Effects of leptin, ghrelin and neuropeptide y on spike-wave discharge activity and certain biochemical parameters in WAG/Rij rats with genetic absence epilepsy.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of leptin, ghrelin and neuropeptide-Y on the development of nonconvulsive seizure activity and their role on combating oxidative stress and cytokines produced by the systemic immune response in the WAG/Rij rat model for genetic absence epilepsy. Current study showed that all three peptides aggravated spike wave discharges activity and affected the oxidative stress in WAG/Rij rats without any significant changes in the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α except leptin that only induced an increment in the concentration of IL-1ß. Our results support the modulatory role of these endogenous peptides on absence epilepsy.

The effect of leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide-Y on serum Tnf-Α, Il-1ß, Il-6, Fgf-2, galanin levels and oxidative stress in an experimental generalized convulsive seizure model.

The objective of this study is to examine the effects of the endogenous ligands leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) on seizure generation, the oxidant/antioxidant balance, and cytokine levels, which are a result of immune response in a convulsive seizure model. With this goal, Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups-Group 1: Saline, Group 2: Saline+PTZ (65mg/kg), Group 3: leptin (4mg/kg)+PTZ, Group 4: ghrelin (80µg/kg)+PTZ, and Group 5: NPY (60µg/kg)+PTZ. All injections were delivered intraperitoneally, and simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) records were obtained. Seizure activity was scored by observing seizure behavior, and the onset time, latency, and seizure duration were determined according to the EEG records. At the end of the experiments, blood samples were obtained in all groups to assess the serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, FGF-2, galanin, nitric oxide (NOÖ¹), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels. The electrophysiological and biochemical findings (p<0.05) of this study show that all three peptides have anticonvulsant effects in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced generalized tonic-clonic convulsive seizure model. The reduction of the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 caused by leptin, ghrelin, and NPY shows that these peptides may have anti-inflammatory effects in epileptic seizures. Also, leptin significantly increases the serum levels of the endogenous anticonvulsive agent galanin. The fact that each one of these endogenous peptides reduces the levels of MDA and increases the serum levels of GSH leads to the belief that they may have protective effects against oxidative damage that is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Our study contributes to the clarification of the role of these peptides in the brain in seizure-induced oxidative stress and immune system physiology and also presents new approaches to the etiology and treatment of tendency to epileptic seizures.

Effects of single-dose neuropeptide Y on levels of hippocampal BDNF, MDA, GSH, and NO in a rat model of pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptic seizure.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, characterized by recurrent seizures, which may increase the content of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Neuropeptide Y on oxidative and nitrosative balance and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels induced by pentylenetetrazole (a standard convulsant drug) in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. Three groups of seven rats were treated intraperitoneally as follows: group 1 (saline + saline) 1 ml saline, group 2 (salin + Pentylenetetrazole) 1 ml saline 30 min before Pentylenetetrazole; and group 3 (Neuropeptide Y + Pentylenetetrazole) 60 µg/kg Neuropeptide Y 30 min before 60 mg/kg Pentylenetetrazole. After 24 h, the animals were euthanized by decapitation. Hippocampus were isolated to evaluate the malondialdehyde, glutathione, nitric oxide, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in three rat groups. The results of this study demonstrated that while intraperitoneally administered neuropeptide Y did not result in a statistically significant difference in BDNF levels, its administration caused a statistically significant decrease in malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels and an increase in glutathione levels in rats with pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptic seizure. Neuropeptide Y were able to reduce nitroxidative damage induced by pentylenetetrazole in the hippocampus of Wistar rats.

Malondialdehyde, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and homocysteine levels in type 2 diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria.

BACKGROUND: High levels of homocysteine and oxidative stress are known to be associated with premature vascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to estimate homocysteine levels and oxidant-antioxidant status and to determine the relationship between them in type 2 diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria. METHODS: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 48 diabetic patients (17 with and 31 without microalbuminuria) and 20 healthy subjects. Serum total homocysteine (tHcy), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were measured in these patients and the results were compared with those of controls who were chosen among healthy subjects. RESULTS: MDA levels were found to be significantly lower and GSH levels and GPx activities were found to be significantly higher in control subjects when compared with patients with and without microalbuminuria (MDA: P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001; GSH: P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001; GPx: P < 0.0001, P < 0.001, respectively). MDA levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with microalbuminuria compared with patients without microalbuminuria (P < 0.0001), while similarly GSH levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with microalbuminuria (P < 0.0001). Although there were no significant differences with respect to tHcy levels and GPx activities between the microalbuminuric and normoalbuminuric patients (P > 0.05), there was a significant difference with respect to tHcy levels between healthy controls and patients with microalbuminuria (P < 0.05). The serum levels of tHcy correlated best with plasma MDA and erythrocyte GSH concentrations in all diabetic patients (r = 0.549, P < 0.0001; r = -0.385, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Decreased antioxidant levels, increased lipid peroxidation and increased tHcy levels were observed in patients with microalbuminuria. These changes may contribute to vascular disease, which is particularly prevalent in type 2 DM patients with microalbuminuria.

Glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activities, glutathione, nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde concentrations in serum of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a rare neoplasm that comprises a substantial proportion of all leukemias in middle-aged persons and is the most common type among elderly persons. The major causes are not known nor is there a detailed understanding about how the elusive origin(s) may relate to clinical expression, basic biological mechanisms, or pathogenesis. METHODS: Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GRD), Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) activities, glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO(*), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured in serum of patients with CLL and a healthy control group. RESULTS: Serum GSH-Px, Cu-Zn SOD activities, GSH concentration were lower in patients with CLL while serum NO(*) and MDA concentrations were higher in these patients compared with the control group. Serum GRD activity was not statistically significant in patients with CLL compared with the control. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the parameters on the basis of stages in these patients. Serum GSH concentration negatively correlated with serum MDA (r=30.63, p<0.05) and NO(*) concentrations (r=0.72, p<0.05) in patients with advanced stage (III+IV). However, no other correlation could be found among the parameters in healthy controls and patients with CLL CONCLUSIONS: There is significant changes in antioxidant defense system in CLL cases, which may lead to enhanced action of oxygen radical, resulting in lipid peroxidation.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in pregnancy induced hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to evaluate implication of pregnancy induced hypertension on maternal plasma lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein concentrations and lipid peroxidation products by a comparison of normal pregnancy vs. preeclampsia. DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-four women with preeclampsia and 32 healthy pregnant women (controls) in the third trimester were recruited for this study. RESULTS: In the preeclamptic group plasma total triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA) and apolipoprotein B (apo-B) were significantly increased, while plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly decreased compared to that of control group. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 (apo-A1) concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that preeclampsia share some metabolic characteristics with coronary artery disease such as dislipidemia and increased lipid peroxidation. However lipoprotein concentrations may be better biochemical markers of dislipidemia in the preeclamptic state than the corresponding apolipoproteins.