The effects of Commiphora mukul extract on spermatogenesis and testosterone levels in male diabetic rats / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#The strong antioxidant activity of Commiphora mukul prompted us to conduct the present study to explore whether treatment with C. mukul extract (CME) would have any protective influence on sperm parameters, testosterone levels, and plasma glucose levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. @*Methods@#Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, control animals treated with CME, diabetic animals, and diabetic animals treated with CME. CME extract (300 mg/kg) was administered for 60 days by daily gavage. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg STZ. The epididymal sperm count, weight, motility, morphology, viability, and serum testosterone and glucose levels were determined. @*Results@#In the diabetic animals, CME decreased blood glucose levels (p<0.05), increased the total sperm count (p<0.05), and decreased the proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology (p<0.05). Diabetes reduced sperm motility (p<0.001), and CME supplementation partially reversed this effect of diabetes (p=0.003). Furthermore, in diabetic animals, CME decreased the proportion of immotile sperm (p<0.001). In rats, diabetes caused a significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum testosterone levels (F[3, 28]=3.283, p=0.035), but treatment of diabetic animals with CME increased serum testosterone levels. @*Conclusion@#The present study demonstrated that C. mukul possesses proandrogenic activity and exerts a beneficial effect on sperm parameters in diabetic rats.

Moderate Exercise Enhances the Production of Interferon-γ and Interleukin-12 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of two months moderate exercise on levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-6 and IL-4 in serum and supernatants of in vitro mitogen-activated (PHA for 48 h) whole blood (WB) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Sixteen healthy males participated in running program (30 min/day, 5 days/week). Blood samples were collected in three stages; 24 h before to start exercise, 48 h and two months after the last session of the exercise. The samples were analyzed for the cytokines by ELISA. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 were increased significantly in activated PBMCs culture after exercise and were back to normal level after two months rest. A significant elevation of IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was observed in activated PBMCs culture by acting possibly on IFN-γ. The results suggest that short moderate intensity exercise enhances Th1 immune inflammatory and anti-allergic conditions in response to mitogen.

Protective effects of restricted diet and antioxidants on testis tissue in rats fed with high-fat diet

A high-fat diet [HFD] promotes the oxidative stress formation, which in turn has hazardous effects on reproductive system and fertility. The present study examines the potential positive effects of a restricted high fat diet [RHFD] and antioxidants consumption on sperm parameters and testis tissue in rats. Male rats [n = 48] were divided into four groups [12 in each group]: control group [Cont], HFD group, RHFD, and RHFD with astaxanthin and vitamins E and C group [RHFDA]. After 12 weeks, serum analysis and sperm parameters study were performed. Sections of fixed testes were stained with Hematoxilin and Eosin to study the histological changes. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the data. HFD fed animals presented significant increase in weight load and serum low density lipoprotein [LDL-C] levels [P < 0.05]. The sperm count in RHFD was lower than three other groups [P < 0.05] and sperm motility of RHFDA group was significantly higher than HFD and RHFD groups [P < 0.05]. The histological study was showed a significant increase in spermatogonium number in RHFDA compared to three other groups [P < 0.05]. The number of spermatocyte I and spermatid in RHFD was significantly [P < 0.05] lower than Cont and HFD groups. HFD and obesity can affect sperm parameters and spermatogenesis and antioxidants consumption may improve their quality. Although the RHFD is a benefit way in weight loss and decrease of LDL-C of serum, but it is suggested that is not effective on sperm quality improvement

Vitamin C can alter lead-induced passive avoidance learning impairment in rats

Introduction: Lead [Pb] is a neurotoxin that its different effects on the central nervous system are well-known. Previous studies have reported the potent effects of vitamin C on memory.The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effects of vitamin C against leadinduced amnesia

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: the control [saline], negative control [lead], positive control [Vitamin C, 150 mg per kg], and experimental [Lead+Vitamin C]. To induce lead toxicity, the rats received water containing 0.2% Pb instead of regular water for 1 month. Passive avoidance learning was assessed by Shuttle Box 2 months later. Retention was tested 24 hours after training

Results: The results showed that lead causes impairment in acquisition and retrieval processes of passive avoidance learning and memory. However, vitamin C administration reinforced passive avoidance learning and memory. All results were significant [P<0.001]

Conclusion: Vitamin C administration in rats counteracts the negative effect of lead on spatial learning and memory

Protective effects of antioxidants on sperm parameters and seminiferous tubules epithelium in high fat-fed rats

Prescription of antioxidants might increase the quality of sperm parameters and improve the rate of pregnancy in obese people who suffer from infertility. Therefore, the present study investigated protective effects of vitamin A, E and astaxanthin on sperm parameters and seminiferous tubules epithelium in high-fat diet model. Thirty-six numbers of 3 months old albino Wistar rats were divided to control, high-fat diet and high-fat diet with antioxidants groups. After 12 weeks, levels of LDL-C and HDL-C were detected in the groups. Sperm was obtained from the tail of epididymis and its parameters [count, vitality, motility and morphology] were analyzed. Testes were fixed in 10% formalin and after tissue processing, stained with Hematoxylin and Eosine [H and E] for histological evaluation. Data were analyzed by a one-way ANOVA and p<0.05 was considered significant. Our results indicated that viability, motility and normal morphology of sperm in high-fat diet [HFD] decreased significantly compared to high-fat diet with antioxidant [HFD A] and the control groups [p<0.05]. Also spermatogonium and the number of Sertoli cells increased significantly in HFD+A compared to the control [p<0.05]. As it is shown in our study, application of antioxidants decreased serum triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL-C/LDL-C in high-fat diet model and improved the semen parameters. Therefore, it is suggested that the low quality of sperm can be improved in obese men through antioxidant prescription. Finally, it seems that the antioxidants in obese patients with subfertility or infertility is a new and efficient strategy with few side effects

[Axis I psychopathology during the first four mounts after traumatic brain injury]

The aim of this research was to examine the dimensions of axis I disorders during the first four months after Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI] and mental states after TBI. Overall, 238 patients [43 females and 195 males] with TBI, in a descriptive-longitudinal study, were selected by consecutive sampling procedure and each of them undergone medical examinations. After 4 months of follow-up, 65.1% [155 cases] of the patients referred to a psychiatrist to determine the nature of their mental disorder due to TBI, using a structured clinical interview, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. [DSM-IV] .The results showed that 75.5% [117 cases] of the patients had post-injury mental disorders secondary to TBI. Of these, 88 patients [75.2%] showed the comorbidity of mental disorders. However, the most common mental disorders due to TBI included personality change [58.6%], mood disorders [32.3%], anxiety disorders [20%], sleep disorders [19.3%], chronic amnesia [12.9%] and somatoform disorders [1.3%]. Delirium, eating and psychotic disorders due to TBI, each up to 0.64%, were also diagnosed.The high frequency of mental disorders is evident in the acute phase after TBI, along with many novel cases of personality changes, mood and anxiety disorders. Therefore TBI patients must be monitored and evaluated at least in a 4-month period after the trauma to reduce the risk of mental disorders incident.

[ comparison of demographics, psychological and hospital care characteristics in patients with and without mental disorders following traumatic brain injury]

The main question of this study is that why some patients with traumatic brain injury [TBI], suffer mental disorders even after recovery from physical problems, while others with some similar characteristics do not receive the diagnosis of any mental disorders. In this study which was performed from March to February 2010 in the Poursina Medical and Educational Center of Rasht city overall, 238 patients [43 females and 195 males] with TBI in the form of a descriptive-longitudinal study, were chosen by non-random, consecutive sampling. Each patient was evaluated by Glasgow coma scale, Glasgow outcome scale,Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised [WAIS-R]vocabulary and picture completion subtests, Mini-Mental State Examination and General health questionnaire. After 4 months of follow-up, 65.1% [155 cases] of patients were referred to a psychiatrist to determine the nature of mental disorder due to TBI, using check list for structured clinical interview based on diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders-IV [DSM-IV] diagnostic criteria. The results showed that two group of patients [with and without mental disorders] were significantly different in variables such as level of consciousness [P<0.001], duration of loss of consciousness [P<0.003], duration of confined inintensive care unit [P<0.005], length of hospitalization [P<0.013] and levels of General compatibility after the trauma [P<0.0001] 4 months after TBI. Planning effective interventions, inclusion in the neurobehavioral rehabilitation processes following TBI and also monitoring and evaluation of these patients at least four months after trauma can reduce the risk of mental disorders

Amlodipine ameliorates up-regulation of ET-1 in left ventricle of hypercholesterolemia rabbits

In addition to antihypertensive effects, amlodipine may exhibit cardiovascular protective effects in heart tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of amlodipine and/or high cholesterol diet on blood, heart tissue concentration and mRNA expression of endothelin-1 [ET-1] in male New Zealand white rabbits. A total of 40 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into four groups: the normal control groups, normal group receiving amlodipine, high-cholesterol diet group and high-cholesterol diet with amlodipine group. After 8 weeks, all the animals anesthetized and blood or tissues samples were collected. After 8 weeks of a high cholesterol diet, the group with such a diet had a significantly higher ratio of left ventricle [LV] weight to body weight than the control group [P = 0.0001]. After treatment with amlodipine for 8 weeks, ET-1 level was reduced considerably in comparison with the control [P= 0.01] and high-cholesterol diet groups [P= 0.01]. Amlodipine consumption caused significant reduction [P=0.01] in the level of ET-1 in heart tissues of high-cholesterol diet group but it had no remarkable effect on the reduction of heart tissue ET-1 in amlodipine group compared with the control group. The present study demonstrates that ventricular prepro-ET-1 mRNA quantitatively increases in the high-cholesterol diet rabbits which results in development of ventricular hypertrophy. It seems that the treatment with amlodipine retards the progression of LV hypertrophy through attenuation of ET-1 levels independent of lipid changes

pattern of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression in the hippocampus of diabetic rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of regular exercise in preventing diabetes complication in the hippocampus of streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rat. A total of 48 male wistar rats were divided into four groups [control, control exercise, diabetic and diabetic exercise]. Diabetes was induced by injection of single dose of STZ. Exercise was performed for one hr every day, over a period of 8 weeks. The antioxidant enzymes [SOD, GPX, CAT and GR] and oxidant indexes with brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] protein and its mRNA and apoptosis were measured in hippocampus of rats. A significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities and increased malondialdehyde [MDA] level were observed in diabetic rats [P=0.004]. In response to exercise, antioxidant enzymes activities increased [P=0.004]. In contrast, MDA level decreased in diabetic rats [P=0.004]. Induction of diabetes caused an increase of BDNF protein and its mRNA expression. In response to exercise, BDNF protein and its mRNA expression reduced in hippocampus of diabetic rats. Diabetes induced oxidative stress and increased BDNF gene expression. Exercise ameliorated oxidative stress and decreased BDNF gene expression

effect of regular training on plasma cytokines response in healthy and diabetic rats

To evaluate the effect of regular swimming exercise on plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-1beta and of IL-6 cytokines in healthy and diabetic rats. In this study, carried out from March 2008 to March 2009 in the Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz, Iran, 40 Wistar rats [250-300g] were randomly divided into 4 groups [n=10]: control-sedentary, control-exercised, diabetic-sedentary, and diabetic-exercised. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin [50mg/kg, intraperitoneally]. The exercise protocol consisted of swimming [one hour/day, and 5 days/week] for 8 weeks. The plasma cytokines were measured by using specific kits and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The findings of this study showed that the mean difference of IL-6 was significant among the groups, and that regular swimming increased the plasma levels of IL-6 to 9-times in healthy rats and to 23-times in diabetic ones [p=0.000, F [3.31]=54.79]. However, there were no significant differences in IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels among the groups. According to findings of this study, regular exercise causes an increase in plasma levels of IL-6, and this enhancement is much higher in diabetics rather than healthy rats. Thus, by increasing direct absorption of blood glucose by skeletal muscle, IL-6 can have a beneficial role in continuing the activities of diabetic patients