Effects ofExtract on Growth and Maturation of Isolated Mouse Ovarian Follicles in a Three-dimensional Culture System / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The aim of this study was to design and assess the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla (MC) on preantral follicle culture of mouse ovaries in a three-dimensional culture system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Isolated preantral follicles were randomly divided into three main groups: the control group containing 10% fetal bovine serum without MC extract (G1), the first experimental group supplemented with 25 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G2), and the second experimental group supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G3).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 12 days of culture, the survival rate (P < 0.05), antrum formation (P < 0.01), metaphase two oocytes (P < 0.01), and the expression of PCNA (P < 0.05) and FSHR (P < 0.05) genes significantly decreased in G3 as compared with G1. On the other hand, at the last day of culture (day 12), the mean diameter of follicles cultured in the medium which was supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile significantly decreased as compared with the G1 (P < 0.05). In addition, the levels of progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone hormones significantly increased in the medium of G3 relative to G1 (P < 0.01), while in the medium of G1, the level of 17β-estradiol was significantly higher than that of other groups (P < 0.01). Reactive oxygen species levels of metaphase II oocytes were significantly decreased in G2 as compared with G1 (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adding chamomile extract to culture media appeared to decrease follicular function and development.</p>

[Evaluation of anti-obesity effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of pomegranate fruit peel using anthropometrical indices in male wistar rats]

Background and Aim: The pomegranate fruit peel has been suggested in traditional medicine as an anti-obesity compound. Therefore, the study was carried out to evaluate the effects of aqueous or ethanolic extracts of pomegranate fruit peel on obesity and lipid profile in rat

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 Wistar male rats randomly divided into 4 equal groups [2 experimentals and 2 controls]. The experimental groups A and E treated with aqueous or ethanolic extract of pomegranate peel at dose of 400 mg/kg, respectively, for 35 days. The control groups N and X respectively received 5mg/kg of saline and Xenical during the study as same as the experimental groups. The rats' weight, body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference were determined before and after investigation. Also at the end of study plasma lipid profile were measured. All data were analyzed by Prism software [ver- 3] and using paired samples t-test and ANOVA

Results: Comparison of weight change before and after the intervention showed a significant reduction in the Group E and a significant increase in group N [p

Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of pomegranate fruit peel can be considered as an anti-obesity compound in further studies

Regulatory changes of n-acetylgalactosamine terminal sugar in early mouse embryonic paraxial mesenchyme

The development of vertebrae is a complex phenomenon that is correlated with distinct morphological and biochemical alterations in the paraxial mesenchyme and glycoconjugates. The purpose of this study is to investigate the glycosylation pattern in paraxial mesenchyme-forming vertebrae by using the lectin histochemical technique. In this descriptive-analytic study, B4G fixed paraffin sections of 9 to 15 day Balb/c mouse embryos were processed for histochemical studies using seven different HRP-labelled lectins: Glycin max [SBA], Maclura pomifera [MPA], Wistaria floribunda [WFA], Vicia villosa [VVA] which all of them are specific for N-acetylgalactosamine [GalNAc], Ulex europius [UEA1, binds to alpha-L-fucose], wheat germ agglutinin [WGA, binds to sialic acid], and Griffonia simplicifolia [GSA1-B4, binds to galactose terminal sugars]. The sections were observed separately by three examiners who were blinded to the lectins. Grading was done according to the intensity of the tested lectins' reactions with the specimen, from negative [-] to severe [+++]. Data was analysed with SPSS software [version 11.5] and the non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test; p<0.05 was considered significant. Our findings showed that among the tested lectins, only GalNAc residue sensitive lectins showed regulated changes in paraxial mesenchyme. Reactions of WFA and MPA lectins with paraxial mesenchyme were severe on GD9. Reactions of WFA continued to GD15 constantly, while MPA reactions continued strongly to GD12, significantly decreased thereafter [p<0.001], and then disappeared. VVA and SBA bindings initiated weakly on GD10 and continued to GD12 without changing. These reactions increased significantly [p<0.001] thereafter, became severe to GD14, and later disappeared. The other tested lectins did not reveal regulated changes. According to these findings it can be concluded that only the GalNAc terminal sugar showed temporally regulated changes during the early embryonic development of vertebrae in mice. Therefore it most likely plays a key role [s] in the development of vertebrae, especially in the conversion of mesenchymal cells into chondroblasts. The other tested terminal sugars may have no role in this phenomenon

Lectin histochemical study of vasculogenesis during rat pituitary morphogenesis

The aim of this study was to investigate glycoconjugates distribution patterns as well as their changes during the course of pituitary portal vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Formalin fixed paraffin sections of 10 to 20 days of Sprague Dawly rat fetuses were processed for histochemical studies using four different horseradish peroxidase [HRP] conjugated lectins. Orange peel fungus [OFA], Vicica villosa [VVA], Glycine max [SBA] and Wistaria floribunda [WFA] specific for alpha-L-Fucose, D-Gal, alpha, beta-D-GalNAc and D-GalNAc terminal sugars of glycoconjugates respectively. Our finding indicated that adenohypophysal cells reacted with OFA on gestational day 10 E[10] and increased progressively to E[14]. Staining intensity did not change from days 14 to17, then after increased following days to E[20] significantly [P< 0.05]. A few cells around Rathke's pouch reacted with VVA on E[13], increased to E[14] and decreased significantly afterward [P< 0.05]. Reaction of some cells around Rathke's pouch reacted with SBA on E[14]. This visible reaction was the same as E[18] and decreased later [P< 0.05]. Many cells around Rathke's pouch reacted with WFA on E[13] and increased on E[14] and E[15] and decreased thereafter [P<0.05]. Reactions of OFA and other tested lectins with endothelial cells around Rathke's pouch and developing pars distalis were different. These results suggest that embryonic origin of hypophiseal pituitary portal [HPP] system endothelial cells are not the same and our finding also indicated that glycoconjugates with terminal sugars alpha-L-Fucose, D-Gal, alpha, beta-D-GalNAc may play critical role[s] in cell interactions and tissue differentiations such as vasculogensis and angiogenesis as well as other developmental precursors in formation of the pituitary gland

Distribution of specific glycoconjugates in early mouse embryonic notochord and paraxial mesenchyme

It is well known that glycoconjugate components of the cell surface and extracellular matrix, play an essential role[s] in many developmental phenomena such as cell differentiation, migration, and cellular interactions. The purpose of this study was to investigate distribution of this macromolecules during differentiation of the notochord and paraxial mesoderm. Formalin fixed paraffin sections of 9 to 16 days of BALB/c mouse embryos were processed for histochemical studies using four different horseradish peroxidase conjugated lectins including wheat germ agglutinin [WGA], Griffonia simplicifolia [GSA1-B4], Arachis hypogaea [PNA] and Lotus tetragonolobus [LTA], specific for sialic acid, galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine [GalNAc] and fucose terminal sugar, respectively. Our results showed that in primordial of the developing vertebrae PNA sensitive glycoconjugate appeared on gestational day 13 and increased to gestational day 15 significantly [P<0.05] and disappeared later. GSA1-B4 revealed no reaction and LTA and WGA reactions were observed only in notochord. Among the lectins that were used in this study, only PNA showed continuous and strong reaction just during gestational day 13 to 15. This finding suggests that PNA temporally regulated changes occurred during early vertebral development in mouse embryos and probably their specific terminal sugar plays a key role[s] during prechondrogenic vertebrae