Effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Vitex agnus-castus fruit on kidney of D-galactose-induced aging model in female mice

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a hydro-alcoholic extract of Vitex agnus-castus [VAC] fruit on blood urea nitrogen [BUN], creatinine [Cr] and, kidney histology of a female mouse model of D-galactose induced aging. In this experimental study, 72 NMRI mice were divided into 6 groups: control, VAC, D-galactose, D-galactose+VAC, aging, and aging+VAC. D-galactose was injected for 45 days and, VAC extract administered in the last 7 days, twice a day. Serum BUN and Cr levels were not significantly changed in the D-galactose and natural aged animals in comparison to control group. Histological changes such as nuclear pyknosis, proximal cell swelling, infiltration of inflammatory cells, tubular dilatation and, vasodilatation were observed in both D-galactose and natural aged mice. Further, glomerules diameter was decreased in them. Administration of VAC could attenuate the histological alterations. These results indicate that VAC may have beneficial effects on aging and aging related kidney disease

[Acute effects of an aerobic exhaustive incremental exercise session on serum leptin and plasma lipids]

Discovery of leptin has led to numerous experiments for better understand of its function, and many of these studies have focused on leptin's response to both acute exercise and exercise training. The aim of this research was the investigation of acute effects of an aerobic exhaustive incremental exercise session on serum leptin and plasma lipids in trained men 19-26 years old. Voluntary twenty four trained divided into trained [12 subjects] and control [12 subjects] groups, randomly. Exercise session includes Astrand exhaustive incremental test on treadmill which have been done between 8-10 am. Blood sampling gathered pretest, post test and 9 hours after training. For data analysis we have employed two way repeated measures ANOVA, paired T-Test and Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS software, version 15.Results demonstrated serum leptin immediately increase after training in control group but this change statistically was not significant [p>0.05]. Plasma LDL-c and total cholesterol significantly increase immediately after training in pretest values [p<0.033]. Significantly negative correlation was found between serum leptin immediately after test and pretest plasma LDL-c in trained group [r=-0.65, p<0.022]. In general, there are not any significant differences between two control and trained groups in any measured blood factors during three bouts measurement. An aerobic exhaustive incremental exercise session statistically has not acute effect on serum leptin in trained men 19-26 years old

[Effect of cyperus rotundus rhizomes on blood glucose, lipid, insulin and hepatic enzymes in insulin resistance model of male rats]

Nowadays herbal medicine is excessively used in traditional medicine for diabetes. The Cyperus rotundus rhizomes in traditional medicine are used for decreasing blood glucose and lipid. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of rhizomes extract of this plant in insulin resistance model of male rats. This experimental study was carried out on 36 adult male wistar rats in the weight range of 150-200[g]. Diabetes was induced by fructose 10% in drinking water for 8 weeks, then the animals were divided randomly into 4 groups: control, Fructose induce, aqueous extracts of Cyperus rotundus rhizomes [500mg/kg], MeOH extracts of Cyperus rotundus rhizomes [500mg/kg]. 48 hours after the last gavage with extracts, the rats were fasted for 12h, then blood samples were collected from heart, serum was dissented and blood glucose, insulin, fasting insulin resistance index [FIRI], lipid profile and hepatic enzymes were determined. Glucose in fructose group in comparison with control group showed a significant increase. Insulin in aqueous and MeOH extracts groups in comparison with control group significantly increased. FIRI in aqueous extract group in comparison with control group was significantly higher [p<0.05]. Lipid profile was not changed in any of them. MeOH extract showed a decrease in all of the hepatic enzymes [Alkaline Phosphatase, Aspartate, and AST, Alanine Transferase]. Aqueous has could not probably be effective in decreasing diabetic complications. But it is believed that with extensive study on MeOH extracts, we can reach a more efficient decrease in diabetes and antihepatotxicity

[Effect of teucrium polium ethyl acetate extract on energy consumption and obesity parameters in high sucrose diet rats]

Excessive caloric intake as a result of carbohydrate over feeding is the main cause of obesity. Recently, more attention has been given to the influence of herbal medicines for prevention and treatment of obesity. Teucrium polium [Calpoure] has been hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects. At present study, the effect of T. polium ethylacetate extract that known as hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent has been investigated on obesity parameters sucrose-induced rats. In this Experimental study, 30 adult male Wistar rats weighting 180 20 g were divided into 5 groups. Four groups obtained sucrose 50% in drinking water for 10 weeks. After 8[th] week, 3 randomly selected groups were treated with ethylacetate extract of T. polium for 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Sham animal group was fed using normal rat chow. After ten weeks, animals were euthanized and physical parameters have also been evaluated. The results have been shown that in control group food intake and energy consumption in comparison with the other groups, increased and decreased respectively. Sham animal group in comparison with the other groups, the weight of heart, body and abdominal fat pad, also leptin particularly were significantly increased. On the other side, it has been shown that the using T. polium ethylacetate extract significantly decreased the weight of heart, body, abdominal fat pad and Blood levels Leptin in a relatively dose-dependent way. This study showed that the using of T. polium ethylacetate extract with dose of 100 and 200 mg /kg for 2 weeks cause reduction in obesity parameters

Pituitary primary cell culture of Common carp [Cyprinus Carpio] and evaluation of its secretion effect on endocrine activity of incubated ovarian follicles

In this study, five carp pituitary glands were collected and dispersed enzymatically and mechanically. Then, the cells were cultivated as monolayer in MEM [minimum essential medium Eagle]. The culture media were collected after 72 h and frozen at -20°C. Carp ovarian follicles also were separated mechanically and incubated in BSS [basic salt solution] Cortland medium in 24-well microplates for 48 h at 20°C. Then, they were divided into two groups: control group which were incubated in BSS medium and experimental group which subdivided into three subgroups according to treatment with different concentration of collected pituitary secretion [50, 100 and 200 micro 1/ml]. Follicles culture media were collected 24 h later and were analyzed for 17-beta-oestradiol [E[2]] and 17-alpha-hydroxy progesterone [P[4]] content by radioimmunoassay [RIA]. The results showed that adding low concentration [50 micro 1/ml] of collected pituitary secretion [CPS] increased steroid hormones [E[2] and P[4]] secretion of incubated ovarian follicles significantly [P<0.05] but the high concentration of CPS [200 micro 1/ml] significantly decreased the secretion of E[2] and P[4] [P<0.05]. Collected pituitary secretion at the concentration of 100 micro 1/ml had no significant effect on steroid hormones [P>0.05]

[Effects of constant static magnetic fields exposure on testosterone, FSH and LH secretion in male rat]

Several investigators have reported that exposure to electric and magnetic fields is a risk factor for human health. In addition EMFs have negative effects on reproduction and development, and are harmful to people who are working with or living around them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of static magnetic fields on the male rat reproduction hormones. This experimental study was performed on 144 male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into three protocols. Each protocol included four groups [with the same range of age and weight] and each group contained 12 rats. After one-week adaptation, rats were randomly exposed to SMF as follow: [0, 6, 12 and 24 mT], 40 min daily for 34 days [group 1], 2 hour for 17 days [group 2] and 2 hours for 34 days [group 3]. All protocols were started from 9:00 a.m. After experiments, animals were anaesthetized and blood samples were collected in separate tubes. Their serum was isolated and kept at -20degree sign C for fatuere use. Testosterone, FSH and LH hormones were measured by RIA methods using gamma counter equipment. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey's test. Our results for the protocol of experiments [40min/day for 34 days] indicated that SMF has increased serum testosterone significantly compared to the other groups [6mT] [p<0.01]. The second protocol SMFs [2h/day for 17 days] decreased both serum testosterone and FSH levels [p<0.05]. For the third protocol, SMFs [2h/day for 34 days] decreased serum testosterone 12mT vs 6 mT [p<0.05]. LH did not change significantly in presence of static MFs. Our results suggest that SMFs probably cause gonadal axis dysfunction at the hypothalamic-pituitary level in male rats. In higher SMFs intensities, we have seen dysfunction in target organ or nervous system levels