Browsing by Author "Ozmen, Ozlem"

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Effects of Vitamin D and Memantine on Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Via Mtor, Trpm2, and Gaba Expression Levels on Juvenile Rats
(Turkish Neurosurgical Soc, 2024) Gulsen, Ismail; Ak, Hakan; Akyol, Mehmet Edip; Ozmen, Ozlem; Alp, Hamit Hakan; Arabaci, Ozkan
AIM: To investigate the effects of vitamin D and memantine on the healing process in juvenile rats with repetitive brain injury (rTBI) and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these potential therapeutic effects. MATERIAL and METHODS: Juvenile rats were randomly allocated into seven groups, with eight rats per group: sham-operated (Group I), trauma (Group II), memantine supplementation (10 mg/kg) pre-trauma (Group III), vitamin D supplementation (5 mu g/kg) pre-trauma (Group IV), vitamin D supplementation post-trauma (Group V), memantine and vitamin D supplementation post-trauma (Group VI), and vitamin D supplementation pre- and post-trauma with post-trauma memantine supplementation (Group VII). A modified repeated weight drop model was employed to induce rTBI. Brain tissues and blood samples were collected for analysis. Expressions of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), temporary receptor potential (TRPM2), and GABA receptors were assessed via immunohistochemistry. Levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanine (8-OHdG) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1 and-2, and NADPH oxidation-4 levels were determined using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent Test kits. Immunohistochemistry analyses were performed on the brain cortex and hippocampus. RESULTS: The levels of 8OHdG/106dG, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, -TIMP2, and NOX-4 were significantly higher in the trauma group than in the other groups. No difference was found between the control and Pre Vit D+Mem+Post Vit D groups regarding 8OHdG/106dG, MMP-2, -9 and NOX-4 levels. Normalized expressions of mTOR and TRPM2 were observed in Groups VI and VII. Conversely, GABA expression levels decreased in Group II, with the most pronounced therapeutic effects observed in Group VII. CONCLUSION: Memantine and vitamin D positively affected rTBI when used alone. Their combined use exhibited greater therapeutic outcomes. These effects are mediated by mTOR mRNA, TRPM2 mRNA, and GABA mRNA expressions.
Evidence for Genetic Hybridization Between Released and Wild Game Birds: Phylogeography and Genetic Structure of Chukar Partridge, Alectoris Chukar, in Turkey
(Mdpi, 2022) Albayrak, Tamer; Davila Garcia, Jose Antonio; Ozmen, Ozlem; Karadas, Filiz; Ates, Duygu; Wink, Michael
The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar, Galliformes) is one of the most important game birds in its native range, spanning from the Balkans to eastern Asia, and the regions of Europe, North America and New Zealand where it was introduced. Previous studies found two main genetic lineages of the species forming an eastern and a western clade. Chukar Partridges are raised in game farms and released to supplement natural populations for shooting in the USA, Canada, Greece, and Turkey. To explore intraspecific genetic structure, phylogeography, and possible genetic admixture events of A. chukar in Turkey, we genotyped individuals from fourteen wild and five captive populations at two mitochondrial and ten microsatellite DNA loci in. Wild and farmed Chukar Partridge samples were analyzed together to investigate possible influences of intraspecific hybridizations. We found that the farmed chukars, which mainly (85%) cluster into the eastern clade, and wild ones were genetically distinct. The latter could be separated into six management units (MUs), with partridges from Gokceada Island in the Aegean Sea forming the most divergent population. Intraspecific hybridization was detected between wild and captive populations. This phenomenon causes rampant introgression and homogenization. The phylogeographic analysis revealed admixture among wild populations; nevertheless, this did not impair pointing to Anatolia as likely having a "refugia-within-refugia" structure. We recommend that the genetic structure of Chukar Partridge and its MUs be taken into account when developing the policy of hunting, production, and release to preserve the genetic integrity of this species.