Browsing by Author "Zatra, Yamina"

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    Evaluation of gastroprotective effect of jujube honey in ethanol-induced stomach ulcer in mice
    (NIS PR, 2023) Benmouloud, Abdelouafi; Zatra, Yamina; Belkadi, Asma; Halli, Latifa; Kacim, Lilia; Souame, Samir; Aknoun-Sail, Naouel; Khaldoun, Mounira
    Honey has been widely documented to have therapeutic benefits, especially on the healing of wounds, digestive disorders, and as an antimicrobial agent. It’s known that stomach ulcers are one of the most prevalent diseases that affect humans with no effective treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the gastroprotective effects of jujube honey against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice and to explore possible mechanism of its action on the gastric mucosa. Stomach’s tissues were examined for ulcerative lesions and white blood cell count (WBC), plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and nitric oxide (NO) for clinical inflammation evaluation. The antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated using the measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Treatment with jujube honey reduced the ulcer index and preserved gastric tissue. It also decreased the inflammatory response by reducing WBC and plasma levels of CRP and NO in ulcerative group. In addition, jujube honey-treated group showed increased antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase and SOD. Furthermore, diluted jujube honey is more effective in preserving mucosal gastric integrity. In conclusion, these findings suggest that jujube honey, especially with dilution, may exert a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer, through the improvement of antioxidant system and suppression of the inflammatory response via its bioactive compounds.
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    Sex differences in adrenal cortex beta-catenin immunolocalisation of the Saharan gerbil, Libyan jird (Meriones libycus, Lichtenstein, 1823)
    (Via Medica, 2023) Aknoun-Sail, Naouel; Zatra, Yamina; Sahut-Barnola, Isabelle; Benmouloud, Abdelouafi; Kheddache, Arezki; Khaldoun, Mounira; Charallah, Salima; Khammar, Farida; Martinez, Anne Marie Lefrançois; Amirat, Zaïna
    Background: The adrenal cortex provides adequate steroidogenic responses to environmental changes. However, in desert rodents, the adrenocortical activity varies according to several factors especially sex, age, and seasonal variations. Herein, we examined the sex differences in the adrenal cortex activity and explored the involvement of sex hormones in the regulation of this function in Libyan jird Meriones libycus. Materials and methods: Twenty-four adult male and female animals weighing 109–110 g were captured in the breeding season and equally assigned into control and gonadectomised groups. Animal euthanasia was performed 50 days after the gonadectomy. Adrenal gland was processed for structural and immunohistochemistry study of b-catenin, whereas plasma was used for cortisol assay. Results: The results showed that female adrenal gland weight was heavier than male and gonadectomy reduced this dimorphism. The adrenal cortex thickness was greater in the female than in the male, mainly due to significant development of the zona fasciculata. Females presented higher cell density in fasciculata and reticularis zones. The plasma cortisol was higher in females than in males. The immunolocalisation of b-catenin showed that the expression was particularly glomerular in both sexes. However, in the female, the immunostaining was present in the zona reticularis while it was absent in the control male. Orchiectomy reduced zona glomerulosa cell density and induced hypertrophy of zona reticularis characterised by strong b-catenin immunoreactivity. However, ovariectomy leads to hyperplastic expansion and high b-catenin expression in the zona glomerulosa associated with zona fasciculata and reticularis hypoplasia distinguished by weak b-catenin immunostaining. Conclusions: Results indicated that sex hormones had a major role in the regulation of the Saharan gerbil’s adrenal homeostasis by modulating b-catenin signalling. Androgens seem to inhibit the Wnt-b-catenin pathway and oestrogens are activators of the adrenal inner zones.