ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effects of benzene on rat's cerebellum structure and behavioral characteristics, including anxiety and motor impairment. Methods: Twenty rats were randomly allocated into two groups orally receiving distilled water and benzene (200 mg/kg/day). A total of 10 rats were used at the beginning of benzene exposure. Two rats died during benzene treatment and 8 rats remained for evaluation of the behavioral test and finally 6 rats underwent histological assessment. At the end of the 4th week, motor function and anxiety were evaluated in rotarod test and elevated plus maze, respectively. Besides, the cerebellum was dissected for structural assessment using stereological methods. Results: Performance of the benzene-treated rats in fixed and accelerating speed rotarod was impaired and their riding time (endurance) was lower compared to the control group (P = 0.02). The benzene-treated rats also spent less time in the open arms and had fewer entrances to the open arms in comparison to the control group, indicating anxiety (P = 0.01). The total volume of the cerebellar hemisphere, its cortex, intracerebellar nuclei, total number of the Purkinje, Bergmann, Golgi, granule, neurons and glial cells of the molecular layer, and neurons and glial cells of the intracerebellar nuclei were reduced by 34%-76% in the benzene-treated rats in comparison to the distilled water group (P = 0.003). The most cell loss was seen in Bergmann glia. Conclusions: The structure of cerebellum altered after benzene treatment. In addition, motor impairment and anxiety could be seen in benzene-treated rats.
ABSTRACT
Quantitative studies to date on the effects of opioid consumption and abstinence on the nervous system using modern stereological methods have not received enough attention. In addition, they have yielded controversial results. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of morphine, with or without abstinence, on the neurons and oligodendrocytes of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) in rats using quantitative stereological methods. The male rats were divided into four groups: the first (saline [SAL]) and second (morphine [MOR]) groups were treated with saline and an escalating dose of morphine (5-20 mg/kg) for 30 days, respectively; the third (SAL+abstinence [ABS]) and fourth (MOR+ABS) groups were treated in the same manner as the previous groups plus they had a 30-day abstinence period. The results showed that the volume of the MPFC and its subdivisions decreased by approximately 15% in the MOR group compared with that in the SAL group (P<0.05). In addition, the volume decreased by approximately 24% in the MOR+ABS group compared with that in the SAL+ABS group (P<0.05). The number of neurons in the MOR and MOR+ABS groups decreased by approximately 44% and 35%, respectively, compared with that in their corresponding control groups. Moreover, the number of the oligodendrocytes in the MOR and MOR+ABS groups decreased by approximately 41% and 37%, respectively. No significant difference was noted in the number of cells in the MOR and MOR+ABS groups. In conclusion, morphine consumption leads to a permanent reduction in the number of neurons and oligodendrocytes, and no additional neuron and oligodendrocyte loss occurs after abstinence.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Morphine , Nervous System , Neurons , Oligodendroglia , Prefrontal CortexABSTRACT
Although opioids suppressive effects on immune system function have been reported, this study demonstrates inflammatory reactions, such as production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, are the main causes at organ's allotransplantation rejection in chronic morphine-treated recipients. 28 rats were categorized in 4groups through intra-peritoneal administrations: control, sham, morphine treated animals [20 mg/kg injected of morphine daily until biopsy day], morphine and naloxane treated animals [20 mg/kg morphine and 2 mg/kg naloxane daily injected until biopsy day], which their donors were normal rats. The grafts were done at the 14[th] day of the experiment. Plasma interleukins levels [IL-6 and IL-10] in three sampling times were mwasured by ELISA, with almost 80% of macroscopic rejection signs in rats of one group, full thickness skin biopsy has been taken and histological parameters like perivascular infiltrates, epidermal changes, and stromal changes were detected. The statistical significance differences between the control and experimental groups were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, followed by ANOVA post hoc test. Accelerated skin allograft rejection by chronic morphine consumption can be resulted of increased IL-6 concentration and decreased IL-10. The enhancing effects of morphine on the graft inflammation were partially antagonized by naloxane. It can illustrate the complexity of opiates and immune system connections and should be considered during organ transplantation of opiate addicts. Expression of skin cell in recipient with chronic morphine administration history maybe resulted in failure
ABSTRACT
Kombucha tea is a health beverage made by incubating the Kombucha mushroom in black tea and sugar. Although various therapeutic benefits have been attributed to the drink, and it is consumed however widely in many populations throughout the world. Neither its beneficial effects nor adverse side effects however have been studied sufficiently. As this beverage contains some alcohol and it may have some effect on central nervous system [CNS], we proposed to study the effect of its chronic consumption on learning and memory which are among the most complex functions in the CNS. In this study we used a Shuttle Box device to assess active avoidance learning and memory as recently described. Ten Wistar male rats were equally divided into two groups. The animals in control group continued to drink tap water while the animals in the experimental groups had availability of Kombucha tea ad libitum instead, for 2 months until the onset of behavioral studies and continued up to the end of the studies. Our data showed that although chronic consumption of Kombucha tea during 2 months led to a slight decline in number of shocks receiving by animals in all three stages of the study [learning, short term memory and long term memory]. There was no significant difference between animals of the control and the experimental groups [p=0.539, p=0.476, p=0.323 respectively]. Our results indicate that chronic consumption of Kombucha tea had neither significant beneficial nor adverse side effect on learning and memory