[ effect of guidance channel on sciatic nerve repair in adult rats]

Peripheral nerve lesions are a challenge for neurosurgeons and different surgical repairing methods are applied for the treatment of this problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the poled polyvinelidene fluoride [PVDF] tube filled with nerve growth factor [NGF] and collagen gel as a substitute for nerve autograft. In this experimental study the left sciatic nerve was manipulated in 50 male Wistar rats and then the animals were divided randomly into five groups. In the epineural group the injured nerves were repaired by end to end suture. In the rats with autograft a 10 mm piece of sciatic nerve was rotated through 180 and sutured in the nerve gap. In the nerve guidance channel group [NGC], polarized piezoelectric PVDF tube containing NGF and collagen gel was replaced in the gap and in the axotomy group two nerve ends were hidden among muscles. The left sciatic nerve was exposed but not transected in the sham group. After two months L4-L6 segment neurons of spinal cord were studied histologically and by immunohistochemical and axonal DiI tracing. The collected data were analyzed by one way ANOVA, LSD and paired t-test. The mean number of Bax positive cells and labeled motor neurons increased significantly in axotomy and sham group respectively, compared to the other groups [P<0.05]. Also, the mean number of labeled motor neurons increased significantly in epinural group in comparison to the autograft and the NGC groups [P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the mean number of the labeled neurons between the autograft and nerve guidance channel groups. The mean number of motor neurons in the left side showed a significant decrease in comparison to that of the right side [p<0.01]. The PVDF tube together with other therapies provided a favorable environment for nerve regeneration and could be used as a substitute for autograft in nerve injuries

[ evaluation of melatonin effect on in-vitro development of mouse preimplantation embryos]

Melatonin promotes in-vitro embryo development in different species. This study studied the effects of melatonm on in-vitro mouse preimplantation embryo development. Two-cell embryos were obtained from oviduct of 6-8 weeks female NMRI mice 48 hours after administration of an intra-pentoneal injection of 5 lU/ml pregnant mares serum gonadotrophin and subsequent 5 ILJ/ml human chononic gonadotrophin [ip]. Embryos were cultured in T6 culture medium supplemented with different dosages of melatonin [0 [control group], 100x10[-6]M, 10 x10[-6]M, 1x10[-6], 100x10[-9]M and 10 x10[-9]M [1-5 treatment groups]]. With due attention to percent of embryos in different stages, the rate of development of embryos was assessed using of invert microscope. It is also compared to control group. The results showed that the rate of cleavage and development of mouse the embryos to blastocyst stage increased significantly in the development culture medium supplemented with 10 and 100 nM/mg of melatonin in comparison to control group [p< 0.001]. The results of this study demonstrate that, enriching the culture medium with melatonin, improve mouse preimplantation development

[Effects of meta-cognitive therapy on symptoms of social phobia patients]

Social phobia is an anxiety disorder, which can be described as a strong, persisting fear of situations where humiliation or embarrassment may occur. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of meta-cognitive therapy [MCT] on symptoms of social phobia [SP] patients. This semi-experimental study was conducted in 2010. with pretest-posttest and follow-up design, using control group. From all social phobia disorder [SPD] patients referring to psychology clinics in Shiraz, Iran in 2010, 19 patients were selected through the objective sampling method and were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The Social Phobia Symptoms Assessment Questioner [SPSAQ] and Fears of Negative Evaluation Scale [FNE] were used as the pretest measures. The experimental group received 8 weeks of Wells' meta-cognitive therapy sessions. The control group was in the waiting list until the end of the follow up. The same measures were used for post-test and follow-up [after 3 months]. The results of analysis of multivariate covariance showed that MCT had a significant effect in reducing the symptoms of SPD [p<0.001]. This intervention is believed to reduce symptoms of social phobia [SP] patients by facilitating transmission from the object mode to the meta cognitive mode and enhancing the efficient and flexible coping skills

[Buserelin inhibits apoptosis in male germ cells induced by busulfan in mouse testis]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of buserelin on apoptosis of male germ cells induced by busulfan in adult male mice. Male adult NMRI mice were divided into four group of eight each. Group 1 [control] administered PBS for 21 days subcutaneously, group 2 given 0.4 micro g buserelin for 21 days subcutaneously, group 3 given single dose of 30 mg/kg busulfan intraperitoneally and group 4 given both busulfan and buserelin for 21 days. The animals were sacrificed and their testes were dissected 35 days after the treatment. Evaluations were made by determining Johnson's score and apoptosis were assayed by terminal- deoxynucleotidyl- transferase-mediated dutp nick end labeling [TUNEL]. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA test. Recovery status and Johnson's score in group 4 were significantly higher than those of busulfan treated group 7.71 +/- 0.69 VS 4.46 +/- 0.56 [p< 0.001]. Apoptotic cells number cells were significantly more numerous in busulfan treated group than those of control 23.28 +/- 7.10 VS 3.54 +/- 1.02 [p<0.001]. While buserelin substantially reduced germ cell apoptosis in fourth group 10.50 +/- 2.91 in comparison with third group 23.28 +/- 7.10, [p<0.001]. Administration of buserelin after testicular damage by busulfan enhances the regeneration of spermatogenesis in mouse through inhibition of apoptosis in germ cells

[Effect of fibroblastic growth factor on resumption of meiosis, in vitro maturation and embryo development of immature mouse oocytes]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fibroblastic growth factor on resumption of meiosis, in vitro maturation of immature mouse oocytes and resulting embryo development with and without basic fibroblastic growth factor-4 [bFGF-4].Cumulus - oocyte complex [COCs] and germinal vesicle [GV] were obtained from female NMRI mice 46-48 hours after administration of an intra-peritoneal injection of 5 IU PMSG. COCs were cultured in TCM199 supplemented with different dosages of bFGF-4. After 24 hours, metaphase II [MII] oocytes were co-incubated with sperms for 4-6 hours in 16 medium. For all groups, the rate of cleaved embryos was assessed in the T6 medium until blastocyst stage. In all compared groups, the percentage of matured MII oocytes in the 10 ng/ml [%94.4] and 20 ng/ml [%92.5] of bFGF-4 treatment groups, was significantly higher [P<0.05] than those of the control group but the percentage of embryos that developed to blastocyst in 20 ng/ml bFGF-4 treatment group was significantly higher than those of the control group [P<0.05]. Exogenous bFGF-4 improved the oocyte maturation and embryo development

[Structural and ultrastructural study of motor neurons following sciatic nerve repair by epineural suture, autograft and nerve guidance channel in adult rat]

Much interest has been focused on the development of alternative instrument for bridging the nerve gaps. In the present study we used poled polyvinelidene fluoride [PVDF] tube filled with nerve growth factor [NGF] and collagen gel as a substitute for nerve autograft and compared the results with other current surgical techniques. In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats each weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided in five groups; nerve guidance channel, autograft, epineural suture, axotomy and sham operation. In nerve guidance channel groups, a 10 mm piece of left sciatic nerve was transected and this gap was repaired by PVDF tube containing NGF 7s [100 ng] and collagen gel [1.28 mg/ml]. In autograft group, the 10 mm piece was 180° rotated and sutured to two nerve ends. In epineural suture group, left sciatic nerve in the middle thigh was transected then sutured end to end. In axotomy group, left sciatic nerve was transected in the middle thigh and was not repaired. After two months, left ventral L4-6 segments of spinal cord were removed and semi-thin and ultra-thin preparation for light and electron microscope were done. Contra-lateral side of spinal cord segments was used as control in all groups. After two months we observed motor neuron atrophy and shrinkage, cytoplasmic vacoules and piknotic neurons in different surgical groups, but it was more intense in axotomy group. These changes were less in epineural suture group than in autograft and nerve guidance channel groups. In sham and control groups no changes were observed. In addition, increased nuclear condensation, nuclear membrane folding, central and marginal chromatin clumping in spinal motor neuron were observed in surgical groups mainly in axotomy group. According to the results, any type of injury to the sciatic nerve can cause cell changes and finally cell death in the spinal motor neurons. Using PVDF with NGF and collagen gel reduced cell changes at the level of autograft