AIM:To evaluate the mineralocorticoid receptor ( MR) gene - 2G/ C single nucleotide polymorphism in central serous chorioretinopathy ( CSCR ), polymorphism and plasma cortisol level relationship.
METHODS: Sixty CSCR patients and 50 controls were included in the study. Inclusion criteria for patients were acute manifestation of CSCR characterized by serous retinal detachment, RPE detachment or dysfunction without evidence of any other possible cause of fluid exudation, such as choroidal neovascularization, inflammation or infiltration. Peripheric blood sample was collected from the participants between 8 and 10 a. m. to avoid the diurnal changes of cortisol levels. MR (NR3C2) gene polymorphism ( rs2070951 ) and plasma cortisol levels sere studied.
RESULTS: The genotype frequencies in CSCR group were G/ C (46. 6% ), G/ G (26. 7%) and C/ C (26. 7%). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of genotype distribution among groups ( P = 0. 96 ). The plasma cortisol levels were also studied and the results were 401. 2±162. 1 nmol/ L in the CSCR group and 296. 8±130. 1 nmol/ L in the control group and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0. 01 ). The plasma cortisol levels also did not differ between G/ C (345.0±137.0 nmol/ L), G/ G (369.2±165. 3 nmol/ L) and C/ C (395. 3±188. 8 nmol/ L) genotypes (P= 0. 50).
CONCLUSION: The MR (NR3C2) gene polymorphism is not associated with CSCR and the plasma cortisol levels.

OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin (CP), which are associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis, may adversely affect the reproductive system. This study tests whether administration of propolis and nano-propolis (NP) can alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats with testicular damage induced by CP. METHODS: In this study, polymeric nanoparticles including propolis were synthesized with a green sonication method and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and wet scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. In total, 56 rats were divided into the following seven groups: control, CP, propolis, NP-10, CP + propolis, CP + NP-10, and CP + NP-30. Propolis (100 mg/kg), NP-10 (10 mg/kg), and NP-30 (30 mg/kg) treatments were administered by gavage daily for 21 d, and CP (3 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose. After the experiment, oxidative stress parameters, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT), and apoptotic pathways including B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were measured in testicular tissues. Furthermore, sperm quality and weights of the testis, epididymis, right cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were evaluated. RESULTS: Propolis and NP (especially NP-30) were able to preserve oxidative balance (decreased MDA levels and increased GSH, CAT, and GPx activities) and activate apoptotic pathways (decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2) in the testes of CP-treated rats. Sperm motility in the control, CP, and CP + NP-30 groups were 60%, 48.75%, and 78%, respectively (P < 0.001). Especially, NP-30 application completely corrected the deterioration in sperm features induced by CP. CONCLUSION The results show that propolis and NP treatments mitigated the side effects of CP on spermatogenic activity, antioxidant situation, and apoptosis in rats.
Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism* ; Cisplatin/toxicity* ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Propolis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; Testis