[Investigation of the interaction between L929 cell line with human 3D skin matrix]

Background and Aim: Ideal scaffold for tissue engineering must be a mimic of extracellular matrices that facilitates proliferation and differentiation of the cells. Biological scaffolds are prepared from decellularization of human or animal tissues. Extracellular matrix of natural tissues can be used as a scaffold for regenerative applications, even xenogenically. In this study, for the first time complete human skin tissue [dermis plus epidermis] was decellularized. This matrix can be used in the clinics for the treatment of severe burns. Unseparated epidermis from the dermis may cause the skin to maintain higher levele of moisture until complete healing

Material and Methods: Human skin tissues were decellularized by combination of three methods: physical [slow freezing and snap freeze-thaw], enzymatic [trypsin 0.25% for 18 hours] and chemical [sodium dodecyl sulfate- SDS 1% for 12 hours]. Then, the prepared decellularized 3D matricies with 5×105 of cells were cultured. Finally, histological studies were performed after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of culture by different stains

Results: Histological studies confirmed cell elimination and also preservation of collagen fibers in the human skin matrix. In vitro analysis of cellular behaviors showed adhesion and proliferation of L929 fibroblast cell line in the culture in different weeks. Statistical analysis indicated significant induction of cell densities at the end of the 2nd week [p<0.001] compared to the other weeks of our study. The number of cells reduced after the 3rd week

Conclusion: The results indicated that remnants of ECM of the human skin can be a suitable matrix for adherence, proliferation and differentiation of L929 cells. On the other hand, because of high density of collagen fibers and low porosity of prepared scaffolds, we found no penetration and migration into the dermis

Effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes on serum gonadotropin and testosterone levels and the structure of seminiferous tubules in hyperglycemic rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes, a blood glucose lowering plant in folk medicine of Iran, on the structure of seminiferous tubules and serum gonadotropin and testosterone levels in hyperglycemic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups (n=6): control, streptozotocin (STZ), STZ + insulin [STZ + Ins, 5 IU/(kg•day)], and STZ + Launaea acanthodes extract [STZ + Ext, 150 mg/(kg•day)]. Blood samples were collected at the 2nd and 4th weeks for detection of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), and the right testes of rats were removed at the 7th week for the evaluation of diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells using unbiased stereological techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In comparison with the control group, at the 2nd week FSH (0.45 vs 0.03, 0.02, 0.02 IU/L in STZ, STZ + Ins and STZ + Ext groups, respectively) and LH (1.02 vs 0.37, 0.2, 0.29 IU/L) showed significant decreases (all P<0.05) and testosterone (4.2 vs 8.37, 7.78, 11.8 ng/mL) showed a remarkable increase (all P<0.05). The levels of these hormones became closer in the STZ + Ext and the STZ + Ins groups to the control at the 4th week. A significant decrease in diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells were observed in the STZ group as compared with the control (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Administration of Launaea extract demonstrated a beneficial impact on the protection of testis from pathogenic and degenerative effects of hyperglycemia which may be partly due to its potential antioxidative effects.</p>

[Local effect of Persian Gulf brittle star [Ophiocoma erinaceus] alcoholic extract on cutaneous wound healing in Balb/C mouse]

Background and Aim: Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process with the wound environment changing with the changing health status of the individual. Therefore identification new natural products is necessary for accelerate wound healing. The present study investigated the effect of topical application of Persian Gulf brittle star alcoholic extract on wound healing in Balb/C mice

Materials and Methods: 40 Balb/C mice were divided randomly into 4 groups including: control group, positive control [treatment with honey], negative control [treatment with physiological serum], and experimental group [treatment with extract 1% of brittle star]. In all groups in posterial part 1 hole [6 mm in diameter] wound created. On the 3[th], 6[th], 9[th] and 12[th] day after creation wound, samples were collected from the healing hole. Histopathological changes were investigated and analyzed by Spss software and using ANOVA test for repeated measured data with p<0.05

Results: Significant changes in proliferation of inflammatory cells [on the 12[th] day], epithelium thickness [on the 6[th] day], more angiogenesis [on the 6[th]- 9[th] day], in the experimental wounds were compared with those in the control group. However, experimental group with positive control were not significantly different in these days

Conclusion: Findings of this research indicated that the topical application of brittle star extract posse positive impact on wound healing process

Effects of infantile repeated hyperglycemia on behavioral alterations in adult male and female rats

Anxiety symptoms have been reported to be present in many patients with diabetes mellitus. However, little is known about the effects of hyperglycemia in critical periods of the central nervous system development. We assessed locomotive, exploratory, and anxiety behaviors in adult rats that remained from infantile repeated hyperglycemia by the open field and elevated plus maze tests. Our findings showed significant hypo activity, reduced locomotive/exploratory activities, increased fear related behaviors, and anxiety state between hyperglycemic and control adult males and the same differences were observed among females. In addition, no significant behavioral alterations between male and female animals were observed. This study determined that repeated increments in daily blood sugar levels in newborns may affect neuronal functions and provide behavioral abnormalities in adults

Post-operative time effects after sciatic nerve crush on the number of alpha motoneurons, using a stereological counting method [dissector]

There are extensive evidences that show axonal processes of the nervous system [peripheral and/or central] may be degenerated after nerve injuries. Wallerian degeneration and chromatolysis are the most conspicuous phenomena that occur in response to injuries. In this research, the effects of postoperative time following sciatic nerve crush on the number of spinal motoneurons were investigated. Twelve adult male Wistar rats, whose left sciatic nerves were highly compressed for 30 s, assigned to experimental groups 1 and 2 [n = 6]. After 3 and 8 weeks post-operative [in groups 1 and 2 respectively] the lumbar segments of spinal cord were sampled, processed, sectioned serially and stained with toluidine blue [pH 4.65]. By using stereological quantitative technique [physical disector], the number of alpha motoneurons in the right and the left ventral horns of spinal cord were counted and compared with each other. Statistical analyses showed a remarkable reduction in the number of alpha motoneurons in the left side [experimental or operated] when compared with the right side [control or unoperated] both in 3 and 8 weeks post-operative groups. This reduction may be due to the blockade of retrograde axonal transport