ABSTRACT
The first effect of stress on the immune system is usually a rapid increase in function which manifests itself by an increase in the number of inflammatory cytokines in blood. It is however, followed by a decrease of function in immunological response. During inflammation, the expression of hepcidin gene is increased in order to keep iron away from pathogens. This study was conducted to determine the effect of chronic mild stress on the expression of hepcidin gene in the hippocampus of the male adult rats. This experimental study was carried out on 30 adult male Wistar rats, weighing approximately 200-250 grams. They were randomly allocated into two groups of 15 rats: control and chronic mild stress group. Animals in intervention group were exposed to chronic mild stress for 3 weeks. At the end of the stress protocol, 2 ml blood sample was collected to measure the serum concentration of IL-6. Real time PCR method was used to investigate hepcidin expression in hippocampus. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and independent t-test. The mean level of IL-6 was significantly higher in the CMS exposure group [27.98 +/- 0.84 pg/ml] than control group [18.29 +/- 1.18 pg/ml] [P<0.05]. Hepcidin expression in the hippocampus of intervention group was significantly higher [2.69 +/- 0.226%] in compared to control group [1 +/- 0.105] [P<0.001]. This study showed that chronic mild stress increases the expression of hepcidingene and the serum level of IL-6 in adult rats
ABSTRACT
In this research, we study the simultaneous effects of Nitric Oxide [NO] and stress on prefrontal cortex of rats. Nitric Oxide is an unstable small molecule that involved in many physiological and pathological conditions. Brain's prefrontal cortex has important role on personality and mental state. Its development continues after birth and this period is the most sensitive time for brain's cortex to response to environmental parameters such as psychological stresses. In this study Wistar male rats received L-arginine [200 mg/kg] as NO precursor, L-NAME [20mg/kg] and 7-nitroindazole [25mg/kg] as non specific and specific NO sentries inhibitors. L-arginine and L-NAME were injected intra peritoneal [IP] and 7-nitroindazole injected subcutaneously [S.C] during one month per day. Rats divided in two groups [with stress and without stress]. The kind of stress was immobilization every day for one month during injection of materials. Brains were removed after this period and each brain with a coronal section manner divided in two parts .Anterior part of brain fixed by formalin and tissue processing was done. By using rotatory microtome 10 serial cross sections were obtained and stained with H and E. Posterior part of brain homogenized with such solution then amount of NO in obtained solution was measured by spectrophotometer with 540 nm wavelength. Statistical analysis of light microscopic findings indicated that stress of immobilization with use of L-NAME and 7-nitroindazole result in decrease of thickness of prefrontal cortex, numbers of Betz cells and NO production in rats' brain, it means L-NAME and 7-nitroindazole exaggerate the brain damage and from other hands L-arginine with stress can convert these results. On the basis of these results we believe that stress of immobilization damages prefrontal cortex and also NOS inhibitors can aggravate the cortical damage. On the other hand although NO precursor [L-arginine] decreases the cortical damage in rats that impress with stress, it can result in these changes in rat's brain without stress