Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on high fructose induced hepatic pathology

The protective role of selenium against high-fructose corn syrup-induced kidney damage: a histopathological and molecular analysis

With the growth of the food industry, fructose, the intake of which increases with food, causes obesity and metabolic syndrome. Kidney damage may develop from metabolic syndrome. Selenium (Se) participates in the structure of antioxidant enzymes and has a medicinal effect. In this work, the protective impact of Se on kidney damage produced by high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was examined. The study comprised four groups, each consisting of ten experimental animals: control, HFCS (20%-HFCS), HFCS (20%-HFCS), + Se (0.3 mg/kg/day/po), and Se (0.3 mg/kg/day/po) alone. The duration of the experiment was 6 weeks. Kidney tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examination. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to assess TNF-α and caspase-3 levels. The spectrophotometric evaluation was performed to measure TOS (total oxidant status), TAS (total antioxidant status), and OSI (oxidative stress index) levels. The PERK, ATF4, CHOP, BCL-2, and caspase-9 gene expression levels were assessed by the RT-qPCR method. After Se treatment, histopathological abnormalities and TNF-α and caspase-3 levels in the HFCS+Se group decreased (p < 0.001). While TOS and OSI levels increased dramatically in the HFCS group, TAS values decreased significantly but improved after Se application (p < 0.001). The expression levels of the genes PERK, ATF4, CHOP, and caspase-9 were significantly lower in the HFCS group when compared to the HFCS+Se group (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that Se may protect against ER stress, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and kidney damage caused by high-dose fructose consumption.

Na+/K+-ATPase and bone morphogenetic protein-2 expressions in parenchymal and microenvironmental cells of canine mammary tumours

The most common canine tumour is mammary tumour, which resembles breast cancer in humans. Microenvironment is a crucial factor in the formation of breast cancers. In order to distinguish between benign and malignant canine mammary tumours, this study looked at the immunohistochemical expression of Na+/K+-ATPase and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in tumour and microenvironmental cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of Na+/K+-ATPase and BMP-2 in canine mammary tumours and their relationship with malignancy. In this investigation, 10 normal breast tissues were used as controls, and 28 benign and 46 malignant mammary tumours were taken from the archives of the Department of Pathology. The findings showed that malignant tumours expressed more Na+/K+-ATPase and BMP-2 than did normal breast tissue. Both markers had a negative or slight expression in benign tumours, whereas they considerably increased in malignant tumours. Both tumour parenchymal and microenvironmental cells in malignancies expressed Na+/K+-ATPase and BMP-2. Na+/K+-ATPase expression was observed to be more prominent in cells when compared to BMP-2. These findings also suggest that Na+/K+-ATPase and BMP-2 could be employed in the future to help diagnose canine and possibly human breast cancers earlier or as possible targets for treatment.

Expression of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) gene family in feline uterus during pregnancy

Members of the IGF gene family participate in cell differentiation and proliferation during pregnancy. We used 35 cats assigned to experimental groups (G) based on pregnancy stages: G1, pre-implantation; G2, implantation; G3, early pregnancy; G4, mid-pregnancy; G5, nonpregnant. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of the IGF gene family. During pregnancy, expression of IGF-1 gene was significantly greater at implantation sites in the G1 and G2 groups than at placentation sites in G3 and G4 groups. IGF-2 expression was greater in the G2, G3 and G4 groups than in G1. Expression of the IGF-1R gene was significantly greater at placental sites in G3 than in G1 and G4. IGF-2R genes were expressed in all groups. Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) were expressed at intensities that depended on the stage of pregnancy; they were detected in different cell types and at different sites in the uterus. We found that members of the IGF gene family were expressed differentially in the endometrium during pregnancy. Our findings suggest that the IGF family may be a regulatory factor for pregnancy in cats.

Examination of skin lesions in rats with induced hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism

We investigated the pathogenesis of skin lesions due to hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in rats. We used 30 rats allocated into hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and control groups. Blood samples were evaluated for levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Skin samples were examined for melan-A, lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1 (LYVE1), cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), calretinin, chromogranin, synaptophysin and pancytokeratin. Histopathological examination of the skin sections revealed thickened epidermis in the hyperthyroidism group due to an increased number of cells, and a decreased number of hair follicles and epithelial cell rows in the epidermis with an increased number of fat cells in the dermis of the rats in the hypothyroidism group. No significant difference was observed in the immunoreactions of pancytokeratin, PGP9.5, CD31 and synaptophysin among the groups. The hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism groups exhibited a marked increase in melan-A immunoreaction. Expression of LYVE-1, chromogranin and calretinin was increased in the hyperthyroidism group and decreased in the hypothyroidism group. We found that melan-A, LYVE-1, chromogenin and calretinin play an important role in the pathogenesis of skin lesions caused by thyroid disorders.