Protective Effects of Different Doses of Ginsenoside-Rb1 Experimental Cataract Model That in Chick Embryos

PURPOSE

There has been increased interest in phytochemical antioxidants to prevent protein damage and aggregate formation in cataract treatment. In this study, the protective effect of different doses of Rb1 (GRb1), one of the ginsenosides of Panax Ginseng, in the experimental cataract model formed in chick embryos was investigated.

METHODS

Five different experimental groups were formed with 100 SPF fertilized eggs: Control (0.9% NaCl to physiological saline), hydrocortisone hemisuccinate sodium (HC), low dose (HC + L-GRb1 (1 mg/kg)), medium dose (HC+). M-GRb1 (2.5 mg/kg)), and high dose (HC + H-GRb1 (5 mg/kg)). All solutions were given to air sack at 15 days of incubation. On the 17th day, the bulbous oculi of the chick embryos were dissected. Cataract formations of the lenses, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant (TAS), total oxidant (TOS) levels, Caspase-3 H-score, and TUNEL index were determined. In addition, crystalline alpha A (CRYAA) gene expression was evaluated.

RESULTS

Cataracts were observed in the control, HC, HC + L-GRb1, HC + M-GRb1, and HC + H-GRb1 groups with a frequency of 0%, 100%, 75%, 56.25%, and 100%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the control and HC groups in terms of TAS, TOS, MDA, GSH, Caspase-3 H-score, and TUNEL index (p < .05). When the therapeutic effect of the GRb1 groups was evaluated, the HC group showed significant differences with the HC + L-GRb1 and HC + M-GRb1 groups in almost all parameters (p < .05), while there was no statistical difference with the HC + H-GRb1 group (p > .05). In addition, gene expression levels differed between the groups, although not statistically significant (p > .05).

CONCLUSION

1 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg GRb1 applications show therapeutic properties on the HC-induced cataract model. This effect is more pronounced at 2.5 mg/kg.

Effect of Pethidine Hydrochloride on the Development of Neural Tube: A Genetic Analysis Study in a Chick Embryo Model

BACKGROUND

Neural tube defects are among the most frequent congenital abnormalities of the central nervous system. Progression of neural tube deficits is affected by hereditary predilection and environmental determinants. Pethidine (meperidine) is a fast and powerful opioid analgesic in U.S. Food and Drug Administration category C. There are reports about developmental anomalies due to this medication. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of pethidine hydrochloride on neural tube development in a chick embryo model resembling the first month of vertebral growth in mammals.

METHODS

Seventy-five specific pathogen-free eggs were incubated for 28 hours and divided into 5 groups (including the control group), each consisting of 15 eggs. Pethidine hydrochloride was administered sub-blastodermically with a Hamilton microinjector in 4 different doses. Incubation was continued until the end of the 48th hour. Subsequently, all eggs were opened, and embryos were cut from the embryonic membranes and evaluated morphologically, genetically, and histopathologically.

RESULTS

Crown-rump length, somite numbers, and silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) number averages, and total AgNOR/nuclear area ratios decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Examination of neural tube closure revealed statistically significant differences in all experimental groups (P<0.05). Messenger RNA levels of the BRE gene were decreased in pethidine hydrochloride-exposed embryos compared with the control group. Although this downregulation was not statistically significant, this decrease was striking with a 0.422-fold change in the fifth group.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that pethidine hydrochloride affects neuronal development in chicken embryos. The teratogenic mechanism of pethidine hydrochloride is unclear; therefore, further investigation is required.