Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Year:2015 | Volume:17 | Issue:9|Papers Count:10

Background: Myrtus communis leaves have the potential to affect thyroid hormone functions.Objectives: In this study, the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of M. communis on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis and histological changes were studied.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were divided in 5 groups (n = 8): control, sham, and three experimental groups which received the extract of M. communis leaves in a minimal (0.75 mg/kg), Medium (1.5 mg/kg) and maximal amounts (3 mg/kg), respectively. At the end of the 15th day blood samples were collected to measure triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and to study thyroid gland tissueResults: Serum levels of T4 and TSH in groups receiving maximum dose of the extract showed a significant decrease compared to sham group (P<0.05).Conclusions: It is probable that some compounds in the alcoholic extract of M. communis leaves may be cause changes in serum TSH concentration and thyroid hormones.

Background: Zn is calcium channels blocker and interferes with biological function of calcium ion, and FSH and LH secretion are dependent on calcium ion.Objectives: The aim of this study was evaluate the effects of supra physiological dose of zinc injection in lateral ventricle (LV) on serum FSH, LH, testosterone, and prolactin (PRL) in male rats.Materials and Methods: This experiment was performed on 30 Wistar-Albino male rats weighing 220 - 260 g, which were cannulated in LV. Rats were divided into: sham control (SC), control (V), and test (T) groups, randomly. Test group received 10 mL of artificial cerebra spinal fluid (ACSF) containing 0.06 μmol zinc sulfate, for 20 days. Group V was given the same volume of ACSF, but group SC did not receive any agent at this time. At the end, animals were anesthetized by diethyl ether, sacrificed and blood samples were collected. Serum gonadotropins and prolactin were measured via rat kits and ELISA methods. Testosterone was measured by ordinary methods. Obtained data were analyzed by SPSS-17 software and Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Bonnferoni correction statistical tests. Results were expressed as mean±SD. Statistical differences were recognized significant at P<0.05.Results: Our findings showed that serum LH, food and weight gain in group T significantly decreased but prolactin value in this group increased in comparison to those in other groups.Conclusions: We conclude that intraventricular (IV) injection of supra physiological dose of zinc sulfate in IV affected on serum LH, prolactin, food intake, and gain of weight in male rats.

Objectives: This survey was carried out to evaluate the effects of subacute supraphysiological dose of ND administration on liver enzymes and lipid profiles in male and female rats.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 40 Wistar-Albino rats, which after weighing divided into 4 groups as control (female and male) and test (female and male) groups (N=10). The test groups received 15 mg/kg nandrolone decanoate by intra muscular (im) injection for 2 weeks, but control groups received the same volum of oil vehicle. At the end, animals were deeply anesthetized by diethyl ether, scarified and their blood samples were collected. Liver enzymes and lipoproteins were measured by usual methods. Obtained data were analyzed by SPSS-15, applying ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results were expressed as mean±SD. Statistical difference was recognized significant by P£0.05.Results: Results showed that AST value in the test groups were significantly increased compared to those of the control groups. In addition, HDL and cholesterol values in female test group were significantly increased compared to those of male test group. Moreover, final weight, food, and water intake in all test groups were significantly increased compared to those of control groups.Conclusions: These results indicated that subacute administration of nandrolone decanoate alters liver enzymes, lipoprotein profile, final weight, food, and water intake in rats. The exact mechanism needs future studies.

Background: An increasing amount of populations all over the world are reported to have no access to clean and fresh water. Some traditional chemical disinfectants (free chlorine, chloramines, and ozone) are already widely used in the water industry; alarmingly, many of these are carcinogens. Furthermore, the resistance of microorganisms to these common chemical disinfectants is increasing; superior alternatives are therefore necessary. The development of nanoscience and nanotechnology within the last decades provides opportunities to deal with this problem.Objectives: In this study, the solvothermal method was employed to synthesize SnO2 nanoparticles with spherical morphology in the absence of templates or structure-directing agents under mild conditions. The nanoparticles used to in the inactivation efficiencies for two microorganisms under UV irradiation and dark conditions.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, tin dioxide (SnO2) nanoparticles have been synthesized via a simple solvothermal method in the absence of templates or structure-directing agents under mild conditions. The prepared SnO2 sample was employed for the inactivation of Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) in MilliQ water under dark and UV illumination. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles was evaluated using bacterium as per colony count method.Results: SnO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via solvothermal method under mild condition. SEM image showed SnO2 nanoparticles were spherical when a mixture of water and ethanol used as solvent. The prepared SnO2 nanoparticles were employed for the inactivation of gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and gram-positive S.aureus (ATCC 29213) in MilliQ water. It was found that SnO2 nanoparticles show much higher activity against E. coli than S.aureus.Conclusions: According to the result of this study, SnO2 nanoparticles are an excellent antibacterial agent for bactericidal applications.

Background: Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative and nonspecific type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, is a drug widely used in the management of peripheral arterial disease.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective role of PTX on toxicity of acrolein (ACR).Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 male rats were equally divided in to 6 groups (5 rats each). Group I (control) that received normal saline, group II was given ACR (2 mg /kg/day, i.p.). Animals of group III received only PTX (50 mg/kg/day, i.p.). Group IV was given ACR + PTX, groups V received only vitamin E (15 mg/kg/day, s.c.) and group VI was given vitamin E combination to ACR once daily for 14 dayes. Oxidative damage were measured by oxidative biomarkers such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and total glutathione (GSH) in blood of rats.Results: At the end of the experiment, the plasma of the animals was separated. In the blood plasma, ACR reduced total glutathione (GSH), SOD and GPx compared control group. Also, the LPO was increased in the ACR group as compared with controls. PTX ameliorated LPO, SOD and GPx in blood of ACR-induced changes.Conclusions: These findings suggest that PTX may provide a promising approach for the treatment of ACR-related diseases throughout reduction oxidative injuries.

Background: Given the high application rate of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in various industries and importance of the liver in body detoxification, the present study reviewed the toxic effects of such nanoparticles on changes of hepatic enzymes and liver and lung tissues.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 32 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control (treated with 0.5 mL normal saline) and three experimental groups. Group 1, 2, and 3 received 0.5 mL of solution containing 10, 100, and 300 ppm TiO2 for 7 successive days, respectively. The effects of nanoparticles on serum levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) were evaluated at 2, 7, and 14 days. After 14 days, the tissue of liver and lung was collected and investigated.Results: Mean SGOT levels, two days after the intervention, in groups 1 and 3 were significantly greater than the control group. Group 3 had a higher toxicity on hepatic enzymes. The histological results of liver in group 1 showed hepatocyte vasculature and hypertrophy approximate and elimination of hepatic lobules, in group 2 showed, decreased effect of hepatocyte acidophilic and elimination of hepatic lobules, and in group 3 showed, shrinkage of central veins and immediate hyperemia. The histological results in lung, also, showed destruction of alveolus (group 1) and vasculature hyperemia in all groups.Conclusions: It can be concluded that nanometer spherical-shaped TiO2 nanoparticles, even in small amounts for medical purposes, causes cell toxicity. Further research is needed in order to study its effects on organs and blood factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nitrate/L-arginine administration on NO levels in the stomach and liver of rats.Materials and Methods: In this interventional study, adult male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of control, nitrate and L-arginine (n=8). Rats in the nitrate and L-arginine groups were administered sodium nitrate (500 mg/L) or L-arginine (2%) for one week in drinking water while those in control group consumed tap water. At the end, serum, stomach and liver NO metabolite (NOx) concentrations were measured by the Griess method.Results: Median (interquartile range) serum NOx concentrations in the control group [28.2 (19.6-37.8) mmol/L] were significantly (P<0.05) different to those of the nitrate [152.4 (111.4 - 180.2) mmol/L] and L-arginine [14.5 (11.2 - 21.5) μmol/L] groups. Nitrate administration increased and L-arginine administration decreased stomach and liver NOx levels respectively. A positive correlation was observed between serum concentrations and stomach (r=0.847, P<0.001) and liver (r=0.650, P=0.006) NOx levels.Conclusions: Nitrate and L-arginine administration had opposite effects on NOx levels in stomach and liver of normal rats. Increase in stomach NOx following nitrate administration may be due to gastric nitrate absorption, while the decrease in tissue NOx following L-arginine administration may be due to increase in arginase activity. These findings may be important considering current data on the protective roles of dietary nitrate/nitrite.

Background: Lead is a heavy metal with no apparent biological function. The widespread environmental contamination, the propensity to cause a wide spectrum of toxic effects and the number of individuals affected worldwide makes this ubiquitous neurotoxicant a public health problem of global magnitude. The nervous system is the primary target for the low levels of lead exposure and the developing brain appears to be especially vulnerable to lead neurotoxicity.Objectives: The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of neonatal lead exposure on spatial learning and memory in Morris water maze.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 new born male rats were randomly divided into two groups: Control and lead exposure groups. Rat pups in lead exposure group received 8 mg/kg lead acetate intraperitoneally daily for 21 days. Then, rats trained with 6 trials per day for 6 consecutive days in the water maze at 36th postnatal day (PD). Twenty four hours after ending of training, a probe test was done to measure memory retention.Results: Results of this study demonstrated that exposure to lead could affect learning as indicating by significant differences in escape latency and traveled distance between 2 groups during 6 days of training. Lead exposure group exhibited significantly higher escape latency and distance traveled during training trials compared to control group. Also, lead exposure rats had higher platform location latency than control group during probe trial (P<0.05).Conclusions: These data suggests that lead exposure during early postnatal period of brain development causes impairment in spatial learning and memory.

In early stages of development, the laminated structure of cerebral cortex is organized by proliferative, morphogenetic, and migratory processes. In these stages, cells within the ependymal lining of neural tube are thought to secrete embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (eCSF). As the neural tube closes, the choroid plexuses (CPs) secrete proteins such as growth factors, cytokines and morphogenes into the eCSF. The apical neuroepithelium is bathed with this fluid which plays regulatory roles in cortical cell proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance. Because of the eCSF protein contents and their impacts on neurogenesis, we focused on the effect of eCSF growth factors and their changes during brain development. Bibliographic databases including PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched between years 1990 to 2013 for the keywords “Cerebrospinal fluid” and “Neurogenesis”. In the first step, 200 articles were found, after elimination of duplicates or irrelevant papers 49 papers were selected and reviewed.

Objectives: The present study came to address the degree of liver inflammation following inhaled opium use and compare it with the severity of liver inflammation in the animal group receiving cigarette smoking.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 Syrian golden hamsters were randomly divided into five groups as group not receiving any regimen as the control, A: group receiving inhaled opium, B: group receiving cigarette smoke, C: group receiving inhaled opium with double dosage of the second group, D: group receiving inhaled opium and cigarette smoke concurrently. The degree of inflammation was evaluated by various scoring systems including Knodell/original HAI score, Ishak/modified HAI score, METAVIR score and two other ordinal inflammatory scoring approaches.Results: Histological interpretation of the liver samples showed similar mean Knodell/original HAI score, Ishak/modified HAI score, and METAVIR score across the five groups. According to other two ordinal methods for scoring inflammation, there were also no significant differences in the degree of inflammation activity across the interventional groups and the control.Conclusions: The inflammatory response to cigarette smoking seems to be similar to the use of inhaled opium; however, similarity of the inflammation degree between inhaled opium users and control experiments should be taken into consideration.