Context: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a chemical that is still widely used in industry and has been shown to cause structural defects in rat testicles through oxidative stress. Aims: In our study, the effect of curcumin on CCl4-mediated testicular damage was investigated. Methods: Twenty-four adult Wistar albino male rats weighing 300–350 g were divided into four groups: control group (olive oil was applied by gavage every consecutive day for 3 weeks); curcumin and CCl4 + curcumin groups (200 mg/kg curcumin dissolved in olive oil was given by gavage once a day, every consecutive day for 3 weeks); and CCl4 and CCl4 + curcumin groups (0.5 mL/kg CCl4 was dissolved in olive oil at a ratio of 1/1 and given by i.p. injection every other day for 3 weeks). Tissue samples were examined histopathologically, histomorphometrically, immunohistochemically and biochemically. Key results: CCl4 disrupted both testicular morphology and testosterone synthesis, whereas curcumin treatment resulted in an improvement in testicular morphology and biochemical parameters, as well as a decrease in caspase-3 and tumour necrosis factor-α expression. Conclusions: Curcumin has a protective effect on testicular tissue damage caused by CCl4 with its anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic and antioxantioxidant properties. Implications: Curcumin can prevent testicular damage due to CCl4, an environmental pollutant.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an agent used in the treatment of many neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases and is known to cause oxidative damage in normal tissues. Curcumin (Cur) is a natural polyphenol compound with powerful antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. In this study we investigate the effects of Cur on MTX-induced ovarian damage. Thirty-two young adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: (1) Control (n = 8): only vehicle group, (2) Cur (n = 8): Cur-only group (200 mg/kg/day), (3) MTX (n = 8): MTX-only group (0.35 mg/kg/day), (4) MTX+Cur (n = 8): The group was given MTX (0.35 mg/kg/day) and Cur (200 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. Then, SOD, CAT, MDA, AMH levels were measured using ELISA kits. Follicle count was performed on H&E stained slides. In addition, the expressions of P53 and PARP-1 were analysed by immunohistochemistry. MDA levels were seen to be higher in the MTX group than in the MTX+Cur group (p < 0.05). Cur treatment lowered MDA levels and increased SOD and CAT levels (p < 0.05 for all). In the MTX+Cur group, atretic follicle count decreased (p < 0,05), however, primordial follicle count increased (p < 0,01). Secondary follicle count and AMH levels were higher in MTX-treated groups (p < 0,05 and p < 0,01, respectively). Expressions of p53 and Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP-1) increased significantly in the MTX group compared to the other groups (p < 0,05). Cur pretreatment prior to MTX administration may be an effective option in preserving the ovarian follicle pool by regulating P53 and PARP-1 expressions with its antioxidant effect.

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol with antioxidant, antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we explored the roles of PARP-1 and NF-κB molecules in the inflammation and apoptosis modulation caused by curcumin in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Male wistar albino rats (n=32) were divided into four groups. A single dose of 1 mL corn oil was given orally to the normal control and ethanol groups. After 30 minutes of after corn oil application, 1 mL of absolute alcohol was administered orally to the ethanol group. The curcumin group was given 100 mg/kg curcumin orally. In the ethanol+curcumin group, 1 mL of absolute alcohol was given orally 30 min after 100 mg/kg oral curcumin administration. The study evaluated the macroscopic and microscopic ulcer scores, as well as mucosal barrier integrity, using hematoxylin-eosin and PAS staining. Apoptotic and inflammatory pathways were examined by immunohistochemical staining, and malodialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were examined in tissue. Compared with the ethanol group, macroscopic and microscopic mucosal lesions, MPO and MDA levels, and IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, PARP-1, NFκB and Caspase-3, 8, 9 expressions were seen to decrease in the ethanol+curcumin group, however SOD level was observed to increase. The study demonstrated that curcumin protects the mucosal integrity by exhibiting anti-inflammatory andantiapoptotic effects through the modulation of PARP-1 and NF-κB key molecules in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model.

Low-grade inflammation associated with the aging process exerts functional and morphological effects on multiple organs. The kidney is an organ that is severely affected by the aging process. Our study aimed to determine the relationship between histopathological and immunohistochemical changes and age-related amyloid accumulation in rat kidney tissue. Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups: young adult and elder (n = 8, 24 and 104 weeks old, respectively). H&E, PAS, and Congo red staining and immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α, IL-6, occludin, GRP78, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were performed on the kidney tissues of the subjects. A significant difference was found between the groups in terms of glomerulus diameter/Bowman’s capsule diameter, percentage of sclerotic glomeruli, epithelial desquamation, loss of brush border, casts, tubular dilatation, cellular debris, and the presence of apoptotic cells. TNF-α, IL-6, GRP78, and MAPK protein levels were shown to increase significantly in aged rat kidneys, whereas occludin levels decreased significantly. No amyloid accumulation was found in the kidney, heart, skin, and small intestine tissues of either group. The results of our study suggest that the proinflammatory microenvironment required for AA amyloid deposition in systemic amyloidosis induced by low-grade inflammation in old age cannot be generated by the action of NF-κB, MAPK, and MAPK-activated JNK and AP-1 transcription factors alone.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the histomorphometric and immunohistochemical properties of the heart and aorta in young adult and aged rats. Material and Methods: Sixteen female Wistar albino rats, eight young adult (6 months old, female, 233.25±13.85 g) and rats were used in the study. The rats were sacrificed under high dose anaesthesia and heart and aortic tissues were collected. Ventricular and septum interventiculare thicknesses were measured on the heart tissues, tunica media, tunica intima thickness and aortic diameter were measured histomorphometrically on the aortic tissues. In addition, Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) in the smooth muscle cells of the tunica media of the aorta and occludin protein levels in the aorta and heart endothelium were examined by immunohistochemical method and histological scoring was performed. Results: As a result of statistical analysis, body weight, heart weight, heart weight/body weight ratio, tunica media and intima thicknesses, and aortic diameters were found to be statistically significantly higher in aged rats compared to young adult rats (p

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious pulmonary reaction with well-defined clinical parameters in humans triggered by many causes besides bacterial and viral pneumonia. However, there is no definitive definition of ARDS parameters in the experimental animal model. With its 2010 workshop report, the American Thoracic Society defined the main histopathological features that determine the presence of ARDS in laboratory animals, such as changes in parenchymal tissue, altered integrity of the alveolar capillary barrier, inflammation, and abnormal lung function. Understanding these parameters, scoring tissue lesions is used to convert observational pathological data into semi-quantitative or quantitative data for statistical analysis and improved precision.