Estimation of the action of three different mechlorethamine doses on biochemical parameters during experimentally induced pleuritis in rats

The Improvement of the Adaptation Process of Tocopherol and Acetylsalicylic Acid in Offspring of Mothers Exposed to TCDD

Simple Summary

Dioxins are proinflammatory factors that may be transferred to offspring through the placenta during pregnancy. α-tocopherol and acetylsalicylic acid are popular agents that limit the spread of inflammation. A histopathological and biochemical analysis was performed to reveal possible changes in liver and blood plasma in response to dioxins, α-tocopherol, and acetylsalicylic acid. The conducted research demonstrated the presence of negative effects on the liver morphology and blood plasma proteins of offspring, due to dioxins that were derived from the mother. However, the use of both drugs can significantly reduce the negative effects on offspring whose mothers have been treated with dioxins.

Abstract

Dioxins are chemical compounds that may cause an inflammatory reaction. During dioxin-induced inflammation, generated reactive oxygen species lead to morphological changes in various tissues and in biochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the changes in the livers of rats whose mothers were exposed to dioxins and the protective role of α-tocopherol and acetylsalicylic acid in liver inflammation. The study material consisted of Buffalo rats who were the offspring of females treated with dioxin, dioxin + α-tocopherol, or dioxin + acetylsalicylic acid. Livers and blood samples were taken from the rats’ offspring, and then histopathological and biochemical analyses were performed. The histopathological analysis showed that the changes observed in the livers of neonates were the result of the dioxins derived from their mother. The biochemical analysis showed that the morphological changes in the liver affected its function, which manifested in a higher total protein concentration in the dioxin-treated group, and that the creatinine level in this group was significantly higher than that in the other groups. This effect was reduced by the protective role of α-tocopherol and acetylsalicylic acid. Based on these results, we came to the conclusion that dioxins significantly affect the structure of the liver, which negatively affects its function, mainly in the scope of the metabolism of plasma proteins and hepatic enzymes.

Effect of tocopherol and acetylsalicylic acid on the biochemical indices of blood in dioxin-exposed rats

New sources of dioxins and increased dioxin concentrations in the environment, coupled with their increased bioavailability along the food chain and accumulation in adipose tissues, contribute to various adverse long-term biological effects. The purpose of the study was to determine whether tocopherol protects the CNS by decreasing the pro-inflammatory influence of free radicals generated by TCDD; whether acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators; and whether the combined administration of tocopherol and acetylsalicylic acid to TCDD-exposed rats has a potential CNS-protective effect. The study included 117 rats divided into 8 groups: 75 female and 12 male Buffalo rats aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 140-160 g; as well as 30 female rats aged 6 weeks and weighing 120 g, which were the offspring of females from each study group. In the experiment, the following substances were used: 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), dosed at 5 μg/kg BW and 12.5 μg/kg BW, diluted in a 1% DMSO solution at the concentration of 1 μg/ml; α-tocopherol acetate, dosed at 30 mg/kg BW, in 0.2 ml of oil solution; and acetylsalicylic acid, 50mg/kg BW, suspended in 0.5 ml of starch solution, administered orally using a feeding tube. Pleurisy was induced by an injection of 0.15 ml of 1% carrageenin solution. The use of tocopherol reduces the adverse effects of the inflammatory reaction induced by TCDD. Administering tocopherol improves protein metabolism by reducing protein catabolism, and raises γ-globulin fraction levels. Combined acetylsalicylic acid and tocopherol suppress catabolic processes accompanying inflammation.

Pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies with vitamin D-loaded nanoemulsions in asthma model

Vitamin D (VD) was studied for its anti-inflammatory activities with prepared VD-loaded nanoemulsions (VDNM) in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice in this paper. In this study, we prepared VDNM for the delivery of VD from the established composition of solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (sSEDDS) by spray-drying technique and evaluated its bioavailability (BA) and anti-inflammatory activities in experimental allergic asthma. After the mice were treated orally with VD or VDNM, the plasma 25(OH) D levels, polymorphonuclear cells, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), total antioxidant activity, and C3 and C4 complement protein levels were studied, respectively. Treatment with VDNM reduced MPO activity, oxidative stress, C3 protein level, O2(-) level as well as the production of IL-1β and TNF-α. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that a significant increase in the maximum concentration (Cmax) and AUC0→24 h were observed in VDNM group when compared with VD group (P < 0.01). The result revealed that VDNM led to an improvement in oral BA of VD in a murine ovalbumin-induced asthma model. These data provided an important proof that VDNM might be a new potential therapy for the management of asthma in humans.

Effect of tocopherol on biochemical blood parameters in pleuritis-induced rats treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tocopherol on pleuritis-induced rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Rats were treated with a single TCDD dose of 5 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) and then for 3 weeks they were daily supplemented with tocopherol at a dose of 30 mg/kg b.w. The inflammation was initiated by intrapleural injection of a single dose of 1% carrageenin solution in a volume of 0.15 ml. Changes in biochemical blood parameters were measured three times at the 24th, 72nd and 120th hour of pleuritis and the blood was collected from 20 animals of each group of rats (group with the control inflammation; group treated with TCDD and with control inflammation; group treated with TCDD, supplemented with tocopherol and with the inflammation). The following biochemical parameters were measured: tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, procollagen, telopeptide, fibrinogen, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) and alanine aminotransferase (AlAT). Daily supplementation of tocopherol caused significant changes in the level of TNF, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, urea, creatinine, AspAT and AlAT. According to the results of these studies, we suggest that tocopherol supplementation in high doses could act as a protective treatment to improve liver metabolism.

Mechlorethamine (NTG) effects on the erythrocytic and leukocytic blood parameters during experimentally induced pleuritis in rats

BACKGROUND

According to cytotoxic and mutagenic properties, nitrogranulogen (NTG) changes the character of inflammatory reactions. Our previous studies have shown that NTG can enhance immunological defense reactions, because of its high affinity to DNA, and causes disorders in the synthesis of acute phase proteins (e.g., haptoglobin, transferrin, fibrinogen and complement protein C3) [15]. The aim of the current studies was to determine the influence of three different NTG doses: 5 μg/kg b.w. (body weight), 50 μg/kg b.w. and 600 μg/kg b.w. (cytotoxic dose) on the values of hematological blood parameters: RBC, HGB, HCT, RDW, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PLT, MPV, PCT, PDW, WBC, NEUT, LYMPH, MONO, EOS and BASO in pleuritis-induced rats.

METHODS

The animals were randomized into five groups: Group I - control group; Group II - IP (induced pleuritis) group; Group III - NTG5 group; Group IV - NTG50 group; Group V - NTG600 group. The blood was collected from all the groups at the 24(th) h, 48(th) h, and 72(nd) h after the initiation of the carrageenin-induced inflammatory reaction.

RESULTS

These investigations have revealed that NTG administered at the dose of 5 μg/kg b.w. caused the drop of the leukocyte and lymphocyte numbers and the rise of the neutrophil number at the 72(nd) h of the experimental-induced inflammatory reaction. Moreover, the dose of: 5 μg/kg b.w. was an immunomodulatory property and it also increased the erythrocytic parameters. On the contrary, NTG applied at the doses of 50 μg/kg and 600 μg/kg b.w. contributed to the drop of both: the erythrocytic and leukocytic parameters during the whole time of the inflammatory reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that nitrogranulogen affects the erythropoiesis.