Fluoxetine abolished psychological stress deleterious effect on memory in protein malnourished mice.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of Fluoxetine (FLX) on both learning and memory of psychologically stressed protein malnourished mice as compared to its effect in normally fed ones. Animals were divided into two major groups, a normally fed (NF) mice and a Protein malnourished one (PM). Stress was induced using the learned helplessness (LH) technique. Each animal was exposed for 5 days to the psychological stress session alone or in association with drug administration following completion of 21 days under the diet regimen. Fluoxetine (FLX) was administrated daily in dose of 10mg/kg i.p. before mice exposed to foot shocks. Stress significantly decreased time required to reach platform in normally-fed (NF) mice. FLX significantly increased time required to reach platform as compared to (PM) escape mice. Stress significantly decreased time spent in platform quadrant in both (NF) and (PM) mice. FLX significantly increased time spent in the platform quadrant, as compared to stressed (PM) mice. The results could be concluded that stress enhanced learning in (NF) mice and impaired memory in both (NF) and (PM) mice. FLX abolished psychological stress effect on memory performance under protein malnutrition. Fluoxetine retard learning in (PM) escape mice. Such effects were correlated with significant modifications of brain 5-HT, NE and DA contents.

Modulation the oxidant - antioxidant imbalance induced by thioacetamide in liver of albino rats

The effect of free radicals on human beings has come to attract considerable attention due t their close relation to toxicity and disease. The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the antioxidant efficacy of fresh garlic extract [FGE], aged garlic extract [AGE] and ginger ethanolic extract [GEE] against the oxidative stress induced by thioacetamide administration. Silymarin and Hipamax plus [HP] were employed in the current study as reference materials used in the treatment of liver diseases. Intraperitoneal [ip] administration of thioacetamide [200 mg/kg b.wt., three times a week for four weeks] induced oxidative stress that confirmed by the significant elevation of malondialdehyde [MDA, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation], nitric oxide [NO], myeloperoxidase activity [MPO] with the decline in glutathione content [GSH] and the activities of superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSHPx], glutathione S-transferase [GST] in liver tissue. Meanwhile, there was no change in protein carbonyl. The pre and co-administration of fresh garlic extract, aged garlic extract and ginger ethanolic extract with thioacetamide significantly reduced MDA, NO, MPO activity and enhanced the activity of SOD, GSHPx, GST and markedly increase GSH content in liver tissue. In conclusion, the test materials employed in the current study displayed well marked antioxidant potency and more pronounced antioxidant potency was exerted by AGE

In vitro tests of thyroid function and triple screening marker during pregnancy

In this study, sera of healthy pregnant females collected during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters were analyzed for total thyroxine [TT4], total triiodothyronine [FT3] and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] utilizing radioimmunological assays [RIA]. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin [beta HCG], alpha fetoprotein [AFP] and estradiol [E3], which are interesting hormones related to the mother-fetal relationship and the safety of the fetus, were also determined in the same sera. As a function of pregnancy duration, there was an increase in each of serum T4 and T3 and no appreciable changes could be noticed in TSH. On the contrary, FT4 decreased gradually with the progress of pregnancy. On the other hand, FT3 showed no significant difference between the different intervals of pregnancy. The feto-mother markers [AFP and E3] showed a remarkable increase with the progress of pregnancy. A correlation coefficient was found between each two parameters at each interval of pregnancy and revealed interesting relationships which clarified the findings