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Serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aging. Our aim of the study was to investigate whether there were any associations between serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities with regular exercise during aging.Two hundred male rats divided into 8 groups consisting; 3, 6, 9, 12 months treadmill exercise groups and a control group for each treadmill exercise groups (n=25). Rats in all test groups, were run on a treadmill for 60 min/d at a speed of 22 m/min 7 degree slope 6 times a week.Mean levels of arylesterase were (101.35±19.43, 112.88±16.77, 105.99±22.91, and 113.03±14.98) in 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of exercise groups and these amounts were (87.05±18.90, 90.40±17.91, 90.98±22.54, and 102.00±18.91) for control groups. Mean levels of paraoxonase were (135.02±18.87, 142.06±12.52, 144.34±18.38, and 132.83±25.32) in 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of exercise groups and these amounts were (118.93±23.76, 133.67±8.83, 120.12±2068, and 121.22±9.72) for control groups.Serum arylesterase levels were significantly increased in animals of exercise compared with control groups during increasing of age (P=0.04, 0.00, 0.04, and 0.03). Serum paraoxonase levels were significantly increased in animals of exercise compared with control groups during increasing of age (P=0.03, 0.03, 0.00, and 0.04). To our knowledge this is the first study in which the effect of treadmill exercise is shown on serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities during aging. Mild-intensity treadmill exercise increases significantly serum Arylesterase and Paraoxonase in test groups compared with control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune system and the nervous system maintain extensive communication. Sensory innervation plays a vital role in normal wound healing. In the present study, we performed corpus callosotomy to evaluate the role of corpus callosum on brain laterality and the influence of brain laterality on wound healing in dominant and nondominant sides of the body in rats. After detecting the cerebral laterality by T-maze, 200 young male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups. In the control group, rats underwent wounding, but no craniotomy and callosotomy. In the sham group, rats underwent wounding and craniotomy without callosotomy. In the operation group, wounding was performed with craniotomy and callosotomy. The length and the inflammatory cell count of the created wound in both sides of the body in same days were measured and analyzed statistically. Wound healing took significantly shorter in dominant side in comparison with nondominant side of body in control and sham groups (P=0.010, 0.031, 0.029, and 0.036). In the operation group, there was no significant difference of complete wound healing between dominant and nondominant sides of the body (P=0.875, 0.604). Inflammatory cell count showed no statistically significant difference between groups (P>0.05). Taken together, our results constitute an endorsement to the hypothesis that brain laterality has a meaningful influence on wound healing in different sides of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin is known as a potent natural antioxidant, which is synthesized from Tryptophan in the pineal gland. Serotonin N-acetyl transferase enzyme is the basic and rate-limiting factor in melatonin biosynthesis. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the sympathomimetic drug effect of secreted melatonin in experimental injuries of the rat spinal cord. Forty-eight male Wistar male rats with a mean weight of 250 to 300 g were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. In the first (control) group, laminectomy and drug (isoproterenol) injection was not performed. In the second group, only laminectomy was performed. In the third group, laminectomy and drug injection without spinal cord trauma was performed. In the fourth group, laminectomy and spinal cord trauma was performed without drug injection. In the fifth group, after laminectomy and spinal cord trauma, normal saline was injected. In the sixth group, after laminectomy and spinal cord trauma, drug was injected 2 times. Blood melatonin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. -SH groups, malondialdehyde, and 8-0HdG were measured. Deoxyribonucleic acid damage, -SH groups, malondialdehyde, and melatonin level comparison between laminectomy+trauma and laminectomy+trauma+drug groups showed meaningful differences (P=0.01, 0.01, and <0.001). The results of this study suggest that isoproterenol can decrease deoxyribonucleic acid, protein, and lipid damage in spinal cord trauma by increasing the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nephrotoxicity side effect of the immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporine A (CsA), can be a major issue in transplantation medicine. Cyclosporine A-induced nephrotoxicity is multifactorial but oxidative stress has a critical role in this process. It has been demonstrated that Valsartan (Val) as an angiotensin receptor blocker has renoprotective effects, but the molecular mechanisms responsible for the renal protection, independent from its blood pressure lowering effect, have not yet been fully understood. The present study is aim at evaluating the Val effect in alleviation of CsA nephrotoxicity by probable increase in renal Klotho expression and/or reducing oxidative stress., Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups based on the administration of CsA and/or Val: group A (control, 1 mL/kg per day of olive oil as vehicle), group B (CsA, 30 mg/kg per day), group C (CsA + Val, 30 + 30 mg/kg per day), and group D (Val, 30 mg/kg per day). Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to evaluate Renal Klotho expression. Serum Klotho level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 8-Hydroxy-deoxy guanosine and malondialdehyde levels as markers of oxidative stress were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometrically, respectively., Results: Cyclosporine A treatment reduced renal expression and serum levels of Klotho, improved malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-deoxy guanosine levels, and also deteriorated renal function. Valsartan prevented CsA-induced oxidative stress as well as Klotho downregulation and could alleviate CsA-induced renal histological changes and function., Conclusions: Administration of Val might lead to amelioration of CsA nephrotoxicity by probably diminishing CsA-induced renal Klotho downregulation and oxidative stress.

Purpose: Disequilibrium between oxidative stress and antioxidant levels has been proposed as an important case of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of the present study was to investigate homocysteine (Hcy) level and antioxidant paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity within its phenotypes together with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) levels in the patients with exudative AMD., Methods: Serum PON1 activity and plasma Hcy and OX-LDL levels were analyzed in 45 exudative AMD patients and compared with 45 healthy controls. Paraoxonase 1 activity was measured in serum using paraoxon and phenylacetate as substrates. The PON1 phenotype was determined using double-substrate method. Homocysteine and OX-LDL levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method., Results: The distribution of PON1 phenotypes was significantly different between the patients with exudative AMD and control subjects (chi-square = 6.17, P = 0.01). AA phenotype with low activity was significantly more frequent in exudative AMD patients compared with healthy subjects (62.2% vs. 35.6%, respectively). Other phenotype frequencies in the patients compared with controls were as AB phenotype (intermediate activity) 28.9% versus 46.7% and BB phenotype (high activity) 8.9% versus 17.8%, respectively. Except in BB phenotype (P = 0.2), patients with AA and AB phenotypes had higher plasma Hcy levels in comparison to those of controls (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively). The mean OX-LDL levels, in all 3 phenotypes (P < 0.05), and OX-LDL/high-density lipoprotein ratio, in AA and AB phenotypes (P = 0.001, P = 0.1, respectively) but not in BB (P = 0.1), were significantly higher in the patients than controls. No significant differences in comparison of Hcy and OX-LDL levels between 3 PON1 phenotypes in both control (P = 0.6 for Hcy, P = 0.7 for OX-LDL) and patients (P = 0.8 for Hcy, P = 0.6 for OX-LDL) were found, Conclusion: Increased plasma OX-LDL levels and ratios of OX-LDL/high-density lipoprotein, as biomarkers of lipoprotein oxidative stress, higher levels of Hcy, as oxidant agent, and more common low or intermediate PON1 activity in patients with exudative AMD, compared with controls, indicate that PON1 activity is insufficient to explain the increased oxidative stress observed in exudative AMD.