Browsing by Author "Ergul Erkec, Ozlem"

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Effects of Cichorium Intybus on Gabaa Receptors and Apoptosis in Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling in Rats
(Kare Publ, 2021) Ergul Erkec, Ozlem; Meral, Ismail; Kara, Mehmet; Esrefoglu, Mukaddes; Tok, Olgu Enis; Ustunova, Savas; Armagan, Metin
Objectives: This study was designed to determine the effects of Cichorium intybus (CI) on apoptosis and GABA(A) receptor density in the brains of rats in pentyleneterazole induced kindling. Methods: The rats were divided into three groups: Control group, pentylenetetrazol administered (PTZ) group, and PTZ+CI extract administered (PTZ+CI) group. Control group received only physiological saline (0.5 ml). PTZ (35 mg/kg) injected to the animals in the PTZ and PTZ+CI groups. The CI extract (200 mg/kg) was also administered to the PTZ+CI group. A 75 mg/kg challenge dose of PTZ was administrated to the PTZ treated groups, on the 12th injection. Results: A significant increase was found in the number of neurons expressing the GABA(A) receptor in the brain tissue (hippocampus and cerebral cortex) of the PTZ group when compared to the control. The density of GABA(A) receptor of the neurons in the cerebral cortex significantly increased in PTZ administered groups compared to the control.The number of apoptotic neurons was found non-significant between groups in the brain. Conclusion: CI treatment prolonged the onset of the first seizure activity and seizure latency at a convulsive dose, and kept the number of GABA(A) receptors close to that of the control in the hippocampus.
Effects of Exogenous Ghrelin Treatment on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Histological Parameters in a Fat-Fed Streptozotocin Rat Model
(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2025) Ergul Erkec, Ozlem; Huyut, Zubeyir; Acikgoz, Eda; Huyut, Mehmet Tahir
In this study, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and protective effects of ghrelin were investigated in a fat-fed streptozotocin (STZ) rat model and compared with metformin, diabetes and the healthy control groups. Histopathological evaluations were performed on H&E-stained pancreas and brain sections. Biochemical parameters were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood glucose levels were significantly decreased with ghrelin or metformin treatments than the diabetes group. STZ administration increased brain, renal and pancreatic IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and MDA while decreasing GPX, CAT, SOD, and NGF levels. Ghrelin increased renal GPX, CAT, NGF pancreatic GPX, SOD, CAT, NGF and brain SOD, NGF while it decreased renal, pancreatic and brain IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and MDA levels. Ghrelin reduced neuronal loss and degeneration in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and greatly ameliorated diabetes-related damage in pancreas. In conclusion, the data suggested that ghrelin is an effective candidate as a protectant for reducing the adverse effects of diabetes.
Evaluation of Repeated Ghrelin Administration on Seizures, Oxidative Stress and Neurochemical Parameters in Pentyleneterazole Induced Kindling in Rats
(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2024) Ergul Erkec, Ozlem; Yunusoglu, Oruc; Huyut, Zubeyir
Introduction: Epileptic seizures are thought to be caused by the impaired balance between excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitor [gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)] neurotransmitters in the brain. Neuropeptides have potent modulator properties on these neurotransmitters.Objective: Ghrelin exerts anticonvulsant effects in an acute pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model. However, the effect of repeated ghrelin injections in chronic pentylenetetrazole kindling model is not known. In this study, the effects of repeated ghrelin administration on seizure scores, working memory, locomotor activity, oxidative biomarkers, and neurochemical parameters in PTZ kindling in rats was examined.Methods: For this purpose, 35 mg/kg of PTZ was administered intraperitoneally to the experimental groups. The rats also received physiological saline/diazepam or ghrelin before each PTZ injection. After behavioural analysis (Y-maze, rotarod, and locomotor activity tests), biochemical and neurochemical analyses were conducted using ELISA.Results: PTZ administration induced progression in the seizure scores and all of the rats in the PS + PTZ group were kindled with the 20(th) injection. Ghrelin treatment significantly reduced the seizure scores. The difference among the groups in terms of the Y-maze, locomotor activity, and rotarod tests was nonsignificant. PTZ administration significantly decreased the brain GABA, CAT, and AChE levels, and increased the MDA, NO, and protein carbonyl levels. Repeated ghrelin treatment ameliorated the GABA, AChE, CAT, MDA, NO, and protein carbonyl levels.Conclusion: Taken together, the results indicated that repeated ghrelin treatment had antioxidant, and anticonvulsant activity on PTZ kindling in rats.