Effect of in ovo feeding of folic acid on Disabled-1 and gga-miR-182-5p expression in the cerebral cortex of chick embryo.

Folate (vitamin B9) has been shown to reduce the prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs). Many genes comprising Disabled-1 (DAB1) and miRNAs have been shown to play important role in normal brain development. Reelin-signalling has been shown to play key role in regulating of neuronal migration during brain development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of in ovo administration of folic acid (FA) on DAB1 and gga-miR-182-5p expression in the cerebral cortex of chick embryo. A total number of 30 hatching eggs were used in this study. The number of 10 eggs were injected into the yolk sac with FA (150 µg/egg), 10 eggs by normal saline (sham group) on embryonic day 11 and 10 eggs were left without injection as control. Then the cerebral cortices were collected on E19 and the expression of DAB1 and gga-miR-182-5p was studied by Real-Time PCR. The results showed that DAB1 expression in the cerebral cortex of FA-treated, sham and control were 2.51 ± 0.13, 1.01 ± 0.04 and 1.03 ± 0.04 fold changes, respectively, and this amount for gga-miR-182-5p were 0.54 ± 0.03, 1.09 ± 0.07 and 1.00 ± 0.06-fold change respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there is a significant increase in DAB1 and a decrease in gga-miR-182-5p expression in FA injected cerebral cortex as compared either with either SHAM or control (p < 0.0001). But, no significant change in DAB1 and gga-miR-182-5p expression was observed between sham and the control group (p = 0.99 and p = 0.57 respectively). It is concluded that in ovo feeding of FA increases DAB1 and decreases gga-miR-182-5p expression in the developing chick cerebral cortex.

Expression of neurotrophic factor genes by human adipose stem cells post-induction by deprenyl.

Human adipose stem cells (hASCs) were introduced as appropriate candidate due to advantages like ease of isolation, in vitro expansion and lack of immune response. Deprenyl (Dep) was used to induce bone marrow stem cells into neuron-like cells. We investigated the Dep effect on neurotrophin genes expression in hASCs and their differentiation into neuron-like cells. The cells were isolated from small pieces of abdominal adipose tissue and subjected to flow cytometry to confirm purification. The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation were identified. The proliferation rate and neurotrophin genes expression of treated cells were evaluated by MTT, TH immunostaining and RT-PCR. hASCs had positive response to CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 markers and negative response to CD34 and CD45 markers and differentiated into adipocytes and osteocytes. Exposure to 10-7 M of Dep for 24 hours caused a significant increase of viable cells and BDNF, NTF-3 genes expression as compared to cultured cells in serum free medium and had no effect on the expression of NGF and GDNF genes. Based on our results, Dep is able to induce BDNF, NTF-3 and NTF-4 genes expression and neroun-like morphology in hASCs.

Pre-treatment by Rosemary Extract or Cell Transplantation Improves Memory Deficits of Parkinson's Disease: When Tradition Meets the Future

ABSTRACT The therapeutic effect of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) or RE on hippocampal neurogenesis and memory in Parkinsonian rats were investigated. Male rats were lesioned by bilateral intra-nigral injections of 6-OHDA and divided into six groups: 1. Lesion 2 and 3: RE and water groups were lesioned rats pretreated with RE or water, from 2weeks before neurotoxin injection and treated once a day for 8weeks post lesion. 4&5: Cell and α-MEM (α-minimal essential médium) received intravenous injection of BrdU-labeled ADSCs or medium, respectively from 10days post lesion until 8weeks later. 6: Sham was injected by saline instead of neurotoxin. Memory was assessed using Morris water Maze (MWM), one week before and at 1, 4 and 8weeks post 6-OHDA lesion. After the last probe, the animals were sacrificed and brain tissue obtained. Paraffin sections were stained using cresyl violet, anti-BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine / 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine), anti-GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) and anti-TH antibodies. There was a significant difference of time spent in the target quadrant between groups during probe trial at 4 and 8 weeks' post- lesion. Cell and RE groups spent a significantly longer period in the target quadrant and had lower latency as compared with lesion. Treated groups have a significantly higher neuronal density in hippocampus compared to water, α-MEM and lesion groups. BrdU positive cells were presented in lesioned sites. The GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) positive cells were reduced in treated and sham groups compared to the water, α-MEM and lesion groups. Oral administration of RE (Rosemary extract) or ADSCs injection could improve memory deficit in the Parkinsonian rat by neuroprotection.