ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the effects of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) on the histopathological and biochemical changes that inhaled formaldehyde (FA) induces on the testicular tissue of rats. Methods: Thirty three adult male rats were separated into five groups as follows: C, the control group; 4FA group which received FA for 4 weeks; 13FA group which was given FA for 13 weeks; 4FA+NSO group which was administered FA plus NSO for 4 weeks; 13FA+NSO group which was treated with FA plus NSO for 13 weeks. FA was administered through inhalation for 8 h 5 days a week at a dose of 5 ppm in a special glass cage, and NSO was administered orally 1 mL/kg once daily. Rats were decapitated at the end of the experiment and testicular tissue specimens were harvested for histopathologic and biochemical assessment. Results: Compared to the C group, reduction was observed in the number of intact tubules and in the mean germinative epithelium thickness of the FA groups. Significant increase was observed in the number of intact tubules with the long-term (13 weeks) administration of NSO together with FA. Reduced glutathione peroxidase activity was found and oxidative stress index values were measured higher in the 4FA and 13FA groups versus the C group (P<0.05). Moreover, total antioxidant status levels decreased only in the 4FA group (P<0.05) while only the 13FA group significantly increased malondialdehyde levels and reduced catalase activities in comparison with the C group. In the 13FA+NSO group, malondialdehyde levels decreased however glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities increased compared to the 13FA group. Differences measured in total antioxidant status levels were found to be statistically significant only between the 4FA and the 4FA+NSO groups. Conclusions: NSO as an antioxidant should be used for a longer term to achieve protective efficacy both histopathologically and biochemically in the testicular tissue.
ABSTRACT
To investigate the damage of brain ischemia-reperfusion [I/R] caused by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery [MCA], and the effects of acupuncture on this damage. This investigation took place in the Experimental Research Unit of Firat University, Elazig, Turkey in January-February 2007. For this aim, 14 rats were divided into 2 groups: I/R [control] and I/R+acupuncture [experiment]. In the I/R group, the MCA was occluded for 60 minutes, after this reperfusion was applied. In the I/R+acupuncture group, dry needle acupuncture was applied after reperfusion for 10 days. At the end of the experiment, all rats were sacrificed. The brain tissues were examined after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. In the samples belonging to the I/R group, widespread necrotic areas, red neurons, vacuolization, congestion, and edema were observed. In the I/R+ acupuncture group, the findings of ischemia were significantly decreased when compared with the I/R group. The damage caused by I/R was decreased by manual acupuncture therapy, however, further clinical studies are needed to determine the mechanism of acupuncture treatment, the optimal timing, and duration of acupuncture treatment in such disorders
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Acupuncture Therapy , Rats, Wistar , Brain Ischemia/therapyABSTRACT
To investigate possible neuroprotective effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil in brain ischemia-reperfusion [I/R]. This investigation took place in the Experimental Research Unit, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey, from January-February 2006. The study was carried out on 12 male Wistar rats; divided into 2 groups: I/R [control] and I/R + omega-3 essential fatty acids [EFA] [experiment]. The rats in the I/R group received only ordinary rat food before middle cerebral artery [MCA] occlusion. The I/R + omega-3 EFA group received omega-3 fatty acid daily via intragastric gavage [300 mg/kg Marincap capsule] with normal food before MCA occlusion for 30 days. Structural alterations in the brain tissues were semi-quantitatively analyzed [0: absent, +: slight, ++: moderate, +++: severe]. There was evident severe [+++] edema, vacuolization, and eosinophilic degeneration in the I/R group, while only slight [+] edema and eosinophilic degeneration in the I/R + omega-3 EFA group in which no vacuolization was determined. These findings are consistent with the available studies in this field. Results from this study indicate the beneficial effects of omega-3 EFA supplementation in prevention of I/R - induced damage in rats