Objective — To examine the morphometric parameters of neurons and the oxidative status of the Wistar rat brain tissues after administering proline-containing peptides, also known as glyprolines (Arg-Gly-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro [RGRPGP] and Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro [WKPRPGP; Selank]), on a traumatic brain injury (TBI) model. Study subjects — Our study involved 26 mature male Wistar rats (2.5-3 mos. old, 220-300 g). The morphometric parameters of neurons and the oxidative status of animal brain tissues were studied. Material and Methods — Four experimental groups were formed. Group 1 included intact control animals. Animals in three other groups were subjected to TBI via free fall of a 50 g weight from a height of 50 cm on the second day of the experiment and received the following injections: 0.9% sodium chloride solution in Group 2; WKPRPGP peptide solution in Group 3; RGRPGP peptide solution in Group 4. Substances were administered intraperitoneally on a daily basis at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg from day 1 through day 5 of the experiment. Morphometric parameters of rat brain neurons were studied on paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The intensity of free radical processes in the brain tissue was investigated by chemiluminescence. Results — An analysis of morphometric parameters revealed significant increases in the neuronal cytoplasm area, nucleolar area, number of nucleoli, and nuclear-nucleolar index with the introduction of the RGRPGP peptide after TBI, compared with the WKPRPGP peptide under the same conditions. After TBI and peptide administration, we observed an oxidative stress in the neocortex of Wistar rats, and it was more pronounced in the group of animals treated with RGRPGP. Conclusion — After RGRPGP peptide administration, we observed an increase in the morphometric parameters of neurons in the closed TBI model: a larger area and a greater number of nucleoli. Chemiluminescence data implied that WKPRRPGP peptide better protected brain tissue in rats from the effects of oxidative stress caused by TBI.
Along with synthetic substances, various naturally-occurring pigments can response to pH variations in solutions by changing their colour. Such substances include, for example, anthocyanins. In this study, the possibility of applying a set of anthocyanins obtained from berry extracts as a potential acid-base indicator. This indicator can be a good alternative to the widely-used phenolphthalein test. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts derived from the fruit of ashberry, sea-buckthorn, lingonberry, blueberry, currant, blackberry, cranberry, rose hip, cherry and hawthorn plants were studied. The presence of anthocyanins in the test samples was confirmed by chemical and physicochemical methods of analysis, including qualitative tests, ascending thin-layer chromatography and direct spectrophotometry. Quantification of anthocyanins was carried out by pH-differential spectrophotometry. Compared to alcoholic extracts, aqueous berry extracts were found to contain anthocyanins in far lesser amounts. In order to compare the pH indicator potential of phenolphthalein and the studied set of anthocyanins, the content of ascorbic acid in the test samples was assessed by direct alkalimetry. A control experiment was performed using a 5% ascorbic acid solution for injection. The pH value of aqueous and alcoholic solutions of all berry extracts was determined by an instrumental procedure. The pH of the extracts ranged from 2.95 to 5.04. The content of the total amount of anthocyanins in aqueous and alcoholic extracts of blackberries, cranberries, black currants, blueberries and lingonberries in terms of cyanidin-3-glucoside was determined both quantitatively and qualitatively. A good agreement was achieved between the results of alkalimetric titration performed using phenolphthalein and the set of anthocyanins extracted from blackcurrant berries with 95% ethanol.
In patients with autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (AD SCA), the level of selenium in the blood serum was lower by a factor of 1.6 than the result obtained in the control group. There is a weak correlation between the severity of ataxia and selenium content in the blood serum of patients with AD SCA, which possibly suggests the participation of selenium in the pathogenesis of the disease. Given the decrease in selenium content in blood serum in patients with AD SCA, it is probably advisable to include selenium preparations in the symptomatic therapy for these patients.
Objective: Comparative evaluation of the effect of regulatory peptides on lipid peroxidation in brain tissue after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods: Reproductive Wistar male rats were divided into 3 groups: the first group received 0.1 mg/kg of “Selang” peptide solution (Thy-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) within 5 days after the experimental traumatic brain injury, the second group received 0.1 mg/kg AGAPGP peptide (Arg-Gly-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro), the third (control) – 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Drugs were administered retroperitoneally.Results: According to chemiluminescence in the biomaterial taken from rats of the first group, indicators of oxidative stress were less pronounced.Conclusions: The Selang has a more pronounced antioxidant effect on brain tissue after traumatic brain injury compared with the AGAPGP peptide.
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