Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft für Toxikologische Pathologie
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Exp. Toxicol. Pathol. · Jan 2010
The age- and gender-dependent effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on rat liver.
This study aimed to investigate the age- and gender-dependent effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on the liver. ⋯ Hepatic injury associated with desflurane and sevoflurane was mild to moderate, suggesting that both agents can be safely used in routine anaesthesia procedures.
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Exp. Toxicol. Pathol. · Nov 2009
The involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis - a mechanistic hypothesis based on preclinical results from a rat model treated with gadodiamide.
The evidence for the potential involvement of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) in the pathomechanism of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a rare but serious disease occurring in patients with severe or end-stage renal failure, has grown due to recent epidemiological and preclinical research. Nevertheless there is still uncertainty with regard to the prevailing patho-physiological processes that may lead to NSF. To examine the potential mechanism of the fibrotic skin changes we applied a recently published rat model of NSF for investigations into serum markers for inflammation. ⋯ Reflecting the physiological role of osteopontin, we hypothesize that Gd release from the GBCA-complex leads to the formation of insoluble Gd-deposits subsequently eliciting a physiological response similar to that seen during dystrophic calcification, i.e. an up-regulation of osteopontin and chemoattractant cytokines. Concomitant increase in vascular permeability caused by MIP-1, TNF-alpha and VEGF may lead to extravasation of chelated Gd or Gd-deposits. The inherent persistence of the Gd-deposits may subsequently result in an overactivation of pro-inflammatory pathways progressing towards overt skin effects.
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Exp. Toxicol. Pathol. · Sep 2009
The effect of ulinastatin on the small intestine injury and mast cell degranulation in a rat model of sepsis induced by CLP.
Sepsis could be initiated by the gastrointestinal tract injury and subsequent bacterial translocation. In the present experiment, we aimed to investigate effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on the small intestinal injury and bacterial translocation in septic rats and role of mast cells degranulation in its action. ⋯ UTI can significantly ameliorate the small intestinal injury and subsequent bacterial translocation by inhibiting mast cells degranulation in septic rats.
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Exp. Toxicol. Pathol. · Jun 2008
Tetracycline-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats: effects of vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine.
Tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic employed clinically in the treatment of bacteria infections, is known to cause a number of biochemical dysfunctions and suspected to induce testicular damage to animals and humans, but there is paucity of data on its effect and mechanism of action on the male reproductive system. The present study therefore evaluates its spermatotoxic and testicular toxicity in male rats and the chemoprotective effects of Vitamin C (Vit C) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Tetracycline was administered orally at the dose level of 28.6 mg/kg body weight per day in two equal divided doses (12h interval). ⋯ Both Vit C and NAC significantly attenuated the toxic effects of tetracycline to the antioxidant and testicular marker enzymes as well as markers of oxidative stress. Collectively, the results suggest that therapeutic dose of tetracycline elicits spermatotoxic and testicular toxicity in male rats through induction of oxidative stress. The chemoprotective effects of Vit C and NAC during tetracycline treatment suggest that these antioxidants may find clinical application in cellular damage involving reactive oxygen species (ROS).
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Cigarettes are a modern and industrial form of tobacco use and obviously involve more than just tobacco. A multitude of physical processes and chemical reactions occur inside the burning zone of a cigarette. Cigarette smoke is an aerosol of liquid droplets (the particulate phase) suspended within a mixture of gases and semi-volatile compounds. ⋯ Tobacco smoke has strong biological and toxicological effects in vitro and in vivo. There is an obvious need for developing a unified and validated testing approach particularly for the assessment of additives and the evaluation of new potentially reduced exposure products (PREPs). This paper gives a comprehensive overview of cigarette design, the composition and toxicity testing of smoke, and the way machines and people smoke - with links to the more detailed literature.