Drug exposure in early pregnancy might be related to the effects of increased maternal progesterone in implantation period.

Aim: This short communication aims to evaluate the relation in between drug exposure time and early pregnancy regarding gestational weeks.

Methods: The study covers the referrals made to the Department of Pharmacology for a teratogenic consultation in a 3-year period. From the recordings of pregnant women, the last menstrual period and the starting date of medication were used to determine the time of prescription with regard to gestational weeks.

Effects of a PPAR-gamma receptor agonist and an angiotensin receptor antagonist on aortic contractile responses to alpha receptor agonists in diabetic and/or hypertensive rats.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pioglitazone and losartan pre-treatment on the aortic contractile response to the alpha-1 agonist, phenylephrine, and the alpha-2 agonist, clonidine, in L-NAME-induced hypertensive, STZ-induced diabetic, and hypertensive diabetic rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups: control, diabetic (DM), hypertensive (HT) and hypertensive diabetic (HT + DM) groups. Three weeks after drug application, in vitro dose-response curves to phenylephrine (Phe) (10-10 M) and clonidine (Clo) (10-10 M) were recorded in aortic rings in the absence (control) and presence of pioglitazone (10 µM) and/or losartan (10 µM).

Antidepressant-like effects of the xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitor allopurinol in rats. A comparison with fluoxetine.

Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitor that is widely used for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. The activity of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, which metabolizes tryptophan (TRP), is decreased by xanthine oxidase inhibitors, causing TRP levels in the body to be increased. Increases in TRP levels in the brain might have antidepressant effects.

Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on adiponectin levels and lipid profile in the ovariectomized-aged rats.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and adiponectin and lipid profile in the ovariectomized-aged rats.

Materials And Methods: Wistar albino rats were first divided into two groups; control (C) and ovariectomized (OVX). Bilateral ovariectomy were carried out on rats (n = 30) except control group (n = 10).

Treated effect of silymarin on vascular function of aged rats: Dependant on nitric oxide pathway.

Abstract Context: Aging leads to endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffness which are the main causes of many cardiovascular diseases. Previous reports have shown that the cell protective effect of silymarin (SM) is dependent on its antioxidant properties. Objectives: We investigated the effect of SM on vascular functions of aged rats and the involvement of nitric oxide or cyclooxygenase (COX) activity in this effect.

Silymarin improves vascular function of aged ovariectomized rats.

Both aging and estrogen depletion lead to endothelial dysfunction, which is the main reason of many cardiovascular diseases. Previous reports have shown that cell protective effect of silymarin (SM) depends on its antioxidant and phytoestrogenic properties. We investigated the effect of SM on vascular stiffness of aged menopausal rats and the involvement of estrogenic activity in this effect.

Antioxidative effect of aspirin on vascular function of aged ovariectomized rats.

This study investigated the vascular effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the very late stage of postmenopausal vascular aging and looked for a better choice of anti-inflammatory drug for women in reducing the cardiovascular risk by decreasing the oxidant status in this term. The rat aorta isolated from young and old rats that were treated with either aspirin (10 mg/kg/day) or indomethacin (INDO, 1 mg/kg/day) within last 10 weeks after 16-month overiectomy (OVX) follow-up. Endothelium-dependant acetylcholine (Ach, 0.

Effect of estrogen therapy on adipocytokines in ovariectomized-aged rats.

Aim: Obesity is a chronic disease that is characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat. The physiological changes associated with estrogen deprivation in menopause have a significant impact on total body fat and adipose tissue distribution. Adipocytokines, such as adiponectin and leptin are related to adipose tissue, and their levels are affected by estrogen.

The effect of Hypericum perforatum on isolated rat aorta.

Context: Different Hypericum species such as Hypericum perforatum (HP) L. and Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra are well known and widely used traditional medicine in Turkey.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of standardized HP extract on endothelium and vascular function.

The effect of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) on experimental colitis in rat.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Hypericum perforatum (HP) on the inflammatory and immune response of colonic mucosa in rat with induced inflammatory bowel disease and that on various enzyme activities in blood and bowel tissue. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into three main groups: control, third day, and seventh day of colitis. Third-day and seventh-day groups were divided into four subgroups.

Effects of melatonin supplementary on the sciatic nerve conduction velocity in the ovariectomized-aged rat.

Objectives: Melatonin is a potent antioxidant agent and an anti-aging hormone. Serum melatonin level declines during the menopause. Estradiol, a neuroprotective ovarian hormone, also decreases during the menopause.

Mouse NEIL1 protein is specific for excision of 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine and 4,6-diamino-5-formamidopyrimidine from oxidatively damaged DNA.

A functional homologue of human DNA glycosylase NEIL1 (hNEIL1) in mouse has recently been cloned, isolated, characterized, and named mouse NEIL1 (mNEIL1). This enzyme exhibited specificity for excision of oxidatively modified pyrimidine bases such as thymine glycol, 5,6-dihydrouracil, and 5-hydroxypyrimidines, using oligonucleotides with a single base lesion incorporated at a specific site. It also acted upon AP sites; however, no significant excision of 8-hydroxyguanine was observed [Rosenquist, T.

Measurement of DNA biomarkers for the safety of tissue-engineered medical products, using artificial skin as a model.

To test the hypothesis that the process of tissue engineering introduces genetic damage to tissue-engineered medical products, we employed the use of five state-of-the-art measurement technologies to measure a series of DNA biomarkers in commercially available tissue-engineered skin as a model. DNA was extracted from the skin and compared with DNA from cultured human neonatal control cells (dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes) and adult human fibroblasts from a 55-year-old donor and a 96-year-old donor. To determine whether tissue engineering caused oxidative DNA damage, gas chromatography/isotope-dilution mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/isotope-dilution mass spectrometry were used to measure six oxidatively modified DNA bases as biomarkers.

Protective role of melatonin given either before ischemia or prior to reperfusion on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion damage.

Tissue injury resulting from ischemia-reperfusion is of fundamental importance. Experimental evidence suggests that the generation of reactive oxygen species is significantly responsible for this type of injury. In the present study, besides investigating the protective role of melatonin on tissue damage caused by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, the protective activity of this compound was also analyzed in both pre- and post ischemia melatonin-treated rats.

DNA base damage by the antitumor agent 3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide (tirapazamine).

Tirapazamine is a bioreductively activated DNA-damaging agent that selectively kills the hypoxic cells found in solid tumors. This compound shows clinical promise and is currently being examined in a variety of clinical trials, including several phase III studies. It is well established that DNA is an important cellular target for tirapazamine; however, the structural nature of the DNA damage inflicted by this drug remains poorly understood.

Genomic DNA of Nostoc commune (Cyanobacteria) becomes covalently modified during long-term (decades) desiccation but is protected from oxidative damage and degradation.

Genomic DNA of Nostoc commune (Cyanobacteria) became covalently modified during decades of desiccation. Amplification of gene loci from desiccated cells required pretreatment of DNA with N-phenacylthiazolium bromide, a reagent that cleaves DNA- and protein-linked advanced glycosylation end-products. DNA from 13 year desiccated cells did not show any higher levels of the commonly studied oxidatively modified DNA damage biomarkers 8-hydroxyguanine, 8-hydroxyadenine and 5-hydroxyuracil, compared to commercially available calf thymus DNA.

Stoichiometric preference in copper-promoted oxidative DNA damage by ochratoxin A.

The ability of the fungal carcinogen, ochratoxin A (OTA, 1), to facilitate copper-promoted oxidative DNA damage has been assessed using supercoiled plasmid DNA (Form I)-agarose gel electrophoresis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring (GC-MS-SIM). OTA is shown to promote oxidative cleavage of Form I DNA with optimal cleavage efficiency occurring under excess Cu(II) conditions. As the concentration of OTA was increased and present in excess of Cu(II) the cleavage was less effective.

Arabidopsis thaliana Ogg1 protein excises 8-hydroxyguanine and 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine from oxidatively damaged DNA containing multiple lesions.

A functional homologue of eukaryotic Ogg1 proteins in the model plant Arabidopsis thalianahas recently been cloned, isolated, and characterized [Garcia-Ortiz, M. V., Ariza, R.

Free radical-induced damage to DNA: mechanisms and measurement.

Free radicals are produced in cells by cellular metabolism and by exogenous agents. These species react with biomolecules in cells, including DNA. The resulting damage to DNA, which is also called oxidative damage to DNA, is implicated in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and aging.

Mass spectrometric assays for the tandem lesion 8,5'-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine in mammalian DNA.

8,5'-Cyclopurine 2'-deoxynucleosides are among the major lesions in DNA that are formed by attack of hydroxyl radical. These compounds represent a concomitant damage to both sugar and base moieties of the same nucleoside and thus can be considered tandem lesions. Because of the presence of a covalent bond between the sugar and purine moieties, these tandem lesions are not repaired by base excision repair but by nucleotide excision repair.