Diuretic and hipotensive activity of aqueous extract of parsley seeds (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm.) in rats

A espécie vegetal, Petroselinum sativum Hoff, conhecida como salsa, é amplamente utilizada na medicina popular brasileira como diurético. O objetivo desse estudo é verificar se o uso brasileiro do extrato aquoso da salsa tem efeitos semelhantes com investigações que mostram o efeito diurético da P. sativum em ratos. MÉTODOS: 19 Ratos foram anestesiados e canulamos a traquéia, artéria carótida esquerda (para a medição da pressão arterial) e bexiga urinária (para coletar urina). Depois de 40 minutos para adaptação das condições cirúrgicas, ratos anestesiados foram administrados de acordo com seus grupos: controle (CON), administração oral com 1.0 mL de água filtrada, e grupo tratado (AE), administração oral com extrato aquoso de sementes de salsa 20% (AE). Urina foi coletada três vezes (de 30 em 30 minutos) e então esse material foi utilizado para determinações de sódio e potássio, para avaliar a quantidade excretada desses íons. Pressão arterial foi medida pelo manômetro de mercúrio por 9 vezes. Todos os dados foram estatisticamente avaliados. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÃO: nos parâmetros anestesiados, o grupo CON não mostrou nenhuma diferença; mas o grupo AE mostrou um aumento do fluxo urinário e da quantidade excretada de sódio e potássio, e também uma diminuição da pressão arterial. Todos os parâmetros apresentaram essas modificações após 30 minutos de administração do AE (p<0,05). Esses resultados mostram que o tratamento com o AE leva a efeitos natriurético e hipotensor em ratos Wistar anestesiados, confirmando o uso da população brasileira dessa erva como diurético.

Role of the adrenergic pathways of the lateral hypothalamus on water intake and pressor response induced by the cholinergic activation of the medial septal area in rats

In the present experiments, we investigated a possible involvement of noradrenergic receptors of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) in the water intake and pressor response induced by cholinergic stimulation of the medial septal area (MSA) in rats. The cholinergic agonist carbachol (2 nmol) injected into the MSA induced water intake and pressor response. The injection of an α2-adrenergic agonist, clonidine (20 and 40 nmol), but not of an α1-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine (80 and 160 nmol), into the LH inhibits the water intake induced by carbachol injected into the MSA. The injection of clonidine or phenylephrine into the LH produced no change in the MAP increase induced by carbachol injected into the MSA. The present results suggest that adrenergic pathways involving the LH are important for the water intake, but not for the pressor response, induced by cholinergic activation of the MSA. © 1994.

Cutaneous healing after topical application of nebacetin and gingilone to infected wounds. Clinical and histological study in rats

It was performed a study to examine the cutaneous cicatrization of infected wound of skin after daily topic application of Nebacetin and Gingilone. Following clinical observations the animals were sacrificed after 4, 10 and 17 post-operative days. The pieces were treated, analyzed, in an optical microscope. The topic application of Nebacetin showed to be more efficient in the epithelial reparation comparatively to the Gingilone and control group.

Pressor mechanisms in adriamycin-induced nephropathy with hypertension in rats

We explored the role of angiotensin II and vasopressin in the maintenance of blood pressure during the nephrotic syndrome of adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats. All 91 rats treated with adriamycin developed chronic renal failure with nephrotic syndrome, which was more pronounced in the normotensive rats than the 35% who became hypertensive. Angiotensin II blockade with DuP 753 produced a significantly greater hypotensive response in both the adriamycin-hypertensive (-16 +/- 3 mm Hg) and adriamycin-normotensive (-14 +/- 5 mm Hg) groups than the saline-treated controls (-5 +/- 1 mm Hg, P < .05). Vasopressin blockade with either a V1V2 inhibitor or a selective V1 inhibitor produced a hypotensive response in adriamycin-hypertensive rats only (by -16 +/- 4 and -17 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively, P < .01), although the nonselective vasopressin inhibitor produced similar fluid loss and body weight reduction in all three groups. The data suggest that in adriamycin-induced nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome, angiotensin II contributes to blood pressure maintenance in both hypertensive and normotensive animals, whereas the pressor action of vasopressin contributes to elevated blood pressure in hypertensive animals only.

Aggravation of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased SIRT1 activity in rats

Chronic alcohol intake decreases adiponectin and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expressions, both of which have been implicated in various biological processes including inflammation, apoptosis and metabolism. We have previously shown that moderate consumption of alcohol aggravates liver inflammation and apoptosis in rats with pre-existing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study investigated whether moderate alcohol intake alters SIRT1 activity, adiponectin/Adiponectin receptor (AdipoR)-related signaling and lipid metabolism in a pre-existing NASH status. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with a high-fat diet (71% energy from fat) for 6 weeks to induce NASH then subsequently divided into 2 sub-groups: fed either a modified high-fat diet (HFD, 55% energy from fat) or a modified high-fat alcoholic diet (HFA, 55% energy from fat and 16% energy from ethanol) for an additional 4 weeks. We observed in comparison to HFD group, HFA increased hepatic nuclear SIRT1 protein but decreased its deacetylase activity. SREBP-1c protein expression and FAS mRNA levels were significantly upregulated, while DGAT1/2 and CPT-I mRNA levels were downregulated in the livers of HFA compared to HFD. Although hepatic AdipoR1 decreased, HFA did not alter AdipoR2 and their downstream signaling. There were no significant changes in plasma adiponectin and free fatty acids (FFA), as well as adiponectin expression in adipose tissue between the two groups. The present study indicates that suppression in SIRT1 deacetylase activity contributes to alcohol-exacerbated hepatic inflammation and apoptosis in rats with pre-existing NASH. In addition, moderate alcohol intake did not modulate adiponectin/AdipoR signaling axis in this model.

Use of a new fibrin sealant and laser irradiation in the repair of skull defects in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of inhaling cymbopogon martinii essential oil and geraniol on serum biochemistry parameters and oxidative stress in rats

The effects of the inhalation of Cymbopogon martinii essential oil (EO) and geraniol on Wistar rats were evaluated for biochemical parameters and hepatic oxidative stress. Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 8): G1 was control group, treated with saline solution; G2 received geraniol; and G3 received C. martinii EO by inhalation during 30 days. No significant differences were observed in glycemia and triacylglycerol levels; G2 and G3 decreased (P < 0.05) total cholesterol level. There were no differences in serum protein, urea, aspartate aminotransferase activity, and total hepatic protein. Creatinine levels increased in G2 but decreased in G3. Alanine aminotransferase activity and lipid hydroperoxide were higher in G2 than in G3. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were higher in G3. C. martinii EO and geraniol increased glutathione peroxidase. Oxidative stress caused by geraniol may have triggered some degree of hepatic toxicity, as verified by the increase in serum creatinine and alanine aminotransferase. Therefore, the beneficial effects of EO on oxidative stress can prevent the toxicity in the liver. This proves possible interactions between geraniol and numerous chemical compounds present in C. martinii EO.

Effect of himatanthus sucuuba in maternal reproductive outcome and fetal anomaly frequency in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ischemic postconditioning and subanesthetic S(+)-Ketamine infusion: effects on renal function and histology in rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Amoxicillin diminishes the thickness of the enamel matrix that is deposited during the secretory stage in rats

The use of amoxicillin during early childhood has been associated with molar incisor hypomineralization. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of amoxicillin interferes with enamel development, during secretion and early mineralization stages. Fifteen pregnant rats were randomly assigned to three groups that received physiological solution (sham group), 100 mg/kg/day amoxicillin (A100G), and 500 mg/kg/day amoxicillin (A500G). After birth, the pups in each group received the same treatment until post-natal day 7 or 12. The upper first molars were analyzed histomorphometrical and immunostaining with amelogenin on day 7, and MMP-20 on day 12 was performed using a semiquantitative method (H-score). At 7 days, several vacuolar structures were observed in the ameloblasts in the A100G and A500G groups. A significant reduction of the enamel thickness (P < 0.001) was found in amoxicillin-treated rats compared with the sham group. Significant differences were not observed in enamel thickness (P > 0.05) between the groups of 12-day-old rats. Moreover, significant differences were not observed in the number of amelogenin- and MMP-20-immunolabeled ameloblasts (P > 0.05) between groups. The present results suggest that amoxicillin interferes with the initial stages of amelogenesis by causing structural changes in the ameloblasts and a reduction of the enamel matrix.

Cimetidine-induced Leydig cell apoptosis and reduced EG-VEGF (PK-1) immunoexpression in rats: evidence for the testicular vasculature atrophy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Alternate current biosusceptometry for the assessment of gastric motility after proximal gastrectomy in rats: a feasibility study

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Extended periods of alcohol intake negatively affects osseointegration in rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses in rats with polycystic ovaries

In female rats, a single injection of estradiol valerate (EV) results in effects that are similar to those observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We hypothesized that EV-induced PCOS affects breathing control based on evidence showing an influence of sex hormones on ventilation. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of EV treatment on the ventilation of female rats in air, in 7% CO2 and in 7% O2, at 30, 45 and 60 days after EV injection. The group examined 30 days after EV treatment showed a 61% reduction in the hypercapnic ventilatory response compared to the control group. Basal ventilation, hypoxic ventilatory response, and body temperature were not affected. These results, suggest that the hormonal changes observed in PCOS may result in a temporary inhibition of the central chemoreflex but do not influence basal ventilation or the hypoxic peripheral chemoreflex.

Mechanisms involved in reproductive damage caused by gossypol in rats and protective effects of vitamin E

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)