Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model

Emine Sarman; Halil Aşçı; İrem Naziroğlu; Öznur Kolay; Esra Şirazi

Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of agomelatine (AGO) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats, with a focus on histopathological alterations and immunohistochemical markers of apoptosis and inflammation. Methods: A total of 32 adult female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Control, LPS, LPS+AGO and AGO. LPS (5 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to induce ALI, followed by oral AGO (20 mg/kg) treatment in the LPS+AGO group. Lung tissue samples were examined histopathologically using Hematoxylin–Eosin staining to assess edema, detachment/disruption of bronchiolar epithelium, disorganization of bronchiolar smooth muscle and thickening of the alveolar epithelium. Apoptotic and inflammatory responses were evaluated immunohistochemically via Caspase 3 (Cas-3) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression. Results: LPS administration induced significant histopathological alterations, including interstitial edema, epithelial detachment, smooth muscle disorganization and alveolar wall thickening (p<0.01 for edema, p<0.001 for all the other parameters vs. control). Cas-3 and TNF-α immunoreactivity were markedly elevated in the LPS group (p<0.001), predominantly in alveolar and bronchiolar epithelial regions. AGO treatment significantly reduced all histopathological injury scores and attenuated Cas-3 and TNF-α expression (p<0.001 vs. LPS), preserving normal lung architecture and reducing apoptotic and inflammatory responses. Conclusion: AGO exerts protective effects against LPS-induced lung injury by mitigating histopathological damage, associated with reduced apoptotic and inflammatory markers. These findings suggest that AGO may have potential therapeutic value in experimental sepsis-related ALI and warrant further investigation.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

In this study, all experiments were performed under the guidelines for animal research from the National Institutes of Health and were approved by the Committee on Animal Research of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta (Ethic No: 15.01.2026-01/680).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Toxicology, Histology and Embryology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Emine Sarman ^*
0000-0002-4671-9315
Türkiye

Halil Aşçı
0000-0002-1545-035X
Türkiye

İrem Naziroğlu
0009-0009-3353-730X
Türkiye

Öznur Kolay
0009-0002-3768-7996
Türkiye

Esra Şirazi
0009-0002-1231-2629
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 16, 2026

Submission Date

April 14, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Sarman, E., Aşçı, H., Naziroğlu, İ., Kolay, Ö., & Şirazi, E. (2026). Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(4), 645-651. https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC

AMA

1.Sarman E, Aşçı H, Naziroğlu İ, Kolay Ö, Şirazi E. Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(4):645-651. https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC

Chicago

Sarman, Emine, Halil Aşçı, İrem Naziroğlu, Öznur Kolay, and Esra Şirazi. 2026. “Potential Protective Effects of Agomelatine on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury: Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Findings in a Rat Model”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (4): 645-51. https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC.

EndNote

Sarman E, Aşçı H, Naziroğlu İ, Kolay Ö, Şirazi E (July 1, 2026) Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 4 645–651.

IEEE

[1]E. Sarman, H. Aşçı, İ. Naziroğlu, Ö. Kolay, and E. Şirazi, “Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 645–651, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC

ISNAD

Sarman, Emine - Aşçı, Halil - Naziroğlu, İrem - Kolay, Öznur - Şirazi, Esra. “Potential Protective Effects of Agomelatine on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury: Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Findings in a Rat Model”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/4 (July 1, 2026): 645-651. https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC.

JAMA

1.Sarman E, Aşçı H, Naziroğlu İ, Kolay Ö, Şirazi E. Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:645–651.

MLA

Sarman, Emine, et al. “Potential Protective Effects of Agomelatine on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury: Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Findings in a Rat Model”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2026, pp. 645-51, https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC.

Vancouver

1.Emine Sarman, Halil Aşçı, İrem Naziroğlu, Öznur Kolay, Esra Şirazi. Potential protective effects of agomelatine on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in a rat model. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1;8(4):645-51. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA88WZ77DC