Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of nitric oxide synthases and apoptosis regulator proteins in the fetal rat brain following maternal uterine artery ligation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between nitric oxide synthases (calcium-independent iNOS and calcium-dependent eNOS) and apoptosis regulator proteins (anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, pro-apoptotic p53) of fetal rat brain in experimental intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) model via quantitative immunohistochemistry. Cortical zone of parietal cerebral cortex and ventricular zone of third ventricle were studied following bilateral uterine artery ligation on gestational day 18. Significant increase in iNOS immunoreactivity was determined in parietal cerebral cortex and ventricular zones as eNOS immunoreactivity increased in ventricular zone of IUGR group.

Neuroprotective effects of melatonin upon the offspring cerebellar cortex in the rat model of BCNU-induced cortical dysplasia.

Cortical dysplasia is a malformation characterized by defects in proliferation, migration and maturation. This study was designed to evaluate the alterations in offspring rat cerebellum induced by maternal exposure to carmustine-[1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosoure] (BCNU) and to investigate the effects of exogenous melatonin upon cerebellar BCNU-induced cortical dysplasia, using histological and biochemical analyses. Pregnant Wistar rats were assigned to five groups: intact-control, saline-control, melatonin-treated, BCNU-exposed and BCNU-exposed plus melatonin.

Immunohistochemical profile of transforming growth factor-beta1 and basic fibroblast growth factor in sciatic nerve anastomosis following pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin administration in rats.

Collagen scar formation at the cut end of a peripheral nerve, an important problem in clinical practice for neurosurgeons, obstructs sprouting of axons into appropriate distal fascicles, and thereby limits the regeneration process. Researchers have attempted to control collagen accumulation and neuroma formation with various physical and chemical methods, but with limited functional success. Recently, it has been demonstrated that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) play an important role in collagen production by fibroblasts and in Schwann cell activity.

The effect of exogenous melatonin administration on trabecular width, ligament thickness and TGF-beta(1) expression in degenerated intervertebral disk tissue in the rat.

Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration, a complex pathological condition of varying origins, causes low back pain. Degenerative changes in IVD tissue affect the adjacent vertebral structure, resulting in a decreased vertebral trabecular width. It has been suggested that transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) may have a role in the repair of connective tissue, as it occurs in the IVD degeneration process.

Pinealectomy stimulates and exogenous melatonin inhibits harmful effects of epileptiform activity during pregnancy in the hippocampus of newborn rats: an immunohistochemical study.

Objectives: Epilepsy during the pregnancy is an important problem in clinical practice for newborn individuals. Recently, it has been demonstrated that mothers' epileptic seizures have some harmful effects on newborns, but present data concerning the effects of epileptic phenomena in pregnant mothers on newborn pups are still limited. The current study was undertaken to investigate the morphological changes in the hippocampus of newborn pups of pinealectomized rats subjected to experimental epilepsy during pregnancy.

Neonatal pinealectomy induces Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum of the chick: a stereological study.

Melatonin plays an important role in certain physiological functions and morphological features of various structures. In the current study, the effects of pinealectomy on Purkinje cell number and morphological features of developing cerebellum in the chick were investigated using stereological methods. Fifteen Hybro Broiler newly hatched chicks were divided into three groups: a pinealectomized group (n = 5), sham-operated group (n = 5) and a non-pinealectomized control group (n = 5).

Beneficial effects of melatonin on morphological changes in postnatal cerebellar tissue owing to epileptiform activity during pregnancy in rats: light and immunohistochemical study.

Although it has been demonstrated that maternal epilepsy has some harmful effects on newborn individuals, current data concerning the effects of epileptic phenomena in pregnant mothers on newborn pups are still limited. This study was undertaken to investigate the changes in the cerebellum of newborns of pinealectomized rats subjected to experimental epilepsy during pregnancy. In our study, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: intact control group, anesthesia control group, epilepsy group, melatonin-treated epileptic group, surgical pinealectomy group, and group of melatonin treatment following pinealectomy procedure.

Chronic changes in cerebrospinal fluid pathways produced by subarachnoid kaolin injection and experimental spinal cord trauma in the rabbit: their relationship with the development of spinal deformity. An electron microscopic study and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.

Post-traumatic cystic changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways such as ventriculomegaly and/or hydrosyringomyelia are not uncommon, but their characteristics have not yet been fully clarified. This study was designed to investigate the alterations affecting the CSF pathways in rabbits at a late stage, and to clarify the relationship between these changes and the development of spinal deformity. In this study, a total of 60 New Zealand white rabbits were used and they were segregated into four different groups of 15 animals each: sham-operation group, kaolin group, and kaolin plus mild trauma group and kaolin plus severe trauma group.

Pinealectomy exaggerates and melatonin treatment suppresses neuroma formation of transected sciatic nerve in rats: gross morphological, histological and stereological analysis.

At present, an intensive effort for prevention of neuroma formation following peripheral nerve section continues. It has been recently suggested that surgical pinealectomy (Px) induces elevation of the collagen content in the granulation tissue of a wound, while melatonin application after Px suppresses elevation of the collagen accumulation in the tissue. The aim of the present study was to assess whether melatonin had the ability to suppress collagen production and neuroma formation following peripheral nerve transection.

Differential effects of doxorubicin and docetaxel on nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Anthracyclines and docetaxel are frequently used agents in the chemotherapy of breast cancer. In this study we examined the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression during the cytotoxicity of these drugs in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated by the trypan blue dye exclusion method.

Alterations of brain tissue in fetal rats exposed to nicotine in utero: possible involvement of nitric oxide and catecholamines.

Histopathological changes in the brains of embryos from female rats treated with nicotine during pregnancy and possible involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and catecholamines in the nicotine-induced abnormalities of developing brain were investigated. Sexually mature female Wistar rats were given 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg nicotine hydrogen tartrate (NHT) subcutaneously for 20 days after mating. Levels of cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, in the maternal plasma increased dose-dependently.

Changes in vascularity of cartilage endplate of degenerated intervertebral discs in response to melatonin administration in rats.

We carried out an experimental investigation of cartilage endplate vascularity of degenerated intervertebral discs produced by exogenous melatonin (MEL) treatment. Adult Swiss albino rats were divided into three groups: control, operated degeneration, and MEL treatment. There were five rats in each group and, using a posterior approach, cuts were made parallel to the endplates in the posterior annulus fibrosus in five consecutive intervertebral discs between the 5th and 10th vertebral segments of the rats' tails.

The effects of pineal gland transplantation on the production of spinal deformity and serum melatonin level following pinealectomy in the chicken.

Pinealectomy frequently produces spinal deformity in some animal models, but the precise biological mechanism of this phenomenon remains obscure. The current study investigated the effects of an autograft pineal body on the development of spinal deformity and serum melatonin (MLT) concentration after pinealectomy in the chicken. Thirty-six chickens (2 days of age) were divided into three equal groups.

The effects of calcium channel antagonist nimodipine on end-plate vascularity of the degenerated intervertebral disc in rats.

The vascular channels at the end-plate of the intervertebral disc are very important in maintaining a healthy disc. With age, a reduction of the nutrition of the avascular nucleus pulposus is inevitable. On the other hand the calcium channel antagonist nimodipine has been shown to have a positive effect on blood flow in the region of the vertebral end-plate.