Histopathological and real–time PCR analysis of alterations in the rat brain within the Glycerol–induced Crush Syndrome

This study attempted to examine the neuroprotective benefits of vitamin C and tadalafil in an experimental crush syndrome model induced by intramuscular glycerol injection in rats, using histopathological and real–time polymerase chain reaction. 50 females Wistar albino rats were used in the study. The animals were divided into 7 groups: healthy control (n: 6), vitamin C (n: 6), tadalafil (n: 6), glycerol administered (n: 8), glycerol + vitamin C (n: 8), glycerol + tadalafil (n: 8), and glycerol + vitamin C + tadalafil (n: 8). After the 6–day experimental study, the animals were anesthetized and euthanized, and necropsies were performed. For histopathological and real–time polymerase chain reaction analyses brain tissues were fixed in 1% formaldehyde solution. Sections of 5 µm thickness were obtained from tissues processed by routine histological procedures and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Microscopic examination revealed that glycerol administration caused neuronal necrosis, neuronophagia, gliosis, edema, congestion, endothelial cell damage, and mononuclear cell infiltration. Brain Natriuretic Peptide, Heat Shock Protein 70 and Hypoxia–Inducible Factor 1–alpha expression levels were measured in real–time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Glycerol administration caused increases in Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Heat Shock Protein 70 levels in the brain, while it did not cause any significant changes in Hypoxia–Inducible Factor 1–alpha levels. Decreases in Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Heat Shock Protein 70 expression levels were detected in the glycerol + Vit C, glycerol + tadalafil, and glycerol + Vit C + tadalafil groups. According to the research results, it is thought that the combined application of Vit C, tadalafil and Vit C + tadalafil can provide protection against oxidative and inflammatory stress against brain damage that may occur after glycerol–induced crush syndrome.