Androgen receptor blockade by flutamide down-regulates renal fibrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis pathways in male rats.

Aim: this study aims to explore the effect of androgen receptor (AR) blockade by flutamide on some renal pathologic changes such as inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis in male rats.

Main Methods: Firstly, we investigated the potential effect of AR blockade on renal inflammatory intermediates including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, NF-Қβ proteins, and the renal gene expression of NF-Қβ. Besides inflammation, we also assessed the apoptosis pathways including the caspases 3 & 9, mTOR, pAKT proteins, and BAX gene expression.

Pioglitazone ameliorates high fat diet-induced hypertension and induces catechol o-methyl transferase expression in rats.

Our study aimed to investigate the effect of pioglitazone (PIO) on the obesity-associated metabolic effects and whether this effect is associated with modulation of catechol O-methyl transferase (COMT) expression in the high fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats. Male Wistar rats fed HFD were used to evaluate the effect of PIO on obesity-associated hypertension and the expression of COMT. The HFD-induced obesity was confirmed by the change in body weights, the fasting serum insulin (FSI) which assessed by ELISA, homeostasis model assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and lipid profile which were determined by colorimetric methods.

Androgen/androgen receptor affects gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity through regulation of megalin expression.

Aim: Investigation whether androgen/androgen receptor (AR) might regulate megalin expression and/or functionality and thus affecting Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity (GIN).

Main Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated with gentamicin with/out AR ligands (testosterone as agonist and flutamide as antagonist). Megalin expression in the kidney tissues was determined by real-time RT-PCR and western blot.