Neuroprotection effect of female sex steroids after traumatic brain injury in rats: the role of inflammatory cytokines

Previous studies have demonstrated estrogen and progesterone decrease brain edema induced by TBI. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of female sex steroids on cytokines, and proinflammatory evaluation of the effects of cerebral edema of these hormones whether ovarian hormones decrease brain edema by change in concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines. In this experimental study, 98 ovariectomized female rats [except groups 1 and 2] were divided into groups of control, sham, vehicle, low does of estrogen [El], high dose of estrogen [E2], low dose of progesterone [PI] and high dose of progesterone [P2]. Vehicle and sexual steroid hormones were injected intraperitoneally at 0.5 h after Moderate and diffuse TBI induced by Marmarou method. Brain level of cytokines and ovarian hormones were measured 6 h after TBI by ELISA method. Both E2 and PI caused significant increase of 52.8% and 79.2% in brain level of IL-lp. P2 significantly decreased the levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha by 45.9% and 72% respectively. TGF-beta level seem to be increased by El up to 3.37 times significantly. Level of beta-Estradiol increased 4.58 times in E2 group and progesterone increased 1.56 times in P2 group significantly. This results suggested that ovarian hormones increased brain IL-lp and TGF-P and decreased IL-6 and TNF-alpha, this may be one mechanism by which hormones reduce cerebral edema

effect of co-administration of aquous extract of bunium persicum and endurance training on plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic male mice

The effect of endurance training on lipid profile and cardiovascular endurance in normal rat after Bunium Persicum Extract [BPE] administration has been previously investigated. In the present study, the effect of co-administration of endurance training and persicum extract on plasma lipid and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic male mice was examined. In this experimental study, 60 male mice were, randomly, divided into 4 groups: Vehicle, Endurance Training [ET], Bunium Persicum Extract Administer [BPEA] and ET-BPEA group. The Exercise protocol was performed at a speed of 18 m/min, 40 min/day, 5 day/week for 6-weeks. The Bunium Persicum Extract was also administered in the same period and the desired dose [0.8 mg] was reconstituted in 0.4 ml of distilled water. The amount of Triglyceride [TG], Total Cholesterol [TC], HDL-c, LDL-c and Body Weight were registered at the beginning and also at the end of the 6 weeks. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA method. The results indicated that the 6-week endurance training accompanied by Bunium Persicum aquous extract administration reduced TC [pretest; 297.7 +/- 37.08, post test; 146.1 +/- 30.8, p=0.019] and LDL-c concentrations [pretest; 151.8 +/- 14.4, post test; 0.12 +/- 8.7, p=0.00l]. On the other hand, Bunium Persicum aquous extract administration increased HDL-c concentration significantly [pretest; 75.9 +/- 12.1, post test; 119.9 +/- 17.9, p=0.003]. Furthermore, the results showed that body weight changes were not significant. These results suggest that co-administration of BPE and ET could significantly affect plasma lipid and lipoproteins. Therfore performing such program maybe useful for preventing cardiovascular diseases

[ role of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis on anti-inflammatory effects of the trifluoperazine in male rats]

Previous studies, have been shown the anti-inflammatory effects of the trifluoperazine. The present study was performed to investigate the role of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis activity as a possible mechanism for these effects. This experimental study was carried out on 100 male rats. Inflammation was induced by intraplantar injection of 0.1 ml of 0.5% carrageenan solution in to the rat's left hind paw. Rats were divided randomly into three groups of control, the adrenalectomized [ADX] and the CRH antagonist receiving group. Adrenalectomy was performed bilaterally on the rats. The CRH antagonist at 20 micro g/rat was administered intraventriculary, and Trifluoperazine [0.2 and 8 mg/kg] was used intraperitoneally [i.p] on the rats. Four hours after injections, paw edema was assessed by calculating the volume changes and extravasations of Evans blue dye. Furthermore, the serum levels of prolactin and ACTH were measured. Both doses of trifluoperazine significantly reduced the paw volume and tissue content of Evans blue dye in the control and ADX rats. Therefore, the paw edema induced by carrageenan, was reduced in the control and ADX groups by 48% and 65%, and the tissue content of Evans blue dye was decreased by 60% and 20% respectively. In the CRH antagonist receiving rats, different doses of drug reduced the volume of inflamed paw by 50%. Adrenalectomy induced an increase in the ACTH level 9 times more than control and both doses of the trifluoperazine blocked this elevation by 82%. Adrenalectomy procedure had no significant influence on plasma level of prolactin. These results suggest that trifluoperazine may have an in-vivo anti-inflammatory effect on experimental model, which possibly is independent of HPA axis activity