Objective
The objective of this study was to investigate whether histamine H4 receptor (H4R) antagonists could prevent experimental periodontitis (EP)‐induced histological, functional and ...inflammatory alterations in submandibular gland (SMG), periodontal bone and gingiva.
Methods
Bilateral EP was induced for 2 weeks in anaesthetized male rats. The effect of systemic and local administration of H4R antagonists (JNJ7777120, JNJ10191584) on histopathology and functionality of SMG, bone loss and gingival inflammation was evaluated.
Results
The subcutaneous administration of JNJ7777120 prevented periodontitis‐induced SMG histological injury, reducing vacuolization and apoptosis and additionally reversed the increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in SMG while it partially reversed the methacholine‐induced salivation reduction produced by periodontitis. JNJ7777120 attenuated bone loss and the increased PGE2 levels and inflammatory infiltration in gingival tissue of rats with periodontitis. Finally, local administration of JNJ7777120 and JNJ10191584 was also beneficial for improving periodontal parameters.
Conclusions
H4 receptor antagonists are able to ameliorate periodontitis‐induced injury on SMG, gingival tissue and bone structure, suggesting that pharmacological targeting of H4R could be an attractive strategy to improve periodontal health.
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the potential protective effect of histamine on Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced hepatic and cardiac toxicity in different rodent species and in a triple-negative ...breast tumor-bearing mice model. Male Sprague Dawley rats and Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: control (received saline), histamine (5 mg/kg for rats and 1 mg/kg for mice, daily subcutaneous injection starting 24 h before treatment with Dox), Dox (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneally injected three times a week for 2 weeks) and Dox+histamine (received both treatments). Tissue toxicity was evaluated by histopathological studies and oxidative stress and biochemical parameters. The combined effect of histamine and Dox was also investigated in vitro and in vivo in human MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer model. Heart and liver of Dox-treated animals displayed severe histological damage, loss of tissue weight, increased TBARS levels and DNA damage along with an augment in serum creatine kinase-myocardial band. Pretreatment with histamine prevented Dox-induced tissue events producing a significant preservation of the integrity of both rat and mouse myocardium and liver, through the reduction of Dox-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Histamine treatment preserved anti-tumor activity of Dox, exhibiting differential cytotoxicity and increasing the Dox-induced inhibition of breast tumor growth. Findings provide preclinical evidence indicating that histamine could be a promising candidate as a selective cytoprotective agent for the treatment of Dox-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity, and encourage the translation to clinical practice.
This study describes the in vivo response of rat testes to acute iron overload. Male Wistar rats (250–300 g) were injected ip with iron dextran at doses of 250 (Fe250), 500 (Fe500), or 1000 mg/kg ...body wt (Fe1000) or with saline (C). Parameters of oxidative stress and iron toxicity were measured 20 h after injection. Total iron content was 3.5-, 5.3-, and 10.4-fold higher in the Fe250, Fe500, and Fe1000 groups, respectively, compared to controls (320 ± 22 nmol/g tissue). Histological studies showed that: (a) iron accumulated in the sperm and other testes cells, and (b) spermatogenesis was markedly lower in the Fe1000 group. The concentration of α-tocopherol, ubiquinol-9, and ubiquinol-10 in the testes was inversely correlated with the extent of oxidation. Testes chemiluminescence was 45% higher in the Fe1000 group compared to controls (41 cps/cm2). Endogenous levels of lipid oxidation, evaluated as 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, were 46, 73, and 82% higher in the groups Fe250, Fe500, and Fe1000, respectively, than in controls (33.6 ± 1.4 nmol/g tissue). Oxidative damage to DNA evaluated by the presence of 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (oxo8dG), was 26, 39, and 74% higher in the Fe250, Fe500, and Fe1000 groups, respectively, than in the C group (2.3 ± 0.1 oxo8dG/105dG). Protein oxidation was measured as protein thiols and carbonyl content in proteins and glutamine synthase activity. Protein thiols content and glutamine synthase activity were similar in all the groups, while the protein-associated carbonyls content was 96% higher in the Fe1000 group than in the C group (2.1 ± 0.4 nmol/mg protein). No changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were observed. The results showed that in vivo iron overload induced oxidative stress and the impairment of spermatogenesis in rat testes that were dependent on the amount of iron supplemented and its accumulation in the tissue.
Portal hypertension is a major complication of human cirrhosis that frequently leads to central nervous system dysfunction. In our study, rats with prehepatic portal hypertension developed ...hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction as indicated by decreased respiratory rates, respiratory control and mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS) activity in mitochondria isolated from the whole hippocampus. Succinate-dependent respiratory rates decreased by 29% in controlled state 4 and by 42% in active state 3, and respiratory control diminished by 20%. Portal hypertensive rats showed a decreased mtNOS activity of 46%. Hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with ultrastructural damage in the mitochondria of hippocampal astrocytes and endothelial cells. Swollen mitochondria, loss of cristae and rupture of outer and inner membrane was observed in astrocytes and endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier in parallel with the ammonia gradient. It is concluded that the moderate increase in plasma ammonia that followed portal hypertension was the potential primary cause of the observed alterations.
This investigation aimed to assess whether the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) could abolish the protection conferred by fasting and ischemic ...preconditioning (IPC) and to ascertain whether these effects are associated with glycogen breakdown and glycolytic activity. Langendorff perfused hearts of fed and 24-h fasted rats were exposed to 25 min ischemia plus 30 min reperfusion. IPC was achieved by a 3 min ischemia plus a 5 min reperfusion cycle. 5-HD (100 microM) perfusion begun 5 min before IPC or 13 min before sustained ischemia in the non preconditioned groups. Fasting improved the reperfusion recovery of contraction, decreased the contracture and the lactate production, increased glycogenolysis and did not affect the percentage of viable tissue. 5-HD abolished the effects of fasting on the contractile recovery but did not affect the contracture. 5-HD decreased the lactate production in the fed group, increased the preischemic glycogen content in both nutritional groups and did not affect the ischemic glycogen fall. IPC improved the contractile function but prevented the contracture only in the fed group, reduced lactate accumulation and glycogenolysis and evoked an increase of the viable tissue. 5-HD abolished the effects of IPC on the contractile recovery and did not affect its effect on the contracture, lactate production, glycogenolysis and viable tissue. These data suggest that the mitocondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel is involved in the effects of fasting and IPC on the contractile function but the other cardioprotective and metabolic effects appear evoked through other mechanisms. Also suggest that besides the inhibition of the mitochondrial potassium channel, other mechanisms mediate the effects of 5-HD.
This investigation aimed to assess whether the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener diazoxide could reproduce the protection conferred by ischemic preconditioning and to ascertain ...whether its effects are associated with changes in glycogen breakdown and glycolytic activity. Hearts of fed and 24-h fasted rats were perfused with 10 mM glucose containing medium and exposed to 25 min no-flow ischemia plus 30 min reperfusion. Diazoxide (10 microM) perfusion was begun 10 min before ischemia and continued throughout the experiment. Fasting accelerated reperfusion recovery of contraction, reduced the post-ischemic contracture and decreased lactate accumulation during ischemia but had no effects on glycogen levels and cellular viability. Diazoxide, did not affect glycogen catabolism but improved reperfusion recovery of contraction. Furthermore, diazoxide reduced ischemic lactate accumulation and contracture amplitude only in the fed group whereas it improved cell viability in the fed and fasted groups. These data indicate that: 1) reduced lactate production which may attenuate myocyte acidification might explain, at least in part, the beneficial effects of diazoxide on mechanical function, although data obtained with the fasted rat hearts indicate that other mechanisms must be involved as well; 2) the reduction of lactate production occurring in the fed group, does not seem to be related to glycogenolysis; and 3) since diazoxide improved cell viability in the fasted rat group where it did not reduce glycolytic activity, other mechanisms may be responsible for this cytoprotective effect.
The uridin-diphosphoglucuronyl-transferase (UDP-GT) is a membrane-bound enzyme responsible for glucuronidation of endogenous and exogenous compounds. This work established the UDP-GT activity and its ...lipid membrane microenvironment in two experimental models: acute paracetamol intoxication, and cholestasis followed by acute paracetamol intoxication. Cholestasis was performed by bile duct ligation. After 7 days animals were injected with paracetamol (BDL-APAP group). Sham-operated rats were injected at day 7 with paracetamol (APAP group). Cholestatic and sham-operated rats injected with vehicle (BDL and control groups). UDP-GT activity was measured by a kinetic method for different substrates. Microsomal membrane phospholipid composition, cholesterol content and ultrastructure were determined. BDL-APAP group showed an increment in the UDP-GT activity except for chloramphenicol, morphine and paracetamol if compared to controls and to BDL group. The same increment was observed when BDL-APAP was compared to APAP except for chloramphenicol and lorazepam. Between BDL and APAP groups similar levels of activity were detected except for paracetamol. Microsomal phospholipid profile: phosphatidylcholine showed the lowest content in the BDL group, with a significant recovery in the BDL-APAP and APAP groups. Phosphatidylserine was markedly decreased in the APAP group compared to the rest and phosphatidylinositol was decreased in all the groups if compared to control values. An increment of phosphatidylethanolamine was seen in the APAP and BDL-APAP groups if compared to BDL and control values. A significant increment of microsomal cholesterol content was seen in BDL. Under these conditions, a different lipid microenvironment is produced, resulting in an increment of the enzyme activity for a variety of substrates.
Pathophysiology of Portal Hypertension Perazzo, JC; Romay, Salvador; Eizayaga, Francisco
Chronic Liver Disease: From Molecular Biology to Therapy,
2016
Book Chapter