Background/Aims: The present study examined the preventive effect of ginger against renal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. Methods: 30 adultmale rats were used. The animals were allocated to five groups of 6 rats: (1) normal (N), (2) normal + ginger (N+G), (3) right nephrectomy (Sham), (4) I-R, and (5) I-R + ginger (I-R+G). To induce renal ischemia, animals were unilaterally nephrectomized and subjected to 45 min of left renal pedicle occlusion with 24 h reperfusion. Ginger was administered orally 24 h and just before ischemia. At the end of the experiment, blood samples and urine were collected. The following renal functional parameters were studied: serum and urinary levels of creatinine and urea, fractional excretion of sodium, and creatinine clearance. Histopathological examination of the kidney was also performed. Results: Rats with renal I-R showed a significant increase in creatinine and urea concentration in serum and also a significant decrease in creatinine clearance compared with the other groups. In addition, renal histopathology in the I-R group showed severe alterations such as tubular dilatation and tubular epithelial necrosis. However, these changes were significantly reduced in the I-R+G group. Conclusion: This study suggests that ginger is a useful agent for the prevention of renal ischemia reperfusion-induced injury.

Background:Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic diseases in humans, affecting 100 million people around the world.Objective:Investigating the effects of Citrullus colocynthis pulp on oxidant and antioxidant factors of testes and epididymis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.Materials and Methods:Thirty two male rats were divided into four groups (n=8) 1) N (normal) group, 2) N+C group, 3) D (diabetic) group and 4) D+C group. Groups N and D received normal saline 2 ml orally for two weeks and groups N+C and D+C received 10 mg/kg.bw Citrullus colocynthis pulp orally for two weeks. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 65 mg/kg. Results:D group had a significant increase in H2O2 (Hydrogen peroxide) and MDA (malondialdehyde) concentrations, and CAT (catalase) activity, and also a significant decrease in Peroxidase (POD) activity compared to N group. D+C group had a significant decrease in H2O2 and MDA concentrations and, CAT activity and significant increase in POD activity compared to D group.Conclusion:Citrullus colocynthis pulp in two weeks had beneficial effects on oxidants and antioxidants changes in reproductive system in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Iron overload and enhanced hydroxyl radical (•OH) formation have been implicated as the causative factors of oxidative stress in different organs. Both pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant properties have been reported for nitric oxide (NO) in iron-mediated tissue injury. To determine the contribution of NO to iron-induced renal injury, eight groups of rats (eight in each group) were studied as follows: control (normal saline), L-Arg (L-arginine as a substrate of NO synthase, 400 mg/kg), L-NAME (an inhibitor of NO synthase, 8 mg/kg), Fe (iron dextran, 600 mg/kg), DFO (deferroxamine as a chelator of iron, 150 mg/kg), Fe+L-Arg, Fe+L-NAME, DFO+L-Arg. Twenty-four hours after the injections, blood samples were taken and kidneys removed for biochemical analysis. Plasma creatinine and urea were used to stimulate renal function. Renal tissue and plasma vitamin E levels, the most important endogenous fat soluble antioxidant, were measured by HPLC and UV detection. In this study, renal function was markedly reduced in the Fe group compared to controls (creatinine, 1.02± 0.05 mg/dL versus 0.78±0.04 P <0.05; urea, 49.59±1.69 mg/dL versus 40.75±0.86, P <0.01). Vitamin E levels were significantly lower in the Fe group compared to controls (plasma P <0.01; renal tissue P <0.05). Administration of L-Arg to Fe-treated groups prevented these reductions. L-NAME increased iron-induced toxicity significantly, demonstrated by further reduction in the vitamin E levels and renal function compared to the Fe group alone. We concluded that NO plays an important role in protecting the kidney from iron-induced nephrotoxicity. NO synthase blockade enhances iron-mediated renal toxicity in this model.

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Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of diabetic complications. Objective: This study evaluated the impact of pre- and post-treatment with Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 on the oxidant and anti-oxidant factors of testis and epididymis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats (10 wk old) weighing 220-230 g. were divided into five groups (n = 6/ each): 1- normal group, 2- normal lactobacillus group, 3- diabetic group, 4- diabetic + lactobacillus before (DLB) group, and 5- diabetic + lactobacillus after (DLA) group. The normal and diabetic groups received daily 1 mL normal saline for 6 wk. Normal lactobacillus group received daily L. acidophilus for 6 wk. Group DLB received daily L. acidophilus for 2 wk before diabetes and for 4 wk after diabetes. Group DLA received daily 1 mL normal saline for 2 wk before diabetes and L. acidophilus for 4 wk after diabetes. The dose of L. acidophilus was 1 × 109 CFU/mL. Results: The administration of L. acidophilus worsened blood glucose level and reduced the levels of Malondialdehyde (p = ≤ 0.0001) and Hydrogen peroxide (p ≤ 0.0001) and, Catalase and Glutathione peroxidase activity increased in the testis. In epididymis, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase (p = 0.013) activity increased and Hydrogen peroxide concentration reduced, while Malondialdehyde concentration did not show any changes compared to the diabetic rats. Also, there was no significant difference between DLB and DLA groups, in these markers. Conclusion: Data obtained suggests that L. acidophilus has anti-oxidant effects on the testis and sometime in the epididymis in diabetic rats.