Effect of combinations of aspirin and metformin therapy on liver function tests and inflammatory mediators in experimental diabetic rats

Individuals with diabetes have a higher incidence of liver function tests abnormalities than normal individuals. There is a strong relationship between inflammatory markers and metabolic disturbances in diabetes. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of adding aspirin as an anti-inflammatory drug to oral hypoglycemic agent metformin on blood glucose, liver function, lipid profile and inflammatory mediators in diabetic male albino rats. 120 Adult male albino rats were divided into six equal groups: control health, control diabetic, diabetic rats treated with insulin, diabetic rats treated with metformin, diabetic rats treated with aspirin and diabetic rats treated with metformin and aspirin. Blood was obtained to assess serum glucose level, liver function tests, lipid profiles and the inflammatory mediators interlukin-6 [IL-6]. The group treated with metformin plus aspirin has a higher controlling effect on total cholesterol, triglyceride, low and high density lipoproteins and IL-6 levels than other groups. The group treated with insulin has a better controlling effect on liver function tests than other groups. Combination of aspirin and metformin has better controlling effect on lipid profile and inflammatory mediators than metformin alone

Effects of acute and chronic maternal deprivation on hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis in rat pups with hyperthyroidal mothers

Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine problem encountered in human pregnancy. It is well known that hyperthyroidism induces an increase in the activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis. Between the age of 4 and 14 days, the HPA axis of the rat displays a relative stress hyporesponsive period [SHRP]. There are no reports about development of the HPA axis in rat pups of hyperthyroid mothers. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of acute and chronic maternal deprivation on their pups HPA axis function of hyperthyroid mothers and the influence of treatment administration to hypothyroid mothers from conception to the end of experiment. 30 adult female rats were used after induction of pregnancy and hyperthyroidism. Maternal deprivation for 24 hours was done at two different ages during postnatal development at mid and outside the SHRP. Also, repeated maternal deprivation was done in another group. Now, pups groups are: Control deprived, control non deprived, treated deprived, treated non deprived, nontreated deprived and nontreated nondeprived. The plasma thyroxin [T4] levels of treated deprived groups were significantly lower than non treated groups, while, plasma thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] levels of treated groups were significantly higher than non treated deprived groups. There is no significant difference in plasma T4 between control and treated nondeprived group. There is no significant difference in plasma corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin hormone [ACTH] in treated deprived in comparison to treated nondeprived at postnatal day 9 and with repeated maternal deprivation. With repeated deprivation plasma corticosterone levels were not different in nontreated deprived group in comparison with the nontreated nondeprived group. Maternal deprivation in rats with hyperthyroidal mother depended on the age of pups at which procedure is applied

Renovascular protective effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor "Ramipril" and the angiotensin receptor blocker "osartan" on experimentally diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases in the world. It has the potential to cause many complications such as increased blood pressure, disturbance in the kidney functions and elevation of blood lipids.. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possible renal and vascular protective effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI], ramipril, as well as the selective angiotensin II receptor blocker [AIIRB], losartan, and the combination of both drugs in diabetic rats. We used 50 rats divided into 5 groups: control, diabetic control and three other diabetic groups each was treated by one of the described drug regimen. Systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, renal function tests, lipid/profile and histopathological examinations were performed to all the groups. Our results revealed that after'6eeks of treatment with rarnipril, losartan, and ramipril plus losartan, there was a significant decrease in the systolic blood pressure [SBP]. When we analyzed the obtained data, we found that the described drug groups had a renoprotective effects in diabetes meilitus. In addition, there were significant decrease in serum triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein [LDL], while serum high density lipoprotein [HDL] was increased as compared with diabetic control group. However, the intensity of changes produced by losartan was of greater extent than that produced by ramipril. The combination of ramipril plus losartan proved to be superior on the two other separate drugs

Effects of henna leaf [lawsonia inermis] on biochemical and pathological alterations in chemically-induced cancer breast in albino female rats

Breast cancer is one of the most common and treatable of all-human malignancies. The development of breast cancer is associated with oxidative stress, Henna leaf [Lawsonia inermis,] has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antipyretic, analgesic, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effect as well. This study is designed to investigate the effects of henna leaf on the chemically-induced cancer breast in albino female rats. Thirty albino female rats of 45 F days age were used. The animals were divided into three groups 10 animals each. Group I [control group], group II received the carcinogenic substance 7, 12-dimethyl benz [a] anthracene [DMBA,] intraperitonially, in single dose of 10 mg that can induce palpable mammary masses within 90 days and group III received the carcinogenic substance by the same concentrations, duration and the same route as in group II till induced palpable mammary masses then treated orally once daily for one month with 200 mg/kg body weight of henna leaf extract. Blood samples were collected from the three groups and the serum used for determination of estradiol hormone and lipid bound sialic acid. The animals then sacrificed and specimens were taken from the breast tumor tissues and tissue homogenate was done for determination of nitric oxide [NO] and total glutathione. Another specimen was taken from the breast tumor tissues and processed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Group II showed that DMBA administration caused a significant increase in the serum level of both estradiol and lipid bound sialic acid, Also, DMBA induced a significant increase in the level of NO and a significant decrease in the level of total glutathione in breast tumor tissues homogenate. The palpable masses were rubbery in consistency, whitish cut surface with focal ulceration of the overlying skin. Mammary adenocarcinomas with a prevailing cribriform pattern were seen in DMBA treated group. Group III showed that treatment with henna induced a significant decrease of serum estradiol level as well as a decrease in the serum level of lipid bound sialic acid. Also henna caused a significant decrease in NO and a significant increase in the level of total glutathione in breast tumor tissues homogenate. As regard the lesions size there were marked reduction in them in all animals. Histologically, group III breast masses showed extensive areas of necrosis, and exhibited stromal reaction composed of admixture of lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes, and fibroblasts [signs of regression,]. Histopathological assessment also demonstrated cellular morphological features of apoptosis in both malignant and dysplastic cells. We can conclude that the effects of henna leaf on breast cancer induced chemically by DMBA are incomplete and exerted mainly through a decrease of free radicals and increase in the antioxidant level

Role of nitric oxide in the pathophysiology of lead- induced cardiovascular diseases in rats

Exposure to lead is an environmental and occupational sitting continues to be a serious public health problem. Lead affects many organs and systems in human, where the cardiovascular system is one of the important targets. The mechanism of lead induced hypertension and cardiac diseases remain unclear. This study is designed to investigate the role of nitric oxide [NO] in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of lead- induced cardiovascular diseases in rats. 40 rats were used and divided into 4 equal groups. The first group was left without treatment served as a control group. The rest of groups were treated with lead acetate [0.48 mmol/L in distilled water] orally daily for 8 weeks, the third group concomitantly administered L arginine intraperitoneal injection while, the last group co administered L- N-Nitro-L arginine methyl ester intraperitoneal injection [L-NAME]. Blood samples were collected at the 4[th] and 8[th] week of the study for biochemical analysis of mean blood lead level and serum nitric oxide, lipid peroxide, total antioxidants, HDL and LDL. Measurements of systolic blood pressure were done. The mean blood lead levels, lipid peroxidation levels and LDL- cholesterol of lead treated rats were significantly higher in all groups than control. While the serum totals antioxidant levels and HDL- cholesterol significantly decreased below control levels. There was a positive correlation between mean blood lead and each of serum LDL, serum lipid peroxide and systolic blood pressure. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between serum nitric oxide and each of mean blood lead, serum LDL and systolic blood pressure. These findings point to the role of nitric oxide [NO] in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of lead induced cardiovascular diseases and hypertension