[The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Nectaroscordum tripedale on liver and kidney functional parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats]

Introduction: the reducing effects of some of tripedale family plants on blood glucose, lipids and enzymes have been reported. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Nectaroscordum tripedale on liver and kidney function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Materials and Methods: forty male rats were randomly divided into five groups [n=8 each]. Groups 1, 3 [normal control and diabetic control] received distilled water, group 2 received 50 mg/kg/day Nectaroscordum tripedale extract, and the groups 4 and 5 [treatment groups 1 and 2] received 50 and 100 mg/kg/day of the Nectaroscordum tripedale extract respectively for 21 consecutive days. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin in rats. At the end of the 21st day, blood samples were collected by heart puncture. Serum levels of ALP, AST, ALT, Alb, BUN, creatinine and urea were evaluated

Results: results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Nectaroscordum tripedale can increase the average body weight in the treatments groups. ALP, AST, ALT, BUN levels decreased, wherease level of albumin [Alb] increased in a dose-dependent manner at the end experimental period [P<0.05]

Conclusion: our results showed that the extract of Nectaroscordum tripedale improved liver and kidney function in a dose dependent manner in experimental conditions

[Use of rat estrus serum for in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes]

Superovulation produces complications in some patients, so in vitro maturation of oocyles is used to decrease or eliminate these complications and improve IVF. Moreover, IVM is used for different aspects of reproductive researches. Slaughterhouse ovaries are the main source of oocytes for IVM and IVF studies. Different media has been introduced and experimented for in vitro maturation of oocytes. Animal's serum at estrus stage contains different hormones and proteins which are essential for oocyte maturation. The aim of this study was to compare three culture media for in vitro maturation [IVM] of bovine oocytes; 1][control]TCM-l99, 2]HCG and follicular fluid [FF] and 3] antibiotic. Rat estrus serum [RSS] or fetal bovine serum [FBS] was added to control medium. Total of 1789 compact cumulus oocyte complexes [COCs] were aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered animals. Oocytes were randomly cultured in mentioned media and incubated in 38.5°C, 5% CO2 and 95% humidity for 24 hours. The maturation of oocytes was judged according to cumulus cell expansion or randomly orcein stained oocytes and observation of polar bodies. The results showed that maturation rate was significantly higher in second and third group [90.2%, 78.7%] as compared to the control group [p<0.001]. There was no significant difference between second and third groups [90.2% vs. 86.6%]. RSS is as effective as FBS for IVM of bovine oocytes and can be used as an alternative

[Effect of Aegle marmelos fruit juice concentrate on serum glucose and lipid level and ALT/AST activities in diabetic rats]

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of bael [Aegle marmelos] on glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine levels and the activity of ALT and AST in the serum of diabetic rats. 45 Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were selected. The rats were divided into three groups. The first group was considered as negative control [non-diabetic rats] and diabetes mellitus was induced in the remained rats by I.V. injection of alloxan [50 mg/kg BW]. Following induction of diabetes mellitus 15 diabetic rats were considered as positive control and 15 ones as treatment group. Treatment group was fed with homogenous mixture of ordinary rat food and Bael concentrate [2gr/kg food] for three weeks and the remaining groups were fed with ordinary rat food. Following induction of diabetes mellitus, concentration of serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and the activity of ALT increased significantly [P<0.01], but AST activity and creatinine concentration not varied. Food and water intake was increased and body weight of rats was decreased [p<0.01]. Consumption of bael concentrate caused a significant decrease in serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and the activity of ALT [P<0.01], and also food and water intake was decreased [p<0.01]. The results of this study show that Aegle marmelos concentrate exhibit hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic effects in diabetic rats