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Introduction: Aging-dependent decline in the angiogenesis of heart is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study was aimed to characterize effect of exercise on angiogenesis alterations and molecular mediators which are related to angiogenesis in the heart under aging condition. Methods: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: young, aged, and exercise. Aged animals in the exercise group run on treadmill for 8 weeks. At the end, heart samples were collected and used for histological evaluation , determination of angiogenesis by immunostaining for PECAM-1/ CD31 and expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) levels by ELISA. P<0.05 is considered as statistically significant. Results: Our results showed that angiogenesis, and VEGF-A levels were significantly decreased, TSP1 (P >0.0001) and p-NF-κB (P >0.001) levels were significantly increased in the heart of aged group compared to young group. Exercise group showed significant increase in angiogenesis, VEGF-A (P >0.0001), and p-NF-κB (P >0.001) and showed significant decrease in TSP-1 levels (P >0.001) compared to aged group. Moreover, compared to the young group, aged group showed histological changes in the heart, such as interstitial edema, and congestion, whereas, treatment with exercise improved these undesirable changes in the heart of exercise groups. Conclusion: These findings indicated that aging-related decrease in angiogenesis in the heart may mediated by downexpression of VEGF-A and overexpression of TSP-1 proteins. Also, we showed that p-NF-κB protein was increased in the heart of aged rats, this probably mediated by compensatory mechanism. It was also showed that exercise as novel non-pharmacological therapy modifies VEGF-A and TSP-1 and increases p-NF-κB protein levels in the aged heart.
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Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) are one of the most widely used and important nanoparticles in addition to possessing strong antioxidative properties and inhibiting free radicals. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is one of the enzymes that protect the body against damage caused by oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CeNPs on the activity of PON1 as well as biomarkers of oxidative stress in the toxicity of malathion. 48 Albino Wistar male rats with weight range of 180-250 g were randomly divided into 8 groups, Group 1: healthy control, injection of normal saline, Group 2: administration by the malathion 100 mg/kg/day, Group 3: treated with CeNPs 15 mg/kg/day, Group 4: treated with CeNPs 30 mg/kg/day, Group 5: combination of malathion with dose of 100 mg/kg/day and CeNPs 15 mg/kg, Group 6: combination of malathion with dose of 100 mg/kg/day and CeNPs 30 mg/kg for 14 days and 24 h after termination of treatment period, serum and liver tissue samples were collected from all rats. Biochemical test of PON1 activity, oxidative stress biomarkers including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lipid peroxidation (LPO), total thiol groups (TTG), were carried out. Malathion reduced plasma TTG levels, TAC and increased LPO in malathion group. However, CeNPs increased TTG, TAC and reduced PON1 activity. Results showed that CeNPs alone had antioxidant properties while with malathion it shows different properties.
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OBJECTIVES: Visfatin and vaspin are secreted by adipose tissue and play key roles in glucose homeostasis and subsequently are potential targets for diabetes treatment. Resveratrol (RVS) corrects insulin secretion and improves insulin sensitivity. We investigated the RVS effects on serum antioxidants, insulin and glucose levels, also visfatin and vaspin genes expression in adipose tissue of streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) induced type 2 diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats (n=32) using STZ (60 mg/kg body weight) and NA (120 mg/kg body weight); rats were divided into 4 groups (n=8). Eight untreated normal rats were used as control group; four diabetic rat groups (2-5) were treated with 0, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight of RVS, respectively for 30 days. After treatment blood and adipose tissue were prepared from all animals. Serum glucose, insulin, HOMA index, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Visfatin and vaspin genes expression in adipose tissue were evaluated using real-time PCR. RESULTS: RVS reduced blood glucose significantly and increased insulin level, resulting in insulin sensitivity improvement. Furthermore RVS increased weight and TAC, while reducing serum MDA in the diabetic groups. Visfatin gene expression increased in the diabetic group, and RVS treatment reduced it. Vaspin gene expression was reduced in RVS receiving diabetic groups. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that RVS has potential hypoglycemic effect, probably by increasing insulin level and changing gene expression of visfatin and vaspin. Moreover RVS showed antioxidant effects through reduction in peroxidiation products and augmented antioxidant capacity.
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BACKGROUND: Glucose uptake by muscles and fat cells is carried out by the GLUT4 system. Isoforms of the SNAP23, syntaxin-4 and VAMP-2 play an important role in regulating GLUT-4 trafficking and fusion in adipocytes. The changes of SNARE proteins levels and thus impaired GLUT-4 displacement can be one of the etiological causes of type 2 diabetes. Due to changes in the expression of these proteins in diabetes, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the natural compound resveratrol with anti-diabetic properties on impaired expression of SNARE proteins in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were used in this study. Type 2 diabetes was induced by administering a single dose of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. The expression of SNAP-23, syntaxin-4 and VAMP-2 proteins were assessed using real-time qRT-PCR. Also, some biochemical parameters were examined, including fasting blood glucose, insulin levels and insulin resistance. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that, resveratrol supplementation increased blood insulin level, reduced the fasting blood glucose, and improved the insulin resistance. In addition, resveratrol supplementation increased the expression of SNAP-23, syntaxin-4 and VAMP-2 proteins that involved in GLUT-4 transport in adipose tissue of diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: Final results showed that SNARE proteins expression is significantly reduced in diabetic rats and treatment with resveratrol supplementation is associated with the increased expression of these proteins.
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PURPOSE: To determine the expression of prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) gene in peripheral blood and urine sediments from patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and normal subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 48 patients [24 with biopsy proven prostate cancer (PCa) and 24 with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)] were studied. Twenty-four healthy individuals were also recruited as control group. After blood and urine sampling, total RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. Expression of PCA3 gene was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Comparison of PCA3 gene expression between control and BPH groups indicated no statistically significant differences in both urine and blood samples. Patients with PCa demonstrated an increased PCA3 gene expression rate compared to control and BPH groups (10.64 and 7.17 folds, respectively). The rate of fold increased PCA3 gene expression in urine was 20.90, 20.90, and 20.35 in patients with PCa, BPH and normal subjects, respectively. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of PCA3 gene expression can be considered as a reliable marker for detection of PCa. Increased level of this marker in urine sediments is more sensitive than blood for distinguishing between cancerous and non-cancerous groups.
