Role of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 Channel in Skin Physiology and Pathology.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel responds to temperature, as well as various mechanical and chemical stimuli. This non-selective cation channel is expressed in several organs, including the blood vessels, kidneys, oesophagus and skin. In the skin, TRPV4 channel is present in various cell types such as keratinocytes, melanocytes and sensory neurons, as well as immune and inflammatory cells, and engages in several physiological actions, from skin homeostasis to sensation.

Systemic Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Postmenopausal Women and Independently Associates with Homocysteine Levels.

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of developing CVD due to decreased estrogen availability, which is accompanied by increased oxidative stress. Serum free thiols (R-SH) provide a robust and powerful read-out of systemic oxidative stress.

Aging Reduces L-Type Calcium Channel Current and the Vasodilatory Response of Small Mesenteric Arteries to Calcium Channel Blockers.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are widely used to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) including hypertension. As aging is an independent risk factor for CVD, the use of CCBs increases with increasing age. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of aging on the sensitivity of small mesenteric arteries to L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (LTCC) blockers and also to investigate whether there was a concomitant change in calcium current density.

The effect of activated charcoal on adenine-induced chronic renal failure in rats.

Activated charcoal (AC) is a sorbent that has been shown to remove urinary toxins like urea and indoxyl sulfate. Here, the influence of AC on kidney function of rats with experimental chronic renal failure (CRF) is investigated. CRF was induced in rats by feeding adenine (0.

New model for adenine-induced chronic renal failure in mice, and the effect of gum acacia treatment thereon: comparison with rats.

Introduction: This study aimed at comparing the effects of feeding mice and rats with adenine to induce a state of chronic renal failure (CRF), and to assess the effect of treatment with gum acacia (GA) thereon.

Methods: We compared the outcome, in mice, of feeding adenine at three different doses (0.75%, 0.

Long-term ingestion of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract enhances myocardial capillarization in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

The effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) in lowering blood pressure in human and animal hypertension have been documented. This study investigated the effect of the water extract of the dried calyx of HS and Hibiscus anthocyanins (HAs) on left ventricular myocardial capillary length and surface area in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Twelve-week-old male SHRs were divided into eight groups (six rats in each group).

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa and its anthocyanins on some reproductive aspects in rats.

An aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a common beverage in many parts of the world. Reports on its effect on reproduction are conflicting, with anecdotal evidence that the plant is an aphrodisiac, while others report that it is estrogenic, and adversely affects spermatogenesis in rats.

Protective effects of emodin against cisplatin-induced oxidative stress in cultured human kidney (HEK 293) cells.

Emodin (a rhubarb anthraquinone) has strong antioxidant and anticancer actions, and recent studies indicated that it reduces cellular oxidative stress induced by various insults and drugs. Cisplatin is an anticancer drug that is associated with nephrotoxicity and induces oxidative stress in cultured human kidney (HEK 293) cells. This study aimed to assess the in-vitro antioxidant properties of the emodin against cisplatin-induced oxidative stress in HEK 293 cells.

Abrogation of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by emodin in rats.

Nephrotoxicity of the anticancer drug cisplatin (CP) involves the generation of reactive oxygen species in renal cortex, and emodin (a rhubarb anthraquinone) has strong antioxidant and anticancer actions. Therefore, we tested here the possible ameliorative effect of emodin on CP nephrotoxicity in rats. Emodin was given orally (10 mg/kg/day for nine consecutive days), and on day 4, some of the treated rats were also injected intraperitoneally with either saline or CP (6 mg/kg).