effect of an angiotensin II antagonist on hormones of pituitary-gonad axis in adult male rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of valsartan, an angiotensin II antagonist, on the function of the pituitary- gonad axis. Adult male Wistar rats [200 to 220 g] were used as experimental and control groups. The 3 experimental groups received either 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg/day valsartan in 1 ml water orally for 28 days, while a set of control group received 1 ml distilled water for the same period of time and another set received no treatment. At the end of the experimental period, blood was collected and serum was analyzed for FSH, LH, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels by RIA methods. There were no significant differences among FSH levels at all doses of valsartan used, while the serum LH level was decreased significantly at the maximum dose of the drug used. Serum testosterone level decreased at both the 200 and 400 mg/kg dose compared to the control, while the dihydrotestosterone level was reduced significantly at all the three dosages used. According to our founding, suggested that the effects of valsartan on serum LH, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone may be mediated through angiotensin II receptor

Effect of memory attenuation on creating morphine dependency in male mature mice

Morphine and other addicting drugs induce an uncontrolled desire in man to consume the drugs overtly and stimulate the brain compensative systems such that the neuron sensitivity produced is not desensitized for some time after the consumption and detoxification of the drug. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effect of memory attenuation in creating morphine dependency. In this study, 60 male mature mice [85 days old] with a weight of 30-35 grams were enrolled as the experimental and the control groups. The experimental groups included 3 subgroups treated with morphine, scopolamine or morphine+ scopolamine, respectively. Morphine was used for dependency and scopolamine for memory attenuation. Conditioned place preference [CCP] method was used to estimate dependency. Results showed no meaningful difference between the control and the witness groups and between the control and scopolamine groups in preferring a special location to receive the drug. However, there was a meaningful difference [p<0.05] between the control and the morphine groups in preferring a location to receive morphine, and a meaningful attenuation was observed in the scopolamine+morphine group in preferring the location for receiving the drug compared with the group receiving morphine alone. The results show that through memory attenuation, scopolamine decreases morphine dependent CPP. Binding of scopolamine to muscarinic receptors and blocking them affects the opioid receptors which together with reduced nitric oxide synthesis and decreased intracellular calcium, reduces the morphine-induced CPP

Effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of walnut male flowers on diabetic rats

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from defects in insulin secretion and function. Walnut is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. In this study we evaluated the anti-diabetic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of walnut male flowers in streptozocin diabetic rats and its probable side effects on the liver. Eighty adult male Wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into 4 subgroups including a control [N=8] with no intervention, witness group receiving normal saline and another 3 groups of rats each receiving either 2, 4, or 6 g/kg of the extract per day for 15 days. Diabetic groups of rats each treated with the above doses of the extract for the aforementioned period of time, and a group of 8 diabetic rats without any further treatment. Eight rats were also used to determine the LD50 of streptozotocin. Diabetes was induced in rats by injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin. At the end of the experimental period, blood was taken from the experimental and control groups and the serum levels of insulin, glucose and liver enzymes [ALT, AST, ALP] were measured. Results showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract of walnut male flowers increased the levels of insulin, decreased blood glucose, AST and ALP enzymes in the treated diabetic groups compared to the non-treated group [p<0.05]. The anti-diabetic effects of the extract were not dose dependent. The effectiveness of the hydro-alcoholic extract of walnut male flowers in diabetic rats through prevention of liver damage and reduction of blood glucose