ABSTRACT
@#Background: There is a meaningful necessity for a targeted therapy of essential tremor (ET), as medications have not been developed specifically for ET. For nearly a century, many drugs have been applied in the treatment of tremor but the drug treatment of ET remains still unknown. Some potential therapeutic factors such fingolimod (FTY720) can be effectively used to treat ET in animals. In the present research, the effect of FTY720, the immunomodulatory sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) analog, on degeneration of cerebellar and olivary neurons induced by harmaline in male rats was investigated. Methods: The animals were allotted into control dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), saline + harmaline [30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, (i.p.)], harmaline + FTY720 (1 mg/kg, i.p, 1 h and 24 h before harmaline injection) groups (n = 10). The cerebellum and inferior olive nucleus (ION) were studied for neuronal degeneration using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ultrastructural study by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Results: Harmaline caused neuronal cell loss, caspase-3 mediated apoptosis, astrocytosis and ultrastructural changes in cerebellar Purkinje cells and inferior olive neurons. FTY720 exhibited neuroprotective effects on cerebellar Purkinje cells and inferior olivary neurons. Conclusion: These results suggest that FTY720 has potential efficacy for prevention of ET neurodegeneration and astrocytosis induced by harmaline in male rats.
ABSTRACT
Background: Nepeta dschuparensis Bornm [NP] is used as a medicinal herb in Iran. In traditional medicine, this herb is extensively employed for curing ailments such as cardiovascular diseases. NP has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This project examined the effects of the NP extract on cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2] and interleukin-1 +/- [IL-1 +/- ] protein levels and its efficacy in neuroprotection in a cerebral ischemiareperfusion model
Methods: Twenty-six male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1] sham [n=6]: no middle cerebral artery occlusion [MCAO] procedure, 2] control [n=10]: MCAO procedure and treatment with normal saline, and 3] NP extract [n=10]: MCAO procedure and treatment with the NP extract [20 mg/kg, i.p.] at the beginning of reperfusion. To examine the injury caused by cerebral ischemia, we measured motor coordination and the infarct area using the rotarod test and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, respectively. IL-1 +/- and COX-2 protein levels, as inflammatory markers, were measured by immunoblotting assay. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 16, and the data are expressed as means +/- SEMs. Statistical difference was evaluated using the one-way ANOVA, followed by the post hoc LSD test [P<0.01]
Results: Treatment with the NP extract significantly diminished the infarct volume and alleviated the motor coordination disorder induced by cerebral ischemia. The NP extract administration significantly attenuated the increase in IL-1 +/- and COX-2 protein levels too [P<0.01]
Conclusion: The beneficial effects of the NP extract are related to its ability to decrease the levels of IL-1 +/- and COX-2
ABSTRACT
Objective: following traumatic brain injury, disruption of blood-brain-barrier and consequent brain edema are critical events which might lead to increasing intracranial pressure [ICP], and nerve damage. The current study assessed the effects of aqueous date fruit extract [ADFE] on the aforementioned parameters
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, diffused traumatic brain injury [TBI] was generated in adult male rats using Marmarou's method. Experimental groups include two pre-treatment [oral ADFE, 4 and 8 mL/kg for 14 days], vehicle [distilled water, for 14 days] and sham groups. Brain edema and neuronal injury were measured 72 hours after TBI. Veterinary coma scale [VCS] and ICP were determined at -1, 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours after TBI. Differences among multiple groups were assessed using ANOVA. Turkey's test was employed for the ANOVA post-hoc analysis. The criterion of statistical significance was sign at P<0.05
Results: brain water content in ADFE-treated groups was decreased in comparison with the TBI+vehicle group. VCS at 24, 48 and 72 hours after TBI showed a significant increase in ADFE groups in comparison with the TBI+vehicle group. ICP at 24, 48 and 72 hours after TBI, was decreased in ADFE groups, compared to the TBI+vehicle. Brain edema, ICP and neuronal injury were also decreased in ADFE group, but VCS was increased following on TBI
Conclusion: ADFE pre-treatment demonstrated an efficient method for preventing traumatic brain deterioration and improving pathological parameters after TBI
ABSTRACT
Objective: alcohol consumption is habitually accompanied by the use of other psychoactive substances, mostly tobacco. Nicotine and alcohol affect male accessory reproductive glands function. Most studies have been done on pathologic features of prostate, but there has been no systematic study on the seminal vesicle. Therefore, the aim of current study was to investigate the distribution of androgen receptor [AR] and estrogen receptors-beta [ER-beta] immune reactivities following long-term treatment of alcohol, nicotine or a combination of both substances
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, a total of 40 adult Wistar rats, nine weeks of age, were used. Animals were randomly divided into four groups, including: i. Control group receiving normal saline 0.09%, ii. Ethanol group receiving ethanol 20% [2 ml/kg, via gavage], iii. Nicotine group receiving nicotine [0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection], and iv. Ethanol-nicotine group receiving simultaneous ethanol 20% [2 ml/kg] and nicotine [0.1 mg/kg] treatment. All treatment lasted for eight weeks. Prior to intracardiac perfusion, blood sample was collected from left ventricle. The seminal vesicles were isolated and processed for paraffin blocking. The sample tissues were then studied for dis-tribution of AR and ER-beta immunereactivities using immunohistochemical [IHC] staining method. One way analysis of variance [ANOVA] and Tukey's test were performed for data analysis. A value of P<0.05 was considered significant
Results: our results revealed that the lowest mean number of positive cells belonged to the animals of ethanol-nicotine group that was followed by the ethanol, nicotine, and control groups, respectively. However, there was no significant difference regarding serum testosterone level among experimental groups
Conclusion: it was concluded that combination of both ethanol and nicotine may be a crucial factor in the expression levels of AR and ER-beta
ABSTRACT
Stroke is one of the main leading causes of mortality and disability in many countries. In the absence of definitive treatment search for, neuroprotective agents with minimal side effects should be continued. Natural nutrients can be ideal sources to produce safe and valuable agents for the management of stroke. Walnut kernel [WK] has numerous beneficial components with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The goal of this study was to investigate the protective effects of WK on neuronal injury and astrocyte reactivity after induction of focal cerebral ischemia in male rats. In this experimental study, Wistar male rats were divided into three groups: sham, control [fed with ordinary food] and walnut [fed with WK]. Each group consisted of 6 rats. The right middle cerebral artery was occluded for 15 min in the control and walnut groups. Forty-eight hours after reperfusion the animals were killed and their brains were processed for histological [Hematoxylin and Eosin staining] and immunohistochemical [Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, GFAP], and histochemical [TUNEL] studies. The results showed that WK significantly decreased neuronal death induced by cerebral ischemia; however, the density of GFAP positive astrocytes has been increased at the site of injury in the treatment group compared to the other 2 groups. In addition, WK significantly decreased the mortality rate of the animals due to cerebral ischemia. The results suggested that wk might provide protection against the cerebral ischemia-induced injuries in the rat brain through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Neurons/drug effects , Astrocytes/drug effects , Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery , Protective Agents , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
It was the aim of this study to determine the potential effect of walnut kernel extract [WKE] on experimentally induced seizures in rats and to evaluate the role of ben-zodiazepines and ethosuximide [ESM] within these pathways. Male Wistar rats were selected and divided into eight groups. Seizures were evoked by intravenous infusion of pentylenetetrazole [PTZ; 2 mg/ml/ min]. In combination with PTZ, animals were treated with vehicle or WKE [100 mg/kg i.p.], with or without cotreatment with either flumazenil [FMZ; 5 mg/kg i.p.], ESM [150 mg/kg i.p.] or diazepam [DPZ; 0.5 mg/kg i.p.]. WKE administration significantly increased the PTZ dose needed to induce the first myoclonic jerk [13.09 +/- 1.29 vs. 49.71 +/- 12.03 mg/kg; p < 0.001], decreased the severity of seizure grades and reduced the mortality rate to 0%. FMZ did not significantly reduce the anticonvulsant effect of WKE. The combination of DPZ and WKE showed a synergic anticonvulsant effect, whereas ESM had no significant influence [p > 0.05] on the WKE effects. These findings indicated that WKE was effective at reducing seizure severity, at increasing the dose to the first myoclonic jerk and highly efficacious at preventing mortality, because 100% of animals were protected. It seems that this positive effect could apply through signaling pathways other than benzodiazepine-mediated gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and may at least in part be Similar to ESM
ABSTRACT
Epilepsy is a chief communal health problem. Antiepileptic drugs only provide symptomatic treatment. Walnut Kernels [WK] have high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which have beneficial effects on human health because of their antioxidant and anti-atherogenic properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of WK supplementation for the prevention of experimental epilepsy in male rats. Wistar adult male rats were divided into three groups: a control group [PTZ injection, fed with ordinary food], experimental group [PTZ injection, fed with WK] and a sham group [no PTZ injection, only for histological studies]. Pentylenetetrazole [PTZ] was administered after the prescribed time. WKs displayed anti-epileptogenic properties, and WK supplementation was associated with increased seizure threshold and reduced mortality in the experimental group versus controls. Use of WK may be helpful in prevention of PTZ-induced seizure and its further neurodegeneration in male rats
Subject(s)
Male , Animals, Laboratory , Anticonvulsants , Neuroprotective Agents , Neurons/drug effects , Brain/drug effects , Epilepsy/prevention & control , Plants, Medicinal , Antioxidants , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Morphological changes of CA1 neurons in rat hippocampus after transient and permanent focal cerebral ischemia were studied to clarify the nature of postischemic cell death in the subfield. Male adult rats were divided into 3 groups: Control [Shamoperated], transient ischemic group [30 minutes of MCAO followed by 48 hours of reperfusion], and permanent ischemic group [48 hours of MCAO]. After the mentioned times, deep anesthesia was induced in the rats and their brains were removed and processed for transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and evaluation. Electron-microscopic examination on day 2 showed key morphological signs of apoptosis in the permanent ischemic group, while morphological signs of necrosis were observed in the transient ischemic group. These results suggest necrosis [as dominant mechanism of neuronal death after transient ischemia] and apoptosis [after permanent ischemia] to be involved in neuronal death