ABSTRACT
Experimental induction of polycystic ovary (PCO) in rodent resembling some aspects of human PCO syndrome was produced using the long-acting compound estradiol valerate (EV). Our previous study on the role of Korean red ginseng total saponins in a steroid-induced PCO rat model demonstrated that electro-acupuncture modulates nerve growth factor (NGF) concentration in the ovaries. In fact, the involvement of a neurogenic component in the pathology of PCO-related ovarian dysfunction is preceded by an increase in sympathetic outflow to the ovaries. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) administration modulates sympathetic nerve activity in PCO-induced rats. This was done by analyzing NGF protein and NGF mRNA expression involved in the pathophysiological process underlying steroid-induced PCO. EV injection resulted in significantly higher ovarian NGF protein and NGF mRNA expression in PCO-induced rats compared to control rats, and PCO ovaries were counteracted by KRGE administration with significantly lower expression of NGF protein and NGF mRNA compared to EV treated ovaries. These results indicate that EV modulates the neurotrophic state of the ovaries, which may be a component of the pathological process by which EV induces cyst formation and anovulation in rodents.
Subject(s)
Ovary/drug effects , Panax , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/prevention & control , Sympathetic Nervous System/drug effects , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Estradiol/analogs & derivatives , Female , Nerve Growth Factor/genetics , Nerve Growth Factor/metabolism , Ovary/innervation , Ovary/metabolism , Ovary/pathology , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/chemically induced , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/physiopathology , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Sympathetic Nervous System/metabolism , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Gemifloxacin is a synthetic fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent that exhibits potent activity against most Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms, and has a comparatively low chondrotoxic potential in immature animals. This study examined the effects of gemifloxacin on the Achilles tendons in immature Sprague-Dawley rats treated by oral intubation once daily for 5 consecutive days from postnatal week 4 onward at doses of 0 (vehicle), and 600 mg/kg body weight. Ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin were used for comparison. The Achilles tendon specimens were examined by electron microscopy. In comparison with the vehicle-treated controls, there were ultrastructural changes in all samples from the gemifloxacin-, ofloxacin-, and ciprofloxacin-treated rats. Degenerative changes were observed in the tenocytes, and the cells that detached from the extracellular matrix were recognizable. The degree of degenerative changes and the number of degenerated cells in the Achilles tendon were significantly higher in the treated group than in the control group. Moreover, among the quinolone-treated groups, these findings were most significant in the ofloxacin-treated group, and least significant in the gemifloxacin-treated group. It is unclear what these findings mean with respect to the possible risk in juvenile patients treated with gemifloxacin or other quinolones. However, these results show that gemifloxacin causes less changes in the connective tissue structures.
