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Journals / Kocatepe Veteriner Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 19 Sayı: 3

Evaluation of Plasma Cell Counts and CD138 Expression in the Rat Uterus Following Capsaicin Treatment at Different Developmental Stages

Farklı Gelişim Dönemlerinde Capsaicin Uygulanan Ratların Uteruslarında Plazma Hücre Sayıları ve CD138 Ekspresyonunun Değerlendirilmesi

Nurcan Delice(ONDOKUZ MAYIS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF VETERINARY)0000-0003-3309-2258
Feyza Keskin Büyükbudak(ONDOKUZ MAYIS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF VETERINARY)0009-0002-9110-5416
Tuğrul Ertuğrul(ONDOKUZ MAYIS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF VETERINARY)0000-0002-9310-1200
Şerife Tütüncü(ONDOKUZ MAYIS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF VETERINARY)0000-0001-6834-7244
Pages
316–328
Publication Date
2026-09-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, the effects of capsaicin on uterine plasma cell dynamics appear to be influenced by developmental stage, and the method used for evaluation may affect the interpretation of immune-related changes.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Capsaicin, the bioactive component of chili peppers, has been reported to exert analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and chemopreventive effects.
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Key Findings & Data:The study aimed to evaluate the effects of capsaicin administered at different developmental periods on plasma cell counts and CD138 expression levels in the rat uterus.
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Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, the effects of capsaicin on uterine plasma cell dynamics appear to be influenced by developmental stage, and the method used for evaluation may affect the interpretation of immune-related changes.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Capsaicin · CD138 · Plazma Hücresi

Abstract

Capsaicin, the bioactive component of chili peppers, has been reported to exert analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and chemopreventive effects. The immunomodulatory properties of capsaicin are suggested to vary depending on the tissue microenvironment and developmental stage. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of capsaicin administered at different developmental periods on plasma cell counts and CD138 expression levels in the rat uterus. Sixty female Sprague–Dawley rats (21 days) were randomly assigned to pubertal and adult groups and exposed to the respective experimental conditions until reaching 42 or 70 days of age. Each group was further subdivided into control, vehicle, and capsaicin treated groups. At the end of the experimental period, uterine histological architecture was assessed. Plasma cells were identified by Methyl Green–Pyronin staining, and CD138 expression was analysed immunohistochemically. Histochemical evaluation revealed a significantly lower number of plasma cells in the vehicle group compared with the control group during puberty, whereas no significant differences were observed among groups in adulthood. Notably, plasma cell counts increased with age in the vehicle and capsaicin groups, while no age-related change was detected in the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed no significant differences among treatment groups within each developmental stage; however, a significant increase in CD138-positive cells was observed in the adult capsaicin group compared with the pubertal capsaicin group. In conclusion, the effects of capsaicin on uterine plasma cell dynamics appear to be influenced by developmental stage, and the method used for evaluation may affect the interpretation of immune-related changes.

Özet

Acı biberin aktif bileşeni olan capsaicin organizmada analjezik, antiinflamatuar, antimikrobiyal ve kemopreventif etkiler gösterebilmektedir. Capsaicinin bağışıklık sistemi üzerindeki etkilerinin dokuya özgü biyolojik ortam ve gelişimsel dönemle ilişkili olarak değişebileceği bildirilmektedir. Bu çalışma, farklı gelişim dönemlerinde uygulanan capsaicinin rat uterusunda plazma hücre sayıları ve CD138 ekspresyon düzeyleri üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Altmış dişi Sprague-Dawley rat (21 günlük), puberte ve erişkin olarak rastgele 2 gruba ayrıldı ve sırasıyla 42 ve 70 günlük olana kadar ilgili deney koşullarına maruz bırakıldı. Her grup ayrıca kontrol, taşıyıcı solüsyon ve capsaicin olarak üç alt gruba ayrıldı. Deney süresi sonunda uterus dokularının histolojik yapısı değerlendirildi. Plazma hücreleri Metil Green–Pyronin boyama ile CD138 ekspresyonu ise immünohistokimyasal yöntemle analiz edildi. Histokimyasal değerlendirmede puberte döneminde taşıyıcı solüsyon grubunun plazma hücre sayısının kontrol grubuna göre daha düşük olduğu belirlendi, erişkin dönemde ise gruplar arasında anlamlı fark saptanmadı. Bununla birlikte taşıyıcı solüsyon ve capsaicin gruplarında yaşla birlikte plazma hücre sayısında artış gözlenirken kontrol grubunda yaşa bağlı değişiklik tespit edilmedi. İmmünohistokimyasal analizlerde her iki gelişimsel dönem içerisinde gruplar arası fark bulunmamakla birlikte capsaicin grubunda erişkin dönemde puberte dönemine göre CD138 pozitif hücre sayısında anlamlı artış belirlendi. Sonuç olarak, capsaicinin uterin plazma hücre dinamikleri üzerindeki etkisinin gelişimsel döneme bağlı olarak değişebileceği ve değerlendirmede kullanılan yöntemin sonuçların yorumlanmasında belirleyici olabileceği kanaatine varılmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Delice, N., Büyükbudak, F. K., Ertuğrul, T., Tütüncü, Ş., *, N. D. (2026). Evaluation of Plasma Cell Counts and CD138 Expression in the Rat Uterus Following Capsaicin Treatment at Different Developmental Stages. Kocatepe Veteriner Dergisi, Cilt: 19 Sayı: 3, 316–328. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1896581

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