This study investigated the potential effect of adrenomedullin (ADM) on metabolic and endocrinal dysfunctions in experimentally induced polycystic ovary. Twenty‐four female Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: control; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in which PCOS was induced by letrozole, orally in a dose of 1 mg/kg once daily for 3 weeks; and ADM group in which ADM was injected intraperitonally in a dose of 3.5/μg/twice daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the serum sex hormone profile, ADM, fasting glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and lipid parameters were determined. Ovarian tissue homogenates were used to determine malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, B cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2), and Bcl‐2 associated X protein. The profibrotic growth factors, including transforming growth factor β1 and connective tissue growth factor, were determined; and also, the relative gene expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, including (Xbox‐binding protein‐1 [XBP‐1], activating transcription factor 6 [ATF6], and homologous protein [CHOP]), serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt1), phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPAR‐γ) were determined. Finally, histopathological analysis of the ovaries was evaluated. PCOS group exhibited increased ER stress, suppressing of PI3K/Akt1 and PPAR‐γ pathways, imbalance of sex hormonal profile, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, increased profibrotic factors, and abnormal ovarian histopathological picture, while ADM treatment alleviated these disturbances occurring in the PCOS model. We concluded that ADM mitigated PCOS via attenuating the ER stress, in addition to activation of PI3K/Akt1 and PPAR‐γ pathways, its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic properties.

Vincristine is a chemotherapy drug that belongs to the vinca alkaloids group. It is used for treatment of hematologic malignancies and several solid tumors.Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy is a major dose-limiting side effect.Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10), an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, participates in energy production. It is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant and also exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this study was aimed to focus on the mechanistic insights of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in addition to shedding the light on the modulatory effect of Co Q10.Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into four groups. Peripheral neuropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of vincristine (0.1 mg/kg body weight).Co Q10 was injected intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg body weight) for 24 days. Sciatic nerve MDA, TAC, GSH, 8-OHdG, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB levels were assessed. Gene expression of SARM1 andNrf2 was also assessed. Serum neurofilament light chain was immunoassayed, in addition to the behavioral assessment. Co Q10 significantly improved oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. It also decreased serum NFL levels. It enhanced Nrf2 and decreased SARM1 gene expression. Histopathological findings proved the biochemical and molecular findings. Our results support Co Q10 as a potential protective agent against vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Background: Potassium dichromate induces nephrotoxicity mainly due to increased cellular oxidative stress. Objectives: To evaluate the possible renoprotective effects of eugenol on the damage induced by potassium dichromate poisoning in male rats. Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups, 10 rats in each group; Control group: given olive oil orally (5 mL/kg body weight) for 10 consecutive days. Potassium dichromate (PDC) group: received olive oil orally (5 mL/kg body weight) for 10 consecutive days, then a single s.c. injection of PDC (15 mg/kg) was given in the tenth day. And eugenol + PDC group: received eugenol orally (100 mg/kg body weight/day) for 10 consecutive days and a single s.c. injection of PDC (15 mg/kg) in the tenth day.Then the animals were anaesthetized, blood samples were taken from the abdominal aorta, for measurement of serum urea and creatinine, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Also reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) were monitored in renal tissue. Results: PDC caused significant increase in serum urea, creatinine and LDH levels; this was accompanied with significant decrease in renal GSH and SOD contents, and increase in renal MDA and TNF-a. Histopathological investigations provoked tubular necrosis associated with mononuclear cell infiltration. Pretreatment of rats with eugenol significantly change all previously mentioned PDC-induced effects. Conclusion:The findings of the current study revealed that eugenol protected the kidney against PDCinduced acute kidney injury in rats by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

This study was conducted to explore the beneficial impact of nesfatin-1 on reproductive dysfunction induced by nicotine (NT) in male rats with possible modulation of autophagy and pyroptosis signaling pathways. This research was performed on 40 Wistar male rats. They were distributed into four groups: control, normal+nesfatin-1, NT, and NT+nesfatin-1. At the end of the experimental period, the serum was separated for assay of testosterone, FSH and LH. Also, sperm parameters were determined. Histopathological examination of testicular tissue and immunohistochemical analysis was done for mammalian target of rapamycin, AMP-activated protein kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinases including phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase and phosphorylated cJun N-terminal kinase. Relative gene expression was determined for testicular nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors proteins and Caspase-1, and autophagy markers including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha and Beclin-1. Also, the following testicular parameters were assayed: 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase, glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase, reactive oxygen species, caspase-3 activity, IL-1β, IL-18, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and Complex-I activity. The results revealed that the normal+nesfatin-1 group showed insignificant changes as compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the NT group exhibited prominent reproductive dysfunction in male rats. On the other hand, in the NT+nesfatin-1 group nesfatin-1 notably attenuated this reproductive dysfunction as evidenced by improvement of hormonal assay, sperm parameters, histopathological picture, immunohistochemical evaluation and real time relative gene expressions. In conclusion: Nesfatin-1 alleviated the impairment of male reproductive functions induced by NT via enhancement of autophagy pathways, suppression of pyroptosis, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production. Thus nesfatin-1 may offer a novel protective or therapeutic access for treating male infertility.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a mixed endocrine/metabolic/reproductive disorder in women of reproductive age. Sesame oil (SO) contains sesame lignans & vitamin E with broad-spectrum antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigates the ameliorative effect of SO on experimentally induced PCOS and elucidates the possible molecular mechanisms with a deeper focus on the different signaling pathways involved.The study was carried out on 28 nonpregnant female Wister albino rats that were divided into four equal groups; Group I (control group) received oral 0.5% wt/vol carboxymethyl cellulose daily. Group II (SO group): orally administered SO (2 mL/kg body wt./day) for 21 days. Group III (PCOS group) received letrozole daily, 1 mg/kg, for 21 days. Group IV (PCOS + SO group): concomitantly administered letrozole and SO for 21 days. The serum hormonal and metabolic panel and the homogenate ATF-1, StAR, MAPK, PKA, and PI3K levels of the ovarian tissue were calorimetrically evaluated. However, endoplasmic