Protective effect of melatonin against inequality-induced damages on testicular tissue and sperm parameters

The goals of the study are evaluation of the effects of food deprivation and isolation situation as a social stress on fertility; and in the following, investigation of the improving effect of melatonin as an antioxidant component. In this experimental study, We investigated histopathological and serological effects of melatonin and social stress [food deprivation and isolation] on different features of sperm and testicular tissue among 42 male rats in 7 groups including control, sham, melatonin received [M], food deprivation [FD], Food deprivation and melatonin treatment [FDM], Food deprivation and isolation situation [FDi], and Food deprivation and melatonin treatment and isolation situation [FDMi] groups. Epididymal sperms of all rats were also counted. Histopathological evaluation of the testes was done under a light microscopy to determine the number of spermiogenic cells. Serological evaluation of testosterone, corticosterone, and melatonin was performed, as well. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test were used, and the value of p

Endothelium-dependent effect of sesame seed feeding on vascular reactivity of streptozotocin-diabetic rats: underlying mechanisms

Cardiovascular disorders continue to constitute major causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. In this study, the effect of chronic administration of sesame [Sesamum indicum L] seed feeding was studied on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin [STZ]-diabetic rats. Male diabetic rats received sesame seed-mixed food at weight ratios of 3% and 6% for 7 weeks, one week after diabetes induction. Contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine [PE] and relaxation response to acetylcholine [ACh] and sodium nitroprusside [SNP] were obtained from aortic rings. Maximum contractile response of endothelium-intact rings to PE was significantly lower in sesame-treated diabetic rats [at a ratio of 6%] relative to untreated diabetics and endothelium removal abolished this difference. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh was also significantly higher in sesame-treated diabetic rats [at a ratio of 6%] as compared to diabetic rats and pretreatment of rings with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N[G]-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] significantly attenuated the observed response. Two-month diabetes also resulted in an elevation of malondialdehyde [MDA] and decreased superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity and sesame treatment significantly reversed the increased MDA content and restored activity of SOD. We thus conclude that chronic treatment of diabetic rats with sesame seed could in a dose- manner prevent some abnormal changes in vascular reactivity through nitric oxide and via attenuation of oxidative stress in aortic tissue and endothelium integrity is necessary for this beneficial effect

Can social instability, food deprivation and food inequality accelerate neuronal aging?

Based on both animal and human studies, inequality in food intake and social instability has adverse effects on the health of individuals and the community. However, it is not known whether social instability, food deprivation and food inequality affect neuronal death and premature aging in young animals. To address this question, the effects of these adverse situations, histopathological changes in hippocampal pyramidal cells and aging process were investigated. Forty eight New Zeeland white male rabbits were divided into six groups and all of them were housed in similar conditions, with 2 animals per cage in a temperaturecontrolled colony room under light-dark cycle. All experimental animals were fed on standard rabbit commercial pellets and different social situations such as food deprivation, inequality in food intake, and unstable social status were applied to experimental groups during eight weeks. Afterward, lipofuscin accumulation and apoptosis, as main markers of aging, were compared to the control group by Long Ziehl Nelseen staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling [TUNEL reaction] assay to reveal the rate of lipofuscin pigment accumulation and TUNEL-reactive apoptotic bodies in the hippocampal pyramidal cells. Serum cortisol level was also measured. Inequality in social situation raised chronic stress [i.e. food deprivation, social inequality and instability] and caused significant changes in lipofuscin accumulation in hippocampal pyramidal cells in comparison to the control group [p<0.005]. The results also showed a significant increase in the ratio of apoptotic to normal cells in all of the stressed groups compared to the control group [p<0.05]. Moreover, application of the social inequality and stresses alone or together modulated levels of cortisol in the experimental group. These findings suggest that food deprivation, inequality and social instability enhance the susceptibility of hippocampal pyramidal cells to apoptosis and premature aging induced by lipofuscin accumulation

[Study of the therapeutic effect of melatonin after food deprivation in apoptosis and oxidative stress in rat testis]

The goals of the study are evaluation the effect[s] of food deprivation as a social stress on testis structure. We also investigated the effects of melatonin treatment as an antioxidant component and inequality on the effect[s] of food deprivation. We investigated the improving effects of melatonin and social stress [food deprivation] on 42 male rats in 7 groups including control, sham, melatonin received [M], food deprivation [1/3 of control daily food] plus observation [FD], FD + melatonin [FDM], isolated FD [FDi], and FDi + melatonin [FDMi] groups. After 14 days, rats' testes were studied using immuno histochemistry and TUNEL assays to determine the number of apoptotic cells. Biochemical evaluation was taken on malodialdehide [MDA] and glutathione [GSH]. ANOVA and Tukey's tests were done to analyse the data. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results of sham group was declined for similarity to results of control group. In FD group, MDA was increased significantly [P<0.01], GSH was decreased and the number of apoptotic cells was increased, significantly [P<0.01]. In FDi group, there was no effect on the ratio of oxidative stress compared to the control group. Melatonin treatment could decrease apoptotic cells [P<0.05] and MDA concentration [P<0.05] in the FD group. Food deprivation can induce oxidative stress which is associated with increasment of apoptotic cells in testis. Isolation can compensate these effects. These results refer to inequality. Since melatonin is recognized for its anti-oxidative and improving effects, we have shown involvement of oxidative stress mechanisms on the stress of food deprivation with inequality

Mental health status of individuals fifteen years and older in Tehran-Iran [2009]

This survey was implemented as a part of the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool [Urban HEART Project] in Tehran, Iran. Since an accurate programming in order to provide mental health services in the province of Tehran requires basic and essential information, the present study was carried out to determine the mental health status of a population sample aged 15 years and over in the mentioned city. The present research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The statistical population comprised all individuals residing in the 22 areas of Tehran Municipality. Regular random cluster sampling was used in order to choose the subjects from among the households in the mentioned areas. In total, 19370 subjects [7705 male and 11665 female] completed the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire for the assessment of mental health. Data were collected and analyzed by trained personnel of Tehran municipality health centers. The results of this survey indicated that 34.2% of the population in the age group 15 years and above suffer from mental disorders [37.9% of women and 28.6% of men]. Women's relative risk of developing mental disorders was 1.3 times higher than that of men. The risk of mental disorders increased with age; and divorced or widowed people were 1.5 times more likely to develop mental disorders compared with single and married individuals. Housewives and unemployed men had the highest risk of developing mental disorders. The highest rates of positive responses to questions on the GHQ-28 were related to malaise and being bad-tempered, anxiety and apprehension, inability to allocate time to tasks, insomnia and hopelessness. Anxiety and somatization were more common than social dysfunction and depression. It is estimated that about 2 million individuals in Tehran require mental health care. Also, insufficient number of psychiatrists and psychiatric beds, indicates that there is a need to provide appropriate staff and facilities to make mental health care available in large cities such as Tehran. The provision of life skills workshops for general population is also suggested, in order to enable individuals to cope with stressful situations in urban areas