Effects of melatonin and acetylsalicylic acid against hepatic oxidative stress after bile duct ligation in rat.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of melatonin and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on hepatic damage induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to either sham operation or common BDL before treatment with ASA, melatonin or vehicle. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities and reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were evaluated. RESULTS: Our results have indicated that BDL caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation whereas a statistically insignificant decrease in GSH level and some of the antioxidant enzyme activities. Both MEL and ASA administrations, either separately or together, decreased MDA whereas co-administration of MEL with ASA increased GSH levels in BDL rats. CONCLUSIONS: CAT activity and MEL level decreased in the liver tissues of rats with BDL after administration of either melatonin alone or with ASA. However, melatonin and ASA administration increases liver tissue GSH levels in BDL ligated rats

Effect of BQ-123 and nitric oxide inhibition on liver in rats after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury induces an inflammatory response and production of oxygen-derived reactive species which affect many organs including heart, brain, kidney and gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to assess the hepatic changes after renal I/R injury. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to either sham operation or treatment with L-NAME, L-arginine and BQ-123 during 30 min renal ischemia and 2 h reperfusion injury. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were evaluated to show hepatic response to renal I/R injury. Catalase and SOD activities showed significant differences between the control and the other groups after I/R. On the other hand, GSH-Px activity did not show any significant changes between the control and the other experimental groups mentioned under above conditions. Meanwhile, levels of TBARS were not different between the control and the other experimental groups, whereas NO level showed changes between the control and experimental groups except the one to which endothelin receptor antagonist agent (BQ-123) subjected. Experimental period may not be enough to determine the changes in GSH-Px activity and level of TBARS. However, catalase and SOD activities decreased in experimental groups treated by chemical agents. NO level decreased in chemicalagent-applied experimental groups but not in the group to which endothelin receptor antagonist BQ-123 was applied alone.

Effects of training period on haemorheological variables in regularly trained footballers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of one football training period on haemorheological variables in regularly trained footballers. METHOD: Ten subjects were randomly selected from the reserve team of a football club in the Turkish Premier League. During the last week of the football season, one day before a standard training session and two days after the previous league match, venous blood samples were taken (pre-exercise). After 90 minutes of standard training, further blood samples were taken (post-exercise). Blood lactate, blood viscosity, plasma fibrinogen, blood clotting time, acid-base variables, and plasma Na+, K+, and Ca2+ were determined. RESULTS: Haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular volume were all significantly decreased, whereas white blood cells and platelets were both increased after training. Blood viscosity decreased but the reduction was not significant. Blood lactate, plasma glucose, and Na+ content were significantly increased, but standard bicarbonate, actual bicarbonate, and Ca2+ were significantly decreased. Blood clotting time had shortened significantly after training. Blood viscosity was inversely correlated with plasma glucose concentration (r = -0.48 and p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that blood viscosity tends to decrease as the result of this type of training. This is due to a reduction in packed cell volume and mean corpuscular volume. The increased blood lactate does not have an adverse effect on the blood viscosity of these subjects because protective mechanisms develop with regular training throughout the season.

Neutrophil superoxide anion production, and CAT and GSSGR activity in patients with tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infection disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), as an intracellular pathogen. Various cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL's, GSF etc.) and other factors play important preventing roles and are secreted during the infection. It may cause changes in the metabolism of neutrophils. Production of superoxide anion and antioxidative enzymes activities, such as glutathione reductase (GSSGR) and catalase (CAT) may be changed during MTB infection in the host. In this study, the control group consisted of ten healthy subjects and ten patients with TB were studied before anti-TB treatment. Level of superoxide anion production, activity of CAT and activity of GSSGR were studied from peripheral neutrophils of healthy subjects and patients with TB. Catalase activities of the neutrophils were significantly lower in patients with TB than normal subjects (p < 0.01). Glutathione reductase activities of the neutrophils were also significantly lower in patients with TB than normal subjects (p < 0.05). Superoxide anion production in the neutrophils did not show any significant difference between TB and normal subjects (p > 0.05). As a result, the activities of CAT and GSSGR were lower in the peripheral neutrophils of patients with TB than normal subjects, whereas superoxide anion production in the neutrophils did not differ between in TB patients than normal subjects.