Preventive impacts of vitamin C on memory damage caused by unpredictable chronic mild stress in relation to biochemical parameters in the hippocampus of male rats.

The present study focused on examining the impact of vitamin C (Vit C) administration on the function of memory and the status of oxidative stress (OS) in the hippocampal area of the brain using an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model in rats. To this end, 50 male Wistar rats (11-12 weeks of age at the start of the study) were assigned to five groups of six animals, including control, UCMS, UCMS + Vit C 50 mg/Kg, UCMS + Vit C 100 mg/Kg, and UCMS + Vit C 400 mg/Kg. The animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Vit C at a certain time (9 am) before the initiation of a stressor. UCMS, including a progression of typical stressors, was applied for four weeks. Subsequently, using the passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests were performed to investigate learning and memory. Eventually, hippocampal tissues were evaluated in terms of OS criteria. The results revealed that the latency to enter the dark chamber (P < 0. 01 and P < 0.05, PA test) and the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.0001, MWM test) were shorter in the UCMS group, while latency to discover the platform was longer (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, MWM test) compared to the control group. However, UCMS decreased the content of thiol (P < 0.0001), as well as the activities of catalase (P < 0.0001) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.0001), whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) increased in the hippocampal region of the brain in comparison to the control group. Interestingly, Vit C treatment reversed the mentioned effects of UCMS. Therefore, the latency to enter the dark chamber (P < 0. 05 and P < 0.01,1 and 24 h after the shock, PA test, UCMS + Vit C 400) and the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0. 01 and P < 0.05, MWM test, UCMS + Vit C 400 and UCMS + Vit C 100, respectively) were longer in the UCMS + Vit C groups. Moreover, Vit C increased the content of thiol (P < 0.05, UCMS + Vit C 400), as well as the activity of catalase (P < 0.001, UCMS + Vit C 400) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.0001, UCMS + Vit C 400, UCMS + Vit C 100), whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde (P < 0. 05 and P < 0.01, UCMS + Vit C 100, UCMS + Vit C 400) decreased in the hippocampal region of the brain in comparison to the UCMS group. Overall, these results suggest that Vit C could reverse UCMS-induced learning and memory impairment possibly through the modulation of brain OS.Key points Memory and learning impairments were induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)Vitamin C could prevent cognitive impairments caused by UCMS in rats by attenuation of oxidative stress in the brain.

The Impact of Chrysin on The Folliculogenesis and Ovarian Apoptosis in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in The Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: The ovarian Ischemia/reperfusion is one of the gynecological emergency concerns that may lead to the ovary damage and folliculogenesis. The present research aimed to evaluate the impact of the Chrysin (CH) on the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental research, 48 adult female rats, 8 weeks age and 180-200 g weight, have been categorized into 6 equal groups (n=8) including one sham and 5 ovarian torsion groups (OT+CH groups) that received different treatments. Each group has been treated 30 min before detorsion with gavage of CH or normal saline for 1 week and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) has been injected on the day 5 for initiating folliculogenesis. Finally, bio-chemical, molecular, histopathological, apoptotic and hormonal evaluations were performed. RESULTS: The anti-oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, ameliorated in the ovarian tissues of the OT+CH groups in comparison with the OT group (P<0.001). Moreover, the level of serum Luteinizing hormone considerably declined and estradiol level (P<0.001), partly enhanced in the rats treated with CH in comparison with the ones in the OT group (P<0.05). In addition, histopathological scores of the OT+CH groups ameliorated in comparison with the OT group scores (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression Caspase-3 and Bax genes were significantly increased while the expression of Bcl-2 was notably decreased in the OT group in comparison with the sham group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Here, it seems that CH is possibly beneficial for the protection of ovaries against reperfusion injury and ischemia.

Protective Effect of Minocycline on Bax and Bcl-2 Gene Expression, Histological Damages and Oxidative Stress Induced by Ovarian Torsion in Adult Rats.

BACKGROUND: Minocycline is a widely used bacteriostatic antibiotic with various functions. The aim of this study was to investigate impact of apoptotic genes in ovary of the torsion/detorsion treated rat model by minocycline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experimental study was performed in 32 female Wistar rats classified in four groups, including: i. sham, ii. TD: torsion/detorsion group received normal saline, iii. TDM: torsion/detorsion group treated with 40 mg/kg Minocycline, and iv. MC: healthy group received 40 mg/kg Minocycline. After treatment period (7 days), histoplogical parameters, oxidative stress markers and hormone profile of serum as well as the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes were measured in the ovary of rats. RESULTS: Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and estrogen were decreased in the TD group and significantly increased in the treated groups (P=0.001). Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and testosterone were increased in the TD group and decreased in the treated groups (P=0.001). Expression level of Bax was elevated in the TD group, while it was attenuated in the treated groups (P=0.001). Expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly increased in treated groups (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Minocycline can repair oxidative damage in ovarian tissue and regulate apoptotic-related gene expressions.

Effects of hypothermia and pentoxifylline on the adnexal torsion/detorsion injuries in a rat testis model.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of separate and combined administration of hypothermia and pentoxifylline to preserve the effects on the testicles in an experimental model of testicular torsion/ detorsion injuries in rats. Forty male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, control, torsion/detorsion (TD), torsion/detorsion/hypothermia (TD+ICE), torsion/detorsion received of pentoxifylline (40mg/kg, ip) (TD+PTX) and torsion/detorsion/hypothermia/PTX (TD+ICE+PTX). Left testicular torsion (TT) was performed for 4 and half hours, and ice fragments have been used at the beginning of torsion. After the reperfusion period (a week), oxidative maker's serum levels, testosterone hormone, sperm parameters, and histopathological and gene expression evaluations have been performed. Significant adverse changes were observed in the TD group for histological variables, sperm count, oxidative marker, testosterone hormone, Bax, BCL2 and caspase-3 expression. The parameters studied in the group receiving PTX improved in comparison with the TD group, while macroscopical parameters of both the hypothermia and PTX+ICE groups were not different compared with the TD group. The results revealed that PTX, as an antioxidant component, was protective against testicular torsion, while hypothermia and hypothermia plus PTX did not exhibit this property, which may have been due to the duration of hypothermia (4 hr) or reperfusion period.

The effect of crocin on testicular tissue and sperm parameters of mice offspring from mothers exposed to atrazine during pregnancy and lactation periods: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Atrazine as a herbicide may affect the human's health. Crocin may protect atrazine-induced damages. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of atrazine on mice testicular tissue and sperm parameters and protective effects of Crocin on probably atrazine-induced damages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: in this experimental study, 24 pregnant Balb/c mice were randomly divided to 4 groups: I: Atrazine (10 mg/kg), II: Atrazine-Crocin, III: Crocin (10mg/kg) and IV: Normal saline. Administrations were done daily by gavage during pregnancy and lactation. In the end, two male offspring were randomly selected from every mother and sacrificed respectively on 23 and 75 postnatal days. Then, their epididymides were removed for sperm parameters investigation and their testes were prepared to evaluate apoptosis by means of TUNEL technique. RESULTS: The mean number of sperms in the atrazine group was lower compared to other groups and increased in the atrazine-crocin group compared with atrazine group significantly (p=0.001). Sperm abnormality was increased in the atrazine group compared with the normal saline group and decreased in the atrazine-crocin group compared with atrazine group significantly (p≤0.001). TUNEL-positive spermatogonia in 23 days old offspring increased significantly in the atrazine group compared with other groups (p=0.03). TUNEL-positive spermatogenic cells in 75 days old offspring was significantly increased in the atrazine group compared with the saline group (p≤0.001). CONCLUSION: Atrazine exposure may lead to decrease the number of sperms, increase sperms abnormality, spermatogenic cell apoptosis and height of germinal epithelium. These complications may improve by crocin administration.