ABSTRACT
Background: exposure to electromagnetic radiation may impair memory. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency wave [hereafter referred to as RFW] on passive avoidance learning and memory in healthy males and females
Materials and Methods: ten adult male and ten female Sprague- Dawley rats [230 +/- 20 gr] were randomly divided into four groups including two control groups [one for males and one for females], and two experimental groups [exposed to 900 MHz radio frequency wave] each representing one gender. The exposure was performed for 30 consecutive days [4h/day]. Evaluation of learning and memory of the rats started on the last day of exposure by shuttle box. Learning and memory of animals was recorded by the period of time they remained within the light area; this time was called the light time
Results: results of the study showed that exposure to RFW significantly decreased the duration of light time in the rats within the experimental groups as compared to the control groups [P<0.05]. Exposure to RFW significantly decreased the light time in females in comparison to males in the experimental group [P<0.05]. Histological study of brain section did not show significant changes between Groups
Conclusion: with regard to these findings, it was concluded that exposure to RFW causes disorder in memory retention of passive avoidance learning in rats. The extent of damage to the learning and memory in rats exposed to RFW was more for females than males
ABSTRACT
Caprine besnoitiosis is an economically important disease of goats. Neospora caninum, another coccidian parasite of worldwide distribution, infects several animal species and is a major cause of abortion in cattle. Combined infections of N. caninum and Besnoitia caprae can occur in geographical areas endemic for both species of parasite in goats. This experiment was conducted to investigate the possible cross-immunity between these two infections in experimentally infected BALB/c mice. Forty BALB/c mice were divided into four equal groups. The mice of Groups 1 and 4 were inoculated with 1x10[6] live virulent tachyzoites of N. caninum [NC-1], while animals of Groups 2 and 3 were inoculated with sterile tissue culture medium. Each mouse in Groups 1 and 2 was challenged 28 days later with 1 xl0[6] live virulent bradyzoites of-B. Caprae [BC-1]. Following the challenge, the mice in Groups 1 and 2 showed 100% morbidity and 100% mortality within 9 days post infection, while all the animals of Groups 3 and 4 remained alive. The dead animals were necropsied. The survivors [mice in Group 3 and 4] were euthanized 9 days after inoculation and the gross and histopathological lesions in different organs were investigated. Immunization and challenge experiments with lethal dose of B. caprae in the highly susceptible BALB/c mice showed no cross-protection between N. caninum and B. caprae