Effects of prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure on reproductive activities and serum concentrations of pituitary-gonadal hormones in mice offspring

Maternal infection during pregnancy is a risk factor for some behavioral problems with neurodevelopmental origin. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure of pregnant mice to the bacterial lipopolysaccharide [LPS] on sexual behaviour and serum level of pituitary-gonadal hormones of offspring in adulthood. In this Expremental study, pregnant NMRI mice [n=7/group] were treated with intra-peritoneal administration of LPS [1, 5 and 10 micro g/kg] at day 10 of gestation. Induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta] and interleukin-6 [IL-6] were measured in maternal serum 2 hours following the maternal LPS challenge. Behavior in the adult male offspring reproductive activity was investigated using receptive female mice. Concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone [LH] and follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] in adult offspring serum were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method [at postnatal day 60, n=10/group]. One-way ANOVA showed that LPS administration induces a significant increase in TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 levels of maternal serum. Prenatal LPS exposure reduces sexual behavior and serum concentration of LH and testosterone in adult male offspring. The overall results suggest that prenatal exposure to LPS increases pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, affects development of neuroendocrine systems and results in the inhibition of reproductive behaviors and reactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal [HPG] axis in adult male offspring

Role of serotonergic system on modulation of depressogenic-like effects of silymarine

In the present study, we have investigated the effects of silymarine on depression and the possible role of serotonergic system in these effects. The rats were anesthetized intraperitoneally with ketamine hydrochloride and placed in a Stoelting stereotaxic instrument. A stainless steel guide cannula [22-gauge] was implanted in the third ventricular region. The third ventricular region was infused by means of an internal cannula [27-gauge], terminated 1 mm below the tip of the guide cannula. Forced swimming test was used for evaluating the depression. The results obtained from this study showed that oral administration of silymarin [35, 70, 140 and 280 mg/rat] for two weeks increased the immobility time in forced swimming test, indicating an increase in depression level of the treated rats. Intra-third-ventricle [Intra-TV] infusion of 5HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT [25 and 10 ng/rat] decreased the immobility time indicating an anti-depression effect, while injection of 5HT1A receptor antagonist NAN190 [0.25, 0.5 and 1 microg/rat] had no significant effect on immobility time. An effective dose of 8-OH-DPAT [10 ng/rat] co-administered with silymarin [140 and 280 mg/rat] decreased the depressogenic effects of silymarin. These results showed that the depressogenic effects of silymarin may be modulated via 5HT1A receptor of serotonin

[Production and physicochemical evaluation of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A outer vesicle as a vaccine candidate]

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A Polysaccharides vaccines have been available for many years, but these vaccines have many disadvantages due to their induction of T-Cell independent responses. To overcome these problems, many researches have been focused on other parts of bacterial cell component such as OMV [Outer membrane vesicle]. In this study, OMV containing PorA were extracted and evaluated by biological and immunological methods. OMV were extracted by siadat, et al method. Physicochemical properties of extracted OMV were analyzed by electron microscopy and SDS-page. The toxicity of LPS content in OMV was assayed by LAL test. The Presence of PorA was confirmed by western blot. Antibodies synthesis after immunization by OMV was evaluated using ELISA method. The content of extracted protein was 0.1 mg/ml. Size of OMV was between 50 and 150 nanometer. SDS-PAGE showed that PorA was located in 35-40 kDa. LAL test showed that the endotoxin activity was ranged in 126EU/ml which is safe for using. The ELISA test showed that the total IgG titer was elevated after first injection. The results showed that the conformation of extracted OMV was stable, and there were no progeny determinants in OMV. Also, OMV elicited high level of specific antibodies against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A. These results indicate that the OMV can be used as a meningococcal vaccine after further investigations

effect of phencyclidine new derivatives on anxiety behaviors in rats

Anxiety is a common disorder which afflicts many people in any society and is often accompanied by physiological sensations such as tachycardia, chest pain, shortness of breath, insensitivity, etc. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the putative anxiolytic-like effects of phencyclidine [l-[l-phenylcyclohexyl] piperidine, CAS 956-90-1, PCP, I] and its methyl and methoxy hydroxyl derivatives [II, III] using elevated plus maze test of anxiety. Phencyclidine as well as its methyl and methoxy hydroxyl derivatives [I, II, III] [hydrochloride, 1, 2, 5 mg/kg] were synthesized and administrated intraperitoneally [IP] on adult male Wistar rats. The results of this study demonstrated that, intraperitoneal [IP] administration of PCP analogues [I, II, III] hydrochloride [1, 2, 5 mg/kg] increases the percentage of open arm time [OAT%] and percentage of open arm entries [OAE%]. This study revealed that both derivatives of phencyclidine [II, III] were more effective than PCP [I] itself in modulation of anxiety behavior in rats

Microinjection of NMDA receptor agents into the central nucleus of the amygdale alters water intake in rats

The central nucleus of the amygdala [CeA] is a forebrain structure which is important in regulation of ingestive behavior and there is direct and circumstantial evidence to indicate that some circuits involved with feeding behavior include glutamatergic elements. The present study examined whether administration of NMA [N-Methyl-DL-aspartic acid] or MK801 into the CeA altered water intake under deprivation. Animals were deprived for 24 hr before tested for water intake.NMDA [N-methyl-D-aspartate] glutamatergic receptor agonist, NMA and its antagonist, MK801 were infused bilaterally, and water intake measured for 1 hr thereafter. The intra-CeA injection of NMDA glutamatergic agonist, NMA [0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 microg/rat] increased water intake [P0.05]. However, administration of NMDA glutamatergic antagonist, MK801 [0.25, 0.5 and 1 micro g/rat] decreased water intake significantly [P0.05]. These data suggest that NMDA receptors in the CeA are responsible for the glutamatergic modulation of water intake in this nucleus

Evaluation of [[67]Ga] citrate in the detection of various microorganism infections in animal models

Gallium-67 citrate has been known as a good infection agent in nuclear medicine for decades. In this work the value of [67]Ga-citrate has been investigated in infected animal models using SPECT imaging at optimized/standardized conditions. The bacterial [Staphylococcus aureus; S.a. and Escherichia coli; E.c.] and fungal [Candidae albicans; C.a.] species from standard sources were cultured according to the standard procedures and wild-type NMRI rats were inoculated by the injection of 5x10[7] microorganisms [MO] into their thighs and animals incubated for infection site formation for 2 and 3 days followed by iv injection of freshly prepared [67]Ga-citrate [45-50 micro Ci] and SPECT imaging performed at 2, 4 and 24 hours post injection in parallel with control groups. In S.a.-infected rats [67]Ga-citrate demonstrated hot spot foci at all time intervals esp. 24h post injections in contrast with normal animal scans. In case of C.a., the infected animals also demonstrated significant accumulation foci being most significant after 24h. In E.c.-infected animals however weak positive scans were obtained even after 24 hours. Our animal models developed for the evaluation of new infection-targeting agents were successfully positive using [67]Ga scan. These models can also be used in the evaluation of newly developed antibiotics in animal models for in vivo studies. The efficacy of [67]Ga-scan in our microorganism infection models can be summarized as S.A.>C.a.>E.c.