PURPOSE To understand better the cell and molecular basis for the epidemiologic association between cigarette smoke, oxidant injury, and age-associated macular degeneration, the authors examined the effects of acrolein, a major toxicant in cigarette smoke, on oxidative mitochondrial damage in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the reduction of this damage by lipoic acid. METHODS Cultu...

The dopamine D1 receptors (D1R), expressed in renal proximal tubules, participate in the regulation of sodium transport. A defect in the coupling of the D1R to its G protein/effector complex in renal tubules has been reported in various conditions associated with oxidative stress. Because G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are known to play an important role in D1R desensitization, we te...

Ubiquinone and alpha-lipoic acid are natural constituents which are involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism. Their bioenergetic activities require redox-cycling. In the case of alpha-lipoic acid redox-cycling leads to dihydrolipoic acid which occurs in multienzyme complexes involved in the citric acid cycle while UQ recycles through semi- and divalently reduced ubiquinones in the respirator...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of alpha-lipoic acid on superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase activity as well as on the expression of kinin B1 and B2 receptors in key organs of obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats. METHODS Superoxide anion production was measured by lucigenin chemiluminescence. Kinin B1 and B2 receptors expression was measured at protein and mRNA levels by western bl...

Effects of dietary alpha-lipoic acid on hepatic and serum lipid concentrations and the activity and mRNA levels of lipogenic enzymes were examined in rats. Rats were fed experimental diets containing varying amounts of lipoic acid (0, 1, 2.5, 5 g/kg) for 21 d. Lipoic acid profoundly decreased serum and liver concentrations of TAG, and also lowered serum concentrations of phospholipid and NEFA, ...

abstract background and objective: snake venom is a complex of several toxic elements and enzymes. it has the agents with the ability to destroy cellular and subcellular membrane and to bring about hemolysis of red blood cells (rbc). two types of direct and indirect hemolytic activity are known in snake venom in that phospholipase a2 is responsible for the indirect lysis. the aim of this study ...

Objective: Premature uterine contractions represent one of the major symptoms related to preterm labor. So far, primary prevention of preterm labor is based on the early identification of symptoms and on pharmacological treatments which are prone of several secondary effects. In this double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, the efficacy of a supplementation of magnesium and alpha-l...

We have shown that diabetes-induced reduction in endoneurial blood flow (EBF) and impaired endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation precede slowing of motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and decreased sciatic nerve Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activity. Furthermore, vascular dysfunction was accompanied by an accumulation of superoxide in arterioles that provide circulation to the sciatic nerve. In the...