Acute Systemic Infusion of Bupropion Decrease Formalin Induced Pain Behavior in Rat

BACKGROUND: The chronic pain can disturb physical, psychological, and social performances. Analgesic agents are widely used but some antidepressants (ADs) showed analgesia also. Bupropion is using for smoke cessation but it can change morphine withdrawal signs such as pain. This study tested the acute systemic effect of bupropion on formalin induced pain behavior in rats. METHODS: Wistar male healthy rats were divided into 7 groups (control, sham, and 5 treated groups with 10, 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion, i.p.). The bupropion injected 3 hours prior to formalin induced pain behavior. Formalin (50 microl, 2.5%) was injected subcutaneously in dorsal region of right hindpaw in all animals. Nociceptive signs were observed continuously on-line and off-line each minute. Common pain scoring was used for pain assessment. RESULTS: The analysis of data by one-way ANOVA showed that bupropion can reduce pain scores in the second phase but not in first phase. Bupropion decreased the licking/biting duration significantly in first and second phase of formalin test. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that bupropion has analgesic effects at systemic application. The change of second phase of the pain behavior was significant and it revealed that central mechanisms involve in bupropion analgesia.

Beneficial effects of American ginseng on epididymal sperm analyses in cyclophosphamide treated rats

This study aims to evaluate the protective effects of American ginseng administered by gastric intubation on sperm vital quality in adult male rats treated with cyclophosphamide [CP]. In this experimental study, 28 Adult male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups, seven rats in each. The animals allocated to control, CP treated, Ginseng treated and CP-Ginseng treated groups. Rats were treated with CP [6.1 mg/kg/day, i.p] for 6 weeks. American ginseng was used at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day during treatment. Sperm analysis [motion, count, morphology and viability] were evaluated at the end of the experiments. Sperm motion was assessed by Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis [CASA]. The data were analyzed using GB stat software. Probability values of p<0.05 and p<0.01 were considered significant. The epididymal sperm counts in the groups that received CP showed significant decreases compared to the control group. Also dead and abnormal sperms significantly increased following CP treatment compared with control. The motility of caudal sperm was reduced significantly with CP treatment. Therefore, according to the results of this study, co-administration of CP and American ginseng can improve these parameters. American ginseng can prevent the cytotoxic effects of CP on sperm quality factors

[Effects of long term perinatal administration of bupropion on population spike amplitude in neonatal rat hippocampal slices]

The perinatal effects of antidepressants on CNS due to its common usage are important issues in neuroscience research. Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is used in smoke cessation under FDA approve widely. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can reveal its mechanism for nicotine dependence cessation. In this study the long term effects of perinatal bupropion on population spike [PS] amplitudes were investigated. The PS amplitude is a good parameter for synaptic plasticity. Hippocampal slices from 18-25 day old rat's pups were prepared. The exam groups included control and Bupropion treated groups. Bupropion [40 mg/Kg, i.p] was applied in perinatal period daily as pretreatment. Bupropion also was perfused in ACSF [10, 50, 200 micro mol, 30 minutes] and tested for PS amplitude. PS amplitude of Stratum Radiatum was measured before and after Bupropion perfusion. Amplitude of PS before Bupropion perfusion was fitted as 100% for baseline. A concentration of 10 micro M did not reduce PS amplitude and Bupropion had no significant effects on PS amplitude. Bupropion in concentration of 50 micro M could reduce the amplitude of responses in 50% of cases. The 200 micro M of Bupropion perfusion reduced population spike amplitude all slices [n=22]. In the last state population spike amplitude in 8 out of 22 slices completely abolished. Decrease population spike amplitude in non-treated slices with 200 micro M perfusion was more than treated slices. Analyzing of data showed that chronic perinatal exposure to Bupropion in concentrations 50, 200 micro M reduced PS amplitude and we found adaptation synaptic in perfusion 200 micro M compare with Bupropion slices with non-treated

Effects of administration of perinatal bupropion on the population spike amplitude in neonatal rat hippocampal slices

Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is widely used in smoke cessation under FDA approval. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can help to finding out its mechanism[s] for stopping nicotine dependence. In this study the effects of perinatal bupropion on the population spike [PS] amplitude of neonates were investigated. Hippocampal slices were prepared from 18-25 days old rat pups. The experimental groups included control and bupropion-treated. Bupropion [40 mg/Kg, i.p.] was applied daily in perinatal period as pre-treatment. Due to the studying acute effects, bupropion was also added to the perfusion medium [10, 50, 200 micro M for 30 min]. The evoked PS was recorded from pyramidal layer of CA1 area, following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. A concentration of 10 micro M bupropion had no significant effects on the PS amplitude. The 50 micro M concentration of bupropion reduced the amplitude of responses in 50% of the studied cases. At a concentration of 200 micro M, the recorded PS amplitudes were reduced in all slices [n=22]. Amplitude was completely abolished in 8 out of the 22 slices. The decrease of the PS amplitude was found to be more in the non-pre-treated slices than in the pre-treated slices when both were perfused with 200 micro M bupropion. The results showed the perinatal exposure to bupropion and its acute effects while indicating that at concentrations of 50 and 200 micro M reduced the PS amplitude. It was also found that there was evidence of synaptic adaptation in comparison of bupropion-treated and non-treated slices whereas they were both perfused with 200 micro M

[Effects of vitamin E and ginseng extract on fertility changes induced by cyclophosphamide in rats]

Cyclophosphamide [CP] is a mustard alkylating agent used in the treatment of some neoplastic diseases such as leukemia, breast and pulmonary cancers. CP administration induces oxidative stress and has cytotoxic effects on normal cells, especially in the reproductive organs. A major side-effect of CP is the alteration of male reproductive function which may result in oligospermia or azoospermia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of vitamin E and ginseng extract on the reproductive system of male rats during cyclophosphamide administration. Fifty-six adult male Wistar rats [220 +/- 30 g] were randomly divided into seven groups of eight. To eliminate the stress induced by gavage, the animals in the first group were considered as the control group and only received water and food. The second group received the placebo for CP via gavage. The third group received CP, 6.1 mg/kg/day, through intraperitoneal administration. The fourth and fifth groups, respectively, received Ginseng, 500 mg/kg/day, and vitamin E 100 mg/kg/day via gavage. The eighth group received both antioxidants by intubation 1 h prior to CP administration for 50 days. The animals were sacrificed one day after the last injection. The testes, body weight, sperm parameters and fertility status of animals were evaluated at the end of the experiments. For the evaluation of fertility index, the male rats were mated with untreated female rats on the 40[th] day of the treatment period. Cyclophosphamide decreased sperm count, lowered fertility rate and decreased testis weight while it increased the number of dead and abnormal sperms [p < 0.01]. In addition, the number of pregnant animals and viable offspring were reduced too; while antioxidant use diminished the adverse effects of CP. The results of the study showed that antioxidative agents vitamin E and Ginseng could diminish the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide in the reproductive system of male rats during cyclophosphamide administration