Leukemia inhibitory factor's effect on the growth and survival of sheep's follicles of ovarian tissue during vitrification.

One of the experimental programs for fertility protection in women includes protective cryopreservation. Vitroficasion of ovarian tissue is one of the protective cryopreservation methods that use high concentrations of antifreeze and faster cooling. To reduce its complications, LIF (Leukemia inhibitory factor) was used as a pretreatment in this study. In this study, the ovaries were randomly divided into 8 groups. In NCN (without pretreatment and LIF in culture media), NCP (without pretreatment and with LIF in culture media), PCP (with pretreatment and LIF in culture media), and PCN (with pretreatment and without LIF in culture media) groups, vitrification and reversal were not performed. In the groups NVN (without pretreatment and LIF in culture media), NVP (without pretreatment and with LIF in culture media) PV, PVP (with pretreatment and LIF in culture media), and PVN (with pretreatment and without LIF in culture medium) groups, vitrification and tissue reversal were performed. All groups were cultured and histological, cellular, and molecular evaluations were performed. The results of the present study showed that LIF in the culture medium reduced the number of abnormal, primordial, primary, and secondary follicles, and DNA breakage compared to the group without LIF (P < 0.05) and increases the growth of follicles and expression of GDF9, BMP, AMH, KITLG genes (P < 0.05). The use of LIF pretreatment before vitrification and melting of sheep ovary tissue in its culture medium reduces the damage caused by it and increases the growth and development of ovarian follicles while maintaining their function.

Application of a modified MWCNT-based d-µSPE procedure for determination of bisphenols in soft drinks.

Herein, a facile dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (d-µSPE) procedure using carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with silver nanoparticles (Ag/MWCNTs-COOH) was successfully developed for the adsorption and subsequent determination of low levels of two well-known contaminants, namely bisphenol A and S (BPA and BPS) in water and soft drink samples. The detection and measurement of the above-mentioned compounds were performed by HPLC-UV instrument. The applied d-µSPE procedure has several advantages such as rapidity, high degree of sensitivity, precision and efficiency. A combination of polar/non-polar interactions seems to play a key role in the adsorption process. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 1-500 µg/L for the both targets. The practical limit of quantifications (LOQ) for the both analytes were determined to be 1.0 µg/L. The average relative recoveries obtained from the fortified samples varied between 92 and 110% with the relative standard deviations (RSD%) of 2.9-9.5%.

Surgical Treatment of Fibrous dysplasia in the Maxillary Bone of a 12 Year-Old Girl: A Case Report.

Fibrous dysplasia is a rare bony disorder with recurrent character distinguished by abnormal fibro-osseous tissue. One or more bones may be involved in this lesion; however, the maxilla is the most commonly affected bone in the maxillofacial region. Here, we present an interesting case of a surgically treated 12-year-old adult female patient with a diagnosis of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia (CFD) in the maxillary bone with an invasive expansion to the orbital bone who was referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad, Iran, in Apr 2021. The patient was treated under general anesthesia by the surgical recontouring and bone shaving of the tumor. Several factors should be considered in choosing the best treatment such as pathological features of the lesion, patient's age, and risk of recurrence. However, surgical treatment, in this case, was beneficial to help the patient resuming a normal life. There is no published report describing bone recontouring and shaving management in an invasive case of craniomaxillofacial FD before the age of skeletal maturity due to the psychological effect of the deformity.

The Mediating Role of A2A Adenosine Receptors in the Mitochondrial Pathway of Apoptotic Hippocampal Cell Death, Following the Administration of MDMA in Rat.

INTRODUCTION: The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is a popular recreational drug and a major source of substance abuse, which ultimately leads to sensations of well-being, elation and euphoria, moderate derealization/depersonalization, and cognitive disruptions, as well as intense sensory awareness. The mechanisms involved in memory impairment induced by MDMA are not completely understood. METHODS: The current study used 40 Sprague-Dawley rats, weighted 200 to 250 g. Experiments were performed in four groups, each containing 10 rats. The first group of rats was used as the control, treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The second group was treated with MDMA. The third group was treated with MDMA and CGS (the adenosine A2A receptor agonist, 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl) phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine) (CGS 21680) and the fourth group was treated with MDMA and SCH (the A2A receptor antagonist [7-(2-phenylethyl)-5-amino-2-(2-furyl-) pyrazolo-[4, 3-e]-1, 2, 4 triazolo [1,5-] pyrimidine]) (SCH 58261). The drugs in all groups were administrated intraperitoneally (i.p.) once a day for 7 days. In 5 rats of each group, following perfusion, samples were taken from hippocampi to investigate apoptosis. Accordingly, the samples were stained using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay kit, and studied by light microscopy. In other rats, fresh tissue was also removed to study the expression of bax and bcl-2 by Western blotting technique. RESULTS: It was observed that the coadministration of MDMA with CGS reduced bax expression and prevented apoptosis of hippocampal cells. The coadministration of MDMA and SCH increased bax expression, and also increased the frequency of hippocampal cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study showed that administration of CGS with MDMA decreased the common side effects associated with MDMA.

Multipotent Stem Cell and Current Application.

Stem cells are self-renewing and undifferentiated cell types that can be differentiate into functional cells. Stem cells can be classified into two main types based on their source of origin: Embryonic and Adult stem cells. Stem cells also classified based on the range of differentiation potentials into Totipotent, Pluripotent, Multipotent, and Unipotent. Multipotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into all cell types within one particular lineage. There are plentiful advantages and usages for multipotent stem cells. Multipotent Stem cells act as a significant key in procedure of development, tissue repair, and protection. Multipotent Stem cells have been applying in treatment of different disorders such as spinal cord injury, bone fracture, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, hematopoietic defects, and fertility preservation.

Multipotent Stem Cell and Reproduction.

Stem cells are self-renewing and undifferentiated cell types that can be differentiate into functional cells. Stem cells can be classified into two main types based on their source of origin: Embryonic and Adult stem cells. Stem cells also classified based on the range of differentiation potentials into Totipotent, Pluripotent, Multipotent, and Unipotent. Multipotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into all cell types within one particular lineage. There are plentiful advantages and usages for multipotent stem cells. Multipotent Stem cells act as a significant key in procedure of development, tissue repair, and protection. The accessibility and adaptability of these amazing cells create them a great therapeutic choice for different part of medical approaches, and it becomes interesting topic in the scientific researches to found obvious method for the most advantageous use of MSC-based therapies. Recent studies in the field of stem cell biology have provided new perspectives and opportunities for the treatment of infertility disorders.

Effects of adenosine A2a receptor agonist and antagonist on cerebellar nuclear factor-kB expression preceded by MDMA toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine is an endogenous purine nucleoside that has a neuromodulatory role in the central nervous system. The amphetamine derivative (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) is a synthetic amphetamine analogue used recreationally to obtain an enhanced affiliated emotional response. MDMA is a potent monoaminergic neurotoxin with the potential of damage to brain neurons. The NF-kB family of proteins are ubiquitously expressed and are inducible transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes involved in disparate processes such as immunity and ingrowth, development and cell-death regulation. In this study we investigated the effects of the A2a adenosine receptor (A2a-R) agonist (CGS) and antagonist (SCH) on NF-kB expression after MDMA administration. METHODS: Sixty three male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected to MDMA (10 and 20mg/kg) followed by intraperitoneal CGS (0.03 mg/kg) or SCH (0.03mg/kg) injection. The cerebellum were then removed forcresylviolet staining, western blot and RT- PCR analyses. MDMA significantly elevated NF-kB expression. Our results showed that MDMA increased the number of cerebellar dark neurons. RESULTS: We observed that administration of CGS following MDMA, significantly elevated the NF-kB expression both at mRNA and protein levels. By contrast, administration of the A2a-R antagonist SCH resulted in a decrease in the NF-kB levels. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that, co-administration of A2a agonist (CGS) can protect against MDMA neurotoxic effects by increasing NF-kB expression levels; suggesting a potential application for protection against the neurotoxic effects observed in MDMA users.

Pentoxifylline Protects the Rat Liver Against Fibrosis and Apoptosis Induced by Acute Administration of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy).

OBJECTIVE(S): 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is one of the most popular drugs of abuse in the world with hallucinogenic properties that has been shown to induce apoptosis in liver cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on liver damage induced by acute administration of MDMA in Wistar rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were administered with saline or MDMA (7.5 mg/kg, IP) 3 times with 2 hr intervals. PTX (200 mg kg, IP), was administered simultaneously with last injection of MDMA in experimental group. RESULTS: The concomitant administration of pentoxifylline and MDMA decreased liver injury including apoptosis, fibrosis and hepatocytes damages. CONCLUSION: Our results showed for the first time that PTX treatment diminishes the extent of apoptosis and fibrosis caused by MDMA in rat liver.

The Role of The A2A Receptor in Cell Apoptosis Caused by MDMA.

OBJECTIVE: Ecstasy, also known as 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a psychoactive recreational hallucinogenic substance and a major worldwide recreational drug. There are neurotoxic effects observed in laboratory animals and humans following MDMA use. MDMA causes apoptosis in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). Withdrawal signs are attenuated by treatment with the adenosine receptor (A2A receptor). This study reports the effects of glutamyl cysteine synthetase (GCS), as an A2A receptor agonist, and succinylcholine (SCH), as an A2A receptor antagonist, on Sprague Dawley rats, both in the presence and absence of MDMA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, we used seven groups of Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g each). Each group was treated with daily intraperitoneal (IP) injections for a period of one week, as follows: i. MDMA (10 mg/kg); ii. GCS (0.3 mg/kg); iii. SCH (0.3 mg/kg); iv. GCS + SCH (0.3 mg/kg each); v. MDMA (10 mg/kg) + GCS (0.3 mg/kg); vi. MDMA (10 mg/kg) + SCH (0.3 mg/kg); and vi. normal saline (1 cc/kg) as the sham group. Bax (apoptotic protein) and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein) expressions were evaluated by striatum using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in Bax protein expression in the MDMA+SCH group and a significant decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression in the MDMA+SCH group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A2A receptors have a role in the apoptotic effects of MDMA via the Bax and Bcl-2 pathways. An agonist of this receptor (GCS) decreases the cytotoxcity of MDMA, while the antagonist of this receptor (SCH) increases its cytotoxcity.

Evaluation of the effect of pentoxifylline on white blood cell count in serum and peritoneal fluid in female rats with endometriosis.

AIM: Endometriosis is defined as the growth of endometrium outside of the uterus in ectopic places. Immune system disturbances have an important role in endometriosis which may lead to infertility. It seems that inflammatory cytokines, specially tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which are produced by activated macrophages, play an important role in the pathology of endometriosis. Based on this theory, anti-TNF-alpha drugs are suggested as new drugs for endometriosis. This experimental study has been performed on female rats to determine the effect of pentoxifylline on the white blood cell count in serum and peritoneal fluid. METHODS: During the proestrous phase, one horn of the bicorn uterus of rats was removed surgically, and the endometrium implanted to different places as follows: subcutaneous, peritoneum and near the ovaries. After 2 months' observation, female rats were divided randomly into two groups. The treated group (n = 10) were given pentoxifylline (5 mg/kg twice a day), and the control group (n = 10) were given normal saline (the same dose), which was injected subcutaneously. Then via second laparotomy and in the same phase of the cycles, the size of implants and the white blood cell levels in the serum and peritoneum were measured. RESULTS: In the treated group, the total implant mass (mm2) decreased significantly in the right subcutaneous (8.05 mm2 vs 13.5 mm2; P = 0.01), left subcutaneous (7.64 mm2 vs 14.00 mm2; P = 0.01), right ovary (6.64 mm2 vs 15.22 mm2; P = 0.001) and left ovary (7.18 mm2 vs 14.56 mm2; P = 0.005). The total white blood cell count (5254.5455 +/- 178.73 vs 15,833.33 +/- 259.27; P = 0.02) and neutrophils (297.34 +/- 57.34 vs 2736.00 +/- 346.75; P = < 0.001) in the serum were decreased and the total count of lymphocytes (4967.92 +/- 696.194 vs 13,048.33 +/- 178.73; P = 0.003) in serum was increased. There were not any significant changes in the total white blood cell count in the peritoneum in both groups. The number of estrous cycles in both groups was similar. CONCLUSION: Based on our study, pentoxifylline could decrease the size of endometrial implants, especially in the ovaries and subcutaneous areas, and total white blood cell count in serum. Pentoxifylline could increase the lymphocyte count and decrease the neutrophil count in serum, and because these changes it might alter the immune system. Pentoxifylline did not have any adverse effect on rats' cycles and a good aspect of treatment with pentoxifylline was achieved.