Résumé
Background: Traditional medicines with anti-diabetic effects are considered suitable supplements to treat diabetes. Among medicinal herbs, Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni is famous for its sweet taste and beneficial effect in regulation of glucose. However, little is known about the exact mechanism of stevia in pancreatic tissue. Therefore, this study investigated the possible effects of stevia on pancreas in managing hyperglycemia seen in streptozotocin-induced Sprague-Dawley rats
Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups including normoglycemic, diabetic and two more diabetic groups in which, one was treated with aquatic extract of stevia [400 mg/kg] and the other with pioglitazone [10 mg/kg] for the period of 28 days. After completion of the experimental duration, rats were dissected; blood samples and pancreas were further used for detecting biochemical and histopathological changes. FBS, TG, cholestrol, HDL, LDL, ALT and AST levels were measured in sera. Moreover, MDA [malondialdehyde] level, catalase activity, levels of insulin and PPARgamma mRNA expression were also measured in pancreatic tissue
Results: Aquatic extract of stevia significantly reduced the FBS, triglycerides, MDA, ALT, AST levels and normalized catalase activity in treated rats compared with diabetic rats [p<0.05]. In addition to this, stevia surprisingly, increased PPARgamma and insulin mRNA levels in treated rats [p<0.05]. Furthermore, stevia compensated for the histopathological damage in diabetic rats
Conclusion: It is concluded that stevia acts on pancreatic tissue to elevate the insulin level and exerts beneficial anti-hyperglycemic effects through the PPARgamma-dependent mechanism and stevia's antioxidant properties
Résumé
Background: Optimized RNA extraction from tissues and cell lines consists of four main stages regardless of the method of extraction: 1] homogenizing, 2] effective denaturation of proteins from RNA, 3] inactivation of ribonuclease, and 4] removal of any DNA, protein, and carbohydrate contamination. Isolation of undamaged intact RNA is challenging when the related tissue contains high levels of RNase. Various technical difficulties occur during extraction of RNA from pancreatic tissue due to spontaneous autolysis. Since standard routine protocols yield unacceptable results in pancrease, we have designed a simple method for RNA extraction by comparing different protocols
Methods: We obtained 20-30 mg pancreatic tissues in less than 2 min from 30 rats. Several methods were performed to extract RNA from pancreatic tissue and evaluate its integrity. All methods were performed three times to obtain reproducible results
Results: Immersing pancreatic tissue in RNA-later for 24 h at -80[degree sign]C yielded high quality RNA by using the TriPure reagent which was comparable to the commercial RNeasy Micro Kit. The quality of RNA was evaluated by spectrophotometer, electrophoresis and RT-PCR. We separated intact 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA [rRNA] when our procedure was compared with the RNeasy Micro Kit. Finally, full length of the actin gene was amplified by RT-PCR
Conclusion: We designed a simple, fast, cost-effective method for complete RNA extraction from the least amount of quantitatively intact pancreatic tissue
Résumé
Background: Hyperthyroidism is associated with liver oxidative stress causing liver dysfunction in many hyperthyroid patients. The hepatoprotective effect of Satureja Khuzestanica Essential Oil [SKEO], as herbal origin antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent on the hyperthyroidism induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress is investigated
Methods: Adult male sprague dawley rats were divided into categories of; control [group C], hyperthyroid [group H], hyperthyroid with olive oil [group H+O], hyperthyroid with vitamin E [group H+E], hyperthyroid with SKEO [group H+S], combination of hyperthyroid with vitamin E and SKEO [group H+S+E]. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of SKEO with or without vitamin E in hyperthyroid rats were then investigated
Results: Serum Aspartate Transaminase [AST] and Alanine Transaminase [ALT] activities reduced significantly in H+O, H+E, H+S and H+S+E groups in comparison with hyperthyroid rats. Enzymes activities returned to normal in H+S+E group. Hepatic Malondialdehyde [MDA] was reduced in H+E, H+S and H+S+E groups in comparison with hyperthyroid rats. The most significant MDA reduction was in the H+S+E group. Glutathione Peroxidase [GPx] and Glutathione Reductase [GR] activities increased in H+E, H+S and H+S+E groups in comparison with group H. The largest increment in GPx and GR activities were in the H+S+E group. Glutathione level did not change in any group in comparison with the control group
Conclusion: Administration of SKEO has hepatoprotective effect in hyperthyroid rats and is more effective when used in combination with vitamin E
Résumé
Drug abuse is associated with numerous complications including hormonal disorders of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and spermatogenic disorders. We have compared the hormone concentration of pituitary-gonadal axis and the semen analysis in opioid-dependent and non-opioid-dependent men. In this case-control study, serum concentration of pituitary- gonadal axis hormones and semen analysis in 48 opioid-dependent men as eligible to participate in the study were compared with those in 12 non-dependent men. Free testosterone concentration in all test groups was significantly less than that in control group. Furthermore, the concentration of Dihydrotestosterone [DHT] and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate [DHEAS] in all test groups except those addicted to heroin was less than in those in control group. Concentrations of LH, FSH, prolactin, SHBG, progesterone and estradiol, normal and abnormal sperm count in test groups were significantly different from control group. However, in all test groups, sperm motility rate was less than control group. No significant relationship was found between the concentration of sex hormones and the status of sperms motility. Chronic use of opioids will affect testosterone hormone and sperm, and it will cause hypogonadism and impairment of sperm motility