Antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract of barberry fruit [Berberis vulgaris] in the guinea- pig ileum

Barberry [Berberris vulgaris] is a well known medicinal plant in Iran and has also been used as food. This study was conducted to evaluate antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract of barberry fruit. Methanolic extract was prepared and pharmacologically studied on isolated guineapig ileum, dose- response curves of histamine and acetylcholine with and without methanolic extract were plotted. The pA[2] values for antihistaminic activity of methanolic extract and dexchlorpheniramine were calculated [extract; pA[2] +/- S.E.M = 3.53 +/- 0.16 [-logC[g/l]]; dexchlorpheniramine; pA[2] +/- S.E.M.= 9.36 +/- 0.14 [[-logC [M]] and compared with each other. The pA[2] values of anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract and atropine were also calculated [extract; pA[2] +/- S.E.M = 4.18 +/- 0.17 [-logC[g/1]]; atropine, PA[2] +S.E.M = 8.99 +/- 0.13 [-logC[M]] and compared. The results indicated antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract

[PKC mediates endogenous inhibition of myelin repair in the context of local demyelination induced in mice optic chiasm]

Axon regeneration in adult CNS is limited by the presence of inhibitory proteins associated with myelin. Although blocking PKC activity attenuates the ability of CNS myelin to inhibit neurite outgrowth, the role as well as mechanisms underlying the remyelination inhibition in CNS are still largely unknown. Considering the role of PKC in axonal regeneration and the vulnerability of optic chiasm in multiple sclerosis [MS], we assessed the effect of PKC inhibition on remyelination of lysolecithin induced demyelinated optic chiasm. Demyelination was induced by stereotaxic intra-chiasmatic injection of 1 micro l lysolecithin [%1] in male mice. Intracerebroventricular daily injection of a PKC inhibitor [GO6976] was done for 14 days post-lesion. Demyelination and remyelination patterns in optic chiasm were confirmed through histological verification and electrophysiological study using Luxol fast blue staining and visual evoked potentials [VEP] recording, respectively. In lysolecithin treated animals, demyelination was mostly marked at days 3 and 7 post-lesion and an incomplete remyelination occurred at day 14 post-lesion. VEP recording showed increased P-latency at the days 3 and 7 post-lesion while it partially decreased at day 14. Following the inhibition of PKC, while the extent of demyelination and P-latency slightly decreased at the days 3 and 7 post-lesion, it recovered at day 14. VEP recording data were confirmed by histological verification. Inhibition of PKC activity could represent a potential therapeutic approach for stimulating the remyelination process in the context of multiple sclerosis

[Induced in vitro differentiation of beta -tubulin III expressed cells from human amniotic epithelial cells]

The differentiation of neural cells from embryonic stem cells is influenced by several factors. Amniotic epithelial cells [AECs] share many of the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells, and therefore, those factors may similarly affect the derivation of neural cells from AECs. In this study, we examined the differentiation of neural cells in vitro from AECs using the expression of Beta-tubulin III marker, after AECs treatment with retinoic acid [RA], and the impact of basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF]. We also studied whether blocking bone morphogenetic protein [BMP] signaling the use of its antagonist, noggin, affects the derivation of neural cells from AECs. AECs were isolated from fresh human amniotic membrane and aggregated for 5 days in bacteriological dishes. The dissociated cells were transferred to adherent culture dishes and treated with noggin and bFGF for 7 days. In some cultures, bFGF was removed and RA was added and the cultures were allowed to differentiate for 21 days. Analysis of AECs derived neural cells was performed at the Beta-tubulin III expression levels by immunocitochemistry. All cultures treated with noggin showed the higher levels of Beta-tubulin III expression than noggin free cultures. Combined treatment with bFGF and RA showed the highest level of Beta-tubulin III in all treatment groups with or without noggin. bFGF withdrawal did not promote expression of Beta-tubulin III, while its maintenance increased the expression of Beta-tubulin III. These results show the capability of AECs to express neural cell marker and this potential is affected by some factors including noggin, bFGF, RA

Kinetics of nitric oxide production and MTT reduction by HSV-1 infected macrophages

Macrophages have important role in defense against Herpes Simplex Virus type-1 [HSV-1]. The present study was performed to determine the viability and nitric oxide [NO] production by HSV-1 infected mouse peritoneal macrophages [HIM]. The viability of macrophages was evaluated using MTT reduction assay and the production of nitrite using Griess method. The ability of infected macrophages to reduce Tetrazolium [MTT] was diminished at virus to cell ratios of multiplicity of infection [MOI] of one, three and 10; but not at 0.01 and 0.1. Induction and inhibition of NO production by HIM were MOI dependent. The basal NO production by these cells was inhibited at MOI of three and ten. In contrast virus to cell ratios of 0.01 and 0.1 induced low but significant enhancement in NO production. The inability of HIM to reduce MTT at MOI of three was significant after 12-hrs and inhibition of NO production was initiated between 12-20 hours after infection. High doses of HSV-1 seem to decrease the normal activity of macrophages by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide

Progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate retard the development of amygdala kidling in male rats

The effect of progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA] on the development and expression of amygdala kindled seizures was studied in adult male rats. Rats were treated with either daily intraperitoneal progesterone[60 mg/kg] or weekly intramuscular MPA [25 mg/kg] during the development of kindling. Progesterone retarded both focal and generalization stages of kindling at the 10 min. injection-stimulation interval, while MPA only retarded the generalization stage. However, neither of the drugs had any effect on afterdischarge and stage 5 seizure duration after full kindling. These results suggest that progesterone antiepileptogenic effect results from inhibition of the development of both focal seizures and kindled seizure generalization