[ effect of ascorbic acid injection into the nucleus accumbens shell on food intake and body weight in male rats]

Several factors such as dopamine affect food intake and appetite. Release of dopamine from dopaminergic neurons is associated with ascorbic acid [AA]. The nucleus accumbens via direct and indirect anatomical connections with the lateral hypothalamus is effective in control of feeding behavior. Based on these observations, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of central injection of ascorbic acid into the nucleus accumbens shell on the food intake and body weight of adult male rats. Thirty five adult male rats were divided into five groups as follows [n=7 each]: Control, sham [injected vehicle of AA], and Ascorbic Acid [AA] groups [10, 50, and 250 micro g/rat]. Rats were anaesthetized and cannulas were implanted bilaterally in the nucleus accumbens shell [AP= 1.7 mm, LA= +/- 0.8 mm from bregma, DV=5.6 mm from skull surface]. After one week recovery period, three different doses of ascorbic acid [1 microl/day] were injected into the three separate groups for 4 days. Food intakes were measured every 24 hours and weight changes were determined after 4 days. Doses of ascorbic acid [10, 50, and 250 1g/rat] decreased food intake significantly [p<0.01]. Although the partial decrease was observed in the body weight, but the decrease was not significant in any of the different doses groups. Based on our results, it seems that ascorbic acid in the nucleus accumbens shell, probably via hunger and the satiety control centers in the hypothalamus, regulates body weight and food intake.

[Preventive effect of garlic juice on food intake and serum levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats]

Diabetes mellitus, a state of chronic hyperglycemia, is associated with high risk of atherosclerosis, renal diseases and nervous system and ocular damage. Garlic as a medicinal plant has shown to have diverse biological activities, including antidiabetic actions. Garlic and its preparations are affected in cardiovascular diseases which have been caused by diabetes. Since the pervious studies have focused on the therapeutic role of garlic in diabetes, we have decided to investigate the preventive effect of garlic juice on the changes of serum lipids. Forty male Wistar rats [250 +/- 20 g] were divided into five groups as follows. 1] Control group [N], 2] Normal+Garlic group [N+G] received garlic juice for 6 weeks, 3] Diabetic group [D] was injected with STZ [60 mg/kg BW, i.p.], 4] Diabetic+Garlic_before group [D+G[b]] received garlic juice for 3 weeks before STZ injection and continued for another 3 weeks, 5] Diabetic+Garlic_after group [D+G[a]] received garlic juice for 3 weeks; after injected with STZ. Garlic juice was given by gavage [Iml/100g BW/day]. At the end of experimental period, food intake measured by metabolic cages and serum levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides were assessed by enzymatic methods. D+G[b] and D+G[a] groups in comparison with D group showed significant increases [p<0.05] in the body weights and significant decreases [p<0.0001] in food intake. D+G[b] group in comparison with D+G[a] group, showed significant increase [p<0.05] in the body weights and significant decrease [p<0.001] in food intake. In D+G[b] and D+G[a] groups, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels in comparison with D group showed significant decreases [p<0.0001]. In D+G[b] group, glucose levels have no significant difference with N and N+G groups, but in comparison with D+G[a] group showed significant decrease [p<0.05]. In D+G[b] group, serum level of cholesterol in comparison with N and N+G groups [p<0.01] and serum level of triglycerides in comparison with N and D+G[a] groups showed significant decreases [p<0.001]. These results suggest that garlic juice could influence in prevention against increases of cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic rats

Preventive effect of garlic on histopathology of liver and markers of hepatic injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is associated with biochemical, physiological, and pathologic alterations in the liver. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of garlic juice on changes in the structure of rat liver and serum activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases after streptozotocin injection. Forty rats were divided into five groups of 8 rats each: a] Normal group [N], b] Normal+Garlic group [N+G] received 1 ml of garlic juice/100g BW/day for 6 weeks, c] Diabetic group [D] was injected with streptozotocin [60rng/kg BW, i.p.], d] Diabetic+Garlic_before group [D+Gb] received garlic juice for 3 weeks before STZ injection and continued for another 3 weeks, e] Diabetic+Garlic - after group [D+Ga] received garlic juice for 3 weeks after being injected with STZ. Hepatic histological changes were assessed with hematoxylin-eosine staining using a light microscope. In diabetic rats, the activities of serum ALT and AST were significantly increased [p < 0.05] compared to other groups. In D+Gb and D+Ga rats the activity of serum ALT was significantly decreased compared to the D group. The activity of serum AST in D+Gb group had no significant difference with the N and N+G groups and was significantly decreased compared to the D group. In the D group, separated necrosis of hepatocytes, anarchism of liver plates, and lymphocytic inflammation were observed; in the D+Gb and D+Ga groups compared to the D group, all of previous signs improved. Garlic juice was found to influence changes of aminotransferases and prevent the histopathological changes of liver associated with STZ diabetes in rats