Minocycline through attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammatory response reduces the neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury.

OBJECTIVES: Several lines of evidence showed that minocycline possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of minocycline in rats subjected to chronic constriction injury (CCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study four groups (n = 6-8) of rats were used as follows: Sham, CCI, CCI + minocycline (MIN) 10 mg/Kg (IP) and CCI + MIN 30 mg/Kg (IP). On days 3, 7, 14, and 21 post-surgery hot-plate, acetone, and von Frey tests were carried out. Finally, Motor Nerve Conduction Velocity Evaluation (MNCV) assessment was performed and spinal cords were harvested in order to measure tissue concentrations of TNF_α, IL-1ß, Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Extent of perineural inflammation and damage around the sciatic nerve was histopathologically evaluated. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that CCI significantly caused hyperalgesia and allodynia twenty-one days after CCI. MIN attenuated heat hyperalgesia, cold and mechanical allodynia and MNCV in animals. MIN also decreased the levels of TNF_α and IL-1ß. Antioxidative enzymes (SOD, MDA, and GPx) were restored following MIN treatment. Our findings showed that MIN decreased perineural inflammation around the sciatic nerve. According to the results, the neuropathic pain reduced in the CCI hyperalgesia model using 30 mg/kg of minocycline. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that antinociceptive effects of minocycline might be mediated through the inhibition of inflammatory response and attenuation of oxidative stress.

Evaluation of selenium on kidney function following ischemic injury in rats; protective effects and antioxidant activity.

Introduction: Renal dysfunction is caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is a common problem in kidney surgery or kidney transplantation. The human body consists of enormous complex antioxidant systems, which inquires adequate selenium (Se) absorption for normal physiologic function. It is known that Se has some antioxidant effects. Objectives: In the present research, effects of the Se on damages caused by I/R injury investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, four groups of rats (weighing 220±10 g) used, include control group, I/R group, healthy group treated with Se for two weeks, and I/R group with two-week Se treatment. On the test day, I/R was treated in both right and left renal arteries for 45 minutes and the reperfusion was done for 24 hours. Results: In I/R group, the amount of urea and serum creatinine (Cr) was an injury indicator of the kidney cells which showed a significant increase compared with the control group. When the treatment with Se significantly reduced these indicators, glutathione (GSH) enzyme levels reduced significantly in the second group and the enzyme levels increased due to Se treatment in the fourth group. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA) enzyme levels increased in I/R group due to the Se treatment in the fourth group which was significantly reduced. In addition, the tissue damage was reduced in the fourth group compared with I/R group. Conclusion: Se has a protective effect against the I/R injury. This effect might be due to the antioxidant properties of Se.

A survey of seasonal infestation with Przhevalskiana larvae in slaughtered goats and sheep in South-Western Iran.

In this research slaughtered sheep and goats were investigated during August 2003-July 2004 at a slaughterhouse in Masjed-Soleyman, South-Western Iran. The number of infested animals with Przhevalskiana larvae and their age and sex was recorded. Collected larvae from infested animals were stored in Alcohol-Glycerin solution and were studied to determine their morphological properties and species. The data was analyzed by the chi-square test. Rate of infestation was 0.2 and 5.3% in sheep and goats, respectively. Infestation rate in male and female goats and sheep was significantly different (p<0.05). Prevalence of hypodermosis in sheep was significantly different in spring and winter, while infestation prevalence in goats was significantly different in four seasons of the year. Myiasis was seen more frequent in 2-3 and 1-2-year-old age groups of sheep and goats, respectively. The causative agents of goat and sheep hypodermosis were Przhevalskiana aegagri and Przhevalskiana crossii. The onset of fly activity was from late June to mid July.