Ameliorating effect of pomegranate juice consumption on carbon tetrachloride-induced sperm damages, lipid peroxidation, and testicular apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption has an ameliorating effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced sperm damages and testicular apoptosis associated with the oxidative stress in male rats. The study comprised of four groups (groups 1-4). Group 1 received olive oil + distilled water daily; group 2 was treated with 5 ml/kg PJ + olive oil daily; group 3 was treated with 0.25 ml/kg CCl4 dissolved in olive oil, weekly + distilled water daily; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily PJ. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular catalase activity, significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages when compared with the control group. However, significant ameliorations were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, MDA level, apoptotic index, and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with PJ when compared with group given CCl4 only. In conclusion, PJ consumption ameliorates the CCl4-induced damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the lipid peroxidation.

The investigation of lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidant levels and some hematological parameters in sheep naturally infested with Wohlfahrtia magnifica larvae.

Wohlfahrtia magnifica is the main agent of traumatic myiasis in many central and eastern European countries as well as in the Mediterranean basin and Asian countries. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of myiasis infestation on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant levels and several hematological parameters in the sheep naturally infested with W. magnifica larvae. A total of 38 sheep, including 19 awassi sheep naturally infested with W. magnifica larvae and 19 clinically healthy awassi sheep, were studied. The infected animals were divided into three groups depending on the number of larvae (Group 1: <50 larvae; Group 2: 50-100 larvae; Group 3: >100 larvae). In blood samples, red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit concentration and white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, basophil counts, plasma malondialdehyde, erythrocyte glutathione levels and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity were studied. The results revealed a marked decrease in red blood cell counts and hemoglobin concentrations along with a significant increase in white blood cell and neutrophil counts. The elevation in plasma malondialdehyde levels, a function of lipid peroxidation, established a significant difference between the control group and groups 2, 3. Decreased activity of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase was found significant in the control group and all parasitemia. We conclude that in natural infestations with W. magnifica, as in infestation with Lucilia cuprina, there is a notable increase in inflammatory activities resulting from the movements, secretions, and toxins of the larvae and form the toxins secreted by the bacteria - which leads to an impression of anemia - and that the tissue injury results in an increase in level of free radicals in the organism.

17ß-Estradiol and vitamin E modulates oxidative stress-induced kidney toxicity in diabetic ovariectomized rat.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and 17ß-estradiol (E(2)) supplementation on malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), vitamin A, beta carotene, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), zinc-dependent superoxide dismutase (SOD), and copper/zinc-dependent catalase (CAT) values in the kidney of ovariectomized (OVX) diabetic rats. Forty-two female rats were randomly divided into seven equal groups as follows: group I, control; group II, OVX; group III, OVX+E(2); group IV, OVX+E(2)+alpha-tocopherol; group V, OVX+diabetic; group VI, OVX+diabetic+E(2); and group VII, OVX+diabetic+E(2)+alpha-tocopherol. E(2) (40 µg kg(-1)/day) and alpha-tocopherol (100 µg kg(-1)/day) were given. Bilateral ovariectomy was performed in all groups except group I. After 4 weeks, antioxidant and MDA levels in the kidney for all groups were analyzed. GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, GSH levels, vitamin A, and beta carotene levels were decreased in OVX group compared to those in the control group but MDA level was elevated via ovariectomy. However, E(2) and E(2)+alpha-tocopherol supplementations in OVX group was associated with an increase in the GSH-Px, GSH, CAT and Zn-SOD values, vitamin A, and beta carotene levels but a decrease in MDA levels in kidney. The MDA levels in the kidney of diabetic OVX rats were found higher than those in the control and OVX groups. However, GSH, GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, vitamin A, and beta carotene levels in kidney were lower in OVX diabetic rats. On the other hand, E(2) and E(2)+alpha-tocopherol supplementations to OVX diabetic rats have caused an increase in GSH-Px, CAT and SOD, GSH, vitamin A, and beta carotene levels but a decrease in MDA levels. In conclusion, the E(2) and E(2)+alpha-tocopherol supplementations to diabetic OVX and OVX rats may strengthen the antioxidant defense system by reducing lipid peroxidation, and therefore they may play a role in preventing renal disorders.

Effects of 17ß-estradiol and vitamin E treatments on blood trace element and antioxidant enzyme levels in ovariectomized rats.

We investigated the effect of 17ß-estradiol (E(2)) alone and separately vitamin E treatment on trace element status of rats following an ovariectomic operation. Forty rats were equally divided into four groups: Group 1, control, non-ovariectomized rats; Group 2, (OVX) rats, ovariectomized under general anesthesia; Group 3, (OVX+E(2)) rats, the group received a 40 µg kg(-1) subcutan dose of E(2) per day after ovariectomy; and Group 4, (OVX + E(2) + vitamin E) rats, received the same E(2) treatment, but with an additional 100 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneal dose of vitamin E per day after ovariectomy. At the end of the 30-day experiment, the rats were sacrificed and their blood was collected for the measurement of zinc, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and chromium; copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD); manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD); glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px); and catalase (CAT). The levels of zinc, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, calcium, chromium, and manganese and activities of SOD, Mn-SOD, Se-GSH-Px, and CAT were lower in the OVX than in the control group, but magnesium level was unaffected. However, zinc, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, calcium, chromium, and manganese levels and SOD, Mn-SOD, Se-GSH-Px, and CAT activities were higher under separate E(2) and E(2) + vitamin E treatments. The level of magnesium in the treated-OVX groups was not different than in the OVX group. In conclusion, E(2) treatment has an ameliorating effect on the trace element status in OVX, and this effect may be enhanced with the addition of vitamin E.

Selenium and vitamin E modulates cigarette smoke exposure-induced oxidative stress in blood of rats.

Cigarette smoke contains about 5,000 chemicals that include organic and metallic compounds. The current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of selenium and vitamin E on oxidative stress-induced damage in rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Forty male rats were equally divided into four groups. The first and second groups were used as control and cigarette smoke groups, respectively. Selenium was administered to rats constituting the third group for 27 days. The Se and vitamin E combination was given to animals in fourth group for 27 days. All groups except the control, were exposed to cigarette smoke starting at the third day of the experiment and continuing for 27 days. The blood samples from all groups were taken at the end of 27 days. Plasma lipid peroxidation, triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol levels were higher in the cigarette smoke group than in the control, although erythrocytic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were lower in the cigarette smoke group than in the control. The plasma lipid peroxidation, triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol levels were lower in cigarette smoke+Se+VE group than in the cigarette smoke group, although erythrocytic superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione peroxidase activity in selenium and vitamin E-administered groups were higher than in the exposed to cigarette smoke group. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was not affect by selenium and vitamin E administrations. In conclusion, selenium and vitamin E seem to have protective effects on the cigarette smoke-induced blood toxicity by supporting the enzymatic antioxidant redox systems.

Effects of intraperitoneally injected selenium and vitamin E in rats anesthetized with halothane.

Halothane, commonly used for anesthetizing humans and animals, is one of the most important volatile anesthetics and may cause the formation of free radicals during its biotransformation. Free radicals may lead to degeneration of liver cells. Vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) containing selenium are two natural antioxidants, and these may protect the cellular lipid and lipoproteins against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Therefore, the purposes of the present study were to investigate the probable protective effects of intraperitoneally administered Se and vitamin E on liver enzymes and to determine some other hematological parameters in the halothane anesthesia of rats. All rats were randomly divided into five groups. The first group was used as a control, and physiological saline (0.9%) was intraperitoneally injected into these animals as a placebo. The second group was used as an anesthesia control group and was only anesthetized with halothane for two hours. The third group received intraperitoneally administered Se (Na2SeO3, 0.3 mg/200 g body weight), the fourth group vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, 100 mg/kg body weight), and the fifth group a Se plus vitamin E combination (Na2SeO3, 0.3 mg/200 g body weight + dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, 100 mg/kg body weight). The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, erythrocyte counts, the packet-cell volume, hemoglobin concentrations and neutrophyle rates significantly increased (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01) after halothane anesthesia and returned to near control levels after Se, vitamin E and Se plus vitamin E injections. The values of cholesterol, total protein, white blood cell counts and lymphocyte rates significantly decreased (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01) in the anesthesia control group. However, the levels of albumin, total bilirubin, creatinine, the mean corpuscular volume, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were not statistically influenced. In conclusion, we have determined that halothane anesthesia affected some liver enzymes and some other biochemical and hematological parameters. Se, vitamin E and their combination may prevent the increase of liver enzymes after halothane anesthesia. Based upon these results, Se and vitamin E may play an important role in the indication of hepatic cellular injury produced by halothane.