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Behavioural Brain Research Mar 2024Perimenopause is a critical period, with severe cycle irregularity and lower estrogen secretion altering redox state biomarkers, leading to behavioral changes. The...
Perimenopause is a critical period, with severe cycle irregularity and lower estrogen secretion altering redox state biomarkers, leading to behavioral changes. The estrogen hormonal therapy (EHT) being commonly used to alleviate climacteric effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze anxiolytic profile, recognition memory (short and long term), ambulation, redox status, cell synaptic activity in locus coeruleus and hippocampus of Wistar rats in the periestropause after EHT. Forty rats participated in the study; 20 were treated with corn oil (group 21Mo/Veh; corn oil/0.2 mL/sc; 2x/week) and 20 were submitted to EHT (group 21Mo/E2; 17β-estradiol/15 μg/Kg/sc; 2x/week) for 120 days. Open field, elevated plus maze, object recognition (RO), and footprint tests were performed immediately before and at the end of the treatment period. From the decapitated brains, isolated hippocampus were destined for biochemical analysis, in turn, perfused brains were destined for histological analysis. The 21Mo/E2 group had a significantly greater total time in the central region and a significantly greater number of entries into the open arms compared to the 21Mo/Veh group, as in crossing, rearing and grooming behaviors, evidencing an anxiolytic profile. In the RO test, the 21Mo/Veh group decreased long-term memory, and the 21Mo/E2 group maintained the same index as at 17 months of age, in addition to a better balance of the hippocampal redox state, prevention of neuronal cell loss and better gait. Based on the results, it appears that exogenous E2 supplementation during periestropause may help preserve neurological functions and potentially prevent neuropsychological and neurodegenerative disorders.
Topics: Rats; Female; Animals; Humans; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Corn Oil; Rats, Wistar; Estrogens; Estradiol; Cognition; Hippocampus; Ovariectomy
PubMed: 38232785
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114866 -
Inflammopharmacology Apr 2024Putative beneficial effects of neuropeptide W (NPW) in the early phase of gastric ulcer healing process and the involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes were...
AIMS
Putative beneficial effects of neuropeptide W (NPW) in the early phase of gastric ulcer healing process and the involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes were investigated in an acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer model.
MAIN METHODS
In anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats, acetic acid was applied surgically on the serosa and then a COX-inhibitor (COX-2-selective NS-398, COX-1-selective ketorolac, or non-selective indomethacin; 2 mg/kg/day, 3 mg/kg/day or 5 mg/kg/day; respectively) or saline was injected intraperitoneally. One h after ulcer induction, omeprazole (20 mg/kg/day), NPW (0.1 μg/kg/day) or saline was intraperitoneally administered. Injections of NPW, COX-inhibitors, omeprazole or saline were continued for the following 2 days until rats were decapitated at the end of the third day.
KEY FINDINGS
NPW treatment depressed gastric prostaglandin (PG) I2 level, but not PGE2 level. Similar to omeprazole, NPW treatment significantly reduced gastric and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta levels and depressed the upregulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and COX-2 expressions due to ulcer. In parallel with the histopathological findings, treatment with NPW suppressed ulcer-induced increases in myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde level and replenished glutathione level. However, the inhibitory effect of NPW on myeloperoxidase activity and NPW-induced increase in glutathione were not observed in the presence of COX-1 inhibitor ketorolac or the non-selective COX-inhibitor indomethacin.
SIGNIFICANCE
In conclusion, NPW facilitated the healing of gastric injury in rats via the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative stress and neutrophil infiltration as well as the downregulation of COX-2 protein and NF-κB gene expressions.
Topics: Animals; Male; Rats; Acetates; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cyclooxygenase 1; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Gastric Mucosa; Glutathione; Indomethacin; Ketorolac; Neuropeptides; NF-kappa B; Omeprazole; Peroxidase; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Stomach Ulcer; Ulcer
PubMed: 38227096
DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01403-w -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Removing the panicle encourages the growth of buds on the elongated node by getting rid of apical dominance. Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that suppress...
Removing the panicle encourages the growth of buds on the elongated node by getting rid of apical dominance. Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that suppress tillering in rice. The present study employed panicle removal (RP) and external application of synthesized strigolactones (GR) to modulate rice bud growth at node 2. We focused on the full-heading stage to investigate proteomic changes related to bud germination (RP-Co) and suppression (GR-RP). A total of 434 represented differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were detected, with 272 DAPs explicitly specified in the bud germination process, 106 in the bud suppression process, and 28 in both. DAPs in the germination process were most associated with protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and ribosome biogenesis. DAPs were most associated with metabolic pathways and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis in the bud suppression process. Sucrose content and two enzymes of sucrose degradation in buds were also determined. Comparisons of DAPs between the two reversed processes revealed that sucrose metabolism might be a key to modulating rice bud growth. Moreover, sucrose or its metabolites should be a signal downstream of the SLs signal transduction that modulates rice bud outgrowth. Contemplating the result so far, it is possible to open new vistas of research to reveal the interaction between SLs and sucrose signaling in the control of tillering in rice.
PubMed: 38202400
DOI: 10.3390/plants13010091 -
Biological Trace Element Research Jan 2024Doxorubicin (DOX) is the most used chemotherapeutic agent for treating solid tumors. DOX treatment may lead to testicular damage using oxidative stress, resulting in...
Doxorubicin (DOX) is the most used chemotherapeutic agent for treating solid tumors. DOX treatment may lead to testicular damage using oxidative stress, resulting in infertility. These adverse effects may be prevented by the activation of antioxidant systems. Oleuropein (OLE) is a powerful flavonoid with several ameliorative effects, including antioxidative, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory. It would be more efficient and applicable in treating chronic human diseases if its poor bioavailability improves with a nano-delivery system. The current study aims to assess the histopathological changes and antioxidative effects of OLE loaded with silver nanoparticles oleuropein (OLE-AgNP) on the testicular injury triggered by DOX in rats. Forty-eight male albino rats were randomly divided into six groups as follows: the control, DOX (2.5 mg/kg), OLE (50 mg/kg), AgNP (100 mg/kg), OLE + AgNP (50 mg/kg), OLE (50 mg/kg) + DOX (2.5 mg/kg), AgNP (100 mg/kg) + DOX (2.5 mg/kg), and OLE-AgNP (50 mg/kg) + DOX (2.5 mg/kg) for 11 days. Oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress markers, sperm analysis, and histopathological analyses were performed on testicular tissues taken from rats decapitated after the applications and compared between the experimental groups. The tissue MDA level was lower in the OLE and OLE+AgNP-treated groups than in the DOX-treated group. In addition, SOD and GSH levels significantly increased in both the OLE and OLE+AgNP-treated groups compared to the DOX group. Both OLE and OLE+AgNP, particularly OLE+AgNP, ameliorated DOX-induced testicular tissue injury, as evidenced by reduced injury and improved seminiferous tubules and spermatocyte area. In addition, OLE and OLE+AgNP, especially OLE+AgNP, inhibited DOX-induced testicular tissue inflammation, apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The findings suggest that nanotechnology and the production of OLE+AgNP can ameliorate DOX-induced testicular damage.
PubMed: 38197904
DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04058-y -
Plant Methods Jan 2024The measurement of root dielectric response is a useful non-destructive method to evaluate root growth and function. Previous studies tracked root development throughout...
BACKGROUND
The measurement of root dielectric response is a useful non-destructive method to evaluate root growth and function. Previous studies tracked root development throughout the plant growing cycle by single-time electrical measurements taken repeatedly. However, it is known that root conductivity and uptake activity can change rapidly, coupled with the day/night cycles of photosynthetic and transpiration rate. Therefore, the low-frequency dielectric monitoring of intact root-substrate systems at minute-scale temporal resolution was tested using a customized impedance measurement system in a laboratory environment. Electrical capacitance (C) and conductance (G) and the dissipation factor (D) were detected for 144 h in potted maize, cucumber and pea grown under various light/dark and temperature conditions, or subjected to progressive leaf excision or decapitation. Photosynthetic parameters and stomatal conductance were also measured to evaluate the stress response.
RESULTS
The C and G data series showed significant 24-h seasonality associated with the light/dark and temperature cycles applied. This was attributed to the diurnal patterns in whole-plant transpiration (detected via stomatal conductance), which is strongly linked to the root water uptake rate. C and G decreased during the 6-day dark treatment, and dropped proportionally with increasing defoliation levels, likely due to the loss of canopy transpiration caused by dark-induced senescence or removal of leaves. D showed a decreasing trend for plants exposed to 6-day darkness, whereas it was increased markedly by decapitation, indicating altered root membrane structure and permeability, and a modified ratio of apoplastic to cell-to-cell water and current pathways.
CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic, in situ impedance measurement of the intact root system was an efficient way of following integrated root water uptake, including diurnal cycles, and stress-induced changes. It was also demonstrated that the dielectric response mainly originated from root tissue polarization and current conduction, and was influenced by the actual physiological activity of the root system. Dielectric measurement on fine timescale, as a diagnostic tool for monitoring root physiological status and environmental response, deserves future attention.
PubMed: 38195647
DOI: 10.1186/s13007-023-01133-8 -
Legal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Mar 2024Vehicle-assisted ligature strangulation is an extremely rare suicide method. We report a case of a 43-year-old man who secured one end of a nylon rope to a tree and the... (Review)
Review
Vehicle-assisted ligature strangulation is an extremely rare suicide method. We report a case of a 43-year-old man who secured one end of a nylon rope to a tree and the other end around his neck, then got inside his vehicle and stepped on the gas, leading to an incomplete decapitation. A sharply demarcated encircling ligature mark was found upon external examination, along with a deep laceration in the anterior region of the neck. The severance plane passed between the third and fourth cervical vertebrae, with diffuse haemorrhagic infiltration of the cervical muscles, in accordance with autopsy findings reported in the literature. The lung histological examination described a large amount of red blood cells and pulmonary oedema. A review of the literature concerning suicidal vehicle-assisted ligature strangulation cases allowed us to investigate some common autopsy findings, as well as the rope features relevant to the beheading.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Suicidal Ideation; Decapitation; Suicide; Neck; Lung; Asphyxia; Neck Injuries
PubMed: 38154313
DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102378 -
The International Journal of... Dec 2023Formaldehyde is a chemical that lies behind the various systemical failures in organism. Many products that people use contain formaldehyde. Owing to its tissue fixative...
AIM
Formaldehyde is a chemical that lies behind the various systemical failures in organism. Many products that people use contain formaldehyde. Owing to its tissue fixative properties, scientists who work in life sciences are exposed to this substance more than others. Several studies have shown that formaldehyde affects the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, which play crucial roles in memory consolidation. In this study, we aimed to investigate anxiety levels and indicate the short and long term effects of formaldehyde and sex-related differences by exposing formaldehyde to male and female rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Formaldehyde (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally for 7 days for acute exposure and 30 days for chronic exposure. Cognitive assessment was performed using fear conditioning, elevated plus maze, and Morris water maze tests. TUNEL staining was used to identify apoptosis in the brains obtained after decapitation.
RESULTS
Exposure to intraperitoneal formaldehyde does not impair learning and memory in acute and chronic periods and has no effect on depression or anxiety. After acute exposure, apoptosis was observed in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions in males. When the cognitive test results were examined, no differences were found between the experimental and control groups. There was also no significant difference between males and females.
PubMed: 38152865
DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2023.2300728 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023One of the promising and relevant directions in the treatment of oncological diseases is currently the development of a system for the delivery of antitumor drugs based...
UNLABELLED
One of the promising and relevant directions in the treatment of oncological diseases is currently the development of a system for the delivery of antitumor drugs based on polyanions. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the specifics of pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of a 5-Fluorouracil polymeric complex compared with commercial 5-Fluorouracil.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Monomeric methacrylic acid was used to synthesize polymers; 2-phenylpropane-2-ilbenzodithioate was used for the synthesis of poly(methacrylic acid). To study the molecular-weight characteristics of poly(methacrylic acid) by gel permeation chromatography, an experimental neoplasm model was obtained by grafting PC-1 cancer cells. Blood samples were drawn from the tail vein at different points in time. The rats were sacrificed via decapitation after drawing the last pharmacokinetic blood sample. To study the biodistribution, internal organs were isolated and analyzed. The measurements were carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography.
RESULTS
Our results demonstrate that incorporation in a polymeric complex changes the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution profile of 5-FU. The polymeric complex was shown to accumulate to a higher level in the lung and spleen.
CONCLUSION
The results obtained are the basis for further studies to verify the efficacy of the 5-Fluorouracil polymeric complex.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Fluorouracil; Tissue Distribution; Drug Carriers; Polymers
PubMed: 38138585
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248096 -
Forensic Science, Medicine, and... Dec 2023Suicide by vehicle-assisted strangulation resulting in decapitation is a rare occurrence, characterized by a high kinetic energy mechanism that produces a clean-cut...
Suicide by vehicle-assisted strangulation resulting in decapitation is a rare occurrence, characterized by a high kinetic energy mechanism that produces a clean-cut appearance in the decapitation area. Often resembling an incisive wound, this particular finding can mislead local authorities into investigating the case as a homicide. This case report describes an adult male who accelerated his vehicle after tying a nylon rope around his neck and securing it to a metallic structure on the wall. Furthermore, we conducted a brief review of cases published within the last ten years, summarizing the most prevalent findings associated with these incidents. By analyzing previously reported cases alongside our own, we aim to consolidate the prevailing patterns observed in vehicle-assisted strangulation cases. This underscores the paramount importance of thorough scene analysis by the medico-legal team and emphasizes the significance of subsequent necropsy findings in accurately discerning the manner of death.
PubMed: 38112975
DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00744-w -
Wiadomosci Lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland :... 2023The aim: To evaluate the effect of 28-day oral administration of MSG at the rate of 30 mg/kg of body weight on histological and morphometric parameters of the vascular...
OBJECTIVE
The aim: To evaluate the effect of 28-day oral administration of MSG at the rate of 30 mg/kg of body weight on histological and morphometric parameters of the vascular bed of the thymus in rats.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Materials and methods: The scientific experiment was conducted on 20 white non-linear rats of reproductive age (4-5 months) weighing from 220 to 280 g, which were divided into two groups (10 rats each). Depending on the term of decapitation, the experimental animals were divided into two groups (10 rats in each group). We studied the effect of 14 and 28 days of MSG administration on the body of rats (I and II groups of experimental rats). The experimental animals were daily orally treated with MSG at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight, which was dissolved in 0.5 ml of dechlorinated tap water at room temperature. Control rats of III and IV groups (5 rats in each of the control groups) were injected with a placebo (0.5 ml of dechlorinated tap water at room temperature) for 14 and 28 days. Intact animals of III and IV groups were also decapitated on the 14th and 28th days of the experiment, respectively. After the end of the experiment, animals were decapitated under light ether anesthesia. After decapitation, the animals were dissected into the chest cavity to remove the thymus. Histological preparations were studied using a MICROmed SEO SСAN light microscope and a Vision CCD Camera. Morphometric studies were carried out using VideoTest-5.0, KAARA Image Base and Microsoft Excel programs on a personal computer.
RESULTS
Results: During the microscopic examination of histological preparations of the retrosternal gland in experimental animals of the 1st group (daily administration of MSG at the rate of 30 mg/kg of body weight for 14 days), it was established that the lumen of the arteries is moderately filled with blood elements. The veins are dilated with a changed shape and filled with blood. The following ultrastructural changes were detected in the experimental animals of group I: the lumen of arteries, arterioles and venules is slightly expanded, the nuclei of endotheliocytes are enlarged, occupy a significant part of the cytoplasm, the karyolem forms intussusceptions. The plasmolemma of the lumenal surface of endotheliocytes forms numerous microvilli. At the same time, organelles in the cytoplasm of endotheliocytes lose their contours. After 28 days of exposure to MSG at a dose of 30 mg/kg of body weight in rats (II group of experimental animals), structural changes in the vascular bed of the thymus worsened. The wall of arteries and arterioles is more thickened and swollen, collagen fibers are stratified. In their lumen, there are many uniform elements attached to the vascular wall and testify to thrombus formation. Perivascular edema is determined. The diameter of hemocapillaries is increased, their basal membrane is swollen. Veins and venules are also dilated, full blood, interendothelial contacts in the vessel wall are dilated, the basement membrane is damaged. This contributes to the diapedesis of blood plasma through the vessel wall, which leads to perivascular edema.
CONCLUSION
Conclusions: Administration of MGS to rats at a dose of 30 mg/kg of body weight for 14 days leads to violations of the morphometric indicators of the vascular bed in the thymus, namely, to an increase in the outer and inner diameter of the arteries, an increase in the area of the middle membrane and the lumen of the vessels, which tend to progress with maximum indicators on the 28th day of the experiment. 2. The study of the vascular bed of the thymus against the background of taking MSG in a dose of 30 mg/kg of the weight of rats indicates the most pronounced changes in hemocapillaries, mainly on the 28th day of the experiment, which is manifested by an increase in their outer diameter. In the lumen of the hemocapillaries, deformed erythrocytes are identified, arranged in the type of "coin columns".
Topics: Animals; Sodium Glutamate; Decapitation; Body Weight; Edema; Water
PubMed: 38112370
DOI: 10.36740/WLek202311124