Pomegranate flower extract does not prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats

Nephrotoxicity is the major side-effect of cisplatin [CDDP], and it is reported to be gender-related. We evaluated the effects of pomegranate flower extract [PFE] as an antioxidant on CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats. Twenty-three adult female rats in four groups treated as following. Groups 1 and 2 received PFE at doses of 25 and 50 [mg/kg/day], respectively, for 9 days, and from day 3 on, they also received cisplatin [CDDP] [2.5 mg/kg] daily. Group 3 was treated as group 1 expects saline instead of PFE, and group 4 received PFE [25 mg/kg/day] alone. Cisplatin alone increased the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and nitrite; and kidney tissue damage score and kidney weight. However, PFE not only did not ameliorate the induced nephrotoxicity, but also aggravated renal tissue damage. Pomegranate extract as an antioxidant did not ameliorate CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity in female rats

N-acetylcysteine prevents kidney and lung disturbances in renal ischemia/ reperfusion injury in rat

One of the most common causes of acute kidney injury [AKI] is kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury [IRI]. The distant organ injury such as acute lung injury is one of the side effects of AKI or kidney IRI. In this study, we performed bilateral renal IRI in rats and the protective role of N acetylcysteine [NAC] in kidney and lung was investigated. Rats [n = 30] were randomly assigned to four experiment groups. The group 1 was assigned as sham operated group. Before kidney IRI performance, the others groups were treated with saline [group 2], 150 mg/kg [group 3] or 500 mg/kg [group 4] of NAC, and the treatment were continued daily after IRI for next 3 days. At day 3, the all groups' animals were subjected for the measurements. The serum level of blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and creatinine [Cr] in the control group increased significantly [P < 0.05], and administration of NAC [150 mg/kg] decreased the serum levels of Cr and BUN. However, only the serum level of Cr decreased significantly [P < 0.05]. NAC did not improve kidney weight and damage; however, its low dose [150 mg/kg] attenuated the lung injury score [P < 0.05] when compared with the control group. No significant differences were observed in lung water content and endothelial permeability, serum levels of malondialdehyde and nitrite between the groups. Low dose of NAC as a protectant agent may protect the kidney function and lung tissue damage after kidney IRI

Protective role of recombinant human erythropoietin in kidney and lung injury following renal bilateral ischemia-reperfusion in rat model

Acute kidney injury [AKI] has been recognized as one of the most complex clinical complications in modern medicine, and ischemia/reperfusion [I/R] injury is well-known as a main reason of AKI. In addition, AKI leads to important systemic consequences such as acute lung injury. This study was designed to investigate the role of erythropoietin [EPO] on kidney function makers and tissue damage; and lung endothelial permeability and lung water content [LWC] in bilateral renal I/R injury model in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of sham, I/R, and I/R treated with EPO [I/R + EPO] groups. The I/R and I/R + EPO groups were subjected to bilateral renal I/R injury; however, only the I/R + EPO group received EPO [500 IU/kg, i.p.] 2 h before ischemia surgery, and the same dose was continued once a day for 3 days after ischemia. The sham group underwent a surgical procedure without ischemia process. The blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and serum creatinine [Cr] levels, kidney tissue damage score [KTDS], and kidney weight [KW] per 100 g body weight significantly increased in I/R group [P < 0.05]. EPO administration decreased levels of BUN and Cr significantly [P < 0.05], and KTDS and KW insignificantly [P = 0.1]. No significant differences in kidney and serum levels of malondialdehyde, and lung vascular permeability and LWC were observed between the groups. The serum and kidney levels of nitrite were not significantly different between I/R and sham groups; however, administration of EPO increased the renal level of nitrite [P < 0.05]. EPO protected the kidney against I/R injury; however, it may not protect the lung tissue from the damage induced by renal I/R injury in rats

Serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms in southwestern Iranian patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder of unknown etiology. Serotonin is an important factor in sensory signaling in the brain-gut axis, which plays a key role in intestinal motility and secretion. Serotonin clearance is mediated by a specific protein called the serotonin reuptake transporter. Transcription activity of the serotonin transporter gene is affected by some polymorphisms in this gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and irritable bowel syndrome. The 5-HTTLPR, rs25531 and STin2VNTR polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene were analyzed by PCR-based methods in 50 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 100 healthy controls. Serotonin transporter polymorphisms were similar in patients and healthy controls. There were no significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between the two groups. Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in the gene encoding for the serotonin transporter are not associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Interactions between environmental factors and predisposing genetic factors are important in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome, and further genetic and epigenetic research may provide novel insights into the mechanisms contributing to this disease