The role of resistin on metabolic syndrome-induced erectile dysfunction and the possible therapeutic effect of Boldine.

Background: Resistin is known as a potential mediator of obesity-associated insulin resistance. The high resistin level disrupts nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation which is also important in erectile function. An antioxidant alkaloid, Boldine, is known as anti-diabetic and protects endothelial functions.

Effects of resveratrol on the alterations of cavernosal eNOS and LOX-1 expression in the hypercholesterolemic condition: a preliminary study.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of resveratrol on the alterations of cavernosal eNOS and LOX-1 mRNA expression in the hypercholesterolemic condition.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one New Zealand white male rabbits were separated into three groups. Rabbits were fed with a normal dietary intake for the control group and a 2% cholesterol diet for the hypercholesterolemia and resveratrol groups for 6 weeks.

A New Application Route of Nitrofurantoin: Preparation and Characterization of Novel Transdermal Formulations.

Objectives: Nitrofurantoin is widely used in the prophylaxis of urinary-tract infections. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize innovative transdermal formulations of nitrofurantoin, to increase the patient compliance and decrease the adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting which limit the drug use in long-term.

Methods: Nitrofurantoin loaded microemulsion, gel (hydrogel, lipogel and DMSO gel) and film formulations were prepared and characterized via several parameters.

Resveratrol Protects and Restores Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbit Corpus Cavernosum.

Introduction: Oxidative stress dependent-decrease in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability plays an integral role in hypercholesterolemia-induced erectile dysfunction (ED). Resveratrol has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects against oxidative stress and improve NO bioavailability.

Aim: The protective and restorative potentials of resveratrol on endothelium-dependent relaxations were evaluated in hypercholesterolemic rabbit corpus cavernosum (CC).

The Role of Rac1 on Carbachol-induced Contractile Activity in Detrusor Smooth Muscle from Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats.

This study was designed to determine the role of the small GTPase Rac1 on carbachol-induced contractile activity in detrusor smooth muscle using small inhibitor NSC 23766 in diabetic rats. Rac1 expression in bladder tissue was also evaluated. In the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model, three study groups were composed of control, diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic subjects.

Intra-amniotic administration of urinary trypsin inhibitor preserves intestinal contractility in meconium induced intestinal damage in chick embryos with gastroschisis.

Background: Intestinal damage causes intestinal dysmotility in gastroschisis. Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) has been shown to prevent intestinal damage in chick embryos with gastroschisis. The effect of intra-amniotic administration of UTI on intestinal motility in gastroschisis has not been investigated.

Rational pharmacotherapy training for fourth-year medical students.

Objectives: In this study we aimed to evaluate the impact of Rational Pharmacotherapy (RPT) course program, reinforced by video footages, on the rational pharmacotherapy skills of the students.

Materials And Methods: RPT course program has been conducted in Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine since 2008/9. The course has been organised in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO) Good Prescribing Guide.

A study on the protective activity of kefir against gastric ulcer.

Background/aims: The effect of kefir on peptic ulcer disease was evaluated in an experimental model, with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, together with the determination of gastric mucus secretion by quantitative digital histochemistry.

Materials And Methods: The experimental group included 28 male albino Wistar rats. After a diet with standard rat bait for 7 days, 14 rats were fed with kefir for 7 days while the others were kept on the same diet.

Could decitabine treatment impair memory functions in humans?

The role of epigenetic mechanisms in cognitive functions and neurological/psychiatric disorders has been studied in a number of studies recently. One of these mechanisms is DNA methylation, for which DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) are responsible. Decitabine, or 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, is a cytosine-analog DNMT inhibitor and is used in the treatment of certain myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) subsets.

Investigation of the neural target level of hyperthyroidism in premature ejaculation in a rat model of pharmacologically induced ejaculation.

Introduction: Association between hyperthyroidism and premature ejaculation was demonstrated in clinical studies.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the target level of changes on ejaculatory physiology under hyperthyroid states.

Methods: p-Chloroamphetamine (PCA)-induced pharmacologic ejaculation model with 24 male Wistar rats was used in the study.

Acute effects of hypercholesterolemic diet on erectile responses in rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a high cholesterol diet (HCD) on erectile and endothelial functions in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Materials And Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups as control and HCD groups. The control group was fed on a normal diet and the hypercholesterolemia group was fed a 1% cholesterol-enriched diet daily for 2 weeks.

Contractility of diabetic human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in response to serotonin mediated via Rho-kinase.

Background/aims: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-induced contraction and the involvement of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the 5-HT-induced contraction was investigated isometrically in vitro in both diabetic and nondiabetic human corpus cavernosum (HCC) tissues.

Methods: HCC tissues were obtained from 12 patients. The response to 5-HT (10(-9) to 10(-5) mol/l) was studied in isolated HCC tissues in the absence and in the presence of a Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632).

Does adenosine A(1) receptor stimulation causes QRS prolongation by blocking beta adrenergic receptors in amitriptyline poisoning?

Aims: To investigate the role of beta receptor blockade via adenosine A(1) receptor stimulation on amitriptyline-induced QRS prolongation.

Methods: Isolated rat hearts were randomized into three groups (n=8 for each group). After pretreatment with 5% dextrose (control) or DPCPX (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine), or propranolol + DPCPX, amitriptyline infusion was given to all groups.

Restraint stress impairs erectile responses in rats.

It has been established that various forms of physical and psychological stress reduce sexual functions. However, there is no study yet evaluating the functional changes over cavernosal pressure in rats exposed to restraint stress. In this study, we aimed to investigate the convenience of the restraint stress model that may be used to determine the disruptive effects of stress on erectile function.

An experimental approach to the interrelationship between hyperthyroidism and ejaculation latency time in male rats.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of experimentally induced hyperthyroidism on seminal vesicle pressure measurements and bulbospongiosus muscle contractile activity in a para-chloroamphetamine (Sigma-Aldrich) induced ejaculation model in rats.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were used in the study. Daily injection of 25 microg/100 gm body weight L-thyroxine (T4, Sigma-Aldrich) for 14 days was performed in 14 rats to induce hyperthyroidism.

Effects of partial bladder outlet obstruction on contraction and relaxation response of rabbit corpus cavernosum.

It has been well established that erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common incident in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. Animal models have been described to investigate the relationship between bladder obstruction and ED. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) induces changes in the contraction and relaxation response of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) of the penis in the rabbit model.

Effects of adenosine receptor antagonists on amitriptyline-induced QRS prolongation in isolated rat hearts.

Objective: We investigated the effects of adenosine receptor antagonists on amitriptyline-induced cardiotoxicity in isolated rat hearts.

Methods: The amitriptyline concentrations that prolonged the QRS duration more than 150% (10(-4) M) and 50-75% (5.5 x 10(-5) M) were accepted as the control groups for two experimental protocols, respectively.

[Quantification of papain-induced rat osteoarthritis in relation to time with the Mankin score].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate structural changes in relation to time with the use of the Mankin scoring system in papain-induced rat osteoarthritis.

Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced in 21 male Wistar rats by injecting an admixture of 4% papain (10 microl) and its activator 0.03 M cycteine (10 microl) into the right knee joints on the first, fourth, and seventh days.

Effects of adenosine receptor antagonists on amitriptyline-induced vasodilation in rat isolated aorta.

Background: Although we have previously demonstrated the beneficial effects of adenosine receptor antagonists in preventing cardiovascular toxicity of amitriptyline in rats, it is not clear whether adenosine receptors in heart or in vasculature are dominant. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of adenosine A(2a) receptors on amitriptyline-induced vasodilation in rat isolated aorta.

Methods: After determining EC(80) of noradrenalin (NA) (the concentration of noradrenalin that produces 80% of maximal contractile response) as 10(-5)M, the IC(50) value of amitriptyline was measured in rat isolated aorta (the drug concentration causing a half- maximal inhibition of contractile responses to NA); IC(50) of amitriptyline was then compared in the presence of the DPCPX (a selective adenosine A(1) antagonist), CSC (a selective A(2a) antagonist) or DMSO (a solvent for adenosine antagonists).

The effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on rat gastric mucosa. The role of endothelin.

Objective: To investigate the role of endothelin on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) enzyme inhibitors-induced effects on the gastric mucosa.

Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey during the period January to December 2002. In the first group a cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) and COX2 enzyme inhibitor, indomethacin (25 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection (s.

Effect of doxazosin with and without rho-kinase inhibitor on human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in the presence of bladder outlet obstruction.

Purpose: We investigated the relationship of adrenergic responses in corpus cavernosum tissues in the presence of BOO using the alpha1-adrenergic receptor antagonist doxazosin (Pfizer, New York, New York) and the rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (Calbiochem, San Diego, California).

Materials And Methods: CCSM tissue was obtained from patients who underwent penile prosthesis implantation. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of BOO.

In vitro analysis of the effect of hyperbilirubinemia on rabbit ureter and bladder.

Spontaneous resolution of intrauterine pelvic dilatations after birth is an expected outcome. In nonobstructive pelvic dilatations, changes in ureteral and bladder physiology may also play a part. We aimed to demonstrate the effect of increased concentrations of bilirubin on ureteral and bladder muscles in vitro.

The effects of non-selective and cyclooxygenase-2-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on heterotopic ossification in rats.

Background: Review of the literature revealed several experimental studies on the effects of selective COX-2 inhibitors on fracture healing, but no reports were encountered regarding the effects of these compounds on experimental heterotopic bone formation, so the present study was conducted.

Material/methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of ten animals each. Tibial and femoral bones were collected from the rats, cleaned and demineralized, and diaphyseal parts were implanted in muscle pouches created in the right gluteal region, one into each rat.

Do adenosine receptors play a role in amitriptyline-induced cardiovascular toxicity in rats?

Objective: The aim of the our study was to investigate the role of adenosine receptors on cardiovascular toxicity induced by amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant agent. Therefore, the hypothesis of this study was that adenosine receptor antagonists would improve and/or prevent amitriptyline-induced hypotension and conduction abnormalities in an anesthetized rat model of amitriptyline intoxication.

Methods: Two separate experimental protocols were performed.