INTRODUCTION: Smoking is associated with loss of body weight (BW) and reduced appetite, while smoking abstinence with the opposite effect. The role of peripheral signaling by appetite-controlling hormones leptin and ghrelin is not clear. In the present study, the relationship of circulating leptin and ghrelin with BW and food intake ...

INTRODUCTION: Although the antidepressant bupropion is prescribed to aid in smoking cessation, little is known concerning its mechanisms of action in this regard. One factor that might influence quit success is nicotine tolerance, which could promote high levels of nicotine intake in order to maintain nicotine's subjective effects (thereby making ...

Cigarette smoke, a widely spread habit, is associated with a decline in cognitive function and studies have demonstrated that curcumin (Cur), an Indian spice, possesses a strong neuroprotective potential. Considering the relevance of investigating dietary compounds this study aimed to investigate the effect of Cur on memory and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) ...

RATIONALE: Prenatal exposure to nicotine has been linked to accelerated risk for different psychiatric disorders, including conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and drug abuse. We examine a potential link between prenatal nicotine exposure, hyperactivity, anxiety, nicotine consumption, and cognitive performance in rats. METHODS: Adolescent offspring of females exposed ...

Although established smokers have a very regular pattern of smoking behavior, converging lines of evidence suggest that the escalation of smoking behavior is a critical factor in the development of dependence. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the escalation of smoking are unknown, because there is no animal model of ...

Clinical studies have established the role of cigarette smoking as a risk factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We have shown that nicotine promotes mesangial cell proliferation and hypertrophy via non-neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The α7-nAChR is one of the most important subunits of the nAChRs. ...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of zinc on fertility through semen parameters, testosterone level and oxidative DNA damage to spermatozoa of rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Male Wistar rats (60 days old) were divided into four groups (n=10 per group): control, cigarette-smoking (20 cigarettes ...

The involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in regulating neuronal survival during neuron differentiation, growth, and maturation, and during the regeneration of injured nerve cells, has already been documented. In experimental Parkinson's disease, chronic exposure to cigarette smoke increased BDNF levels and survival of dopaminergic neurons. BDNF is also elevated ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Cigarette exposure increases brain oxidative stress. The literature showed that increased brain oxidative stress affects cardiovascular regulation. However, no previous study investigated the involvement of brain oxidative stress in animals exposed to cigarette and its relationship with cardiovascular regulation. We aimed to evaluate the effects of central catalase ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and degree of preclinical atherosclerosis in pups of pregnant rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Abdominal aorta examined for atherosclerotic lesions and intimal medial thickness of the abdominal aorta was measured by image analysis. The study groups showed endothelial cellular losses, ...

The efficacy of calcium channel blockers in reducing the effects of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in animals subjected to cigarette smoke was examined. In this study, 40 rats were divided into 4 groups. Groups A, B, and C received a controlled cigarette smoke exposure for 14 days, following which all animals ...

Cigarette smoking has been implicated in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disorders and atherosclerosis. Here, we examined the effects of nicotine-free cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the regulation of cardiovascular function. Rats were subcutaneously administered PBS or nicotine-free CSE at 0.05 to 1.5 mL/day per rat for 4 weeks. ...

Objectives: Continuous inhalation of allethrin-based mosquito coil smoke may affect fertility, an aspect that has not received much attention. In this study, we attempt to understand the harmful effects on the male reproductive system caused by continuous exposure to allethrin-based mosquito coil smoke. Methods: Adult Wistar rats were allowed to ...

Tobacco exposure is not only a health concern for adults but has also been shown to exert deleterious effects on the health of the fetus, newborn, child, and adolescent. Decreased cognitive function, lower Intellectual Quotient (IQ) and deficits in learning and memory in children have been associated with maternal smoking ...

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has been shown to display anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. AIM: This study was designed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on gastric mucosal lesions induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and to determine the possible mechanism involved. METHODS: Fifty-sex male Wistar rats ...

Brain noradrenergic system has been implicated in early-life stress effects on adult physiology and behavior; however, the mechanisms for this relationship are not clear. Here we tested the hypothesis that stress hormones, glucocorticoids, may affect noradrenergic system activity by modulating gene expression and function of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the key ...

The influence of developmental nicotine exposure on the brain represents an important health topic in light of the popularity of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) as a smoking cessation method during pregnancy. In this study, we used a model of NRT during pregnancy and breastfeeding to explore the consequences of chronic ...

The strategy for the development of effective and safe neuroprotective agents has great potential to reduce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and improve the functional outcome in stroke patients. Recently, doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, has been shown to have neuroprotective efficiency in reduction of a variety of ischemia-reperfusion injuries as well as ...

Male Wistar rats exposed to a systemic organophosphorus insecticide, phorate [O,O-diethyl S-[(ethylthio) methyl] phosphorothioate] at varying oral doses of 0.046, 0.092 or 0.184mgphorate/kg bw for 14days, exhibited substantial oxidative stress, cellular DNA damage and activation of apoptosis-related p53, caspase 3 and 9 genes. The histopathological changes including the pyknotic nuclei, ...

BACKGROUND: We previously showed dimethadione (DMO), the N-demethylated metabolite of the anticonvulsant trimethadione, induces ventricular septation defects (VSD) and other heart anomalies in rat (Weston et al., 2011). Because of the relationship between cardiac structure and function, we hypothesized that DMO-induced structural defects of the heart are associated with in ...

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a constant feature and a major mediator of the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its numerous complications. There is increasing evidence pointing to the impairment of intestinal barrier function and its contribution to the prevailing inflammation in advanced CKD. Under normal condition, the intestinal epithelium ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the Chinese herbal formula Shuganyiyang (SGYY) capsule on arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rat model and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral ligation of the internal iliac artery and then divided into 4 groups ...

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether remote (rIPC) and local ischemic preconditioning (IPC) similarly limit skeletal muscle dysfunction induced by aortic cross-clamping. METHODS: Rats were divided in three groups: the sham-operated control group (C) underwent surgery without clamping. The ischemia-reperfusion group (IR) had 3 hours of ischemia induced by aortic clamping ...

During periods of two weeks in February and June 2010 the performance of portable air treatment units (PATUs) was evaluated in a primary school classroom using indicators of indoor air quality. Air samples were collected in an undisturbed setting on weekend days and in an occupied setting during teaching hours. ...

OBJECTIVE:: A rat model of ovariectomy-induced voiding dysfunction has been established, which mimicked the urge incontinence in postmenopausal women. Previous studies have identified strong anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties of green tea and its associated polyphenols. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the green tea extract, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), could ...

AIMS: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide that displays cardiovascular protective activity. We investigated the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on arterial blood pressure, vascular reactivity to AM and the expression of AM system components in the rat mesenteric arterial bed (MAB). METHODS: Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (20% ...

AIM: Stem cells are an emerging treatment for regeneration of damaged anal sphincter tissues. Homing to the site of injury can be potentiated by stromal derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and monocyte chemotactic protein 3 (MCP-3) expression. The effects of electrical stimulation (ES) on upregulation of these cytokines were investigated. METHODS: ...

Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) is a novel recreational drug that has rapidly increased in popularity in recent years. Users report mephedrone as having the stimulant-like qualities of methamphetamine and cocaine, combined with the prosocial, entactogenic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Anecdotal and case study reports indicate that mephedrone may have the potential to ...

Aim:To examine the protective effects of scutellarin (Scu) on rats with learning and memory deficit induced by β-amyloid peptide (Aβ).Methods:Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, sham operation, Aβ, Aβ+Scu, and Aβ+piracetam groups. Aβ(25-35) was injected into the lateral ventricle (10 μg each side). Scu (10 ...

Our previous studies have shown that the decreased NO and increased glutamatergic mechanisms on sympathetic regulation within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) may contribute to the elevated sympathoexcitation during chronic heart failure (CHF). In the present study, we investigated the effects of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) gene transfer on N-methyl-d-aspartic acid ...

: The α-tocopherol and tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) are considered effective antioxidants. This study aimed to compare the antioxidative and antifibrotic effects of α-tocopherol and TFR in dibutylin dichloride (DBTC)-induced chronic pancreatitis (CP) rats. : Oral administration of α-tocopherol and TFR (both 800 mg/kg per day) started the next day after ...

Some of the effects of tobacco on man's health are well documented in many scientific reports. Whenever tobacco is used either in smoked or chewed form, nicotine is absorbed by the lungs and oral cavity and is spontaneously moved into the bloodstream where it is circulated throughout the body system. ...

Chronic dopamine (DA) replacement therapy with l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) in Parkinson's disease (PD) often leads to abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) known as l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID), mediated by DA receptors. However, mechanisms underlying LID occurrence are still unclear. Regulator of G-protein signaling RGS9, a member of the RGS family of GTPase accelerating ...

Carbon monoxide (CO), a by-product of Heme metabolism, is a potent modulator of inflammation. Low dose inhaled CO has demonstrated reduced lung and kidney injury in animal models of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We evaluated the impact of low dose inhaled CO on systemic, pulmonary, and myocardial inflammatory response to CPB ...

Although podocyte damage is known to be responsible for the development of minimal-change disease (MCD), the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Previously, using a rat MCD model, we showed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the podocytes was associated with the heavy proteinuric state and another group reported that ...

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of heat stimulation and glutamine (Gln) on the expression of extracellular matrix genes and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in rat articular cartilage in vivo and to determine whether HSP70 expression achieved with a combination of microwave (MW) and ...

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide that displays cardiovascular protective activity. We investigated the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on vascular reactivity to AM and the expression of AM system components in the rat aorta. Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (20% vol/vol) for 6 weeks. Vascular reactivity experiments were ...

Objectives:  Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are frequently associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) in aged men, and both significantly influence quality of life. However, the mechanism linking LUTS to ED has not been clarified completely. The purpose of the present study was to establish an animal model of ED following ...

We showed previously that oxytocinergic (OTergic) projections from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to the dorsal brainstem mediate training-induced heart rate (HR) adjustments and that beneficial effects of training are blocked by sinoaortic denervation (SAD; Exp Physiol 2009,94:630-40; 1103-13). We sought now to determine the combined effect of training and ...

This is the first report on the efficacy of a new controlled release system developed for rasagiline mesylate (RM) in a rotenone-induced rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). PLGA microspheres in vitro released RM at a constant rate of 62.3μg/day for two weeks. Intraperitoneal injection of rotenone (2mg/kg/day) to Wistar ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: This study tested the hypothesis that autologous transplantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) can effectively attenuate acute pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=24) were equally randomized into group 1 (sham control), group 2 (IR plus culture medium only), and group 3 (IR ...

AIMS: We investigated expression of tachykinin peptides neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P within urethras of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and determined if a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, THC-002, decreased them. METHODS: Ten- and 40-week-old male SHRs were randomly separated into three groups (n = 12 each). Rats of one group ...

RATIONALE: In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the deposition of amyloid peptides is invariably associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Xanthoceraside has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. However, it remains unclear whether xanthoceraside improves amyloid β (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of xanthoceraside on ...

Fast cyclic voltammetry can be used to measure dopamine release after oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) induced anoxic depolarization in vitro. Here we measure dopamine efflux with 1s time resolution, which is appropriate to measure OGD-evoked dopamine efflux accurately. In the present study, we examined whether OGD-evoked dopamine efflux could ...

Object Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has neuroprotective effects on the CNS. The authors have previously demonstrated that G-CSF also exerts neuroprotective effects in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) by enhancing migration of bone marrow-derived cells into the damaged spinal cord, increasing glial differentiation of bone marrow-derived cells, enhancing antiapoptotic effects ...

AIM: The effects on neural repair of intraparenchymal nerve growth factor (NGF) administration were evaluated in neonate Wistar rats with experimentally induced focal microgyria. METHODS: A freezing focal polymicrogyric lesion was induced on the frontal cortex in 35 newborn Wistar rats on postnatal day 1. NGF was administered in 15 cases, ...

Maintenance of normal cardiac function is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. In congestive heart failure (CHF), sympathetic nerve denervation is increasingly recognized. The sympathetic fiber density depends on the balance between neurotrophins and neural guidance molecules. Semaphorin 3A (sema3a), a secreted neural guidance factor, is a well characterized member ...

AIMS: To investigate the cardiovascular regulatory mechanism of adenosine A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in acute myocardial ischemic (AMI) rats. MAIN METHODS: The animal model of AMI was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The A(2A)R expression was examined by immunohistochemistry, western ...

BACKGROUND: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was recently reported to ameliorate fibrosis in the heart and experimental renal diseases and vascular thickening after balloon injury. Peritoneal fibrosis is an important complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis, and peritonitis is a factor in its onset. In the present study, we investigated the effects ...

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a devastating disorder accompanied by numerous morphological and behavioral abnormalities. Human FAS has been modeled in laboratory animals including the zebrafish. Recently, embryonic exposure to low doses of ethanol has been shown to impair behavior without any gross morphological alterations in zebrafish. The exposed zebrafish ...