Metformin HCl has curative effect on rebuilding of ventricular diastolic functions in high-fat-diet fed rats

Myocardial lipid accumulation due to diabetes and/or obesity plays a role in the progression of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Our aims were to exhibit the correlation between histopathologic stage of the liver and cardiac functions, and to evaluate the effects of metformin HCl and rosiglitazone on myocardial functions. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups to exhibit the correlation between histopathologic stage of the liver and cardiac functions and to determine whether metformin HCl and rosiglitazone have effects on cardiac functions. For 20 weeks, one group was fed standard rat basic diet, whereas the other groups were on high-fat-diet. During the last 4 weeks, metformin HCl was given to the third group, rosiglitazone to the fourth group. Histological evaluation of rat livers yielded significantly higher steatosis grade in high-fat-diet group and different fibrosis stages among groups. Also, there was significant correlation between diastolic functions and steatosis grade/fibrosis stage of rat liver. Electrophysiological study of hearts via Langendorff technique showed better coronary perfusion pressures and diastolic functions in standard-diet and metformin HCl groups compared to other groups. Metformin HCl improves LV diastolic dysfunction and coronary perfusion pressures

Ultrastructural evaluation of the effects of cinnamon on the nervus ischiadicus in diabetic rats

To investigate the effects of oral cinnamon supplementation on the nervus ischiadicus at the electron microscopical level in rats. This study was performed between 2004-2006 in Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey in 15 adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were divided into 3 groups: control [C] [n=5], diabetic without cinnamon [D] [n=5], and diabetic with cinnamon [D-C] [n=5]. Diabetes was induced with intraperitoneal alloxan administration. All diabetic rats were treated with human insulin. All rats were fed with standard pellet chow. The D-C group rats were fed with standard pellet chow plus Cinnamomum cassia at the dose of 400 mg/kg. All rats were sacrificed after 3 months and we obtained the nervus ischiadicus of all rats. Contrast stained thin sections evaluated by Jeol-TEM-1010 electron microscope, were not statistically different in both groups and photo samples were obtained. Mean blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and lipid profile were not statistically different in both groups. Marked detachment of myelin lamellae at Schmidt-Lanterman clefts, lysis in cristae mitochondrialis and degenerative changes, severe dispersion of organelles in neurolemma, mesoaxon region, and remarkable edema at the endoneurium were found in diabetic rats. On the contrary, mesoaxon, nucleus, nucleolus and myelin sheet were almost of normal appearance at the ultra-structural level in the D-C group. Cinnamon extracts may have beneficial effects on the development of diabetic neuropathy in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Immunohistochemical analysis of CD31, CD36, and CD44 antigens in human omentum

Milky spots in the human omental tissue are known to be consisting of lymphocytes, macrophages and mast cells. Our goal was to evaluate the relationship of lymphoid cells and macrophages with vasculature and stromal components. In this study we examined the biopsy specimens obtained from the adult patients whom were operated for different purposes in the General Surgery Department of Dicle University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. We used CD31 as an endothelial cell marker, CD36 which is known to react with microvascular endothelium and adipocytes, and CD44 which is a hyaluronic acid receptor using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. We observed that CD31 was mainly reactive with vascular endothelial cells and platelets, CD36 was reactive with microvascular endothelium and adipocytes and CD44 was mainly expressed by the endothelial cells of high endothelial venules, fibroblasts in stromal compartments and by large mononuclear cells. We determined the structural and immunophenotypic features of omental lymphoid tissue components stressing vascular and stromal elements, and we briefly discussed the significance of the expression of these molecules in the determined locations