ABSTRACT
Background and objective: Stress specially the chronic psychological one is an important issue of our modern society. In this regard, this study has been investigated the effects of chronic psychological stress on metabolic, hormonal and behavioral parameters.
Materials and methods: The present study is an experimental intervention.The animals were divided into control and stressed groups and then subdivided into 15 and 30 days [n=7]. Stress was induced by the communication box.This device consisted of 9 chambers. The animals received electrical shock in five chambers and the animals in four chambers exposed to various emotional. Chronic stress for 15 and 30 days [h / day1] was applied. Blood sampling was done by using retro orbital puncture method. The plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin, and corticosterone were measured. In addition, feed and water intake, latency to eat and drink, adrenal and body weights were determined. For statistical analysis a mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures within the stressed and control groups and independent measures between the two groups was performed by SPSS Version 16.0 program package. The level of significance was considered less than 0.05.
Results: Chronic psychological stress did not significantly change plasma corticosterone [P=0.41], insulin [P=0.45], glucose [P=0.47], triglyceride [P=0.07] and cholesterol [P=0.26] levels. 30 days chronic stress significantly increased feed intake compared to control ones [P=0.01]. Whereas water intake [P=0.07], latency to eat [P=0.70] and drink [P=0.08] did not change significantly in the stressed group. 30 days exposure to the stress in both control and stressed groups increased body [P=0.002 and P=0.004 respectively] and adrenal [P=0.01 and P=0.04 respectively] weights markedly compared to day 15.
Conclusion: short and mid-term psychological stress did not change hormonal and metabolic parameters significantly, whereas feed intake was significantly increased. However, no significant difference was observed in body weight of stressed animals compared to controls.
ABSTRACT
Previous studies have shown that morphine consumption during pregnancy may cause delay or defect of embryo development or abnormal nervous system function in the human and animal models. In the present study, the highest density of morphine accumulation in the central nervous system of rat embryos was evaluated using C14-morphine. Female Wistar rats [W 170-200 g] used and were crossed with male rats and coupling time was recorded [Embryonic day 0-E0]. Experimental groups received 0.05 mg/ml of C14-morphine in drinking water daily. On the 10[th] and 17[th] days of pregnancy, pregnant rats were anesthetized and the embryos with these uterus and placenta were surgically removed and were fixed in formalin 10% for 4 week. Then the embryos were processed, sectioned in 25 micro m and 5 micro m thicknesses, fixed on the glasses for further evaluations. The sectioned in 25, the glasses were fixed on the Blanc black and white film for 6 h. Then, the films were appeared and their negatives were prepared. The sectioned in five staining hematoxylin and eosin by light microscope and MOTIC software. Our results indicated that the highest C14-morphine accumulation was observed in the vesicles and the ventricular choroid plexus [CP] of [E17] embryos, whereas, in the [E10] embryos. Highest concentration was observed in the brain vesicles and the ventricular CP. In addition, this study showed the surface area of lateral, 3[rd] and 4[th] ventricular CP in the experimental groups were increased in compared to control groups. Our results indicated that effects of morphine on reduction of embryos brain development may be due to the highest accumulation of C14-morphine in the CP and brain vesicles
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Rats, Wistar , Central Nervous System/drug effects , Embryonic Structures , Choroid Plexus , Embryonic DevelopmentABSTRACT
Sexual dysfunction is common among women. It affects on all aspects of women's life. Majority of these problems can be treated in early stages with counseling and a few numbers of them need to be treated by specialists. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of PLISSIT-based counseling model on sexual function of women. This was a randomized clinical trial study. It was conducted in an urban health center in Zanjan. Eighty women who were married in the previous 5 years, and had sexual problems, randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group received consultation based on PLISSIT model [Permission-limited Information-Specific Suggestion- Intensive Therapy] by a trained midwife and the control group received routine sexual consultation. Demographic and obstetric information were gathered through standard questionnaire. FSFI [Female Sexual Function Index] questionnaire were used for assessing sexual function. Data were collected from participants at three points: before consultation, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after consultation. Mann-Whitney, T-tests and x[2] used for data analysis. Mean scores of sexual function were 25.3 before consultation, 28.8 two weeks after and 29.4 four weeks after consultation in experimental group. These differences were statistically significant [p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively]. In control group, mean scores of sexual function were 24.48, 24.44, 23.74 before, 2 weeks, 4 weeks after consultation respectively. These differences were not statistically significant [p=0.946 and p=0.375]. There was no significant difference in mean score of sexual function between control and experimental groups before intervention [p=0.408]. However 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the consultation this difference was significant [p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively]. Based on the result of this study, we can claim that sexual problem in women decreased by using the PLISSIT model. Using the PLISSIT model is recommended in health care setting.
ABSTRACT
Consumption of morphine, during pregnancy, in addition to inducing defects in the mother's nervous system function, caused defects or delays in the formation and evolution of embryonic visual system. In the present study, changes in lens development were assessed in embryos exposed to morphine in utero. Female Wistar rats [250-300 g] were mated with male rats and pregnancy was determined by sperm observation in vaginal smear. This day was considered as embryonic day zero [E0]. The females were then divided randomly into the experimental and the control groups. The control group received tap water and the experimental group received morphine [0.05 mg/ml] in their water. On embryonic day 13 [E13], blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital sinus of all animals for plasma corticosterone detection. On embryonic day 17[E17], the animals were killed by an overdose of chloroform and the embryos were taken out surgically. The embryos were fixed in 10% formalin for 30 days. At this time, the head of the embryos were removed for tissue processing and Hematoxylin- Eosin [HandE] staining. The samples were evaluated using light microscope and MOTIC software. Our data indicated that plasma corticosterone level was dramatically increased and the lens was thinner in the experimental group. [Although the proliferation of lens cells increased in the experiment group but that lens had delay in removing the proliferated and elongation cells with abnormal density in the lateral part of the lens in comparison with the control group]. Moreover, the opening of the eyelids was delayed in the off springs of the mothers who received morphine. This study showed that morphine consumption during pregnancy leads to defects in fetal visual system development, particularly in the lens, and eyelids