Deleterious effects of incense smoke exposure on kidney function and architecture in male albino rats

Context: Previous studies, including ours, have shown adverse effects of incense smoke on human health. However, the effect of incense smoke on kidney function and structure remains unknown.

Objective: To evaluate possible adverse effects of incense smoke on kidney function and architecture in albino rats after chronic exposure to Arabian incense.

Materials and methods: Emission characteristics including particle size distribution, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by gravimetric and GCMS analyses. Kidney functional markers, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured by standard or ELISA based procedures. Ultrastructural changes in kidney were examined by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the gene expression of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes including cytochrome P-450-1A1 (CYP1A1) and CYP1A2 were studied by real time PCR.

Results: Rats exposed to incense smoke demonstrated a significant increase in serum creatinine, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels and a significant decline in tissue reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase activity. Incense smoke exposed rats also displayed marked ultrastructural changes in kidney tissue. Further, a significant increase in tissue gene expression of both CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 was noted in exposed rats.

Discussion: Changes to kidney functional markers and architecture appear to be mediated through augmented oxidative stress and inflammation.

Conclusion: Long-term exposure to incense smoke may have deleterious effects on kidney function and architecture. Though, inhalation is the rout of exposure, findings of this study underscore that incense smoke may also have an effect on non-pulmonary tissues.     

淫羊藿苷的神经药理作用及分子机制研究进展

近年来关于淫羊藿苷对中枢神经系统药理作用的研究日益增多。为进一步推进淫羊藿苷用于防治中枢神经系统疾病的研究,本文结合国内外对淫羊藿苷的研究报道,系统地综述了淫羊藿苷的抗痴呆、抗衰老、抗缺血性脑损伤、抗抑郁及神经保护等中枢神经系统的药理作用及作用机制。     

The effects of perinatal tebuconazole exposure on adult neurological, immunological, and reproductive function in rats.

Studies are under way to address concerns of potential persistent immunotoxic, reproductive, and neurotoxic effects of perinatal exposure to several pesticides. Tebuconazole, a triazole fungicide, was evaluated as part of this project. Sprague-Dawley dams were administered tebuconazole (0, 6, 20, or 60 mg/kg) by oral gavage daily from gestational day 14 to postnatal day (PND)7; the pups were then dosed daily at the same levels from PND7-42. Separate groups of rats were used for testing of immunological parameters, neurobehavioral testing using a screening battery of functional tests, and cognitive evaluations. Other groups of rats were evaluated for reproductive development and function, while yet others were sacrificed at the end of the dosing period for histological analyses of major organs systems, including neuropathological assessments. Pup viability and body weight were decreased in the highest dose group. There were no differences in the fertility indices in the exposed rats mated as adults. In the sheep RBC-immunized high-dose rats, spleen weights and cellularity were increased, and the ratio of cell types was altered compared to controls. There were, however, no biologically significant changes in the immune function of these rats. At necropsy on PND46 or 152, kidney, liver, and spleen weights were altered by tebuconazole treatment, but a dose-response relationship was not clear for most organs; only decreased kidney and increased liver weights were consistent in both sexes. Histological analyses were generally unremarkable outside of the brain. One month after the end of dosing, acquisition of learning the platform location in a water tank (i.e., Morris water maze) was impaired in the high-dose group; there were no differences in neuromuscular ability, motor activity, or swim speed to account for this finding. Furthermore, there was no effect on recall of the position during a free-swim trial. Neuropathological evaluations revealed pyknotic cells across hippocampal cell fields in animals of all tebuconazole treatment groups, with the highest incidence in the 20 and 60 mg/kg/day dose groups, coincident with cell loss within pyramidal cell layer of CA3-4 cell fields of the hippocampus and layer V of the neocortex. Thus, perinatal exposure to tebuconazole produced neurobehavioral deficits and neuropathology in rats, but did not alter immunological or reproductive function.     

The effects of perinatal/juvenile heptachlor exposure on adult immune and reproductive system function in rats.

This study was performed to determine if developmental exposure of rats to heptachlor (H) during the last half of gestation through puberty adversely affects adult functioning of the immune and reproductive systems. Time-bred pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed by gavage with H (0, 30, 300, or 3000 microg/kg/day) from gestation day (GD) 12 to postnatal day (PND) 7, followed by direct dosing of the pups with H through PND 42. Separate groups of rats were evaluated with a battery of immune function tests, while other groups of rats were evaluated for reproductive development and function. Additional groups of rats were euthanized at the end of the dosing period for histological analyses of major organ systems. Some dams and PND 7 pups were euthanized; milk, plasma, fat and/or tissues were assayed for H and heptachlor epoxide B (HEB), a major metabolite of H. The amount of H and HEB found in milk, blood, fat, and tissues was proportional to the dose of H administered. There were no effects on the number or survival of pups born to H-exposed dams nor to pups exposed postnatally. There were no effects on the number of treated dams delivering litters or on litter size, nor were there any effects on any of the reproductive end points examined in the F(0) or F(1) rats. There were no effects of H exposure on lymphoid organ weights, splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity, and splenic lymphoproliferative (LP) responses to mitogens and allogeneic cells in a mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) assay at 8 weeks of age. H exposure did not alter delayed or contact hypersensitivity at 10 or 17 weeks of age, respectively. However, the primary IgM antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner in males, but not females, at 8 weeks of age. The percentage of B lymphocytes (OX12(+)OX19(-)) in spleen was also reduced in the high-dose males. The anti-SRBC IgM response was reduced only in males exposed to 30 microg H/kg/day in a separate group of rats 21 weeks of age. In these same rats, at 26 weeks of age, the secondary IgG antibody response to SRBCs was suppressed in all of the H-exposed males, but not females. These data indicate that perinatal exposure of male rats to H results in suppression of the primary IgM and secondary IgG anti-SRBC responses. Suppression of these antibody responses persisted for up to 20 weeks after the last exposure to H, at a total exposure of approximately 1500 microg H/kg/rat.     

仙茅合剂对大鼠生殖系统老化的影响

本文观察了仙茅合剂对大鼠生殖系统形态学变化的影响,结果表明,仙茅合剂能抑制卵巢和睾丸的萎缩.促进雄性大鼠的睾丸精原细胞的增殖,并使成熟精子量增多。使卵巢各级发育阶段的卵泡及成熟卵泡增多。由此可以看出,仙茅合剂可以明显地延缓大鼠生殖系统老化过程。药理教研室病理教研室绥滨县中医院大庆市萨尔图区人民医院     

Protective effects of antioxidants on acrylonitrile‐induced oxidative stress in female F344 rats

The induction of oxidative stress and damage appears to be involved in acrylonitrile induction of brain astrocytomas in rat. The present study examined the effects of dietary antioxidant supplementation on acrylonitrile‐induced oxidative stress and oxidative damage in rats in vivo. To assess the effects of antioxidants on biomarkers of acrylonitrile‐induced oxidative stress, female F344 rats were provided with diets containing vitamin E (0.05%), green tea polyphenols (GTP, 0.4%), N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC, 0.3%), sodium selenite (0.1mg/kg), and taurine (10g/kg) for 7 days, and then co‐administered with 0 and 100 ppm acrylonitrile in drinking water for 28 days. Significant increase in oxidative DNA damage in brain, evidenced by elevated 8OHdG levels, was seen in acrylonitrile‐exposed rats. Supplementation with vitamin E, GTP, and NAC reduced acrylonitrile‐induced oxidative DNA damage in brain while no protective effects were seen with the selenium or taurine supplementation. Acrylonitrile increased oxidative DNA damage, measured by the fpg‐modified alkaline Comet assay in rat WBCs, which was reduced by supplementation of Vitamin E, GTP, NAC, selenium, and taurine. In addition to stimulation of oxidative DNA damage, acrylonitrile triggered induction of pro‐inflammatory cytokines Tnfα, Il‐1β, and Ccl2, and the growth stimulatory cyclin D1 and cyclin D2 genes, which were effectively down‐regulated with antioxidant treatment. Antioxidant treatment also was able to stimulate the pro‐apoptotic genes Bad, Bax, and FasL and DNA repair genes Xrcc6 and Gadd45α. The results of this study support the involvement of oxidative stress in the development of acrylonitrile‐induced astrocytomas and suggest that antioxidants block acrylonitrile‐mediated damage through mechanisms that may involve in the suppression of inflammatory responses, inhibition of cell proliferation and stimulation of apoptosis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1808–1818, 2016.     

Protective role of Centella asiatica on lead-induced oxidative stress and suppressed reproductive health in male rats

Centella asiatica has been mentioned in ancient ayurvedic text of the Indian system of medicine for its properties to promote intelligence. The objective of the present study was to investigate the beneficial effects of C. asiatica on lead-induced oxidative stress and suppressed reproductive performance in male rats. Significant decrease in the weights of testes and epididymis were observed in lead treated animals. Exposure to lead acetate significantly increased malondialdehyde levels with a significant decrease in the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the liver, brain, kidneys and testes of rats. Epididymal sperm count, viable sperms, motile sperms and HOS-tail coiled sperms decreased significantly in lead-exposed rats. Testicular steroidogenic enzyme activities also decreased significantly in lead-exposed rats. No significant changes in the selected reproductive variables were observed in the plant extract alone treated rats. Whereas, co-administration of aqueous extracts of C. asiatica to lead exposed rats showed a significant increase in the weights of reproductive organs, reduction in lead-induced oxidative stress in the tissues and improvement in selected reproductive parameters over lead-exposed rats indicating the beneficial role of C. asiatica to counteract lead-induced oxidative stress and to restore the suppressed reproduction in male rats.     

Investigation of the effects of concomitant caffeine administration on the metabolic disposition of pyrazinamide in rats

The utility of pyrazinamide (PZA) in the short-course antituberculous treatment is well established. All available data support the idea that the PZA metabolite pyrazinoic acid (PA) is the active compound against M. tuberculosis. This situation warranted a deeper investigation of possible interactions with respect to its metabolic disposition. Caffeine, which is widely used as a drug and is a common constituent of most diets, shares with PZA the same metabolic enzyme, xanthine oxidase (XO). This study investigated if, and in what manner, concomitant administration of caffeine affects PZA metabolism. PZA and caffeine, in various doses (PZA=50 or 100 mg kg(-1) and caffeine= 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg kg(-1)), were administered to female Sprague-Dawley rats. PZA and its three main metabolites were quantified in 24 h urine samples by reversed phase-HPLC Concomitant administration of 100 mg kg(-1) caffeine and 50 mg kg(-1) PZA increased from the excretion (p<0.05) of the most water-soluble and the least toxic PZA metabolite 5-hydroxypyrazinoic acid (5-OH-PA) from 66.18+/-10.87 to 94.56+/-8.65 micromol/24 h. This effect was more pronounced when 100 mg kg(-1) of PZA was administered increasing excretion of 5-OH-PA from 113.28+/-70 to 173.23+/-17.82 micromol/24 h. These results show that the metabolic disposition of PZA is affected by concomitant caffeine intake.     

胞磷胆碱和硫酸镁联用对大鼠局灶脑缺血脑梗死体积及caspase-3表达的影响

目的:研究胞磷胆碱(CDP-c)和硫酸镁联用对大鼠实验性短暂局灶脑缺血的神经保护作用。方法:124只雄性SD大鼠分为7个组,假手术组4只大鼠,余6组均为20只:(1)模型组,(2)对照组(0.9%氯化钠1 mL.kg-1.d-1),(3)CDP-c组(250 mg.kg-1.d-1),(4)硫酸镁组(90 mg.kg-1.d-1),(5)两药联用A组(CDP-c 250 mg.kg-1.d-1,硫酸镁90 mg.kg-1.d-1),(6)两药联用B组(CDP-c 150 mg.kg-1.d-1,硫酸镁60 mg.kg-1.d-1),其中10只用于测定脑梗死体积,10只用于caspase-3和TUNEL阳性细胞两指标的测定。用大脑中动脉栓塞法制作短暂性(90 min)局灶脑缺血模型,观察CDP-c、硫酸镁单用及不同剂量联用7 d后,大鼠脑梗死体积、caspase-3表达及凋亡细胞数。结果:与对照组相比,CDP-c、硫酸镁单用及两药联用组脑梗死体积较小,caspase-3表达、凋亡细胞数均较少,并有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两药联用组脑梗死体积均比单用药组小,caspase-3表达、凋亡细胞数亦较两药单用组少(P<0.05)。剂量不同的两药联用组相比各项指标均无显著差别(P>0.05)。结论:CDP-c和硫酸镁单用对实验性短暂脑缺血模型可能具有神经保护作用。CDP-c与硫酸镁联用对实验性短暂局灶脑缺血的神经保护可能有协同作用,并且可以减少各药的用量。     

The toxic effects of microcystin-LR on the reproductive system of male rats in vivo and in vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate whether microcystin-LR, one of the most common cyanobacterial toxins has toxic effects on reproductive system in vivo or Leydig cells in vitro. Male rats were treated with MC-LR (i.p.) at a dose of 0, 5, 10 or15 microg/(kgday) for 28 days. Leydig cells were cultured with a culture medium including 0, 0.5, 5, 50 or 500 nM MC-LR. In vivo study, we observed exposure to 5 microg/(kgday) of MC-LR decreased the sperm motility, increasing the sperm abnormality rate, 15 microg/(kgday) of MC-LR led to the decrease of testis weight and sperm concentration, decreased the levels of serum testosterone, FSH and LH. The histological findings showed that the seminiferous tubules atrophied and obstructed. In vitro study evaluated MC-LR-induced toxicity and oxidative stress in Leydig cells. It was observed 50 and 500 nM MC-LR significantly decreased the cell viability, increasing the apoptotic DNA fragmentation, and increasing the ratio of necrotic cells. The Leydig cells exposed to MC-LR decreased testosterone production. 500 nM MC-LR increased ROS production, 50 or 500 nM MC-LR enhanced the lipid peroxidation. All Leydig cells exposed to MC-LR showed decreased SOD activity. The results of this study showed that the oxidative stress of MC-LR might lead to cytotoxicity, which may play an important role in cell apoptosis. Then could reduce the production of testosterone in Leydig cells and result in reproductive toxicity.     

Safety assessment of Hibiscus sabdariffa after maternal exposure on male reproductive parameters in rats

Context: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) is a species widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of some disorders. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of H. sabdariffa (HS) on the development of the male reproductive tract in rats following in utero exposure. Materials and methods: Pregnant rats received 250 or 500?mg/kg of HS extract or vehicle from gestational day 12 until day 21 of lactation. Results and discussion: Both doses of HS increased the body weight of male offspring at weaning, without compromising the puberty onset parameters. At puberty, there was a significant increase in the vas deferens absolute weight and a significant reduction in the relative weight of kidney at higher dose. These animals also presented a significant reduction in the sperm number in the caput/corpus of epididymis after exposure to both doses and a reduction in the sperm number in the cauda epididymis for the lower dose. At adulthood, the highest dose significantly reduced the sperm production in relation to controls and both doses provoked a reduction in the relative sperm number in the epididymis without affecting the sperm morphology. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that maternal exposure to H. sabdariffa can adversely influence the male reproductive system in rats.     

Combined effects of THC and caffeine on working memory in rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cannabis and caffeine are two of the most widely used psychoactive substances. Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, induces deficits in short-term memory. Caffeine, a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, attenuates some memory deficits, but there have been few studies addressing the effects of caffeine and THC in combination. Here, we evaluate the effects of these drugs using a rodent model of working memory.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Rats were given THC (0, 1 and 3 mg·kg⁻¹, i.p.) along with caffeine (0, 1, 3 and 10 mg·kg⁻¹, i.p.), the selective adenosine A₁-receptor antagonist CPT (0, 3 and 10 mg·kg⁻¹) or the selective adenosine A_2A-receptor antagonist {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"SCH58261","term_id":"1052882304","term_text":"SCH58261"}}SCH58261 (0 and 5 mg·kg⁻¹) and were tested with a delayed non-matching-to-position procedure in which behaviour during the delay was automatically recorded as a model of memory rehearsal.

KEY RESULTS

THC alone produced memory deficits at 3 mg·kg⁻¹. The initial exposure to caffeine (10 mg·kg⁻¹) disrupted the established pattern of rehearsal-like behaviour, but tolerance developed rapidly to this effect. CPT and {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"SCH58261","term_id":"1052882304","term_text":"SCH58261"}}SCH58261 alone had no significant effects on rehearsal or memory. When a subthreshold dose of THC (1 mg·kg⁻¹) was combined with caffeine (10 mg·kg⁻¹) or CPT (10 mg·kg⁻¹), memory performance was significantly impaired, even though performance of the rehearsal-like pattern was not significantly altered.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Caffeine did not counteract memory deficits induced by THC but actually exacerbated them. These results are consistent with recent findings that adenosine A₁ receptors modulate cannabinoid signalling in the hippocampus.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.165.issue-8. To view Part I of Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue-7     

The role of mitochondria in brain aging and the effects of melatonin

Melatonin is an endogenous indoleamine present in different tissues, cellular compartments and organelles including mitochondria. When melatonin is administered orally, it is readily available to the brain where it counteracts different processes that occur during aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. These aging processes include oxidative stress and oxidative damage, chronic and acute inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of neural regeneration. This review summarizes age related changes in the brain and the importance of oxidative/nitrosative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in brain aging. The data and mechanisms of action of melatonin in relation to aging of the brain are reviewed as well.     

Vitamin E supplementation modulates the biological effects of omega-3 fatty acids in naturally aged rats

Omega-3 fatty acids are well-known class of nutraceuticals with established health benefits. Recently, the oxidation products of these fatty acids are gaining attention, as they are likely to disturb body redox balance. Therefore, the efficacy of omega-3 fats under conditions of diminished antioxidant status, such as aging, is always a concern. Present study assessed the effects of omega-3 fats (DHA and EPA) together with or without vitamin-E in naturally aged rats. It was found that in omega-3 fats alone consumed rats the lipid profile was improved, while in omega-3 fat with vitamin-E-consumed group (OMVE), the hepato protective and antioxidant properties were pronounced, especially the redox status of brain tissue. It is possible that vitamin-E might have reduced the peroxidation of omega-3 fats, thereby allowing their synergistic effects. Hence, the use of vitamin-E along with omega-3 fat may be beneficial under aged conditions.     

地西泮对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的：研究地西泮对脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法：用四动脉结扎法制造大鼠全脑缺血再灌注模型。动物随机分成伪手术组、再灌注组、尼莫地平２ｍｇ／ｋｇ组、地西泮２ｍｇ／ｋｇ组及４ｍｇ／ｋｇ组共５组。于缺血前、再灌注前及再灌注过程中各ｉｖ给药一次。结果：地西泮使缺血再灌注造成的脑水份含量增加，丙二醛含量增高，脑组织乳酸脱氢酶含量减少及脑钙升高向正常方向逆转（Ｐ＜０．０１），并且可以有效改善再灌期间脑电图的变化（Ｐ＜０．０５），减轻锥体细胞的坏死情况。结论：地西泮对脑缺血再灌注损伤有保护作用     

葛根素在减轻创伤性脑损伤氧化应激反应中的作用

目的：探究葛根素是否能有效减轻创伤性脑损伤（TBI）中的氧化应激反应。方法选择成年雄性 SD大鼠60只构建 TBI 模型并随机平分为模型组,假手术组及葛根素给药组（给药组）,每组20只。检测3组大鼠在不同时间点氧化应激相关指标[超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH－Px）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、丙二醛（MDA）]活性及含量变化。结果氧化应激相关指标检测中,给药组与模型组比较,其中第3、7天 SOD、CAT 活性以及 MDA、NO 含量与同时间点模型组比较差异有统计学意义（ P ＜0．05）。用药组与模型组比较,均能不同程度升高GSH 含量及 GSH－Px 活性（ P ＜0．05）,其中给药组第3天及第7天 GSH 含量及 GSH－Px 活性较同时间点模型组比较差异有统计学意义（ P ＜0．05）。结论根据对不同氧化应激指标检测所得结果可以看出葛根素可有效减轻创伤性脑损伤所带来的氧化应激损伤。     

Effects of repeated oral postnatal exposure to chlorpyrifos on cholinergic neurochemistry in developing rats.

The neurochemical effects of repeated postnatal exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPS) were studied in developing rats. Rats were gavaged daily from postnatal day (PND) 1-21 with CPS in corn oil starting at 1.5 mg/kg (low dosage group) and increasing gradually to 3 mg/kg and then to 6 mg/kg (high dosage group). Brain cholinesterase (ChE) activity was significantly inhibited on PND 6, 12, 22, and 30, with maximum inhibition on PND 6 of 49 and 59% and recovering to 18 and 33% on PND 30 in the low and high dosage groups, respectively. On PND 22 and 30, 94% or greater of the inhibited ChE could not be reactivated by the oxime TMB-4 in both treatment groups, indicating aging of the phosphorylated ChE. Total muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) were reduced in a dose-related manner on PND 12 and 22, with substantial recovery by PND 30. M1/M3 mAChR were significantly reduced on PND 6 and 12 only in the high dosage group, and on PND 22 in both groups, while M2/M4 mAChR were reduced in the high dosage group on PND 22 and 30. On PND 30 choline acetyltransferase activity and vesicular acetylcholine transporter levels were decreased by 12 and 22%, respectively, only in the high dosage group. High-affinity choline transporter levels were decreased at all time points in the high dosage group and on PND 6, 22, and 30 in the low dosage group. The results presented here demonstrate that repeated postnatal exposures to CPS result in transient reductions of mAChR and more persistent alterations of presynaptic cholinergic neurons. In addition, the long-term reduction of brain ChE activity observed following repeated postnatal exposure to CPS is attributable to permanent inactivation or "aging" of the enzyme.     

Protective effects of nanostructures of hydrated C(60) fullerene on reproductive function in streptozotocin-diabetic male rats

Diabetes mellitus is a well-recognized cause of male sexual dysfunction and impairments of male fertility. Streptozotocin (STZ) is used for medical treatment of neoplastic islet β-cells of pancreas and producing of animal model of diabetes mellitus type 1 that is characterized by suppression of reproductive activity due to the hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in testes. Seeking for the agents that could alleviate diabetes-induced damage to reproductive system is yet the important area of inquiry. The present study was designed to evaluate whether hydrated C₆₀ fullerene (C₆₀HyFn), which is known to be powerful bioantioxidant, eliminate testicular dysfunction induced by STZ-diabetes in rats. Wistar strain male albino rats were divided into four groups of six animals each: (1) control group, (2) C₆₀HyFn-treated nondiabetic group, (3) STZ-diabetic group and (4) C₆₀HyFn-treated diabetic group. Once hyperglycaemia was induced by STZ, rats in the second and fourth groups were treated with C₆₀HyFn (in the form of drinking water) at the dose of 4 μg/kg daily for 5 weeks. In diabetic rats, relative weights of right cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate, sperm motility and epididymal sperm concentration were significantly less than those of control group, but which were restored in the fourth group treated with C₆₀HyFn (p < 0.001). In hematoxylin and eosin staining, marked histopathological changes including degeneration, desquamation, disorganisation and reduction in germinal cells, interstitial oedema and congestion were evident in the testis of diabetic rats, but C₆₀HyFn treatment resulted in recovery of histopathological changes and an increase in Johnsen's testicular score significantly (p < 0.001). C₆₀HyFn treatment restores the increased apoptosis induced by STZ-diabetes. In diabetic rats, levels of serum testosterone, testicular reduced glutathione (GSH) and alpha-tocopherol were significantly reduced and testicular lipid peroxidation level was increased (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, treatment of diabetic rats with C₆₀HyFn resulted in significant corrective effects on these parameters towards the control levels. C₆₀HyFn, applied alone, did not exert any toxic effects in testicular tissues. Furthermore, C₆₀HyFn treatment in diabetic and nondiabetic rats resulted in considerable elevations of some important polyunsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, we have presented for the first time substantial evidence that administration of C₆₀HyFn significantly reduces diabetes-induced oxidative stress and associated complications such as testicular dysfunction and spermatogenic disruption.     

姜黄素对顺铂所致大鼠肾毒性的防护作用

目的研究姜黄素(CMN)对顺铂(CDDP)所致肾损害的防护作用,并探讨其可能机制。方法将42只大鼠按体重随机分6组,分别为对照组、CMN组、CDDP组、CMN(204、0和80 mg/kg) CDDP组。CMN连续给予大鼠灌胃3 d,第2天灌胃后1 h腹腔注射CDDP(5.5 mg/kg)。CDDP处理后,分别在第1、3和5天采血,测定血清尿素氮(BUN)和肌酐(CRE)。第5天采血后处死动物,测定肾脏系数、肾皮质匀浆丙二醛(MDA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活力以及肾组织铂(Pt)含量等。同时利用体外实验观察对抗增殖作用的影响。结果CMN预处理可减轻CDDP引起的肾脏系数升高及BUN、CRE水平升高;能抑制CDDP引起的MDA形成增高;并能提升CDDP引起的GSH含量和GSH-Px活力下降。CMN低剂量的上述作用明显(P<0.05或P<0.01)。CMN防护组与CDDP组的人卵巢癌细胞系和膀胱癌细胞系的半数抑制浓度差异无显著性。结论CMN经口给予能防护CDDP所致的肾损害,其机制可能与其抗氧化作用和清除自由基活性有密切关系。较高剂量CMN未见防护CDDP所致肾毒性的作用,其原因可能与其助氧化作用有关。CMN对CDDP抗肿瘤细胞增殖作用无明显影响。     

脱氢表雄酮对衰老大鼠线粒体外周型苯二氮(艹卓)卓受体的影响

目的:观察脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)对衰老模型大鼠大脑皮质线粒体外周型苯二氮艹卓受体(PBRs)的影响,探讨PBRs在脑老化中的作用。方法:Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为溶媒对照组和药物治疗组。实验动物连续注射D-半乳糖(100 mg.kg-1,qd,共56次)制备衰老动物模型。溶媒对照组、药物治疗组动物分别同时注射二甲基亚砜或DHEA,隔日一次,共28次。利用Morris水迷宫测试学习记忆能力后动物断头,采用梯度离心法制备大脑皮质线粒体,应用放射配基结合试验测定PBRs最大结合容量(Bmax)和平衡解离常数(KD)。结果:与溶媒对照组比较,药物治疗组Bmax显著升高,KD无显著变化,动物学习记忆能力显著改善。大脑皮质线粒体PBRs特异结合活性与迷宫试验动物逃避潜伏期、平台象限游泳距离和时间显著相关(P<0.05)。结论:大脑皮质线粒体PBRs表达量与衰老动物学习记忆功能密切相关。DHEA可以增加脑组织PBRs的表达量,并改善衰老动物智能状态。