The roles of melatonin and resveratrol-enhanced activation of SIRT1 (silent information regulator 1), GLUT4 (glucose transporter type 4), and PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha) in mediating the protective effects on the heart in aged female rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were investigated. 16-month-old 48 Wistar female rats were separated into 8 groups with equal numbers. Group 1: Control, Group 2: Resveratrol Control, Group 3: Melatonin Control, Group 4: Resveratrol and Melatonin Control, Group 5: Diabetes, Group 6: Diabetes Resveratrol, Group 7: Diabetes Melatonin, Group 8: Diabetes Resveratrol and Melatonin. A single dose of 40 mg/kg intraperitoneal streptozotocin was injected into the rats of Groups 5, 6, 7, and 8 to induce experimental diabetes. Blood glucose levels were measured from the tail veins of the animals six days after the injections, using a diagnostic glucose kit. Rats with a blood glucose levels ≥300 mg/dl were considered diabetic. 5 mg/kg/day of resveratrol (intraperitoneal) and melatonin (subcutaneous) were administered for four weeks. At the end of the applications, SIRT1, GLUT4, PGC-1α gene expression as well as MDA and GSH levels in the heart tissues were determined by the PCR method from heart tissue samples taken under general anesthesia. The findings of our study show that suppressed antioxidant activity and decreased GLUT4, SIRT1, and PGC-1α gene expression in heart tissue can be reversed by the combination of resveratrol, melatonin, and resveratrol + melatonin in a diabetic aged female rat model. Resveratrol and melatonin supplementation may have a protective effect on cardiac functions in the diabetic aged female rat model.

Objective: The increasing use of electronic devices, accompanied by advancing technologies, has led to heightened exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR). This exposure instigates the accumulation of free radicals and oxidative damage in tissues, consequently impacting biological systems. Notably, the testis is among the tissues adversely affected by EMR. Numerous studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the testis in sperm production, emphasizing the potential implications of any damage on the reproductive system. This study aims to assess the levels of lipid peroxidation through histological evaluation in the testicular tissue of prepubertal male rats exposed to electromagnetic radiation at varying electric field intensities within the 2.45 GHz radiofrequency (RF) range. Methods: The experimental group comprises six subdivisions, including a sham control group, as well as groups exposed to varying electric field strengths (EFS) of 0.6 V/m, 1.9 V/m, 5 V/m, 10 V/m, and 15 V/m, respectively. Excluding the sham control group, the remaining subgroups were subjected to a daily 2.45 GHz RF exposure for 1 hour starting immediately after fertilization. This exposure to different electric field intensities continued for 45 days post-birth. Results: The samples obtained from the RF radiation-exposed rats exhibited elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) values and decreased glutathione (GSH) values in the testicular tissue. Furthermore, a comparative analysis between the microwave radiation-exposed group and the control group revealed distinct histological alterations in the testicular tissue. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings indicate that exposure to microwave radiation at an electric field intensity of 15 V/m can lead to significant histopathological and oxidative parameter changes in Wistar rats. These results underscore the potential effects of such exposure on human health.

Neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, result in a substantial health problem for the elderly, marked by ongoing neuronal degeneration and a deterioration in mental faculties. These disorders are frequently linked to oxidative stress, problems with mitochondria, and persistent inflammation in the brain, which worsen neuronal damage. The neurohormone melatonin, primarily secreted by the pineal gland, has gained recognition as a promising therapeutic agent due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Melatonin’s functions extend beyond its regulation of circadian rhythms, as research has demonstrated its ability to remove free radicals, improve mitochondrial performance, and adjust immune system responses, ultimately reducing the progression of neurodegenerative disease. Research findings from preclinical and clinical trials imply that taking melatonin supplements could lead to improved cognitive abilities, slower disease progression, and an overall better quality of life for elderly individuals suffering from neurodegenerative conditions. The mechanisms through which melatonin acts, the best dosage, and its long-term effectiveness are still being researched. This review underscores the potential benefits of melatonin as a supplementary treatment for neurodegenerative disorders in older adults, stressing the necessity for additional studies to confirm its efficacy and standardize its use in treatment plans.

Background/Objectives: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is largely driven by severe oxidative stress and calcium dyshomeostasis. We examined the targeted antioxidant and therapeutic effects of zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) on contractile dynamics, oxidative damage, calcium turnover, and apoptosis/fibrosis in aged female rats with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Thirty-two aged female Wistar rats were divided into Control, Control + ZnSO₄, Diabetes (DM), and DM + ZnSO₄ groups. DM was induced via high-fat diet and 30 mg/kg streptozotocin. After a 4-week complication period, treatment groups received 10 mg/kg/day ZnSO₄ (i.p.) for 6 weeks. Left ventricular papillary muscle contraction, oxidative/antioxidant markers (MDA/GSH), and gene expressions (SIRT1, GLUT4, SERCA2a, RyR2, Cav1.2, PLN) were evaluated. Myocardial architecture, fibrosis, and apoptosis were analyzed immunohistochemically. In DM rats, contractile force (CF) and velocities (±dF/dtmax) significantly declined. Results: Concurrently, SIRT1, GLUT4, SERCA2a, RyR2, Cav1.2, and antioxidant GSH decreased, while oxidative lipid damage (MDA), PLN, Caspase-3 activity, Collagen I, and fibrosis increased (p < 0.001). ZnSO₄ treatment in diabetic rats acted as a potent antioxidant modulator; it restored redox balance, activated the SIRT1/GLUT4 pathway, protected calcium-handling proteins from oxidative degradation, and significantly improved contractile dynamics. It also preserved myocardial architecture by reducing apoptosis and fibrosis. In healthy rats, ZnSO₄ caused mild stress and early fibrosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, while inducing mild stress in healthy myocardium, zinc supplementation provides robust antioxidant protection in diabetic hearts. It activates SIRT1, suppresses oxidative damage, maintains calcium homeostasis, and restores contractile dynamics, demonstrating strong antioxidant therapeutic potential against DCM.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is primarily associated with respiratory failure and complete cessation of respiration caused by seizures. The aims of this study were to investigate basal contraction dynamics and calcium regulation in diaphragmatic muscles of rats with absence epilepsy induced by low-dose pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and to investigate the dose-dependent effects of capsaicin, an activator of the TRPV1 calcium channel, on TRPV1, RyR1, cellular calcium kinetics, and mechanistic contraction properties ex vivo. Thirty-two male rats (n=8/group) were used to form four groups: Control, PTZ (25 mg/kg), PTZ + 1 μM capsaicin, and PTZ + 10 μM capsaicin. Isolated diaphragmatic muscle strips were placed in an organ bath, and isometric contraction parameters were recorded at a basal frequency of 0.2 Hz and a frequency range of 1–5 Hz. TRPV1 and RyR1 mRNA expression levels in muscle tissues were analyzed using qRT-PCR following contraction recordings. Compared to the control group, the PTZ group showed prolonged contraction and relaxation times at all stimulation frequencies, and the maximum relaxation velocity and total contractile force were significantly reduced (p