Octreotide and lanreotide decrease ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by improving oxidative and nitrosative stress

Effect of octreotide on oxidative stress in the erythrocyte and kidney tissue in adriamycin-induced experimental nephrotic syndrome model

INTRODUCTION

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the reasons of end-stage kidney disease, and elucidating the pathogenesis and offer new treatment options is important. Oxidative stress might trigger pathogenesis systemically or isolated in the kidneys. Octreotide (OCT) has beneficial antioxidant effects. We aimed to investigate the source of oxidative stress and the effect of OCT on experimental NS model.

METHODS

Twenty-four non-uremic Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups. Control group, 2 mL saline intramuscular (im); NS group, adriamycin 5 mg/kg intravenous (iv); NS treatment group, adriamycin 5 mg/kg (iv) and OCT 200 mcg/kg (im) were administered at baseline (Day 0). At the end of 21 days, creatinine and protein levels were measured in 24-hour urine samples. Erythrocyte and renal catalase (CAT) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were measured. Renal histology was also evaluated.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference among the 3 groups in terms of CAT and TBARS in erythrocytes. Renal CAT level was lowest in NS group, and significantly lower than the control group. In treatment group, CAT level significantly increased compared with NS group. In terms of renal histology, tubular and interstitial evaluations were similar in all groups. Glomerular score was significantly higher in NS group compared with control group and it was significantly decreased in treatment group compared to NS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Oxidative stress in NS might be due to the decrease in antioxidant protection mechanism in kidney. Octreotide improves antioxidant levels and histology in renal tissue and might be a treatment option.

The effects of berberine on ischemia-reperfusion injuries in an experimental model of ovarian torsion

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian torsion is a gynecological disorder that causes ischemia-reperfusion injuries in the ovary. Our study investigated berberine's short- and long-term effects on ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injuries.

METHODS

This study included 28 Wistar albino female rats weighing 180 to 220 g, which were divided into four groups: sham (S), torsion/detorsion (T/D), torsion/ detorsion+single dose berberine (T/D+Bb), and torsion/detorsion+15 days berberine (T/D+15Bb). The torsion and detorsion model was applied in all non-sham groups. In the T/D+Bb group, a single dose of berberine was administered, while in the T/D+15Bb group, berberine was administered over a period of 15 days. After the rats were euthanized, their ovaries were excised. The left ovaries were used for histopathologic evaluation, which included ovarian injury scoring and follicle count, while the right ovaries were used for biochemical analyses (tissue transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β] and alpha-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA] levels).

RESULTS

The histopathologic evaluation scores for the ovaries were significantly lower in the T/D+B group (p<0.05) and the T/D+15B group (p<0.005) than in the T/D group. The follicle counts in the T/D group were lower than those in both the sham and treated groups (p<0.005). The TGF-β levels were significantly lower in the T/D+15B group (p<0.005), whereas the α-SMA levels did not show a significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Both short- and long-term berberine use could potentially have therapeutic effects on ovarian torsion. Long-term berberine use exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by reducing TGF-β levels, thereby preventing ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Therefore, we suggest that long-term berberine use could be beneficial for ovarian torsion.

Ameliorative effect of gallic acid on cisplatin-induced ovarian toxicity in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of gallic acid (GA) against cisplatin (CDDP)-induced ovarian toxicity, for the first time. The ovarian damage was generated with CDDP (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) administration in rats. GA (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) were administered i.p. for 3 consecutive days. The study was carried out in 5 main groups containing 6 rats in each group: control, GA (5 mg/kg), CDDP, CDDP + GA (2.5 mg/kg) and CDDP + GA (5 mg/kg). The levels of ovarian malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), catalase (CAT), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), caspase-3 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined. Hematoxylin and eosin staining method was employed for the histopathological examination. In the CDDP group, it is determined that statistically significant decreasing in the levels of TAS and CAT, and increasing in the levels of MDA, TOS, OSI, 8-OHdG, caspase-3 and TNF-α (p < 0.05) compared with control group. GA administrations statistically significantly restored this damage (p < 0.05). Although vascular congestion, edema, hemorrhage, follicular degeneration and leukocyte infiltration were significantly higher in the CDDP group than in the control group, GA administrations statistically significantly restored these damages (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study showed that GA prevented CDDP-induced ovarian damage with its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities. More comprehensive studies are needed to see the underlying mechanisms.

Suppression of cisplatin-induced ovarian injury in rats by chrysin: an experimental study

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic efficacy of chrysin (CHS) against ovotoxicity caused by intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin (CDDP) in rats. In this experimental study, 24 female rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, CHS (2 mg/kg), CDDP (5 mg/kg) and CDDP (5 mg/kg) + CHS (2 mg/kg). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were determined in the ovarian tissues using spectrophotometric methods. In addition, the ovarian samples were evaluated histopathologically by hematoxylin&eosin staining. The results revealed that the levels of MDA, TOS, IL-6 and MPO significantly increased by CDDP administration compared with control group (p < 0.05). Also, it was found that CDDP significantly decreased TAS and SOD levels (p < 0.05). CHS ameliorated CDDP-induced the increased levels of MDA, TOS, IL-6, MPO and increased the levels of TAS and SOD significantly (p < 0.05). Histological findings also supported the therapeutic effect of CHS against CDDP-induced ovarian damage parameters. In conclusion, our results showed that CHS exhibits a therapeutic effect against CDDP-induced ovotoxicity and therefore the use of CHS after chemotherapy may improve the side effets of CDDP. IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known about this subject? Cisplatin (CDDP) is an effective and widely used chemotherapeutic agent to treat various malignancies, but its therapeutic use is limited due to dose-related tissue toxicity. Chrysin (CHS), a natural flavone, exhibits various beneficial activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. There are increasing evidences in the literature that CHS reduces the toxicity of various chemotherapeutic agents, such as CDDP, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, in colon, kidney and liver tissues through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.What do the results of this study add? This study demonstrated that CHS can abolish CDDP-induced in vivo ovarian injury by decreasing MDA, TOS, IL-6 and MPO levels and increasing SOD and TAS levels through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study revealed the therapeutic potential of CHS against CDDP-induced acute ovotoxicity, for the first time. Further pre-clinical studies are necessary to prove the beneficial effect of CHS on the prevention of CDDP-induced ovarian toxicity.

Thymoquinone: A Review of Pharmacological Importance, Oxidative Stress, COVID-19, and Radiotherapy

Widely consumed worldwide, Nigella sativa (NS) is a medicinal herb commonly used in various alternative medicine systems such as Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda, and Siddha. Recommended for regular use in Tibb-e-Nabwi (Prophetic Medicine), NS is considered one of the most notable forms of healing medicine in Islamic literature. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main component of the essential oil of NS, has been reported to have many properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antineoplastic. Its chemical structure indicates antiviral potential against many viruses, including the hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and other coronavirus diseases. Interestingly, molecular docking studies have demonstrated that TQ can potentially inhibit the development of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by binding to the receptor site on the transmembrane serine proteinase 2 (the activator enzyme that attaches the virus to the cell). In addition, TQ has been shown to be effective against cancer cells due to its inhibitory effect by binding to the different regions of MDM2, according to the proposed molecular docking study. Detailed in this review is the origin of TQ, its significance in alternative medicine, pharmacological value, potential as a cancer anti-proliferative agent, use against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and treatment of other diseases.