Is Nrf2 Behind Endogenous Neuroprotection of the Hippocampal CA2-4,DG Region?

Effect of sulforaphane on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by testicular torsion-detorsion in rats

Testicular ischemia-reperfusion induces enhanced concentration of reactive oxygen species. The increased reactive oxygen species harm cellular lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates, and ultimately cause testicular injury. Sulforaphane, a kind of natural dietary isothiocyanate, exists predominantly in some cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cabbage. It can protect tissues from oxidative stress-induced damage. Herein, we analyzed the effectiveness of sulforaphane in treating ischemia-reperfusion injury occurring after testicular torsion-detorsion. Male rats (n = 60) were grouped as follows: sham-operated group, unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, and unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion group receiving sulforaphane treatment at 5 mg/kg. No testicular torsion-detorsion was performed in the sham group. Unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion model was created by detorsion after 2 h of left testicular torsion. In the sulforaphane-treated group, intraperitoneal sulforaphane (5 mg/kg) was administered at left testicular detorsion. Biochemical assay, Western blot, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate testicular malondialdehyde content (an important marker of reactive oxygen species), protein levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase (intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism), and testicular reproductive function, respectively. In testicular tissues, malondialdehyde content was significantly promoted, while protein levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and testicular reproductive function were significantly reduced in ipsilateral testes by testicular ischemia-reperfusion. Nevertheless, sulforaphane administration partially reversed the effect of testicular ischemia-reperfusion on these indexes. It can be concluded that sulforaphane elevates protein levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and suppresses reactive oxygen species content, thereby preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury in testis.

Hypoxia Pathways in Parkinson's Disease: From Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Targets

The human brain is highly dependent on oxygen, utilizing approximately 20% of the body's oxygen at rest. Oxygen deprivation to the brain can lead to loss of consciousness within seconds and death within minutes. Recent studies have identified regions of the brain with spontaneous episodic hypoxia, referred to as "hypoxic pockets". Hypoxia can also result from impaired blood flow due to conditions such as heart disease, blood clots, stroke, or hemorrhage, as well as from reduced oxygen intake or excessive oxygen consumption caused by factors like low ambient oxygen, pulmonary diseases, infections, inflammation, and cancer. Severe hypoxia in the brain can manifest symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease (PD), including cerebral edema, mood disturbances, and cognitive impairments. Additionally, the development of PD appears to be closely associated with hypoxia and hypoxic pathways. This review seeks to investigate the molecular interactions between hypoxia and PD, emphasizing the pathological role of hypoxic pathways in PD and exploring their potential as therapeutic targets.

Validation of the Reference Genes for Expression Analysis in the Hippocampus after Transient Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Gerbil Brain

Transient brain ischemia in gerbils is a common model to study the mechanisms of neuronal changes in the hippocampus. In cornu ammonnis 2-3, dentate gyrus (CA2-3,DG) regions of the hippocampus, neurons are resistant to 5-min ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult, while cornu ammonnis 1 (CA1) is found to be I/R-vulnerable. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is widely used to study the expression of genes involved in these phenomena. It requires stable and reliable genes for normalization, which is crucial for comparable and reproducible analyses of expression changes of the genes of interest. The aim of this study was to determine the best housekeeping gene for the I/R gerbil model in two parts of the hippocampus in controls and at 3, 48, and 72 h after recanalization. We selected and tested six reference genes frequently used in central nervous system studies: Gapdh, Actb, 18S rRNA, Hprt1, Hmbs, Ywhaz, and additionally Bud23, using RefFinder, a comprehensive tool based on four commonly used algorithms: delta cycle threshold (Ct), BestKeeper, NormFinder, and geNorm, while Hprt1 and Hmbs were the most stable ones in CA2-3,DG. Hmbs was the most stable in the whole hippocampal formation. This indicates that the general use of Hmbs, especially in combination with Gapdh, a highly expressed reference gene, seems to be suitable for qRT-PCR normalization in all hippocampal regions in this model.