats. Results demonstrated beneficial effects of combined vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium treatment in Cd toxicity.