Structural microvascular rarefaction, defined by a loss of vessels, is a common characteristic of hypertension and has been associated with elevated microvascular resistance. However, determining the causal relationship between microvascular network structure and resistance requires a consideration of all pattern changes throughout a network. The objectives of this study were ...

One major cause for discrepancies in results from animal experimental studies is the use of different animal strains and suppliers. We have previously reported that Wistar rats from five different suppliers display profound differences in ethanol intake and behavior. One of the neurobiological processes that could be underlying these differences ...

Mechanical loading is essential for bone development and prevention of age-related bone diseases. Muscular contractions during physical activity and the generated strain magnitude are primary determinants for the osteogenic response. However, the adaptation capacity of bones, especially due to different muscle contraction types, is largely unknown. In the present study ...

Although zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been widely used, their potential hazards on mammalian and human remain largely unknown. In this study, the biochemical compositions of urine and kidney from the rats treated with ZnO NPs (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively) were investigated using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Small vessel disease is the major cause of white matter injury in patients with vascular cognitive impairment. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated inflammation may be involved in the white matter damage with oligodendrocyte (Ol) death. Therefore, we used spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats to study the role of neuroinflammation in ...

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of topical anesthetic agents and ethanol on ocular surface wound healing using an ex vivo whole-globe porcine model. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: Standardized corneoepithelial lesions (5.0 mm diameter, 40 μm depth) were created with excimer laser ...

Previous studies in rat models of neurodegenerative disorders have shown disregulation of striatal synaptotagmin7 mRNA. Here we explored the expression of synaptotagmin7 mRNA in the brains of rats with seizures triggered by the glutamatergic agonist kainate (10 mg/kg) or by the muscarinic agonist pilocarpine (30 mg/kg) in LiCl (3 mEq/kg) ...

Brain ischemia-reperfusion (IR) triggers a complex series of biochemical events including inflammation. To test the neuroprotective efficacy of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium (CSM) in a rat model of focal cerebral IR, ischemic animals were treated with CSM. They were evaluated at 24 h after reperfusion for neurological deficit score. Furthermore, the mechanism ...

INTRODUCTION: The changes in photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, protein content, and antioxidant enzymes were investigated in a foliose lichen Pyxine cocoes, which was subjected to increasing concentrations of arsenate. METHODS: The arsenate concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 200 μM were sprayed every alternate day on the lichen thallus. ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect the healing activity of diode laser Indium Gallium Aluminum Phosphorus (InGaAlP) ë660nm on healing of surgical wounds in rats. METHODS: Fifty-four female Wistar rats were used, divided into three groups (n=18) and subdivided into three subgroups (n=6) to be studied in 5, 10 and 15th ...

The neuropeptide oxytocin has a popular reputation of being the 'love' hormone. Here we test meta-analytically whether experiments with intranasal administration of oxytocin provide support for the proposed effects of oxytocin. Three psychological effects were subjected to meta-analysis: facial emotion recognition (13 effect sizes, N=408), in-group trust (8 effect sizes, ...

Much of the controversy surrounding second generation ethanol production arises from the assumed competition with first generation ethanol production; however, in Brazil, where bioethanol is produced from sugarcane, sugarcane bagasse and trash will be used as feedstock for second generation ethanol production. Thus, second generation ethanol production may be primarily ...

Naloxone and rimonabant block neurotransmitter action of some drugs of abuse (such as ethanol, opiates, and nicotine), and thereby reduce drug seeking and self-administration by suppressing the drugs' reinforcing properties. The present study represents an attempt to elucidate whether these drugs may also reduce rewarding properties of other events, in ...

An animal model of chronic tympanic membrane (TM) perforation is needed for experiments on supporting healing of TM perforations. The basic fibroblast growth factor is important in TM wound healing. The object of this study was to investigate the efficacy of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) inhibition to arrest ...

Background and purpose: The fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597 can reverse the abuse-related behavioral and neurochemical effects of nicotine in rats. FAAH inhibitors block the degradation (and thereby magnify and prolong the actions) of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA), and also the non-cannabinoid fatty acid ethanolamides oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide ...

Increased oxidative stress contributes to pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is the oxidation product most frequently measured as an indicator of oxidative DNA damage. Several studies have shown increased 8-OHdG in PD patients. There are few basic laboratory data examining 8-OHdG levels in animal models of PD. In ...

Cordycepin, (3'-deoxyadenosine), a bioactive compound of Cordyceps militaris, has been shown to exhibit many pharmacological actions, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anticancer activities. Little is known about the neuroprotective action of cordycepin as well as its molecular mechanisms. In this study, cordycepin was investigated for its neuroprotective potential in mice ...

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), a key protease of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), is associated with neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Recently, de novo expression of UCH-L1 was described in podocytes in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), in which UCH-L1 expression correlated with increased ubiquitin content. The objective of the present ...

Background: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation in ischemic brain has been verified. However, the mechanism and the role of STAT3 activation after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion are poorly elucidated. In the present study, we sought to test the hypothesis that STAT3 activation after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was related to ...

The purpose of this study is to examine the contributions of organic anion transporting polypeptide (Oatp) and/or P-glycoprotein (P-gp) to grapefruit juice (GFJ) interaction with two statins, pravastatin and pitavastatin, which undergo negligible metabolism in rats. The two statins were found to be substrates of both Oatp1a5 and Oatp2b1, whereas ...

AIM OF THE STUDY: In recent years, the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea, known as "niu-chang chih" has received much attention with regard to its possible health benefits; especially its hepatoprotective effects against various drugs, toxins, and alcohol induced liver diseases. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this protective effect of Antrodia ...

Background  Entacapone is a promising drug used widely for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) as a catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitor. However, entacapone has gastrointestinal side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of entacapone on the epithelial ion transport in rat distal colon, and explore ...

Background and purpose: The endocannabinoid system appears to play a pivotal role in mediating the rewarding and reinforcing effects of nicotine. Recent studies have shown that inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme attenuates reinstatement of nicotine seeking induced by nicotine priming and nicotine-associated cues. FAAH is responsible for ...

Anorexia is an element of the acute-phase immune response. Its mechanisms remain poorly understood. Activation of inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in blood-brain-barrier endothelial cells and subsequent release of prostaglandins (e.g., prostaglandin E2, PGE2) may be involved. Therefore, we sought to relate the effects of prostaglandins on the anorexia following gram-negative bacterial ...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Clerodendrum phlomidis L.f., is used to treat several inflammatory diseases and arthritis in Indian traditional system and folk medicine. Aim of the study The aim of the present study was to evaluate the scientific basis of antiinflammatory activity of different organic solvent extracts of Clerodendrum phlomidis and to ...

Icilin is a transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M (TRPM8) agonist that produces behavioral activation in rats and mice. Its hallmark overt pharmacological effect is wet-dog shakes (WDS) in rats. The vigorous shaking associated with icilin is dependent on NMDA receptor activation and nitric oxide production, but little else ...

Sideritis raeseri spp. raeseri Boiss. & Heldr., known as "mountain tea," has been widely used in the Mediterranean region as a spice and in folk medicine as a very popular decoction because of its anti-inflammatory, carminative, analgesic, antitussive, stomachic, and antimicrobial properties. The study was aimed to investigate the effects ...

BACKGROUND: Areca catechu, commonly known as betel nut, is very famous for its medicinal use in multiple disorders. It is also popular as a remedy against inflammatory disorders in the Unani (Greco-Arab) system of medicine. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: This study was aimed at investigating the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities ...

OBJECTIVE: Valproate (VPA) a potent antiepileptic drug has been claimed to induce reproductive disturbances in men. Long-term VPA treatment can affect sperm morphology and induce testicular atrophy in non-epileptic rats. It has been reported that VPA reduced testosterone secretion stimulated by hCG in isolated rat Leydig cells. These results suggest ...

Previously we found that exposure to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) induced an increase in blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability and the degradation of tight junction protein ZO-1 in rats. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in particular gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), play a key role in degradation of tight junction proteins, are known mediators of BBB ...

The present study was conducted to histomorphometrically evaluate the effects of short-term administration of zoledronate, a third generation bisphosphonate, on the metaphysis of the proximal end of tibia in twenty day old male albino rats. Zoledronate (2.8μg/kg body weight), was daily given subcutaneously for eleven days. The animals were sacrificed; ...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xanthii seeds commonly called Cang-Erzi were used as a traditional Chinese medicine for treating sinusitis, headache due to rheumatism and skin pruritus. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to evaluate the actions of this plant, studies were performed on antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ...

Natural 2-phenylethanol (PEA) could be produced on a large scale by way of bioconversion with yeast from l-phenylalanine. In this work the synergistic inhibition effect of the target product PEA and the byproduct ethanol on the bioconversion rate by Saccharomyces cerevisiae R-UV3 was systematically studied and a new kinetic model ...

Field-based trapping experiments were conducted in Ohio in 2003, 2004, and 2008 to determine the influence of (-)-alpha-pinene on the attraction of exotic and native ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to ethanol-baited traps. In 2003 and 2004, we determined the effect of adding an (-)-alpha-pinene ultrahigh release lure (UHR; 2 ...

The antiallergic activity of rhubarb and its constituents, anthraquinones, has been reported previously. For further evaluation of the antiallergic activity, a 70% ethanol extract of the rhizomes of Rheum tanguticum (RTE) was prepared and its inhibitory activity on an animal model of atopic dermatitis (AD) was examined for the first ...

AIM OF THE STUDY: Ipomoea tyrianthina has been used in Mexican traditional medicine as a mild purgative, for the treatment of nervous disorders, and against tumors. In this study, the effect of convolvulin (an ether-insoluble resin glycoside) from the root of Ipomoea tyrianthina on: Central Nervous System; as spasmolytic and ...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart failure. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of endogenous ROS in atrial hemodynamics and ANP secretion in isolated perfused beating rat atria. Pyrogallol (a generator of superoxide anion, 0.1, 1mM) ...

An increasing number of studies have evaluated the potential therapeutic relevance of histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitors in mood disorder including bipolar disorder (BD). It has been suggested that the anterior limbic, which controls impulsivity and psychosis, is dysfunctional in BD. The present studies aims to evaluate the effects of microinjection ...

AIM OF THE STUDY: The species Lippia gracilis Schauer, known in Brazil as "Alecrim-da-chapada", is popularly used in folk medicine to treat cough, bronchitis, nasal congestion, and headache. MATERIALS AND METHODS: L. gracilis essential oil (EO; 10, 30, and 100mg/kg, p.o.) and the reference drugs morphine (5mg/kg, p.o.) and acetylsalicylic ...

The present study focuses on the anti-inflammatory activity of Justicia gendarussa Burm.f. on an acute model of inflammation: the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay. Methanolic extract of J. gendarussa (JRM) roots at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly inhibited edema formation 5 h after carrageenan induction. JRM inhibited carrageenan-elicited total cycloxygenase activity, ...

PURPOSE: The iron chelator Dp44mT is a potent topoisomerase IIα inhibitor with novel anticancer activity. Doxorubicin (Dox), the current front-line therapy for breast cancer, induces a dose-limiting cardiotoxicity, in part through an iron-mediated pathway. We tested the hypothesis that Dp44mT can improve clinical outcomes of treatment with Dox by alleviating ...

Advances in computer technology have allowed quantification of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and expansion of quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis in neurophysiology, as well as clinical neurology, with great success. Among the variety of techniques in this field, frequency (spectral) analysis using Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) provides a sensitive tool for time-course ...

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces fever through two parallel pathways; one, prostaglandin (PG)-dependent and the other, PG-independent and involving endothelin-1 (ET-1). For a better understanding of the mechanisms by which dipyrone exerts antipyresis, we have investigated its effects on fever and changes in PGE(2) content in plasma, CSF and hypothalamus induced ...

Anti-inflammatory activity of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is mediated by suppression of cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzymes. This study compared ocular penetration and inflammation suppression of topical ketorolac 0.45% and bromfenac 0.09% ophthalmic solutions in a rabbit model. At hour 0, 36 rabbits received ketorolac 0.45%, bromfenac 0.09%, or an artificial tear ...

Recent studies have shown that astrocytes play important roles in ATP degradation and adenosine (a well known analgesic molecule) generation, which are closely related to pain signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether morphine, a well known analgesic drug, could affect the speeds of ATP enzymolysis ...

AIMS AND METHODS: Minocycline (Mino) and doxycycline (Dox) are second generation tetracyclines known to present several other effects, which are independent from their antimicrobial activities. We studied in a comparative way the anti-inflammatory effects of Mino and Dox, on acute models of peripheral inflammation in rodents (formalin test and peritonitis ...

PURPOSE: To quantify and compare the time-course and potency of the analgesic and antipyretic effects of naproxen in conjunction with the inhibition of PGE(2) and TXB(2). METHODS: Analgesia was investigated in a rat model with carrageenan-induced arthritis using a gait analysis method. Antipyretics were studied in a yeast-induced fever model ...

The in vivo and in vitro effects of the pesticide endosulfan on the cholinesterase (ChE) activity were investigated in rats. ChE activity decreased in dams and in male pups within 65 days corresponding to 35% and 32% of inhibition respectively in the higher endosulfan dose (1.5 mg/kg). In vitro, the enzyme activity ...

Capsaicin, a vanilloid, has the potential for releasing substance P (SP) from sensory nerves. Topical application of capsaicin induces a flare response in the skin. However, it has not been clarified whether the release of SP is involved in the process of flare response or not. A potent antihistamine drug, ...

The aim of the current study was to elucidate the effect of Kupffer cells inhibition on hepatic injury induced by chronic cholestasis. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) or sham operation and were treated with either saline solution or gadolinium chloride (GdCl(3), a specific Kupffer cell inhibitor, 20 mg/kg ...