ABSTRACT
Background: Many recent epidemiological studies have shown that epileptic patients are more likely suffer from depression, anxiety, and irritability. However, the cellular mechanisms of epilepsy-induced psychotic behaviors are not fully elucidated. Neurotrophin receptors have been suggested to be involved in epilepsy and also in psychiatric disorders. Up-regulation of p75NTR expression and activation of p75NTR signalling cascades after the seizure have been shown, but the role of the p75 receptor in epilepsy-induced psychotic behaviors has not been documented so far. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate the effect of p75 receptor blockade on seizure activity, irritability, and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of status epilepticus
Methods: Rats were injected with pilocarpine [350 mg/ kg, i.p.] to induce status epilepticus. Then various behavioral tests were performed after the blockade of p75NTR alone or in combination with p75 antagonist and phenobarbital. Molecular analysis by PCR was performed to investigate the expression of p75 and pro-NGF
Results: Molecular findings indicated a high level of mRNA expression for both p75 receptors and pro-NGF in the epileptic model group. Results also showed that the administration of p75 antagonist alone or in combination with phenobarbital was able to significantly influence the behavioral responses. Furthermore, 20-hours video monitoring showed a decrease in the frequency and duration of seizures in the rat group receiving p75 antagonist
Conclusion: Taken together, the present study suggests that the blockade of the p75 receptor may affect the irritability and anxietyrelated behavior in a rat model of status epilepticus
ABSTRACT
Background: Poor ovarian response [POR] to gonadotropin stimulation has led to a significant decline in success rate of fertility treatment. The immune system may play an important role in pathophysiology of POR by dysfunctions of cytokines and the growth factor network, and the presence of ovarian auto-antibodies. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of toll-like receptors [TLR] 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and cyclooxygenase [COX] 2 genes in follicular cells and concentration of interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor [MIF], as major parts of innate immunity, in follicular fluid [FF] obtained from POR women in comparison with normal women
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 20 infertile POR patients and 20 normal women took part in this study and underwent controlled ovarian stimulation. The FF was obtained from the largest follicle [>18 mm]. The FF was centrifuged and cellular pellet was then used for evaluation of expression of TLRs and COX2 genes by real-time PCR. FF was used for quantitative analysis for IL-6, IL-8 and MIF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]
Results: TLR1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and COX2 gene expression were significantly higher in POR [p<0.05]. Concentration of IL-6, IL-8 and MIF proteins was significantly increased in POR compared with normal women [p<0.05]
Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that the immune system may be involved in pathophysiology of POR through TLRs