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The Eurasian Journal of Medicine Oct 2023Onuf's nucleus is an anatomical structure essential in the regulation of urogenital functions. Lumbosacral pathologies may cause changes in urogenital circulation due to...
OBJECTIVE
Onuf's nucleus is an anatomical structure essential in the regulation of urogenital functions. Lumbosacral pathologies may cause changes in urogenital circulation due to Onuf's nucleus injury; however, there is limited evidence corroborating the relationship between spinal cord injury and urethral artery changes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We used 23 sexually mature male rabbits-5 rabbits in the control group (GI), 5 rabbits in the sham group (GII), and 13 rabbits in the experimental group (GIII; received autologous blood transfusion into the T12-L1 subarachnoid space to induce subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The GIII underwent a S1-3 laminectomy after 2 weeks and was decapitated. Histologic specimens were prepared to examine changes in Onuf's nucleus, pudendal ganglion, and urethral arteries. The density of damaged neurons and vasospasm index (VSI) in the urethral artery were evaluated.
RESULTS
The mean density of damaged neurons (n/mm3 ) in Onuf's nucleus and pudendal ganglia (S3) and the mean VSI of the 3 groups were as follows-GI: 6 ± 2 per mm3 , 12 ± 4 per mm3 , and 1.63 ± 0.25, respectively; GII: 27 ± 6 per mm3 , 221 ± 62 per mm3 , and 1.97 ± 0.36, respectively; GIII: 154 ± 41 per mm3 , 1890 ± 541 per mm3 , and 3.04 ± 0.95 (P < .05 each for GI/GII, GI/GIII, and GII/GIII). Neuronal damage criteria, such as cytoplasmic condensation and cytoplasmic halo formation, were more prominent in GIII.
CONCLUSION
SAH can lead to ischemia of the Onuf's nucleus-pudendal nerve structures due to urethral artery spasm, resulting in urogenital complications.
PubMed: 37909197
DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.xxx -
Journal of Biochemical and Molecular... Jan 2024Arsenic (As) toxicity can generate reactive free radicals, which play an important role in the evolution of cardiomyopathy. The aim of this research is to see if...
Arsenic (As) toxicity can generate reactive free radicals, which play an important role in the evolution of cardiomyopathy. The aim of this research is to see if sulforaphane (SFN) protects against As-induced heart damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial complex dysfunction via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway. The rats were placed into four groups, each with eight rats. Group 1: Normal rats (control group); Group 2: Treatment group (5 mg/kg body weight); Group 3: SFN+As-treatment group (80 mg/kg body weight + 5 mg/kg body weight); Group 4: SFN group only (80 mg/kg body weight). The swot will last 4 weeks. At the end of the intermission (28 days), all of the rats starved overnight and killed with cervical decapitation. As administration considerably (p < 0.05) inflated the extent of free radicals (O2-, OH-), lipoid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal), lipoid profile (low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipids), cardiac Troponin (cTnT&I), and Mitochondrial complex III. A noteworthy (p < 0.05) diminish the level of HDL-C, Mitochondrial complex I and II, enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase), and nonenzymatic antioxidant (glutathione and total sulfhydryl groups) and PI3k, Akt, and Nrf2 sequence in As treated rats. The western blot, real-time polymerase chain reaction, flowcytometric, and histology studies all corroborated the biochemical findings which revealed significant heart damage in rats. Pretreatment with SFN significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the invitro free radicals, lipid oxidative indicators, mitochondrial complex, lipid profiles, and increased phase II antioxidants in the heart. This result shows that dietary supplementation of SFN protects against As-induced cardiotoxicity via PI3k/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in rats.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Arsenic; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Cardiotoxicity; Oxidative Stress; Isothiocyanates; Antioxidants; Signal Transduction; Free Radicals; Body Weight; Lipoproteins, LDL; Cholesterol; Lipids; Sulfoxides
PubMed: 37906532
DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23576 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Oct 2023Refinement of experimental procedures in animal research has the objective of preventing and minimizing pain/distress in animals, including the euthanasia period. This...
Refinement of experimental procedures in animal research has the objective of preventing and minimizing pain/distress in animals, including the euthanasia period. This study aimed to evaluate pain associated with six methods of euthanasia in Wistar rats (injectable, inhalational, and physical), by applying the Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), comparing the scores, and determining the method with the highest score that might indicate pain for laboratory rodents. Sixty adult male and female Wistar rats were used and assigned to six treatments: pentobarbital, CO, decapitation, isoflurane, ketamine + xylazine, and ketamine + CO. Video recording to assess the RGS scores was performed in four events: basal: 24 h before the procedure; Ti: three minutes before the procedure; Ti: during the application of the euthanasia method; and Ti: immediately after the application until LORR. The main findings of this study showed that, during Ti, decapitation and ketamine + xylazine had the highest scores (0.6 ± 0.26 and 0.6 ± 0.16, respectively) ( < 0.0001), while at Ti, CO (0.9 ± 0.18) and isoflurane (1.2 ± 0.20) recorded the highest scores ( < 0.0001). According to the present results, decapitation and ketamine + xylazine elicited short-term acute pain, possibly due to tissue damage caused by both methods (injection and guillotine). In contrast, isoflurane's RGS scores recorded during Ti might be associated with nociception/pain due to the pungency of the drug or to the pharmacological muscle relaxant effect of isoflurane. Further research is needed to establish a comprehensive study of pain during euthanasia, where RGS could be used minding the limitations that anesthetics might have on facial expression.
PubMed: 37893885
DOI: 10.3390/ani13203161 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Oct 2023: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease in the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by specific microorganisms or groups of microorganisms. bacterium is the...
: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease in the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by specific microorganisms or groups of microorganisms. bacterium is the keystone pathogen in periodontitis, so even at low concentrations, it has a considerable influence on the oral community. Antimicrobials and antiplaque agents can be used as adjunctive therapy for periodontitis treatment. Konjac glucomannan (KGM), as a natural polysaccharide, has flavonoid (3,5-diacetyltambulin) and triterpenoids (ambylon) compounds that show antibacterial activity. This research aims to analyze the antibacterial activity of KGM on animal and in vitro periodontitis models. : The animal study divided 48 mice into four groups (control, KGM, periodontitis, KGM + periodontitis). Mice were given an intervention substance by oral gavage from day 1 to day 14, periodontitis was induced on day 7, and decapitation was performed on day 14. Samples from the right maxillary jaw of mice were used for histological preparations and morphometrics analysis. In vitro studies were carried out by adding several concentrations of KGM (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) into a planktonic and biofilm. : In the animal model, KGM could prevent alveolar bone loss in the periodontitis mice model, both in histologic and morphometrics assessments. In vitro, KGM had antibacterial activity against with better bacteriostatic (15-23%) than bactericidal (11-20%) ability, proven by its ability to inhibit proliferation. : KGM can be considered to have the potential as an antibacterial agent to prevent periodontitis. The prevention of periodontitis may improve patient well-being and human quality of life.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Quality of Life; Periodontitis; Disease Models, Animal; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37893496
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101778 -
Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi Aug 2023To explore the potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of primary brain stem injury (PBSI) by using metabonomics method to observe the changes of metabolites in rats with...
OBJECTIVES
To explore the potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of primary brain stem injury (PBSI) by using metabonomics method to observe the changes of metabolites in rats with PBSI caused death.
METHODS
PBSI, non-brain stem brain injury and decapitation rat models were established, and metabolic maps of brain stem were obtained by LC-MS metabonomics method and annotated to the HMDB database. Partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest methods were used to screen potential biomarkers associated with PBSI diagnosis.
RESULTS
Eighty-six potential metabolic markers associated with PBSI were screened by PLS-DA. They were modeled and predicted by random forest algorithm with an accuracy rate of 83.3%. The 818 metabolic markers annotated to HMDB database were used for random forest modeling and prediction, and the accuracy rate was 88.9%. According to the importance in the identification of cause of death, the most important metabolic markers that were significantly up-regulated in PBSI group were HMDB0038126 (genipinic acid, GA), HMDB0013272 (-lauroylglycine), HMDB0005199 [()-salsolinol] and HMDB0013645 (,-dimethylsphingosine).
CONCLUSIONS
GA, -lauroylglycine, ()-salsolinol and ,-dimethylsphingosine are expected to be important metabolite indicators in the diagnosis of PBSI caused death, thus providing clues for forensic medicine practice.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Metabolomics; Brain Injuries; Biomarkers; Brain Stem
PubMed: 37859476
DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2022.420510 -
Annals of Dermatology May 2023Nevus sebaceus is a hamartomatous lesion characterized by epidermal, follicular, sebaceus, and apocrine gland abnormalities. Approximately 25% of affected individuals...
Nevus sebaceus is a hamartomatous lesion characterized by epidermal, follicular, sebaceus, and apocrine gland abnormalities. Approximately 25% of affected individuals may develop benign or malignant secondary neoplasms within the preceding nevus sebaceus. Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (PCAC) is a rare malignant skin tumor affecting elderly adults in their sixth decade of life. Histologically, PCAC appears as a dermal tumor displaying apocrine differentiation with decapitation secretion and malignant features. Secondary malignancy arising from nevus sebaceus is a rare complication, especially for apocrine carcinoma. To date, approximately 200 cases of PCAC have been reported in the literature, and only a few cases have developed PCAC on the scalp. Very few cases (approximately only 12) of PCACs developing in nevus sebaceus have been reported. Here, we report an extremely rare case of the coexistence of PCAC and syringocystadenoma papilliferum arising within nevus sebaceus of the scalp.
PubMed: 37853855
DOI: 10.5021/ad.21.039 -
International Immunopharmacology Nov 2023The therapeutic effect of liposomal IL-22 versus non-liposomal IL-22 on liver fibrosis was investigated. IL-22 (5 µg/ml) was incorporated into negative charged...
The therapeutic effect of liposomal IL-22 versus non-liposomal IL-22 on liver fibrosis was investigated. IL-22 (5 µg/ml) was incorporated into negative charged liposomes. Schistosoma mansoni infected mice were treated with liposomal IL-22 for either 7 or 14 days before decapitation. Liver and spleen were removed and splenocytes were isolated for in vitro investigations. TNF-α, IL-17, IL-22 and IgE levels were assessed. Hepatic granulomas were counted, granuloma index and its developmental stages were calculated. Hepatic expressions of STAT3, β-catenin and let-7a miRNA were evaluated. Liposomal IL-22 size was clustered around 425.9 ± 58.0 nm with negative zeta potential (-18.8 ± 1.3 mV). After 14 days, 65.5% of IL-22 was released from liposomal IL-22 as was gradually observed in vitro. Liposomal IL-22 significantly (p < 0.05) decreased IL-17 level (-33.1%) of healthy splenocytes compared to non-liposomal IL-22. In vivo therapeutic effect of liposomal IL-22 revealed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in hepatic granuloma index (-22.1%) and levels of TNF-α (-49.2%) and IL-17 (-57.3%), but a marked increase in IL-22 (64.2%) and IgE (196.1%) levels comparing to non-liposomal IL-22. Three developmental stages of hepatic granuloma (NE, EP, and P) were observed in liposomal and non-liposomal IL-22 groups (79.6 ± 1.7 and 81.8 ± 8.7, respectively, P < 0.05), with higher relative frequency of EP stage. Additionally, liposomal IL-22 treatment increased hepatic expression of STAT3 (21.7 fold change) and let-7a (3.6 fold change) and reduced β-catenin expression (0.6 fold change) compared to healthy mice. Conclusively, liposomal IL-22 seems more effective in the treatment of liver fibrosis resulting from S. mansoni infection than non-liposomal IL-22.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Interleukin-17; beta Catenin; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Liposomes; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver; MicroRNAs; Granuloma; Immunoglobulin E; Interleukin-22
PubMed: 37827055
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111015 -
European Review For Medical and... Sep 2023The objective of our study was to evaluate whether ovarian suppression by two different hormonal methods may spare the ovary the cytotoxic effects of isotretinoin in a...
The protective effects of hormonal suppression by a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or an oral contraceptive on the decreased ovarian reserve in female rats exposed to isotretinoin.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to evaluate whether ovarian suppression by two different hormonal methods may spare the ovary the cytotoxic effects of isotretinoin in a rat model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four groups (n=8 Sprague-Dawley albino rats per group) were studied: control (Group I), 7.5 mg/kg/day isotretinoin (Group II), isotretinoin plus the combination of 0.030 mg ethinyl estradiol/0.15 mg levonorgestrel (combined oral contraceptive, COC), and isotretinoin plus 100 μg (microgram) leuprolide acetate (GnRHa) (Group III and IV, respectively). Four rats from each group were decapitated on the 30th day of treatment, and the remaining rats were decapitated on the 30th day of untreated follow-up. Serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations, healthy and atretic follicle numbers, and apoptotic activity of follicles in oophorectomy specimens were compared between the groups.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in AMH levels among the study groups before, immediately after (first month), and one month after their last medication (second month) (p=0.08, 0.47, and 0.08, respectively). At the end of the first month, the control group had a higher median count of healthy primordial follicles compared to the study groups: 13.5 (8-22), 5.5 (3-11), 6 (2-13), and 1 (0-1) in control, isotretinoin, isotretinoin+COC, and isotretinoin+GnRHa groups, respectively (p=0.02). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the number of healthy primordial follicles between the groups one month after the last medication (p=0.33). The median atretic antral follicle counts in the first month were 2 (1-4), 3.5 (1-4), 0 (0-2), and 0 (0-0) in the control, isotretinoin, isotretinoin+COC, and isotretinoin+GnRHa groups, respectively (p=0.02). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in other types of follicles among the control and treated groups (p>0.05). There was also no statistical difference between the groups regarding immunostaining intensity for active caspase-3 evaluated in the first or second month of treatment (p=0.8 and 0.2, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that GnRH agonists or COC have no protective effects on ovarian reserve when co-administered with isotretinoin in the rat model.
Topics: Female; Rats; Animals; Humans; Contraceptives, Oral; Isotretinoin; Ovarian Reserve; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Anti-Mullerian Hormone; Immunologic Factors; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
PubMed: 37782196
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202309_33808 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023Sweet sorghum has emerged as a promising source of bioenergy mainly due to its high biomass and high soluble sugar yield in stems. Studies have shown that...
Sweet sorghum has emerged as a promising source of bioenergy mainly due to its high biomass and high soluble sugar yield in stems. Studies have shown that loss-of-function locus alleles have been selected during sweet sorghum domestication, and decapitation can further boost sugar accumulation in sweet sorghum, indicating that the potential for improving sugar yields is yet to be fully realized. To maximize sugar accumulation, it is essential to gain a better understanding of the mechanism underlying the massive accumulation of soluble sugars in sweet sorghum stems in addition to the locus. We performed a transcriptomic analysis upon decapitation of near-isogenic lines for mutant (, juicy stems, and green leaf midrib) and functional (, dry stems and white leaf midrib) alleles at the locus. Our analysis revealed that decapitation suppressed photosynthesis in leaves, but accelerated starch metabolic processes in stems. negatively correlates with sugar levels supported by genotypes ( vs. ), treatments (control vs. decapitation), and developmental stages post anthesis (3d vs.10d). locus gene and other programmed cell death-related genes were downregulated by decapitation, while sugar transporter-encoding gene was induced. Both and were detected in phloem companion cells by RNA assay. Loss of the homolog, in led to a sugar accumulation increase. This study provides new insights into sugar accumulation enhancement in bioenergy crops, which can be potentially achieved by reducing reproductive sink strength and enhancing phloem unloading.
PubMed: 37767289
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1233813 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Sep 2023Refinement is one of the principles aiming to promote welfare in research animals. The techniques used during an experimental protocol, including euthanasia selection,...
Refinement is one of the principles aiming to promote welfare in research animals. The techniques used during an experimental protocol, including euthanasia selection, must prevent and minimize suffering. Although the current euthanasia methods applied to laboratory rodents are accepted, the controversial findings regarding the potential stress/distress they can cause is a field of research. The objective was to assess the thermal response of Wistar rats during various euthanasia methods using infrared thermography (IRT) to determine the method that prevents or diminishes the stress response and prolonged suffering. Pentobarbital (G), CO (G), decapitation (G), isoflurane (G), ketamine + xylazine (G), and ketamine + CO (G) were evaluated at five evaluation times with IRT to identify changes in the surface temperature of four anatomical regions: ocular (T°), auricular (T°), interscapular (T°), and caudal (T°). Significant differences ( < 0.05) were found in G and G, registering temperature increases from the administration of the drug to the cessation of respiratory rate and heart rate. Particularly, isoflurane showed a marked thermal response in T°, T°, T°, and T°, suggesting that, in general, inhalant euthanasia methods induce stress in rats and that isoflurane might potentially cause distress, an effect that must be considered when deciding humane euthanasia methods in laboratory rodents.
PubMed: 37760220
DOI: 10.3390/ani13182820