Prolonged use of an antineoplastic agent methotrexate (MTX), can cause numerous side effects such as nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of MTX on kidneys and demonstrate the protective effects of gallic acid (GA). Twenty-four, male, rats distributed into three groups. Each groups consisted eight rats and only saline was administered to the control group. The MTX group received a single dose (20 mg/kg) MTX intraperitoneally. The MTX + GA group received same dose MTX and 100 mg/kg GA orally during the 7 days. Renal functions, oxidative stress markers, histopathological and immunohistochemical changes were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid levels and tissue oxidative stress markers, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index levels significantly increased and total antioxidant status levels significantly decreased in MTX group compared with the control group. At the histopathological examination hemorrhages, tubular cell necrosis, glomerulosclerosis, inflammatory cell infiltrations and proteinous materials in tubules were noticed in MTX group. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that increased expressions of serum amyloid A (SAA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in tubular epithelial cells of kidneys in this group. There were no immunoreaction with SAA and CRP, only small number of PGE-2 and TNF-α positive tubular epithelial cells were observed in MTX + GA group. In conclusion, all evidence suggested that oxidative stress caused MTX-induced nephrotoxicity and GA prevent the kidney from the nephrotoxicity due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate electromagnetic radiation (EMR) transmitted by wireless devices (2.45 GHz), which may cause physiopathological or ultrastructural changes, in the testes of rats. We addressed if the supplemental gallic acid (GA) may reduce these adverse effects. Six-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. Forty eight rats were equally divided into four groups, which were named: Sham, EMR only (EMR, 3 h day for 30 days), EMR + GA (30 mg/kg/daily), and GA (30 mg/kg/daily) groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels increased (p = 0.001 for both) in EMR only group. TOS and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels decreased in GA treated group significantly (p = 0.001 and p = 0.045, respectively). Total antioxidant status (TAS) activities decreased in EMR only group and increased in GA treatment group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.029, respectively). Testosterone and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels decreased in EMR only group, but this was not statistically significant. Testosterone and VEGF levels increased in EMR+GA group, compared with EMR only group (p = 0.002), and also increased in GA group compared with the control and EMR only group (p = 0.044 and p = 0.032, respectively). Prostaglandin E (PGE ) and calcitonin gene releated peptide (CGRP) staining increased in tubules of the testes in EMR only group (p < 0.001 for both) and decreased in tubules of the testes in EMR+GA group (p < 0.001 for all parameters). In EMR only group, most of the tubules contained less spermatozoa, and the spermatozoon counts decreased in tubules of the testes. All these findings and the regenerative reaction, characterized by mitotic activity, increased in seminiferous tubules cells of the testes in EMR+GA group (p < 0.001). Long term EMR exposure resulted in testicular physiopathology via oxidative damage and inflammation. GA may have ameliorative effects on the prepubertal rat testes physiopathology. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1771-1784, 2016.

Aim To investigate the effects of systemically administered melatonin on inflammation and alveolar bone resorption in rats with experimentally induced periapical lesions. Methodology Thirty adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided equally into negative, positive control and melatonin groups. The pulp chambers of their mandibular first molars were exposed to the oral environment to induce experimental periapical lesions in the positive control and melatonin groups. The melatonin group received daily intraperitoneal injections of melatonin at a dose of 10 mg kg−1. After 21 days, the animals were euthanized; the hemi‐mandible parts were prepared for radiological, histopathological, immunohistochemical (IL‐1β, RANK, RANKL, OPG and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and Brown–Brenn (bacteria) evaluations. Data were analysed by Kruskal–Wallis (for non‐parametric data) and one‐way anova tests (for parametric data) (P < 0.05). Results The area of radiographic periapical bone loss was significantly smaller in rats that were given daily intraperitoneal injections of melatonin (P < 0.01). The histopathological scores of the melatonin group were significantly lower than those of positive control group (P < 0.01). Histomorphometrically, the area of periapical bone loss in the melatonin group was significantly smaller than the positive control group (P < 0.01). The expression of IL1‐β, RANK and RANKL was significantly higher in the positive control group, whereas OPG was significantly higher in the melatonin group (P < 0.01). The number of osteoclasts was significantly greater in the positive control group by TRAP staining analyses (P < 0.01). The scores for bacteria localization using Brown–Brenn staining in the melatonin group was significantly lower than that of the positive control group (P < 0.01). Conclusions Melatonin demonstrated antiresorptive effects on bone associated with experimentally induced periapical lesions in rats via its anti‐inflammatory activity. Further studies are necessary to evaluate its possible effects on the healing of periapical lesions.

In this study, clinical, parasitological, macroscopical, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed on 19 kids and 11 lambs (30 animals) with neonatal diarrhoea to detect the presence of Coronavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia intestinalis. Clinically, severe dehydration, yellowish-green to brown coloured diarrhoea and death were observed. Mortality rates were 10-30% in the examined flocks. The most common agent was C. parvum diagnosed in 20 animals as a single causative agent, whereas G. intestinalis was found in 5 of 30 animals. These two protozoa were detected together in 4 animals upon faeces examination. Fifteen of 24 cases of C. parvum and 3 of 11 cases of G. intestinalis were also confirmed histopathologically. Following immunohistochemical examination, all cryptosporidiosis cases were confirmed by positive immunostaining of intestinal sections. Two additional Giardiosis cases with negative results upon parasitological and histopathological examinations were diagnosed by means of immunohistochemical examination. Coronavirus was detected immunohistochemically in one kid with neonatal enteritis. Following diagnosis, herds were treated with Trimethoprim + Sulfodoxine and multivitamin complexes. Intravenous and intramuscular administrations of these drugs were effective for both treatment and prevention of neonatal diarrhoea in lambs and kids.