Our study aims to determine the effects of alamandine, the newest component of the renin-angiotensin system, on cognitive functions, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of depression. 35 male Sprague dawley rats, three months old, weighing between 300 and 350 g, were used. The chronic, unpredictable mild stress model of depression was performed. Experimental animals were divided into five groups: control (C), depression (D), alamandine (50 µg/kg, ip) (D + ALA), A779 (300 µg/kg, ip) (D + A779), and both alamandine and A779 treatment groups (D + ALA + A779). After confirming the development of depression through behavioral tests, the animals’ learning and memory performances were measured using the Morris water maze test. At the end of the experiment, the animals’ prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and blood samples were isolated for biochemical studies and gene expression analyses. The sucrose preference, open field, elevated plus maze, tail suspension, and forced swimming tests were performed to determine the animals’ anxiety levels. There was a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviors in the D group and the A779-treated group, while alamandine exhibited an anxiolytic effect. Moreover, improvements in cognitive skills observed in the Morris water maze test were paralleled by molecular changes, including an increase in BDNF protein levels and NMDA receptor expression and a decrease in GABA levels. In addition, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and oxidative stress markers were increased in the depression groups while significantly decreased with alamandine treatment. It was concluded that alamandine has an anxiolytic effect and facilitates spatial memory by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

The protective effects of thymoquinone on learning and memory abilities and on hippocampal oxidative stress in rats exposed to 900 MHz electromagnetic field radiation at s strength of 6.0 ± 0.5 V/m for 1 h on each of 15 days was studied. Thymoquinone-treatment (10 mg/kg/day) of radiation-exposed rats resulted in better performance than that of radiation-exposed rats not receiving thymoquinone. Electromagnetic field-exposure led to increased hippocampal superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde levels and to lowered brain-derived neurotrophic factor level; thymoquinone treatment ameliorated all four parameters. Also, in the electromagnetic field-exposed group, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor expression decreased, and gamma-aminobutyric-acid alpha receptor expression increased, which was reversed by thymoquinone treatment. In conclusion, treatment with the thymoquinone ameliorated the impact of the exposure to EMF and provided a hint on the mechanism involving oxidative stress.

İstanbul Üniversitesi Yayın Projesi

Objective: Intermittent hypoxia (IH) implementation is a method performed by intermittently decreasing oxygen concentration in inhaled air at specific rate. This method varies between studies in terms of its application. This study aims to examine the changes in Complete Blood Count (CBC) parameters caused by IH implementation at therapeutic dose ranges with a single model. Methods: Ten Sprague Dawley type adult male rats were divided into two groups. In the study group, FiO2 level of inhaled air, was reduced to 10% in hypoxic cycle. 5 minutes normoxia-hypoxia cycle was used in each 30 minutes experiment period for study group. Control group remained in normoxic air for 30 minutes. 1 cc of blood was taken from mandibular vein from all rats at the end of 6th day. CBC analyzes were performed and differences between two groups were investigated. Results: Significant differences were detected in some CBC parameters between the two groups. It was determined that significant increase in MONO (p<0.001), MONO% (p<0.001), MCH (p=0.03), PLT (p=0.013) and PCT (p=0.007) parameters and significant decrease in MPV (p=0.02 parameters, in favor of study group. Conclusion: IH implementation was caused significant changes in MONO, MONO%, MCH, PCT, PLT and MPV parameters in the CBC analysis of rats. Considering the study results, therapeutic IH implementation may thought to have important effects in terms of lung protection and regeneration. Further research may focus on this point for precising and supporting of this study’ results.

Many medical or pharmaceutical plants have been widely used for the treatment of the liver injury. Silymarin is now used as a food-supporting material for the liver as a patented product. Herbal cream has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on wound healing in a hemorrhoid model. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of herbal cream and silymarin on the liver in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated animals. Male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups as Intact control, Control, Herbal cream (0.5 ml, intrarectal), Silymarin (70 mg/kg, intrarectal), CCl4 (2 ml/kg, intraperitoneal), CCl4+Herbal cream (0.5 ml herbal cream for 21 days, 3 weeks after administration of CCl₄) and CCl4+Silymarin (70 mg/kg silymarin for 21 days, 3 weeks after administration of CCl₄). Herbal cream reduced damage and leukocyte distribution induced by CCl4 and increased catalase. There was no significant change in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The levels of SOD, catalase, and GPx in the liver increased significantly in the group treated only with herbal cream. These results point out that herbal cream may have antioxidant properties in the liver and a role in preventing liver damage. As a result, it has been detected that herbal cream is not a toxic agent and recovers liver damage with antioxidant properties.

Background: Dysregulation of microRNA expression emerges as a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, and their importance in modulating immune responses and disease progression is evident. Methods: This study investigated the expression patterns of miRNAs in the brain tissues of C57BL/6J mice using the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, which mimics multiple sclerosis (MS). The model was treated with Oenothera biennis oil, a potential therapeutic agent. Results: Our research has revealed a novel and significant likelihood of association between miR‐182‐5p, miR‐200c‐3p, miR‐206‐3p, miR‐429‐3p, miR‐1298‐5p, and diseases resembling the EAE model, such as MS. This groundbreaking discovery could have profound implications in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases that mimic the EAE animal model. Conclusions: These miRNAs, identified in our study, might serve as potential therapeutic targets in MS, potentially leading to more effective treatments and improved patient outcomes.