ABSTRACT
Ulcerative colitis [UC] is a chronic inflammation of the colon that results from an abnormal response by the body's immune system. Our previous study has shown that oral Matricaria recutita L. aqueous external because of its anti-inflammatory compounds decreased a number of UC inflammatory indices. In the present study, we evaluate the effect of rectal aqueous extract on a model of acute experimental colitis and compare it with prednisolone. Experiments were performed on six groups [n=7] of male Wistar rats [230-280 g]. Of these, three groups were rectally administered different doses of extract [20, 30 and 60 mg/kg], the fourth group received oral prednisolone, the fifth group received vehicle and the last group was considered as the control group. To induce colitis, the rats fasted for 36 hours after which they received ether as an anesthesia. At the last stage, 2 ml of 4% acetic acid was instilled via the anus. After 24 hours, macroscopic study confirmed the colitis induction. The doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg of extract significantly reduced the colon weight/length ratio. The same effect was observed with prednisolone [1.14 mg/kg]. Extract at all doses [20, 30 and 60 mg/kg] significantly reduced the ulcer index compared to the sham group. Extract [60 mg/kg] effectively decreased the severity and extent of inflammation compared to the prednisolone group. Intracolonic injection of Matricaria recutita L. aqueous extract was effective in treatment against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats
ABSTRACT
Retinoids have been suggested to play a role in oogenesis and oocyte survival. In the present study the effects of retinol palmitate were investigated on differential follicular counts in response to superovulation as well as follicle quality after vitrification of ovaries. Ten, 4 week old female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to either paraffin [n=5] or retinol palmitate [n=5] administration. Vitamin A administered animals received [i.p.] 250 IU retinol palmitate, dissolved in 0.1 ml of paraffin oil on days one and ten followed by superovulation with 10 IU PMSG. Paraffin administered mice were only treated with 0.1 ml of paraffin oil. The collected left ovaries from both paraffin and vitamin A administered groups were considered as non-vitrified and the collected right ovaries from both treated groups underwent vitrification. Ovaries in the vitrified group were frozen sequentially by placing into two vitrification solutions [VS1: 10% ethylene glycol [EG], 10% DMSO in holding medium] TCM-199 + 20% FBS: HM] and VS2: 20% EG, 20% DMSO in HM]. After warming, recovered ovaries as well as nonvitrified ovaries were serially sectioned and examined histopathologically. The proportion of antral follicles in the non-vitrified ovaries from vitamin A administered mice was statistically higher than the non-vitrified ovaries from paraffin administered group [29.4% vs. 15.6%, respectively; p<0.001]. No difference due to retinol palmitate injection was observed for the rate of small follicles between the two non-vitrified groups. The percentage of damaged follicles did not show any significant differences between the two vitrified groups [76% vs. 79%]. Our results demonstrate that administration of retinol palmitate may improve the response to superovulation through the shift of follicular growth towards antral follicle development. However, no positive effect of retinol palmitate in the quality of follicles is probable when ovaries are vitrified