Melatonin (MEL) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) both display antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties. In the present study, the effect of MEL and CoQ10 on the oxidative stress and fibrosis induced by ochratoxin A (OTA) administration in rats was investigated. Rats were divided into five equal groups, each consisting of seven rats: (1) controls; (2) OTA-treated rats (289 microg/kg/day); (3) OTA+MEL-treated rats (289 microg/kg/day OTA + 10 mg/kg/day MEL); and (4) OTA+CoQ10-treated rats (289 microg/kg/day OTA + 1 mg/100 g/day body weight (bw) CoQ10). After 4 weeks of treatment, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured in the homogenates of liver and kidney. In the OTA-treated group, the levels of MDA and Hyp in both liver and kidney were significantly increased when compared with the levels of control, whereas GPx activities decreased. In OTA+MEL-treated rats, the levels of MDA and Hyp in both liver and kidney were significantly decreased when compared with the levels of OTA-treated rats; however; GPX activities increased. In the OTA+CoQ10-treated group, the levels of MDA and Hyp were decreased when compared with the levels of OTA-treated rats, whereas GPx activities increased. In the OTA+CoQ10-treated group, the levels of MDA, Hyp, and GPx were not significantly changed in kidney when compared with OTA-treated group. MEL has a protective effect against OTA toxicity through an inhibition of the oxidative damage and fibrosis both liver and kidney. Although CoQ10 has protective effect against OTA toxicity in liver tissue, it has no effect in kidney tissue.

In the study, the effects of relatively high single-dose of Ochratoxin A (OTA) and the antioxidant effects of Melatonin (Mel) and Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) on OTA-induced oxidative damages in rats were investigated. A total of 28 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of 7 rats each: Control, OTA, Mel+OTA and CoQ 10 +OTA groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the plasma and glutathione (GSH) levels in whole blood were measured; kidneys (for histological inspection and for apoptosis detection by TUNEL method) and bone marrow samples (for chromosome aberration and mitotic index) were taken. The rats in the OTA group showed limited degeneration of tubular cells. In some tubules karyomegaly, desquamated cells and vacuolization were observed by light microscopy. Mel and CoQ 10 treatment significantly reduced the severity of the lesions. MDA levels of the OTA group were significantly higher than the control, OTA+Mel and OTA+CoQ 10 groups, while GSH levels were significantly lower than the control, OTA+Mel and OTA+CoQ 10 groups. Higher incidences of apoptotic bodies were observed in the kidneys of the OTA group although OTA administration did not significantly change the incidence of apoptotic bodies when compared to the control and antioxidant administrated groups. Although the percentage of the mitotic index was lowest in the OTA group, no statistical difference was found among the groups. Additionally, OTA had no numerical and structural significant effects on chromosomes. It was observed that single-dose OTA administration caused oxidative damages in rat kidney and Mel or CoQ 10 treatment appeared to ameliorate the OTA-induced tissue injuries.

BackgroundTo examine the effect of carnosine on liver function and histological findings in experimental septic shock model, 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were used.Material/MethodsRats were divided into control, septic shock, and carnosine-treated septic shock groups. Femoral vein and artery catheterization were performed on all rats. Rats in the control group underwent laparotomy and catheterization; in the test groups, cecal ligation-perforation and bladder cannulation were added. Rats in the treatment group received a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 250 mg/kg carnosine 60 minutes after cecal ligation-perforation. Rats were monitored for blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature to assess the postoperative septic response, and body fluids were replaced as necessary. At the end of 24 hours, rats were sacrificed and liver samples were collected.ResultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in liver function, tissue and serum MDA levels, and histological findings in rats treated with carnosine, compared to rats with untreated sepsis. HB and HCT values did not change significantly during the course of the experiment. Rats exposed to septic shock and treated with carnosine exhibited decreased sinusoidal dilatation and cellular inflammation into the portal region, compared to the sepsis group; the livers of rats in this group had near-normal histological structure.ConclusionsWe conclude that carnosine may be an effective treatment for oxidative damage due to liver tissue perfusion defects in cases of septic shock.

In this study, we investigated the affect and the role of growth factors on liver damage. 110 Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 11 groups: a sham group, a control group, HGF, EGF, IGF, TGF groups of irreversible jaundiced rats and a control group and HGF, EGF, IGF, and TGF groups of reversible jaundiced rats (n = 10). In the irreversible jaundiced groups, the common bile duct was explorated, double ligated, and cut. 150 μg/kg/day HGF, 5 μg/kg/day EGF, 5 μg/kg/day IGF, and 5 μg/kg/day TGF β-1 were injected intraperitoneally after the seventh post-operative day. In the reversible jaundiced group, the common bile duct was ligated and the ligation was resolved on the seventh post-operative day. For 5 days, growth factors were injected at the same dose. Ductal proliferation scores significantly decreased after growth factor administration in the EGF-A and TGF-A groups. Furthermore, ductal proliferation was decreased in the TGF-B group. As a result of this study, HGF was effective in the irreversible jaundiced groups and ineffective in the reversible jaundice groups. EGF was effective in the reversible jaundiced groups and ineffective in the irreversible jaundiced groups. In both the irreversible jaundiced and reversible jaundiced groups, IGF was ineffective, although TGF β-1 was effective. We believe that these results arise from the positive effects of effective doses of growth factor on liver damage.

ÖZETGiriş: Sepsis, inflamasyon ve enfeksiyon tablolarına karşı verilen sistemik bir yanıttır. Yoğun bakım ünitelerindeki en önemli ölüm sebeplerindendir. Materyal-Methot:Bu çalışmada ratlarda çekal ligasyon ve perforasyon modeli ile oluşturulan deneysel septik şok modeli kullanarak eritropoetinin hepatik fonksiyonlar ve histolojik bulguları üzerindeki etkilerini araştırdık. Bulgular:Eritropoetin uygulanan tedavi grubuna ait sı-çanlarda tedavi sonrası AST ve ALT değerlerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzelme saptadık. Ayrıca eritropoietin ile tedavi edilen sıçanlardan karaciğerin histolojik yapı-sında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzelme saptadık. Sonuç:Bu çalışmada septik şoktaki iskemi-perfüzyon hasarı ve inflamasyon tedavisinde eritropoetin kullandık. Veriler, septik şokun tedavisinde ve septik şoktan kaynaklanan karaciğer hasarında eritropoetin kullanımını önermektedir. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, gelecekteki klinik çalışmaları teşvik edecektir. Eritropoetin, sepsis kaynaklı oksidatif hasardan organları korur gibi görünmektedir.Anahtar kelimeler: Eritropoetin, sepsis, fare, karaciğer ABSTRACT Background: Sepsis is a systemic response that develops against infection and inflammation. These disorders remain the most important cause of mortality in intensive care units.