The morphometrical and immunohistochemical investigation of the effect of topiramate on liver and the role of neuropeptide Y receptor in an obese female rat.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the possible effect of topiramate (TOP, 0.02 mg/kg/day) on the livers in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. The other objective was to evaluate the relationship between TOP administration and NPY level using anti-NPY1R antibody. METHODS: Twenty-four adult female Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups as follow: control (CONT), obese (OBS), TOP, and OBS+TOP. All liver samples were investigated using the stereological analysis, as well as immunohistochemical and histopathological examination. RESULTS: The total number of hepatocytes was significantly decreased in the OBS+TOP group compared to the CONT group or the OBS group (p < 0.05). We found a significant increase in the mean volume of liver in the OBS group compared to the CONT group (p < 0.05). Also, the mean volume of liver was significantly decreased in the OBS+TOP group compared to the OBS group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Taken together, our findings suggest that decreased liver volume is possibly attributed to TOP administration via setting the NPY level in the obese rats. Further, the side effects of TOP in combination with health risk of obesity may have led to an increase in hepatotoxicity and the subsequent hepatocyte loss (Fig. 7, Ref. 56). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: immunohistochemistry, liver, neuropeptide Y, obesity, rat, topiramate.

Protective effects of luteolin on rat testis following exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field.

Increasing cell phone use calls for clarification of the consequences of long term exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). We investigated the effects of EMF on the testes of 12-week-old rats as well as possible protective effects of luteolin on testis tissue. Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, EMF, luteolin, and EMF + luteolin. The number of Leydig cells, primary spermatocytes and spermatids were reduced in the EMF group compared to the control group. In the EMF + luteolin group, the number of Leydig cells, primary spermatocytes and spermatids was significantly greater than the EMF group. We found an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the EMF group compared to the control group. In the EMF group, we found decreased wet weight of testes and serum testosterone levels compared to the control group. Decreased SOD enzyme activity, and increased serum testosterone levels and weight of the testes were observed in the EMF + luteolin group compared to the EMF group. EMF also affected sperm morphology. We found that in rat testis repeated exposure to 900 MHz EMF caused changes in testicular tissue and that the antioxidant, luteolin, substantially reduced the deleterious effects of EMF.

A stereological and histopathological study of the effects of exposure of male rat testes to mercury vapor.

Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment; it is an occupational pollutant and a potential toxicant. We investigated the effects of exposure of rat testes to mercury vapor (Hg(0)). Twelve male rats were divided into two groups of six: the rats of the Hg(0) group were exposed to mercury (1 mg/m(3)/day) in a chamber for six weeks; the control group rats were housed under the same conditions without exposure to Hg(0). After the experimental period, the testes were removed, sections of testis were evaluated histopathologically after hematoxylin and eosin staining, and stereologically using the Cavalieri principle and optical fractionator methods. We found significant decreases in the total volume of testis, diameters of seminiferous tubules and total volume of seminiferous tubules. Significant decreases were detected in the numbers of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids of the Hg(0) group compared to the control group. In the Hg(0) exposed group, spermatogenic cells were degenerated and seminiferous tubules were atrophied.

Viscoelasticity-based magnetic resonance elastography for the assessment of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients after liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: Despite advantages in antiviral therapy of hepatitis C (HCV) in recent years, progressing liver fibrosis remains a major problem for patients suffering from hepatitis C after liver transplantation. Therefore, effective non-invasive methods for the assessment of liver fibrosis are needed in order to guide treatment decisions and predict prognosis in these patients. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the diagnostic accuracy of viscoelasticity-based magnetic resonance (MR) elastography for the assessment of liver fibrosis in HCV patients after liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After IRB approval, a total of 25 patients, who had received a liver graft due to chronic hepatitis C underwent both liver biopsy and MR elastography. Two viscoelastic constants, the shear elasticity µ and the powerlaw exponent α were calculated by fitting the frequency function of the complex shear modulus with the viscoelastic springpot-model. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation between shear elasticity µ and the stage of fibrosis could be found (R = 0.486, p = 0.0136). The area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of MR elastography based on µ for diagnosis of severe fibrosis (F ≥ 3) was 0.87 and 0.65 for diagnosis of significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2). The powerlaw exponent α did not correlate with the stage of fibrosis. CONCLUSION: MR elastography represents a promising non-invasive procedure for the assessment of higher grades of fibrosis in HCV patients after liver transplantation. The poor correlation for lower grades of fibrosis suggests unknown mechanical interactions in the transplanted liver.

Role of mannose-binding lectin-2 polymorphism in the development of acute cellular rejection after transplantation for hepatitis C virus-induced liver disease.

UNLABELLED: The development of liver and graft disease is suspected to be affected by genetic diversity. Mannose-binding lectin-2 (MBL-2) is an important immunomodulatory factor that is involved in complement activation. The aim of our study was to elucidate the role of MBL-2 genotypes after liver transplantation (LT) for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced liver disease regarding the incidence of acute cellular rejection (ACR), graft inflammation, fibrosis development, and antiviral treatment response. METHODS: A group of 149 patients who underwent LT for HCV-induced liver disease were genotyped for MBL-2 (rs7096206; G/C) by TaqMan genotyping assay. We evaluated 518 post-LT protocol biopsies and at least 98 urgent liver biopsies regarding graft fibrosis stages, inflammation grades, and evidence for rejection within MBL-2 genotype groups. RESULT: No association of MBL-2 polymorphisms was observed regarding inflammation, fibrosis, and antiviral treatment outcome. However, the C allele of the MBL-2 gene (P = 0.001) and gender compatibility (P = 0.012) were factors significantly associated with the incidence of ACR. CONCLUSION: MBL-2 polymorphisms and gender are involved in the development of ACR after LT. CC genotype and gender match may be regarded as risk factors for ACR in HCV-positive graft recipients. Further studies are needed to confirm and verify this observation in non-HCV groups as well.