The pathophysiology of human varicocele is not fully understood. We investigated vasoconstrictor reactivity, endothelial function and morphological changes in different grades of varicocele to clarify the pathophysiology. Contractile responses to phenylephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and histamine were determined in isolated human varicose spermatic veins using the organ bath technique. Endothelial function was tested with acetylcholine-induced relaxation after phenylephrine-induced precontraction in the absence and presence of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME, and cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) level was measured in the spermatic vein and peripheral plasma. Morphological changes were evaluated with light microscopy. Phenylephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and histamine induced concentration-dependent contractions. The maximum contractions for all of these agents except norepinephrine were significantly higher in grade III than grade I and II (P<0.05). The sensitivity to phenylephrine was significantly higher in grades II and III than in grade I (P<0.05). In the presence of L-NAME and indomethacin, the difference from respective control phenylephrine-induced contractions was higher in grade I and II than grade III. Acetylcholine did not induce stable relaxation but the level of cGMP, which is responsible for the vasorelaxant effect of NO, in veins was lower in grades II and III than grade I (P<0.05). Vessel wall thickness increased in grade II and dilatation developed in grade III when compared to grade I (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that endothelium produces less vasorelaxant which results in the more enhanced effects of vasoconstrictor substances in grade III, indicating that endothelial dysfunction develops at high grades of varicocele.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) extract (DFE) on the stomach in ulcer model induced by indomethacin in rats. Effects of DFE were evaluated in indomethacin-induced gastric damage model on Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental model: all rats were fasted for 24 h. At the end of this period, DFE was administered to the ulcer-induced groups. One hour after this application, a dose of 25 mg/kg of indomethacin was applied by oral gavage to all groups except the HEALTHY and DFE1000 groups. Six hours after indomethacin administration, the rats were euthanized with high-dose anesthesia and the experiment was terminated. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses for investigating ulcerative area, molecular and biochemical analyses for oxidative damages investigation and molecular analyses for the effect mechanism of indomethacin and DFE were conducted on stomach tissues in the study. While oxidative stress-associated markers such as MDA, BAX, and Caspase 3 increased dramatically in the indomethacin group, GSH antioxidant levels decreased. It was observed that these parameters were significantly improved in DFE 500 mg/kg and DFE 1000 mg/kg groups compared to ulcer group, and the results of especially DFE 1000 mg/kg group were similar to famotidine group.We observed that our histopathological findings also supported all our other findings.Dragon fruit extract was protected against indomethacin-induced ulcer damage by decreased MDA levels, increased GSH levels, and inhibition of Caspase 3, BAX, and Cox-2, and activation of Cox-1.
The aim of the study was to determine the oxidative stress parameters as well as ceruloplasmin levels in sheep with toxoplasmosis. In order to investigate biochemical parameters, a total of 30 sheep were used in the study. According to ELISA test results, 20 sheep were infected with toxoplasmosis, while 10 healthy sheep sera had antibodies negative. Biochemical analysis included total oxidant capacity (TOC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), nitric oxide (NO) and ceruloplasmin levels. TAC value was found to be statistically significantly lower, and TOC and OSI values were found to be higher in sheep with toxoplasmosis compared to those of the control group. NO and ceruloplasmin values were nonsignificantly. As a result, it was concluded from the data in the study that toxoplasmosis caused changes in oxidant and antioxidant capacity in sheep.
Free radicals, which are formed as a consequence of endogenic and exogenic factors in cells, that cause oxidative stress in living organisms can be neutralized through catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), A, E, C vitamins, glutathione, ubiquinone, and flavonoids. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), a type of vitamin E, on rabbits regarding the total oxidant and antioxidant capacity (TOC, TAC) levels together with the NO levels. In this study, 0.5 ml physiological saline and 1 µmol kg -1 trolox were given respectively to control and experiment rabbits via intraperitoneal (i.p.) route, Plasmas of blood samples, which were obtained in the 1 st , 3 rd , and 6 th hours following injection, were separated and stored at -20 o C until to be analyzed. Plasma TOC, TAC and NO levels were determined spectrophotometrically. When the TOC, TAC, NO levels and OSI values of rabbits that were given trolox were compared to those of the control group, statistically, it was observed that the NO levels were high (p< 0,01) in the 1 st , 3 rd , and 6 th hours; however, there was no alteration in their TAC, TOC levels and OSI values. As a result, it was concluded that trolox given as a single dose to healthy rabbits did not affect TAC TOC levels and OSI value, but the increasing levels of NO might be due to trolox's increasing activity of eNOS.
In the present study, the structural parameter, the electronic and nonlinear optical properties of three Zn (II) halido complexes of the type [Zn (Hal)2HL] (Hal = Cl, 1; Br, 2; I, 3; HL = 2-acetylpyridine nicotinic hydrazone) have been theoretically investigated in detail. Two of the studied complexes [ZnCl2(HL), [ZnBr2(HL)] have been synthesized before, and some molecular properties have been determined, however, the new complex [ZnI2(HL)] is theoretically modeled for the first time. The polarizability (α), dipole moment (µ) and the first-order hyperpolarizability (β) of the compounds have been investigated using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) based on the B3LYP density functional with basis set combinations. In calculations, LANL2DZ and a mixed basis set of LANL2DZ (for Zn and I) and 6-311G (for other atoms) are used in the gas-phase geometry optimization. In addition, the highest occupied molecular orbital energy (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the compounds in the ground state were calculated by using the same method and the energy band gap (Eg = ELUMO-EHOMO) was obtained from frontier molecular orbitals. The equilibrium state (ground state) dipole moment value of the studied complex was calculated as 12.61 and 12.74 Debye by B3LYP/GENECP/LANL2DZ-6-311G and B3LYP/LANL2DZ method, respectively. The energy gap values of complexes 1-3 are calculated as 1.73/1.38/1.15 eV at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ and are calculated as 3.61/2.28/2.18 eV at the B3LYP/MIX respectively. The energy gap values of complexes 1-3 decrease in the order complex 1>complex 2>complex 3. The approximate geometry of the molecules in three dimensions was drawn in the Gauss View 5.0 molecular imaging program, and all theoretical calculations were used with the Gaussian 09W package program.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.