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The study was undertaken to investigate the influence of a-tocopherol (vitamin E) on malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and catalase (CAT) activity in lung of rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Fourteen Wistar-albino rats were randomly divided into two groups of seven animals each. The first group was treated intratracheally with bleomycin hydrochloride (BM group); the second group was also instilled with BM but received injections of a-tocopherol twice a week (BM þ E group). The third group was treated in the same manner with saline solution only, acting as controls (C). There were decreases in GSH level and CAT activity while an increase in MDA level in BM group was found compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Vitamin E had a regulator effect on these parameters. After administration of a-tocopherol, the increase in GSH level and CAT activity and the decrease in MDA level were seen in BM þ E group compared to BM group (p < 0.05). Distinct histopathological changes were found in the BM group compared to the untreated rats. Less severe fibrotic lesions were also observed in the BM þ E group. The results show that vitamin E is effective on the prevention of BM-induced PF, as indicated by differences in the lung levels of oxidants and antioxidants.

This study was designed to examine the effects of vitamin E on the levels of Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and carbonic anhydrase in rats with bleomycininduced pulmonary fibrosis. Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: bleomycin alone, bleomycin+vitamin E, and saline alone (control group). The bleomycin group was given 7.5 mg/kg body weight (single dose) bleomycin hydrochloride intratracheally. The bleomycin+vitamin E group was also instilled with bleomycin hydrochloride but received injections of alpha-tocopherol twice a week. The control group was treated with saline alone. Animals were sacrified 14 d after intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. Tissue Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and carbonic anhydrase activities were measured in the lung and liver. Lung Cu, Fe, and carbonic anhydrase activity increase in both experimental groups. Zn and Mn levels decreased, except for the Mn level in the bleomycin group. Liver Zn, Mn, and Cu levels decreased in both experimental groups compared to the control group, whereas Fe and carbonic anhydrase activity increased in comparison to the control group. However, the liver tissue Fe level decreased compared to the control group. In the histopathologic assesment of lung sections in the bleomycin+vitamin E group, partial fibrotic lesions were observed, but the histopathologic changes were much less severe compared to the bleomycin-treated group.

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The aim of this study was to determine the serum concentrations of selenium, vitamin E, and total- and lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA) in lambs with white muscle disease (WMD) before and after treatment with a commercial preparation containing selenite and vitamin E. Fifteen lambs with WMD and ten control animals were used as research materials. Blood samples were collected from both groups before- and 1 month after treatment for Se analysis by fluorimetry, whereas vitamin E and sialic acid were measured by HPLC and spectrophotometry, respectively. Compared to controls, in the diseased animals, there was a significant increase of serum total sialic acid (TSA) and LBSA, together with significant decreases of serum Se and vitamin E concentrations (p < 0.001). One month after treatment, a reversal of trend was observed with decreases of TSA and LBSA and increases of Se and vitamin E concentrations. The TSA and LBSA levels, however, remained significantly higher than those of the controls, p < 0.05 and 0.001, respectively. The Se and vitamin E concentrations of the treated animals were the same as those of controls. This is the first study on total and LBSA concentrations in lambs with WMD, showing that these markers can be used in the prognosis of the disease.

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In this study, serum amylase activity and structural changes of the pancreatic tissue in rats under the effects of grape seed extract were investigated. Thirty-two female Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups. First one was the control group. The second group was the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) group (45 mg/kg), while the third group was the grape seed extract (GSE) group, where the GSE was administrated intragastrically for 20 days (at 0.6 ml/rat). Lastly, the fourth group was the diabetes mellitus+GSE (DM+GSE) group. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for amylase activity. Caspase 3 expressions were inspected with immunohistochemistry. Amylase levels in the diabetic group were found to be the lowest (794.00±44.85 U/L, p<0.001), while the GSE group had the highest value (1623.63±80.04 U/L, p<0.001) Number of apoptotic cells was increased in Langerhans islets of the diabetic group. In the control and GSE groups, the apoptotic cells were found to be almost entirely absent. Increased number of apoptotic cells was found in the DM group, while decreased number of apoptotic cells was found in the DM+GSE group. Furthermore, atrophy in Langerhans islets, hyperemia in capillary veins, hydropic degeneration and necrosis in islet cells were determined in the diabetic group. Only mild hydropic degeneration in islet cells of Langerhans was observed in the DM+GSE group. Histopathologically beneficial changes in the pancreases were detected when grape seed extract was given to diabetic rats. As a conclusion, GSE was determined to have positive effects on the function and structure of the pancreas, improving enzyme activities and the structure of the Langerhans islets.