evaluation of the relationship between dietary fat intake and colostrum beta-carotene of lactating mothers referring to hospitals in Tabriz

Beta-carotene is a precursor for retinol and is an antioxidant. This compound is used as natural color in food industries. In developing countries one of the best sources of retinol is carotenoids, especially for vulnerable groups [women,childern,infants]. Therefore the evaluation of bioavailability of this nutrient is very important. In this cross-sectiona study, 80 lactating mothers were selected from private and public hospitals in Tabriz.Demographic characteristics and dietary regimen of the patients were recorded after interview with the patients. Colostrum beta-carotene was measured by means of Karr-Price method at 620nm and the concentration of beta-carotene was determined at the wavelength of 620nm.The dietary fiber were measured by use of Chen and Anderson method. The concentration of beta-carotene in milk and dietary intake was normal. The main source of vitamin A was from vegetables. Dietary fiber intake in comparison with recommended dietary allowance was high. There was no significant correlation between milk beta- carotene in well-nourished and undernourished mothers.There was also no significant correlation between dietary fat intake and colostrum beta-carotene of lactating mothers [p

[Effect of progesterone administration in newborns rats on Morris water maze learning susceptibility after adolescence]

Although the roles of steroid hormones in the activation and maintenance of reproductive function are proved well, emerging evidence indicated that these steroids influence on performance of learning and memory. These effects are complex and vary with task, gender, and age, as well as the regimens of steroid exposure. This study was carried out in order to assess the role of progesterone administration in newborns rats on Morris water maze learning ability after adolescence. This experimental study was carried out on 36 newborns Wistar rats. Rats were divided randomly into 6 groups; female progesterone, male progesterone, female sesamoide, male sesamoid rats and male and female control rats. Progesterone groups were treated with a single injection of progesterone [100 mg/kg] and sesamoid groups were received the same volume of sesamoid oil as the progesterone vehicle in day 1 or 2 after birth, 60 days later, spatial memory ability was determined in Morris water maze. The results of this study show that water maze learning can enhance by administration of sesamoid oil in newborn female pups in compared to progesterone and control groups [p<0.05]. In addition, adding progesterone to sesame oil reduce water maze learning to control level. The hypothesis that progesterone impaired spatial reference memory in female rats was supported by this experiment

Effect of critical time window on development of Pentylenetetrazole kindling in wistar rats

Pentylenetetrazole Kindling is widely used as a model for epileptogenesis. The achievement of kindling criterion is known to require repeated drug injection during time to develop. In this article a series of experiments aimed to examin the hypothesis that after 4 primary injections only time is needed to induced kindling in wistar rats. In this experimental research, 32 male Wistar rats were divided in: two groups. Control Group were kindled by repeated injections of pentylenetetrazole [PTZ; 37.5 mg/kg;i.p. 48 h interval], in case group were done 4 repeated injections of pentylenetetrazole and have 32 days time lapse, at the end of experiment two groups received same dose of PTZ simultaneously I and seizure parameters were assessed. Data were analyzed using student's t-test and one way ANOVA and Turkey's test. Results showed there isn't significant differences in seizure parameters such as seizure stage [control; 4.75 +/- 0.26, case; 4.75 +/- 0.29], stage 2 latency [control; 165 +/- 16.6, case; 216+/38.68], stage 5 latency [control; 2.13 +/- 0.38, case; 3.47 +/- 0.64] and stage 5 duration [control; 21.15 +/- 2.42, case; 23.42 +/- 1.20] between two groups. Resuits of this experiment introduces the new critical time window for PTZ kindling

[Comparison the effects of dietary administration of isomeric fatty acids on chemical kindling in second generation of wistar kindled rats]

Impressive researches demonstrate the importance of essential fatty acids for many physiological and behavioral mechanisms in both humans and animals. Essential fatty acids must be supplied via the diet. In this study we assessed the dietary effects of cis and trans fatty acids on seizures induced by Pentylenetetrazol [PTZ] in rats. In this experimental study animals were divided into four groups. In the three case groups; cis, trans or cis + trans fatty acids were added to the standard food of rats and in control group only standard food was dietary administrated. After one month, kindling was established in rats with PTZ in subconvulsive dose [45mg/kg i.p.]. Convulsing activities were monitored for 20 mm. Five stages of convulsing activities were observed. If after three consecutive sessions the animal was in the fifth stage, it was considered as a kindled animal. Data was analyzed using K-S, T, Tukey tests and analysis of variance. Results showed that the convulsion stage in trans group was significantly more than others. Also it was found that duration of the fifth stage in trans group was significantly more than control and cis groups. Results suggest that, administering sis and trans fatty acids have some effects on PTZ induced kindling in second generation of the rats who were kindled before. More severe seizure and longer duration of seizure was seen in trans group comparing to cis group

Correlation of two way active avoidance learning with nitric oxide and ferric reduction / antioxidant power in rats

Oxidative stress may play a critical role in neurodegenerative disorders but the relation between oxidative stress and learning ability in normal rats is not investigated, so the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between oxidative stress and two way active avoidance learning in Wistar rats. This is an experimental research. 14 Wistar rats were assigned for assessed learning ability in shuttle box. One day after shuttle box learning, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] and blood samples were obtained. Concentration of Nitric Oxide and Ferric reduction/antioxidant power were assessed. Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation test. The results of the present study demonstrate that there are positive correlation between shuttle box learning ability and Ferric reduction/antioxidant power [p<0.001, r =0.66 4] and Nitric Oxide concentration [p<0.001, r = 0.724] in serum, but not hi CSF. The results of this study suggest that high concentration of antioxidant power and Nitric Oxide concentration in blood can improve shuttle box learning in rats

[ investigation of relation between learning and sensitivity to chemical kindeling with Pentylenetetrazole in male rats]

Epilepsy is one of the most common afflictions of human. The amygdala is one of the most sensitive epilepsy induction areas. This area has been the focus of interest, in large part due to its role in fear conditioning. It seems that any abnormality in the neuronal network in amygdala can increase the susceptibility of animal to seizure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between avoidance learning and kindeling susceptibility in rats.In an experimental study, 20 Wistar male rats were trained for two way active avoidance learning in the shuttle box, and on the basis of escape response were divided into fast and slow learning animals. The rats were administered Pentylenetetrazole for induction of kindeling. Then seizure stages were noted. Data was analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey's test.Results of the present study demonstrated that slow learning animals comparing to fast learnings were more prone to kindeling and there was a significant difference in the seizure stage and stage 2 latency in the two groups.On the basis of the present data it is possible to predict the predisposing of male rats to kindeling from the rate of fear conditioning that indicates the abnormality in amygdala neuronal circuits

role of adenosine A1 receptor activity of piriform cortex neurons on amygdala kindled seizures in rats

Considering the anticonvulsant effects of A1 Adenosine Receptors and the anatomical connections between piriform Cortex and Amygdala, in this study, the role of A1 adenosine receptors activity of piriform cortex neurons on amygdala kindled seizures was investigated in rats. The rats were fully kindled by daily electrical stimulation of amygdala. N6-cyclohexyleadenosine [CHA; 1,10 and 100 mM], as a selective A1 agonist and 1,3-dimethyl-8-cyclohexylexantine [CPT; 20 and 10 mM], as a selective A1 antagonist were microinjected [0.5ml, 0.25 ml/min] into the piriform cortex. Animals were stimulated at 5, 15 or 90 min after drug microinjection and seizure parameters were measured. Intra-piriform CHA [10 or 100 mM] reduced afterdischarge duration and stage 5 seizure duration and prolonged stage 4 latency significantly. Pretreatment with CPT [10 mM] 5 min before CHA [100 mM] eliminated the effects of CHA. These observations suggest that A1 adenosine receptors activity in piriform cortex reduced the seizure severity and attenuated the distribution of seizure activity to other brain regions

Effect of repeated electrical stimulation in Pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling in male rats

Kindling is an animal model of epilepsy induced by repeated stimulation of the brain. The amygdala has been the focus of interest, due in large part to its role in epilepsy induction and in fear conditioning in both human and rats. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether low electrical stimulation of foot pad of rats during fear can facilitate kindling susceptibility. In this experimental study 25 wistar male rats were trained for two way active avoidance learning in the shuttle box and on the basis of escape response were divided into fast and slow learning rats. Then each group was randomly assigned into two groups. Test groups received conditional and unconditional stimulus and control groups received conditional stimulus for ten days. To induce kindling pentylenetetrazole was administered to rats and seizure parameters were eveluated. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Results demonstrated that slow learning rats in comparison to fast learning ones were more prone to kindling. Repeated electrical stimulation of slow learning rats during fear conditioning facilitates kindling induction is comparison to fast learning group. It seems that slow learning rats when exposed to repeated electrical stimulation after fear conditioning have more susceptibility to show seizure as compared to fast learning groups. It seems that neurons in the amygdala of slow learning rats have more exibility