BACKGROUND Declining levels of surfactant protein A (SP-A) after lung transplantation are suggested to indicate progression of ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. We hypothesized that the previously described preservation-dependent improvement of alveolar surfactant integrity after IR was associated with alterations in intraalveolar SP-A levels. METHODS Using immuno electron microscopy and desi...

Tetracyclines are considered potential medication for the treatment of osteoporosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of doxycycline on development of unfavorable changes in bone histomorphometric parameters induced by bilateral ovariectomy in rats. Doxycycline at a dose of 20 mg/kg po daily was administered for 28 days to bilaterally ovariectomized and sham-operated ...

Numerous evidence indicate that Cannabis derivatives may serve as positive reinforcers in rodents, yet the hypothesis whereby genetic or gender related factors may influence drug taking behaviour has not been tested in laboratory animals. In this study we verified whether rat strain, sex and ovariectomy might be critical in the initiation, retention and extinction of the self-administration (SA...

AIM Estradiol treatment regulates estrogen receptor (ER) level in normal rat liver. However, little information is available concerning the role of estrogen in regulating liver ER in hepatic fibrosis in rats. The present study was conducted to determine whether estradiol treatment in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis of female and ovariectomized rats altered liver ERalpha and its mRNA expression, and...