association between [8390G>A] single nucleotide polymorphism in APOE gene with Alzheimer's and Parkinson disease

Genetic susceptibility, is considered to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease [AD] and Parkinson's disease [PD]. Despite the fact that many susceptibility genes for AD and PD have been considered, the most probable genetic risk factor which has been taken into consideration is Apolipoprotein E genotype located on chromosome 19q, APOE is the gene widely considered to be a susceptibility gene for neurodegenerative diseases. This study is to investigate the association of APOE polymorphism with AD and PD. In this case control study we examined association of an APOE gene polymorphism [rs121918398] with AD and PD in Iranian population. The study included 100 AD patients, 100 PD patients and 150 healthy volunteers. An informed consent was obtained from all participants. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocyte. Genotypes were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] by Hha1 restriction enzyme. Sequencing of PCR products was carried out by Fazabiotech Company according to Sanger method using ABI 3730XL Capillary Sequencer. Statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc program. The prevalence of genotype frequencies of the APOE A/A, A/G, G/G were 16%, 34% and 50% in AD subjects, 14%, 32%, 54% in PD patients and in healthy volunteers were 15%, 39% and 96% respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between genotype frequencies of AD and those of control subjects [P < 0.05]. Moreover, according to statistical analysis, the genotype frequencies of APOE in PD subjects and control group did not significantly differ. This is the very first time that the association of this polymorphism [rs121918398] with AD is being reported nevertheless, there is no evidence that APOE variant is associated with PD. Accordingly, genotype alteration of A8390>G can't be related to AD. So, this polymorphism plays no pathogenic role in the PD and AD patients in Iranian population

comparison of the effects of acute and repeated morphine administration on fast synaptic transmission in magnocellular neurons of supraoptic nucleus, plasma vasopressin levels, and urine volume of male rats

The activity of the magnocellular neurons [MCNs] of supraoptic nucleus [SON] is regulated by a variety of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. Opioids are one of the important compounds that affect these inputs at SON synapses. In this study, whole-cell patch clamp recording of SON neurons was used to investigate the effect of acute and repeated morphine administration on spontaneous inhibitory and excitatory post synaptic currents [sIPSCs and sEPSCs] in MCNs. While acute bath application of morphine to brain slice of intact rat produced an increase in sEPSCs frequency and a decrease in sIPSCs frequency, repeated in vivo administration of morphine produced opposite effect. Moreover, repetitive i.c.v. administration of morphine for three consecutive days caused significant increase in urine volume, but had no significant alteration in water consumption compared to control group. The increase in urine volume was consistent with a significant decrease in plasma arginine vasopressin [AVP] levels after repetitive i.p. morphine administration. The results suggest that acute administration of morphine stimulates whereas repeated administration of morphine inhibits the MCNs. Morphine-induced MCN inhibition could result in diminished plasma AVP levels and eventually an increase in urine volume of rats

Chromosome abnormalities and viability of vitrified eight-cell mouse embryos at presence of two different cryoprotectants at different storage durations

Experiments were conducted to find the differences between post-thaw viability and chromosome aberrations in eight-cell mouse embryos at presence of dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO] and 1, 2-propanediol [PROH] as croprotectants in different storage durations. In this case-control study, a total number of 720 mouse embryos from about 250 NMRI mice were vitrified with 30% PROH or DMSO; each diluted with a solution containing 30% ficol plus 0.5 M sucrose. Embryos were exposed to the solutions for 0.5 minute at 25[degree sign] followed by cooling in liquid nitrogen, then after appropriate storage duration, they were rapidly warmed. Besides, there were 100 mouse embryos for each cryoprotectant group [totally 200 embryos] as control. Embryo survival was assessed by in vitro development, and chromosome abnormalities were analyzed by Giemsa staining. The proportion of mitotic abnormalities in PROH/DMSO vitrified embryos was significantly higher than unfrozen control group. This was confirmed also by a reduced viability of the embryos as judged by a culture at the blastocyst stage [p<0.05 in all test groups]. It can be deduced that long term cryopreservation may result in chromosomal abnormalities and/or low viability