effect of intra-CA1 agmatine microinjection on water maze learning and memory in rat

Reports on agmatine are controversial showing that it may improve memory, it can deteriorate memory and some did not notice any interference with learning and memory. In the present study, the effect of directly intra-CA1 agmatine microinjection on water maze learning and memory has been assessed. The cannuls were implanted in hippocampal CA1 regions of rats in a sterotaxic frame after general anesthesia. After one week recovery period, the animals were assessed in the reference memory version of water maze. Agmatine [1, 10, 100 or 200 microg/0.5 microl] or saline were infused 20 minutes before or immediately after training. Agmatine-treated rats did not show any significant difference neither in water maze acquisition nor in consolidation task in comparison with control and sham groups. Agmatine does not affect water maze learning and memory

Effect of c-peptide on cognitive dysfunction in type 1 diabetic rat

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder that associates with structural and functional changes in central and peripheral nervous system and progressive decline in cognitive abilities. Recent experimental and clinical data suggested that C-peptide replacement during type 1 diabetes exerts beneficial effects on diabetic rats. Determine the effect of intraperitoneal [IP] injection of c-peptide on cognitive dysfunction in type 1 diabetic rats. 24 male Sprague dawly rats [230-300 gr] used for this project divided into 3 groups: 1. control group, 2. type 1 diabetic group and 3. Diabetic group that receive C-peptide [25 nmol/kg/daily for 28 day/IP]. Diabetes induced with IV injection of Streptozotocin [60mg/kg]. Twenty one days after onset of diabet, behavioral tests conducted for seven days. In reference memory assessment, the latency of finding platform during four days decline significantly in all groups [P<0.05]. Mean escape time in diabetic group was significantly longer in comparison to other groups [P<0.05] but in comparison to diabetic group with C-peptide group, memory impairement decline significantly [P< 0.05]. During three days of working memory test, the latency required for finding platform decreased significantly [P<0.05] but this time was longer in diabetic group [P<0.05]. C-peptide could improve memory in diabetic group. C-peptide had significant role in control and inhibition of memory disorder progression

[Effect of Testosterone on carrageenone induced inflammation in gonadectomized male rats]

Different nociceptive and inflammatory responses to noxious stimuli in male and female animals imply that sex hormones may affect on inflammatory factors, induction and intensity of the inflammation. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of testosterone administration on carrageenone induced inflammation in gonadectomized male rats. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups [n=8]. 1-The control rats without receiving any drug or surgical operation. 2-The sham - operated animals with surgical stress. 3-The gonadectomized rats, receiving 0.5 ml vehicle [olive oil] i.p. 4-The gonadectomized rats, receiving testosterone enantate [6 mg/100 gr body weight in 0.5 ml vehicle i.p.]. At the sixth day of gonadectomy operation, inflammation was induced by injection of 1% carrageenone in the right hind paw of rats. Edematous paw volume as an index of inflammation was determined by immersing it into the mercury container. Weight of paw in the mercury was measured and then the paw volume was calculated in relation to specific gravity of mercury [13.6gm/ml]. Data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software using ANOVA. The results showed that edematous paw volume significantly was reduced in testosterone enantate administrated gonadectomized rats compared to the control group [P<0.01]. It can be concluded that high dose of testosterone causes attenuation of inflammatory response. The testosterone anti-inflammatory effect is probably due to inhibition of inflammatory factors [Interleukins] production or decrease in receptors of inflammatory factors

[Role of estrogen on prevention of morphine addiction in ovarectomized female rats]

Evidence indicates that the biological response and the causes of drug abuse may be different between women and men. These sex differences in drug abuse may be due to socio-cultural factors or biological [hormonal] differences. Estrogen is one of the hormones which involves in dopamine release in striatum and nucleus accumbency and also is one of the most important neurotransmitters in central nervous system which has critical role in morphine addiction. So, in this study we survey the role of estrogen on dependency and tendency to morphine in rat as a factor of sex differences in addiction. This experimental study was carried out in Yazd University of Medical Sciences. Behavioral changes like morphine craving was evaluated by self-administration as a criterion for tendency and for assessment of dependency. we evaluated withdrawal syndrome sings [e.g. jumping, wet dog shaking, etc] in control group [ovarectomized female rats receiving morphine sulfate solution] and test group [ovarectomized female rats, pretreated with estradiol benzoate before receiving daily morphine sulfate solution]. Data obtained were analyzed by SPSS software, using T-test analysis. Results showed that although pretreatment with estradiol in test group might lead to a significant decline in withdrawal syndrome sings in comparison with control group, differences in morphine craving as a criterion for tendency was not significant between the two groups. According to our findings, it seems that estrogen, through central mechanisms and its effect on brain dopaminergic system, reduces the physical dependency to morphine

Application of western blotting using native antigen B for serodiagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis

Hydatidosis is one of the most important helminthic diseases causing serious health and economic problems in many countries including Iran. Currently available diagnostic approaches for diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis [CE] are not satisfactory since they have not achieved a reasonable validity in diagnosis of CE. This study aimed to assess the performances of Western blotting [WB], using native antigen B, for serological diagnosis of human hydatidosis. Antigen B was prepared from sheep hydatid cyst fluid. Serum samples obtained from 40 surgically proven cases of hydatidosis along with serum samples from non-hydatidosis patients and samples from healthy persons were tested by immunoblotting, using native antigen B. From 40 sera of hydatidosis patients, 32 cases [80%] detected 8 kDa subunit, 29 cases [72.5%] recognized the 16 kDa component and 29 cases [72.5%] detected 24 kDa subunit of antigen B. The highest sensitivity [80%] was achieved with 8 kDa subunit of antigen B while the other components [16 and 24 kDa] showed a lower sensitivity [72.5%]. Samples from healthy controls and non-hydatidosis patients did not yield any detectable band in the Western blotting assay. Accordingly, specificity of the system was found to be 100%. Considering the use of native antigen B, application of western blotting, based on 8 kDa subunit of antigen B, is highly recommended for the confirmatory diagnosis of hydatidosis

[Comparison of the efficiency of lovastatin and seed dill extract in reduction of serum lipid levels in rats]

Serum lipid disorders are one of the important risk factors for development of coronary arterial atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the drug lovastatin and a liquid vegetable extract [dill] on blood plasma lipid levels of rats. In this experimental study, 32 mouse vistar rats weighing 250 +/- 30 grams were included and maintained at 23 +/- 1 degrees Celsius. The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each. Groups I and II were given normal and high cholesterol diet, while groups III and IV were given high cholesterol diet with either lovastatin or seed dill extract for a period of 3 weeks, respectively. At the end of study, blood samples were taken and plasma lipid levels determined by the manual method. [It is worth mentioning that ultimately 26 rats were included in the study groups]. Results showed that both administration of lovastatin and the seed dill extract led to a significant reduction in plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and LDL/HDL, TG/HDL ratios. There was a significant reduction in the levels of LDL [P<0.001] and also a significant increase in levels of HDL [P<0.001] in both the groups. The effects on plasma triglycerides levels, LDL/HDL and TG/HDL ratios were not significant. Considering the results of the study, seed dill extract affects plasma lipid levels and is more effective in lowering plasma cholesterol and LDL levels as compared to lovastatin

chronic effect of Kombucha tea consumption on weight loss in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus [DM] is a chronic disease with a relatively high prevalence in many populations throughout the world. Despite the availability of many synthetic drugs many diabetic patients are seeking herbal medications to relieve the symptoms of the disease. Kombucha tea is a fermented remedy which is produced by cultivation of Kombucha mushroom in sweet black tea solution and is consumed by many diabetic patients, but its efficacy and safety has not been scientifically evaluated. This study was conducted to assess the chronic effect of Kombucha Tea consumption on weight loss in diabetic Rats. 42 male diabetic Wistar rats were divided into six groups. DM was induced by streptozotocin [60 mg/kg]. Animals in 1st group [control] had free access to tap water; the 2nd group [sham] consumed sweet black tea solution and the remaining 4 groups [test] received different dilutionts of Kombucha tea [25%, 50%, 75% and 100%] for 15 days instead of tap water. Animals in all groups were weighted before DM induction and in days 1, 3, 7 and 15 post DM inductions. The data were analyzed as Mean +/- SEM of weights in different days and in different groups by using T-test and one way ANOVA. Our results showed that all groups had a significant weight loss due to DM induction [p< 0.05] which continued progressively in control group but in the sham and test groups there was a progressive weight gain during the 15 days of remedy consumption, so there was no significant difference between the weight of animals at the end of experiment and their weight before DM induction [p > 0.05]. There was also not significant difference between the animal's weight in sham and test groups at the end of this period [p > 0.05]. In conclusion our findings indicate that both black tea and Kombucha tea prevent weight loss in diabetic rats which may be due to some active agents in black tea itself

[Effect of estrogen and progesterone on baroreflex sensitivity in acute hypertensive rats]

Epidemiological studies suggested that incidence of cardiovascular diseases in menopause women is more than their nonmenopausal period. The cardioprotective role of estrogen may be responsible for some of these effects. In the present study we evaluated the role of female sex hormones on baroreflex sensitivity in acute hypertension state of rat.This was an experimental-interventional study that performed on 48 male and female rats. The male and female animals were separately divided into three groups included vehicle, estrogen and progesterone receiving groups [8 animals in each groups]. Anesthetized female animals were ovariectomised, and then all animals were encapsulated with capsules containing sex hormones or solvent. 2 weeks after that, each femoral artery and vein cannulated under anesthetization to record mean arterial blood pressure [MAP], heart rate [HR] and also infusion of phenylephrin. AHR and AMAP were recorded before and after injection of phenylephrin, to evaluate the baroreceptors function, baroreflex sensitivity [BRS [[delta]HR/[delta]MAP]] index was used. The data obtained from power lab instrument and processed by computer. HR and MAP in estrogen and progestrone received groups, before phenylephrin injection [rest state], have no statistical differences with control group. BRS in the male estrogen-receiving group [0.6 +/- 0.03] was higher [p<0.05] compared to sham [0.48 +/- 0.05], also estrogen increased BRS [p<0.05] in female estrogen receiving group [0.76 +/- 0.03] compared to sham [0.45 +/- 0.05]. Mean artrial pressure and heart rate in both estrogen receiving groups were reduced compared to vehicle group. Therefore it can be concluded that estrogen increased baroreflex sensitivity to prevent variation in acute blood pressure