Protective Effects of Dexpanthenol and Y-27632 on Stricture Formation in a Rat Model of Caustic Esophageal Injury

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on motility changes in experimental caustic esophageal burn

BACKGROUND

Besides stricture formation, diminished esophageal motility after caustic esophageal burns also plays a role in the deterioration of the clinical course. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of caustic burn on the esophageal contractions and the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on these changes.

METHODS

Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups [Sham operation (n = 8), caustic esophageal burn with NaOH (n = 6), PRP treatment after caustic burn (n = 7)]. After 3 weeks, esophagectomy was performed and contractions and EFS responses were evaluated in the organ bath.

RESULTS

KCl- and acetylcholine-induced responses were reduced in the Burn group, but increased in Sham and PRP groups (p < 0.05). EFS responses were higher in Burn group compared to the other groups. Response with L-arginine was increased in Burn group, but decreased in PRP group. There was more decrease in the contraction in Sham and PRP groups compared to the Burn group after SNP (sodium nitroprusside) incubation (p < 0.05). L-NAME (Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) did not change the EFS responses in the Burn group, but EFS responses were decreased significantly in Sham and PRP groups (p < 0.05). EFS responses were decreased in all groups, but more in the Sham and PRP groups after Y-27632 (Rho-kinase inhibitor) incubation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time, we demonstrated that both cholinergic and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic mechanisms are responsible for the altered motility in corrosive esophageal injury. Our results suggest that PRP treatment may be helpful in regulating the esophageal motility and decreasing altered contractions in corrosive burns. This effect may also contribute to the reduction of stricture formation, especially by reducing inappropriate contractions of the esophageal wall during the post-burn healing phase.

Protective effect of dexpanthenol against nephrotoxic effect of amikacin: An experimental study

BACKGROUND

Amikacin has the largest spectrum among aminoglycosides, its nephrotoxic effect limits its utilization. Our purpose in this study is to review the protective effect of dexpanthenol against the nephrotoxic effect of amikacin, accompanied with histopathological and biochemical parameters.

METHODS

32 rats were randomly separated into four groups with eight in each (amikacin (1.2mg/kg/day), amikacin (1.2mg/kg/day)+dexpanthenol (500mg/kg/day), dexpanthenol (500mg/kg/day) and control). In order to assess the oxidative balance and renal damage between groups, biochemical parameters (total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant stress (TOS), catalase (CAT), paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (ARES), urea, and creatinin) were studied from the blood samples. At the end of the 14th day, renal tissues were reviewed blindly by a pathologist.

RESULTS

TOS and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were significantly lower in the group which was administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin compared to the group which only received amikacin (respectively, p=0.001, p=0.002). Antioxidant biochemical parameters (TAS, CAT, PON, and ARES) were significantly higher in the group which was administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin compared to the group administered only with amikacin (respectively, p=0.007, p=0.001, p=0.003, p=0.003). Urea and creatitin values were found to be significantly lower in the group which was administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin compared to the group administered only with amikacin (respectively, p=0.002, p=0.001). Histopathologic changes such as glomerular and tubular epithelium changes and interstitial edema were clearly observed in the group administered only with amikacin, such findings were insignificant in the group administered with dexpanthenol+amikacin.

CONCLUSION

It was revealed with biochemical and histopathologic data that nephrotoxic effects created by amikacin administration can be limited with dexpanthenol by using them together, and further advanced clinical studies are required.

Effects of dexpanthenol on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

While the pathogenesis of acetic acid (AA)-induced colitis is unclear, reactive oxygen species are considered to have a significant effect. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the therapeutic potential of dexpanthenol (Dxp) on the amelioration of colitis in rats. Group I (n=8; control group) was intrarectally administered 1 ml saline solution (0.9%); group II [n=8; AA] was administered 4% AA into the colon via the rectum as a single dose for three consecutive days; group III (n=8; AA + Dxp) was administered AA at the same dosage as group II from day 4, and a single dose of Dxp was administered intraperitoneally; and group IV (n=8; Dxp) was administered Dxp similarly to Group III. Oxidative stress and colonic damage were assessed via biochemical and histologic examination methods. AA treatment led to an increase in oxidative parameters and a decrease in antioxidant systems. Histopathological examination showed that AA treatment caused tissue injury and increased caspase-3 activity in the distal colon and triggered apoptosis. Dxp treatment caused biochemical and histopathological improvements, indicating that Dxp may have an anti-oxidant effect in colitis; therefore, Dxp may be a potential therapeutic agent for the amelioration of IBD.

Effects of dexpanthenol and N-acetylcysteine pretreatment in rats before renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND

We investigated the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of concomitant use of dexpanthenol (DXP) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) induced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of kidney.

METHODS

Forty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. In all groups except for Group 1(Sham), renal arteries bilaterally occluded with vascular clamp for IR injury. Group 1(Sham), received a single dose of 10 mL/kg isotonic saline daily by intraperitoneal (IP) injection for three days. Group 2(IR), received a single dose of 10 mL/kg isotonic saline daily by IP injection for three days. Group 3(IR + NAC), received 300 mg/kg NAC daily by IP injection for three days. Group 4(IR + DXP), received 500 mg/kg DXP daily by IP injection for three days. Group 5(IR + NAC + DXP), received 500 mg/kg DXP and 300 mg/kg NAC daily by IP injection for three days. Serum urea (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL, lipocalin 2, siderocalin) levels were measured as kidney function tests. TNF-α levels were measured as inflammatory marker. Tissue sections were evaluated histopathologically under light microscopy.

RESULTS

IR + NAC + DXP group received both NAC and DXP before induction of renal I/R and as the biochemical and histopathological data revealed the results of the IR + NAC + DXP group and sham group were similar. Biochemically and histopathologically, combined use of NAC and DXP has better results when each of them used alone.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that concomitant use of DXP and NAC plays a major role against I/R injury and may be useful in acute treatment of I/R induced renal failure.

Protective effect of dexpanthenol on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

Despite extensive studies, there is no effective treatment currently available other than pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A protective effect of pantothenic acid and its derivatives on cell damage produced by oxygen radicals has been reported, but it has not been tested in bleomycin (BLM)--induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the preventive effect of dexpanthenol (Dxp) on pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty-two rats were assigned to four groups as follows: (1) control group, (2) dexpanthenol (Dxp) group; 500 mg/kg Dxp continued intraperitoneally for 14 days, (3) bleomycin (BLM) group; a single intratracheal injection of BLM (2.5 mg/kg body weight in 0.25-ml phosphate buffered saline), and (4) BLM + Dxp-treated group; 500 mg/kg Dxp was administered 1 h before the intratracheal BLM injection and continued for 14 days i.p. The histopathological grades of lung inflammation and collagen deposition, tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured. BLM provoked inflammation and collagen deposition (p < 0.0001), with a marked increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity resembling increased inflammatory activity (p < 0.0001), which was prevented by Dxp (p < 0.0001, p = 0.02). BLM reduced tissue activities of SOD, GPx, and CAT compared to controls (p = 0.01, 0.03, 0.009). MDA was increased with BLM (p = 0.003). SOD (p = 0.001) and MDA (p = 0.016) levels were improved in group 4. The CAT levels in the BLM + Dxp group were close to those in the control group (p > 0.05). We showed that Dxp significantly prevents BLM-induced lung fibrosis in rats. Further studies are required to evaluate the role of Dxp in the treatment of lung fibrosis.

Topical application of basic fibroblast growth factor reduces esophageal stricture and esophageal neural damage after sodium hydroxide-induced esophagitis in rats

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of topical application of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) after caustic esophageal injury in rats.

METHODS

Thirty-six male rats were randomly divided into three groups. Corrosive esophageal injury was produced by internal application of 30% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to the distal esophagus. Group A rats were uninjured. Group B rats were injured and untreated. Group C rats were injured and received topical bFGF (10 μg/ml). Surviving rats were killed at 28 days. The survival rate, body weight gain, symptoms and histopathological changes that included tissue damage score, ratio of esophageal luminal area/total esophageal area (LA/TA) and the proportion of a neural marker PGP 9.5-positive area were assessed.

RESULTS

The survival rate and the prevalence of symptoms were not significantly different between Groups B and C. Although the tissue damage score did not differ in Groups B and C, LA/TA was significantly higher in Group C than in Group B. The proportion of the PGP 9.5-positive area was significantly lower in Groups B and C than in Group A; however, it was higher in Group C than in Group B.

CONCLUSION

Topical application of bFGF was effective in preventing stricture after NaOH-induced esophagitis.