[Effect of soybean on male reproductive physiology in male mice]

Soybean [Soja hispida Moench] is a member of Fabaceae family. It is a species of legume native to East Asia. Soy contains significant amount of all the essential amino acids for humans; therefore, is a good source of protein. Soy has an important role in the improvement and treatment of come cancers such as colon, prostate, and breast. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of soybeans on reproductive system in male mice. This experimental study was conducted at Isfahan Payam e Noor University in 2009. In this research, 32 male mice were randomly grouped into four experimental groups. The control group was fed with soy-free basic diet. The experimental groups 1,2 and 3 were fed with a diet containing 20%, 30% and 50% soy diet respectively. At the end of 9 weeks of treatment, blood samples were collected and serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH were measured. The collected data was analyzed with SPSS software using one way ANOVA with Dunnett's post test and Duncan test. In the experimental group which received 20% soy diet, the level of testosterone had a meaningful decrease in comparison with the control group [P<0.05], but in the experiemental group which received a 50% soy diet, the level of testosterone had a meaningful increase [P<0.05]. The LH level in 30% and 50% groups had a meaningful increase but no significant differences were observed in FSH level and weight of testicles [P<0.05]. The number of sperms in all of the treatment regimes had a meaningful decrease [P<0.05], but the mean of testis weight was not significantly different between different groups [P>0.05]. Results of this research indicated that the 20, 30, and 50 percent soy diet had a negative effect on the male reproductive system in mice

[Effect of saffron extract on electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in the male mice]

Due to widespread use of saffron [Crocus sativus L] as food colorant and flavor, and its reputation in folk medicine as a drug, recent studies revealed that main components of saffron are the carotenoids: crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal which have a large number of physiological effects on different biological systems. Our objective was to assess the efficacy of Crocus sativus on serum proteins pattern in the male mice. Five groups including eight adult male Balb/C mice were used in this study. Normal saline administered as placebo to control group and saffron extract in doses of 25 mg/Kg/48hr, 50 mg/Kg/48hr, 100 mg/Kg/48hr and 200 mg/Kg/48hr were injected intra peritoneally for 20 days to experimental groups. The levels of Albumin, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta and Gamma globulins were separated electrophoretically and A/G ratio was calculated from the pattern of electrophoretogram. The result indicated that the levels of Albumin increased significantly in two experimental groups that had received 50 mg/Kg/48h and 100 mg/Kg/48h extract of Saffron as compared to the control group, the levels of Alpha-1 didn't have any remarkable changes in any group. The injection of 50 mg/Kg/48h, 100 mg/Kg/48h and 200 mg/Kg/48hr extract of saffron decreased [p < 0.05] the Alpha-2 level in plasma as compared to the control group and levels of Beta globulins increased significantly in these three groups. The levels of Gamma globulins increased significantly in 100 and 200 mg/kg-treated groups as compared to the placebo controlled group. A/G ratio [Albumin/Globulin ratio] were significantly [p < 0.05] lower than control group in any groups that received saffron extract in a dose-dependent manner. Albumin were significantly increased in two groups and A/G ratio was decreased in any groups. This can be interpreted that in the absence of antigen stimulation, serum globulins did alter markedly by extract of saffron. The study shows that since albumin synthesis occurs in the liver cells, thus administration of saffron may improve the status of liver function significantly

[ effect of cinnamon [bark] extract on male reproductive physiology in mice]

Cinnamon is a plant with the scientific name cinnamomun zeylanicum that belongs to the Lauraceae family. This plant has many therapeutic effects; one of them is the increasing of sexual desire. This study was conducted to find out the effects of Cinnamon extracts on reproductive physiology of male laboratory mice. Animals were assigned in six groups, each consisted of eight mice. The mice groups were experimental groups [1,2,3,4] and two control and placebo groups. All animals were kept in same condition. Different doses of Cinnamon hydro-ethanolic extract [50,100,200 and 400 mg/kg/2day] were injected, intraperitonealy, to animals for 20 days while the control group received normal saline plus ethanol. The most important parameters in this study were included: variation in testicles weight, probabe histological changes in testes, changes in number of sexual cells and density of LH, FSH and testosterone in blood of the subjects. The results indicated that cinnamon can significantly increase the level of LH and FSH in doses of 200, 400 mg/kg. The density of testosterone increased in dose of 50, 100 mg/kg also the number of sperms and primary spermatocytes raise in 100, 200 and 400 cinnamon extract while no significant changes were observed in weight of testicles and also in histological findings. The findings of this research indicated the positive effects of cinnamon extract on male reproductive system and hormonal changes in pituitary-gonad axis because sperm count and secretion of FSH hormone had a meaningful significance in dose of 200 and 400mg/kg of the cinnamon extract

Effect of saffron [Crocus sativus] extract on level of FSH, LH and testosterone in mice

Saffron is widely used as a food flavor and has well known medicinal effects. Recent studies have revealed that main components of saffron including carotenoids: crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal have a large number of physiological effects on different biological systems. We decided to assess the possible effect of saffron extract on concentratians of LH, FSH and testosterone in mice. Four groups each including eight adult male Balb/C mice weighing 30 5g were chosen. Normal saline was administered as placebo to control group and saffron extract in doses of 25 mg kg / 48h, 50mg kg / 48h and 100mg kg / 48h was injected intraperitoneally for 20 days to test groups. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone, were measured using ELISA. The level of FSH, LH and testosterone significantly increased in 100mg kg saffron treated group, as compared with with placebo group. No significant differences were observed between other test groups and placebo. The study indicates efficacy of saffron extract in dose of 100 mg/kg/ 48h on pituitary-testis axis in mice. However further studies are needed to determine the effect of saffron on human reproductivity

Investigation on anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in type I diabetes mellitus

Antibodies directed against the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase [GAD] are believed to be the main cause of destruction of pancreatic islet cells in type I [insulin dependent] diabetes mellitus. The enzyme was found both in the brain and pancreatic beta cells. Although similarities in identity of GAD in human and rat brain have been demonstrated, little is known about the interaction between the enzyme and antiserum in type 1 diabetic patients. In the present study GAD was partially purified from rat brain homogenate. The four-step procedure involves, sequentially, an ultracentrifugation, DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite resin, and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme activity was assayed either manometrically or fluorimetrically. The results showed a positive correlation between the rates of CO[2] production with the changes of fluorescence intensities of the enzyme after addition of glutamate. The collected fraction from the gel filtration chromatography showed approximately 140-fold purification of the enzyme with a 15% yield. The specific activity of the enzyme of brain supernatant and the partially purified enzyme collected from every chromatographic step was measured upon addition of the serum samples from type I diabetes [n= 11]. A marked decrease in the rate of CO[2] production or the change of fluorescence intensities of the enzyme was observed, indicating an interaction between the enzyme and the patients' sera. However, serum samples from healthy control individuals had little effect on the enzyme activity of the partially purified GAD. The results suggested that rat brain GAD might be used as an in vitro reagent for screening of type I diabetes, using an enzyme inhibition assay

Relationship between neurofilaments and unwinded DNA content in isolated neurons of young adult and old rat

Age-related changes of neurofilament proteins and unwinded DNA have been studied in the neuronal preparations from rat brain. The relative integrity of the cells was confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] latency which was similar for all ages [3 days, 3 months and 30 months] studied. The concentrations of neurofilaments was measured by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The neurofilament content of neurons increased during development of rat brain and decreased in the neuronal preparations of aged rat. Whereas the amount of unwinded DNA increased only in the neurons of aged animals. The opposite relationship between the amount of unwinded DNA and the neurofilament content of the neurons in aging is consistent with the susceptibility of the neurons to the metabolic alterations of the aging process. It is suggested that the decrease of the neurofilament content of the neurons may be a causative factor of neuronal loss in aging

Serotonin synthesis in the nerve-terminals of rat brain regions

Isolated nerve-terminals [synaptosomes] have been used to investigate serotonin synthesis in rat brain regions. The rate of serotonin production by the synaptosomal preparations from hypothalamus, striatum, midbrain and frontal cortex was measured before and after incubation of the synaptosomes in the presence of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. The hypothalamic area and the synaptosomes isolated from this brain region contained a higher storage capacity of serotonin and displayed a higher rate of serotonin production compared with other parts of the brain. The lowest level of serotonin is stored in the frontal cortex, which is consistent with a lower rate of amine synthesis by the nerve-terminals obtained from this brain region. The data indicated that there is a close relationship between the rate of serotonin production by synaptosomes and the endogenous serotonin content of the brain regions. It is concluded that, synaptosomes preparations preserve many of the physiological properties of the synoptic region of the neurons and may be used for studying neurochemical characteristics of neurotransmitters in the brain

Compartmentation of tyrosine hydroxylase at the nerve ending in rat brain striatum

The synthesis of dopamine in rat brain striatal synaptosomes has been studied by two different methods; a radiometric method based on the formation of labelled products from radioactive tyrosine, and an HPLC method based on the measurement of dopamine production. The synaptosomal tyrosine hydroxylase showed different sensitivities to high K[+] depolarization and removal of Ca[2]+ by EGTA when measured by 1]; a liquid chromatographic method [HPLC], or by 2]; a radiochemical assay. The pattern of the time course and extent of activation of the synaptosomal enzyme by dibutyryl-cyclic AMP as measured by the HPLC method was also different from that of radiochemical assay. The differences between the results obtained by these two techniques are interpreted as being consistent with the compartmentation of tyrosine hydroxylase in synaptosomes, i.e. a membrane-bound and a soluble form of the enzyme

Effects of catecholamines on dopamine and serotonin synthesis in rat brain striatal synaptosomes: the role of presynaptic receptors and the synaptosomal reuptake mechanism

The regulation of dopamine and serotonin synthesis in rat brain striatal synaptosomes has been studied using HPLC methods. Noradrenaline was shown to markedly inhibit both the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin. The response of the synaptosomes to the concentrations of noradrenaline appeared to be biphasic, a very effective inhibition occurring at low concentrations [1-5 microM] and a relatively ineffective further inhibition occurring at high concentrations [up to 100 microM]. The inhibition of dopamine and serotonin synthesis by noradrenaline was also studied in the presence of phenoxybenzamine [alpha adrenergic receptor blocker] and imipramine [reuptake inhibitor]. Phenoxybenzamine changed the pattern of inhibition of both dopamine and serotonin synthesis by noradrenaline by preventing the very effective inhibition previously seen at low [1-5 microM] noradrenaline concentrations. Imipramine, whilst showing marked inhibition of dopamine synthesis on its own, prevented any inhibition by noradrenaline. In the case of serotonin synthesis, however, imipramine alleviated some of the inhibition seen in the presence of noradrenaline alone. The results are discussed with respect to the role that presynaptic receptors and reuptake mechanisms play in the regulation of catecholamine and serotonin synthesis at the nerve ending