ABSTRACT
Background: Saffron [Crocus sativus L.] has been traditionally used as a spice for coloring and flavoring in some countries cuisine. One of the main components of saffron is Crocin. Recent research have shown that crocin has various pharmacological effects. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of crocin on the Pituitary-Gonadal axis and Kiss-1 gene expression in hypothalamus and ovarian tissue organization in female Wistar rats
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 18 adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Control group received normal saline and experimental groups received two different doses of crocin [100 and 200 mg/kg] every two days for 30 days. After the treatment period, blood samples were obtained from the heart and centrifuged. Next, the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH], estrogen and progesterone hormones were measured by ELISA assay. The ovarian tissues were removed and fixed for histological investigation. The hypothalamic Kiss-1 gene expression was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. All data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA
Results: A significant reduction [P=0.038] in the number of atretic graafian follicles [0.5 +/- 0.31] was observed in rats treated with 200 mg/kg crocin. In addition, estrogen concentration in experimental groups [35.04 +/- 0.85 and 36.18 +/- 0.69 in crocin 100 and 200 mg/kg groups, respectively] compared to control group [38.35 +/- 0.64] and progesterone concentration in rats treated with crocin 200 mg/kg [2.06 +/- 0.07] compared to control group [2.16 +/- 0.04], significantly decreased. Interestingly, relative expressions of Kiss-1 mRNA significantly decreased in experimental groups [0.00053 +/- 0.00051 and 0.0011 +/- 0.00066 in crocin 100 and 200 mg/kg groups, respectively] [P=0.000] compared to control group [1 +/- 0]
Conclusion: Crocin, at hypothalamic level, reduces Kiss-1 gene expression and it can prevent follicular atresia and reduce serum levels of estrogen and progesterone
ABSTRACT
We were studied on differentiation potential of CD133[+] and CD34[+] hematopoietic stem cells into motor neuron like cells
Materials and methods: CD133[+] and CD34[+] HSCs were isolated from human UCB using MACS system. After cell characterization using flow cytometry, the cells were treated with a combination of Retinoic acid, Sonic hedgehog, Brain derived neurotrophic factor, and B27 through a 2- step procedure for two weeks. The expression of MN-specific markers was examined using immunocytochemistry and flow cytometery
Results: Flow cytometery analysis revealed 98 percent and 95.7 percent CD133[+] and CD34[+] cells, respectively. By the end of the two-week differentiation protocol, CD133[+] and CD34[+] cells acquired unipolar MNL morphology with thin and long neurites. The expression of Isl-1, AChE, NF-H and Nestin was detected in 66.4 percent, 58.3 percent, 80.6 percentand 84.9 percent of CD133[+] cells and 63.2 percent, 52.3 percent, 78.6 percent and 80.1 percent of CD34[+] cells
Conclusion: Human UCB - CD133[+] and CD34+HSCs are remarkably potent cell candidates to trans- differentiate into motor neuron-like cells, in vitro
ABSTRACT
Background: To restore the lost cells of patients diagnosed with Muscular Degenerative diseases, stem cell therapy has recently proved to be an effective strategy. Chorion is an ethically approved reservoir which contains mesenchymal stem cells with self- renewal properties and multilineage differentiation capacity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the myogenic differentiation potential of human chorion-derived mesenchymal stem cells [C-MSCs] for the first time
Materials and methods: Chorion was digested by using 0.3 percent Collagenase type II. Cells were characterized by using flowcytometry and differentiated into osteoblast and adipoblast lineages. To induce myogenic differentiation, C-MSCs were cultured in DMEM/F12 and 2 percent FBS supplemented with 10 micrometer of 5-azacytidine overnight. Afterwards, the medium was replaced with DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10 percent FBS for two weeks. Real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry were used to evaluate the expression of myogenic markers
Results: The expression of CD90, CD73 and CD44 antigen and their ability to differentiation into osteoblast and adipoblast lineages were confirmed. Although the expression of CTNT and MYH6 reduced second week, Real-time PCR results revealed significant upregulation of Desmin, MYH6 and Cardiac TroponinT at the end of the first week [P<0.05]. Slight upregulation of MYOD and GATA-4 transcripts at first and second week were observed. ICC staining approved the expression of Desmin, cTnT and ?-MHC
Conclusion: The results showed that C-MSCs were potent to differentiate into myoblast