The therapeutic effects of coenzyme Q10 on surgically induced endometriosis in Sprague Dawley rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of endometriosis rat models. Twenty seven Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups; Control Group (n = 7; Endometriosis group), Reference Group (n = 6; Endometriosis + Buserelin acetate, 20 mg/kg), CoQ10 Group-I (n = 7; Endometriosis + CoQ10, 50 mg/kg) and CoQ10 Group-II (n = 7; Endometriosis + CoQ10, 100 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, all the rats were sacrificed, and the volume and histoarchitecture of endometrial implants were evaluated. The mast cells were determined by Toluidine blue and collagen fiber density was analysed by Masson's Trichrome staining. Tumour necrosis factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in peritoneal fluid and VEGF and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Terminal deoxynucleotidil transferase-mediated dUTP Nick end labelling (TUNEL) was also used for the detection of apoptotic cells. The CoQ10 treatment significantly decreased the volume of endometriotic implants, VEGF, and MMP-9 immunoreactivity and increased TUNEL-positive cells. The findings of the study suggest that CoQ10 can be used in endometriosis treatment by suppressing the endometriotic implants.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder and previous studies have shown that different treatments with antioxidants cause significant regression in the endometriotic implants.What the results of this study add? In this study, CoQ10 reduced intra-abdominal adhesion scores and volume of the endometriotic implants. In addition, CoQ10 treatment affected mast cell, TNF-α, VEGF, and MMP-9.What of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? CoQ10 treatments may be possible to apply, it can contribute to science in terms of a new therapeutic treatment for endometriosis. Further studies are required to evaluate the Coenzyme Q10's effects on pain and subfertility in endometriosis.

Effects of tacrolimus on c-fos in hippocampus and memory performances in streptozotocin model of Alzheimer's disease of rats

Background/aim: Calcineurin, an inhibitor of calcium dependent phosphatase is highly presented in a brain of an Alzheimer's disease. Aging brain gets more sensitive to hyperactivation of calcineurin, and this event causes tau neurofibrillary plaque accumulation, which is one of the outcomes of this disease. The regions of hippocampus are much effected from the results of this process. Our hypothesis is that a calcineurin inhibitor, tacrolimus, could prevent the accumulation and the decrease of the neuronal cells. Therefore, this immunosuppressive drug could be a candidate for an early treatment of Alzheimer disease. Materials and methods: Fifteen male Wistar albino rats were divided to three groups; control, Alzheimer, and Alzheimer+Tacrolimus. The Alzheimer group received an injection of streptozotocin intracerebroventricularly for the purpose of modelling the disease via generating free radicals leading a cognitive impairment. Alzheimer+Tacrolimus group first received an oral drug, a calcineurin inhibitor for 10 days afterwards prepared for the model as same as the Alzheimer group received. Finally, all groups performed the Morris water maze test for four days then sacrificed. For the aim of counting neurons in the hippocampus stereological methods, as well as for an evaluation of cellular response to stress in dentate gyrus, a c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed. Results: According to the probe trial of Morris water maze test, the latency time was dramatically higher at both Alzheimer and Alzheimer+Tacrolimus group (p < 0.01). We confirmed these results with our stereology data. The results from stereology technique indicate that there was a neuronal decrease at the hippocampus regions in Alzheimer and Alzheimer+Tacrolimus group. Our outcomes from immunohistochemical data showed a significant increase in the number of c-Fos-positive cells in Alzheimer group when comparing with Alzheimer+Tacrolimus group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was none preventive effect for neuronal loss in the hippocampus under the effect of tacrolimus drug according to stereological results. However, tacrolimus administration may have reduced cellular stress and cell damage.