The effects of alpha lipoic acid on liver cells damages and apoptosis induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids.

We studied the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on the liver cell damages and apoptosis by n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) rich diet in young rats. 24 Wistar rats were divided into four groups. During the study, 12 of them (control) were fed with standard chow and other 12 (n-6) were fed with the food containing high-fat n-6 for 8 weeks. At the end of the fourth week, control and n-6 groups were randomly divided into two groups and then, 4 weeks, 35 mg/kg ALA are injected. Groups; control, control+ALA, n-6, n-6+ALA. The liver tissue glutathione (GSH) activity was determined. Immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 and TUNEL method for apoptosis were performed. The GSH levels have significantly decreased (p<0,001), and vacuolization in the hepatocytes, infiltration and the collagen accumulation around the central vein, hepatic stellate cells in the sinusoids have increased in n-6 group compared with the other groups. TUNEL (p<0,001) and caspase-3 (p<0,001) positive cells increased in n-6 group whereas all degenerative observations decreased in n-6+ALA group. Our results demonstrate that the feeding with n-6 PUFA causes fatty liver, fibrosis development, inflammations and apoptosis in the liver of young rats. ALA has a beneficial effects on these degenerative effects.

The in vitro effects of iloprost with other vasodilators on the human internal thoracic artery.

PURPOSE: We aimed (a) to analyze the effects of iloprost as a vasodilator on the human internal thoracic artery (ITA) and (b) to compare these effects with the effects of other vasodilators now being used in the clinic. METHODS: Following transfer into only Krebs solution or into Krebs solution containing papaverine or iloprost, human ITA strips were then incubated only in Krebs or in Krebs with vasodilators that are generally used in clinical practice, such as diltiazem or glyceryl trinitrate. Cumulative concentration-contraction curves for noradrenaline (NA) and KCl were then established for these strips. Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey-Kramer tests were used to compare differences between groups. A p <0.05 was used to indicate significance. RESULTS: Among the transfer solutions, papaverine (6.50 ± 0.20) and iloprost (7.33 ± 0.13) were significantly more potent than Krebs (8.46 ± 0.75, p <0.001 and p <0.05) with regard to preventive effect on precontracted ITA with NA. Iloprost significantly relaxed the NA-induced precontracted ITA strips in the Krebs, papaverine, and iloprost groups. Diltiazem significantly relaxed the precontracted ITA with KCl in all storage groups. CONCLUSION: Iloprost may also prevent perioperative ITA spasm, but should be tested in the clinical setting.