Oxytocin ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

Oxytocin and Related Peptide Hormones: Candidate Anti-Inflammatory Therapy in Early Stages of Sepsis

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening systemic inflammatory syndrome characterized by dysregulated host immunological responses to infection. Uncontrolled immune cell activation and exponential elevation in circulating cytokines can lead to sepsis, septic shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death. Sepsis is associated with high re-hospitalization and recovery may be incomplete, with long term sequelae including post-sepsis syndrome. Consequently, sepsis continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. In our recent review of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), we noted that its major properties including promotion of fertility, parturition, and lactation were described over a century ago. By contrast, the anti-inflammatory properties of this hormone have been recognized only more recently. Vasopressin, a hormone best known for its anti-diuretic effect, also has anti-inflammatory actions. Surprisingly, vasopressin's close cousin, oxytocin, has broader and more potent anti-inflammatory effects than vasopressin and a larger number of pre-clinical studies supporting its potential role in limiting sepsis-associated organ damage. This review explores possible links between oxytocin and related octapeptide hormones and sepsis-related modulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activities.

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury: effect of moderate intensity exercise and oxytocin compared to l-arginine in a rat model

Background

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury is considered as a main cause of liver damage and dysfunction. The l-arginine/nitric oxide pathway seems to be relevant during this process of IR. Although acute intense exercise challenges the liver with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), regular training improves hepatic antioxidant status. Also, oxytocin (Oxy), besides its classical functions, it exhibits a potent antistress, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. This study was designed to evaluate the hepatic functional and structural changes induced by hepatic IR injury in rats and to probe the effect and potential mechanism of moderate intensity exercise training and/or Oxy, in comparison to a nitric oxide donor, l-arginine, against liver IR-induced damage.

Results

Compared to the sham-operated control group, the hepatic IR group displayed a significant increase in serum levels of ALT and AST, plasma levels of MDA and TNF-α, and significant decrease in plasma TAC and nitrite levels together with the worsening of liver histological picture. L-Arg, Oxy, moderate intensity exercise, and the combination of both Oxy and moderate intensity exercises ameliorated these deleterious effects that were evident by the significant decrease in serum levels of ALT and AST, significant elevation in TAC and nitrite, and significant decline in lipid peroxidation (MDA) and TNF-α, besides regression of histopathological score regarding hepatocyte necrosis, vacuolization, and nuclear pyknosis. Both the moderate intensity exercise-trained group and Oxy-treated group showed a significant decline in TNF-α and nitrite levels as compared to l-Arg-treated group. The Oxy-treated group showed statistical insignificant changes in serum levels of ALT, AST, and plasma levels of nitrite, MDA, TAC, and TNF-α as compared to moderate intensity exercise-trained group.

Conclusion

The combination of both moderate intensity exercise and Oxy displayed more pronounced hepatoprotection on comparison with l-Arg which could be attributed to their more prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects but not due to their NO-enhancing effect.

Effects of peripheral oxytocin administration on body weight, food intake, adipocytes, and biochemical parameters in peri- and postmenopausal female rats

Recent studies have revealed that the administration of oxytocin has beneficial effects on the regulation of body weight, food intake, and metabolic functions, especially in obese individuals. Obesity is common in women after the menopause and drives many components of metabolic syndrome. Weight gain in menopausal women has been frequently reported. Although obesity and associated metabolic disorders are frequently observed in peri- and postmenopausal women, there are few medical interventions for these conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of chronic oxytocin administration on appetite, body weight, and fat mass in peri- and postmenopausal female rats. Sixteen naturally premenopausal or menopausal rats were intraperitoneally injected with oxytocin (1,000 μg/day) for 12 days. The daily changes in their body weight and food intake were measured at the same time as the oxytocin and vehicle injections. Intraperitoneally administering oxytocin for 12 days significantly reduced food intake, body weight, and visceral adipocyte size. In addition, oxytocin administration caused reductions in serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, while it did not disturb hepatic or renal functions or locomotor activity. This is the first study to show the effects of oxytocin on the metabolic and feeding functions of peri- and postmenopausal female rats. Oxytocin might be a useful treatment for metabolic disorders caused by the menopause or aging.

The effect of intratympanic oxytocin treatment on rats exposed to acoustic trauma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether oxytocin can prevent ototoxicity related to acoustic trauma.

METHODS

Twenty-eight rats were divided into four groups: noise (group 1), control (group 2), noise plus oxytocin (group 3), and oxytocin (group 4). Intratympanic oxytocin was administered on days 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 in groups 3 and 4. Groups 1 and 3 were exposed to acoustic trauma. Distortion product otoacoustic emission and auditory brainstem response testing were performed in all groups.

RESULTS

In group 1, auditory brainstem response thresholds increased significantly after acoustic trauma. In group 3, auditory brainstem response thresholds increased significantly on day 1 after acoustic trauma, but there were no significant differences between thresholds at baseline and on the 7th and 21st days. In group 1, significant differences were observed between distortion product otoacoustic emission signal-to-noise ratios measured before and on days 1, 7 and 21 after acoustic trauma. In group 3, no significant differences were observed between the distortion product otoacoustic emission signal-to-noise ratios measured before and on days 7 and 21 after acoustic trauma.

CONCLUSION

Oxytocin had a therapeutic effect on rats exposed to acoustic trauma in this experiment.

Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity; Protective Supplements and Gender Differences

Cisplatin (CDDP) has been widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent for solid tumors. The most common side effect of CDDP is nephrotoxicity, and many efforts have been made in the laboratory and the clinic to employ candidate adjuvants to CDDP to minimize this adverse influence. Many synthetic and herbal antioxidants as well as trace elements have been investigated for this purpose in recent years and a variety of positive and negative results have been yielded. However, no definitive supplement has so far been proposed to prevent CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity; however, this condition is gender related and the sex hormone estrogen may protect the kidney against CDDP damage. In this review, the results of research related to the effect of different synthetic and herbal antioxidants supplements are presented and discussed with suggestions included for future work.