Studying the effect of chronic glucocorticoide injection on the depressive behavior in mice

Chronic cortisol is considered to be a hallmark of neuroendocrine and psychiatric disorders, such as Cushing's disease and depression. It remains unclear whether cortisol directly contributes to the altered mood and behaviour seen in these diseases. To answer this question, a model of chronic cortisol was utilized, in which, male albinos mice were injected intraperitoneally with corticosterone [13 mg/kg] for 23 days. Locomoter Activity was measured during this period. The results show that Acute treatment with Corticosterone increased Total Activity, Mobile Time, Active time, Rearing Counts, however, Chronic but not acute treatment with Corticosterone decreased these activities. This study suggests that chronic corticosterone may contribute to at least part of the symptoms [i.e. locomoter activities] displayed by patients with depression

[Study of buspirone effect on motor behavior in rats with parkinson disease caused by reserpine]

Death of dopaminergic neurons, in substantia nigra pars compacta, results in exsanguinations of neurotransmitter dopamine in corpus striatum and motor symptoms of Parkinson disease. However, deterioration of non-dopaminergic neurons, such as serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons, became one of fixed truths of Parkinson disease. It was suggested that these neurons deterioration has a role in motor symptoms, in addition to non-motor symptoms, such as depression, imperceptions and sleep disorders. So, the aim of research was testing Buspirone effect, a partial agonist of 5-HT[1A] auto serotonergic receptors, for improvement of Parkinsons' symptoms in Wister adult albino male rats with Parkinson disease caused by Reserpine [3 mg/kg]. And study of Buspirone effect on L-DOPA therapeutic activity and its important for dyskinesia treatment resulted from long term therapy with L-DOPA. The current study illustrated that low dosages of Buspirone [0.25, 1, 3 and 6 mg/Kg] improved the affected rats' movement, whereas high dosage [10 mg/kg] didn't improve the movement, by comparing these groups with control group which has injected with injected water. Also, this study revealed that Buspirone lows the therapeutic activity of L-DOPA, by comparing the motor behavior of affected groups, which treated with Buspirone [3, 6 and 10 mg/kg]+L-DOPA [100 mg/kg], with that treated only with 100 mg/kg of L-DOPA. As conclusion, our study appears Buspirone efficiency to improve the symptoms of Parkinson disease in animal samples, as it gives an area for clinical experiments for testing the effect of Buspirone [currently used for anxiety treatment] on Parkinson disease's symptoms, in patients suffering from side effects of L-DOPA

Selenium and thyroid hormone status pre and post open heart surgery in children with congenital heart disease

Transient myocardial ischemia that occurs during cardiac surgery leads to oxidative stress and production of free radicals. Selenium [Se] status has important implications for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as selenium is an integral component of the enzymes glutathione peroxidase and 5-iodothyronine deiodinase. Thyroid hormones have important effect on the heart and peripheral vascular system. Cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB] results in low triiodothyronine [T3] state, due to central depression of the hypothalamic pituitary axis together with impaired conversion of T4 to T3 secondary to reduced activity of iodothyronine deiodinase. This work aimed to study the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on selenium and thyroid hormone status in infants and children with congenital heart disease [CHD]. Also it aimed to study the possible effect of selenium and thyroid hormone status on the hemodynamic condition of these infants and children after open heart surgery. Twenty five children were subjected to open heart surgery in the Cardio Thoracic Unit, Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University. The patients were subjected to full history taking, general and local cardiac examination, M mode, 2D and Doppler Echocardiography. Serum samples were collected, at the induction of anesthesia and 48 h after cardiopulmonary bypass for assessment of selenium, free T3[FT3]and free T4[FT4] levels. Assessment of serum selenium takes place at [NRC] using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry [GFAAS]. Assessment of FT3 and FT4 takes place at Radioactive Isotope Department using RIA technique. Significantly lower postoperative selenium, FT3 and FT4 serum levels, compared to those at the induction of anesthesia, were found [p< 0.005, 0.025, and 0.025 respectively]. Longer CPB time was associated with lower FT3 and FT4 levels [r =0.49 and 0.63 respectively]. On the other hand higher FT3 and FT4 levels were associated with less time needed for inotropic support [r =0.48 and 0.60 respectively]. There is significant decrease of selenium, free T3 and freeT4 levels after cardiopulmonary bypass. The degree of decrease of thyroid hormones is affected by CPB time. Thyroid hormone levels have an evident impact on the myocardial functions and hemodynamic condition after open heart surgery