Evaluation of the cytoprotective effects of thymoquinone on isoproterenol-induced rat aorta

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate histologically and immunohistochemically the cytoprotective effects of thymoquinone (THQ) against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced aortic tissue damage. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into four groups (n=8). Control group (Control); were untreated rats, Thymoquinone group (THQ); 20 mg / kg intragastrically (ig) THQ at 24 hour intervals for 8 days, Isoproterenol group (ISO); on the 7th and 8th day of the experiment, 100 mg/kg subcutaneous (sc) ISO (dissolved in 1 ml sterile distilled water) was given at 24 hour intervals. Thymoquinone + Isoproterenol group (THQ+ISO); THQ was administered ig at 20 mg/kg for 8 days, and 100 mg/kg ISO was administered on day 7 and day 8 of the experiment. Aortic tissues and blood were collected from rats. Tissues were stained by hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemically by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-17 (IL-17). TNF-α, ELISA was examined in blood sera. Results: Aortic wall thickness was found to be increased in the ISO group compared to the control and THQ groups. In addition, IL-6 and IL-17 immunoreactivity increased in this group. IL-17 height was statistically significant. THQ corrected both the increase in wall thickness and the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-17. TNF-α was found to be decreased in the ISO group, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Conclusion: THQ serves as a cytoprotective agent

Keywords

• isoproterenol
• thymoquinone
• aorta.
• isoproterenol
• timokinon
• aort.