Quercetin Alleviates the Immunotoxic Impact Mediated by Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Induced by Doxorubicin Exposure in Rats

Figures

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  Figure 1. Comet variables in spleen of rats in response to QUR administration (50 mg/kg bw for 15 days, orally) and/or DOX treatment (15 mg/kg bw in six injections over 2 weeks, IP). Means with different superscripts (a,b,c,d) are significantly different (p < 0.05).

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  Figure 2. Relative expression of enzymatic antioxidant-related genes in spleen of rats in response to QUR administration (50 mg/kg bw for 15 days, orally) and/or DOX treatment (15 mg/kg bw in six injections over 2 weeks, IP). The expression pattern of genes mRNA was normalized against the internal control gene β-actin using qRT-PCR. Means with different superscripts (a,b,c,d) are significantly different (p < 0.05).

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  Figure 3. Relative expression of inflammatory response-related genes in spleen of rats in response to QUR administration (50 mg/kg bw for 15 days, orally) and/or DOX treatment (15 mg/kg bw in six injections over 2 weeks, IP). The expression pattern of genes mRNA was normalized against the internal control gene β-actin using qRT-PCR. Means with different superscripts (a,b,c) are significantly different (p < 0.05).

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  Figure 4. Relative expression of apoptosis-related genes in spleen of rats in response to QUR administration (50 mg/kg bw for 15 days, orally) and/or DOX treatment (15 mg/kg bw in six injections over 2 weeks, IP). The expression pattern of genes mRNA was normalized against the internal control gene β-actin using qRT-PCR. Means with different superscripts (a,b,c) are significantly different (p < 0.05).

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  Figure 5. Representative histopathological photomicrographs of H&E-stained rat’s spleen. (A) Control showing: normal splenic parenchyma (red 80% and white pulps 20%); (B) QUR group showing normal splenic white (represents about 20%) and red pulps (represents about 80%); (C) DOX group showing shrinkage of lymphoid follicles, white pulp area with decrease in lymphocytes population (lymphocyte depletion) in the splenic periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (yellow arrow) and increased red pulp area (represents about 90%) (star); (D) QUR/DOX group showing somewhat normal spleen architecture with intact white pulp (W), red pulp (R) and densely cellular lymphocytes population in periarteriolar lymphoid sheath region (hyperplastic lymphoid elements in white pulps) (arrow). Scale Bar 50 μm.