BACKGROUND Sperm chromatin status and nuclear DNA damage can be detected using well-established assays. However, most techniques are time-consuming and/or involve elaborate protocols and equipment. We have recently developed a simple and fast method to monitor sperm chromatin status in field conditions using the Diff-Quik assay which is employed in fertility clinics to assess sperm morphology w...

BACKGROUND It is well known that diabetes mellitus is associated with impairment of testicular function. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the effect of melatonin on testicular damage in male rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. METHODS Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) control group, (2) melatonin-treated nondiabetic group, (3) diabetic group and (4) me...

AIMS To evaluate the changes of morphological and functional characteristics of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid perfusion culture during cultivation. METHODS PorcineRPE-choroid tissue was cultivated in a perfusion tissue culture system. After the indicated times, histology, immunolocalization of collagen IV and von Willebrand factor, RPE cell viability with calcein-AM, TUNEL assa...

AIM To explore the possible mechanism of the ginsenoside Rg1 in protecting substantia nigra neurons from 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced apoptosis in C57BL mice. METHODS C57BL male mice were given with MPTP to prepare Parkinson's disease mouse model. Different doses of Rg1 (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/kg, respectively) were given 3 d prior to MPTP in the pretreatment ...

BACKGROUND Hypoxia ischemia (HI) to the developing brain occurs in 1-6 in 1000 live births. Large numbers of survivors have neurological long-term sequelae. However, mechanisms of recovery after HI are not understood and preventive measures or clinical treatments are not effective. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 is overactivated in response to ischemia. In neonatal mice HI activates PARP-1 but i...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Exogenous delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor gene (VEGF) may provide a useful approach to the treatment of brain ischemia. We investigated the use of a hypoxia-responsive element to control VEGF expression given for neuroprotection. METHODS Three groups (n=36) of mice received AAVH9-VEGF, AAVH9-lacZ, or saline injection. Five days after gene transfer, the mi...

OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the biological significance of cell cycle regulators in gastric carcinoma. METHODS Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining were performed on tissue array slides containing 293 gastric carcinoma specimens. The relationship between the protein expression of each of the cell cycle regulators and prognosis, clinicopathological features, proliferation, or apoptosi...

PURPOSE In experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), recent work has demonstrated that retinal damage involves oxidative stress early in uveitis, before macrophage cellular infiltration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether oxidative mitochondrial DNA damage occurs early in EAU, before leukocyte infiltration. METHODS Lewis rats were immunized with S-antigen mixed with complete Freu...

Anthracyclines (AC) are antitumor antibiotics with significant activity against solid and hematologic malignancies. One problem preventing more widespread use has been the development of cardiac toxicity. Experimental evidence supports oxidant stress as an important trigger and/or mediator of AC-induced cardiotoxicity (ACT). Therefore, reducing oxidant stress should be protective against ACT. T...

The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of lycopene in a mouse model of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) and the role of the Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling pathway. A total of 60 male C57BL/6 mice, aged 12 weeks and weighing 20‑24 g, were used in the present study. The mice were randomly assigned to three groups: Control, BCCAO and BCCAO + lycopene. The neurologi...