IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
Year:2021 | Volume:4 | Issue:3-4 (14)|Papers Count:8

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in middle age and aging. It is the third leading cause of death among the elderly. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by attention deficits, memory and learning impairment. Many researches try to find new alternative treatment options for Alzheimer's disease. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is one of the new therapies for treating this disease. Early studies have shown that applying DBS in the hippocampus, meynert nucleus, fornix, and entorhinal cortex of patients as well as experimental Alzheimer-like models in animals can improve learning abnormalities and increase the volume of the hippocampus. The mechanisms responsible for this effect are still unknown, but maybe DBS effect through changes in neurotransmitters and neuromodulators release, thereby regulates the neuronal activities. In this article, we first review the common drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease and their complications, and then review the effect of DBS on the Alzheimer's patient and the animal model of Alzheimer's, and finally discuss the possible mechanisms involved in these therapeutic effects and changes in neurotransmitters.

Background and aims: Plasmapheresis therapy is used for a wide range of neurological diseases. Plasmapheresis treatment has complications such as hematoma, pneumothorax, hypocalcemia, bleeding, arrhythmia, hypotension, fever, infection, edema, limb anesthesia, metabolic alkalosis, thrombosis and thrombocytopenia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of common complications of therapeutic plasmapheresis in patients admitted to the neurology ward of Shahid Faghihi and Namazi Hospitals. Methods: In this study, the clinical records of all patients admitted to the neurology ward of Shahid Faghihi and Namazi hospitals from the beginning of September 2016 to the end of August 2017 who underwent plasmapheresis treatment were reviewed and the required clinical information was entered into a checklist and then entered into SPSS software. And statistical analysis was performed. Results: In this study, a total of 287 plasmapheresis sessions were performed for 67 patients diagnosed with neurological disease. There was no significant relationship between the incidence of complications of therapeutic plasmapheresis with the patient's gender, patient age, marital status, patient education, patient occupation, history of underlying disease and history of smoking. Based on the findings of this study, there was no significant relationship between the incidence of complications of therapeutic plasmapheresis with the duration of the disease, duration of hospitalization, type and location of catheter, number of plasmapheresis sessions and type of fluid replaced in plasmapheresis. The most common complications of therapeutic plasmapheresis in this study were thrombocytopenia and catheter-related complications. The most important life-threatening complications of plasmapheresis included catheter infection and thrombosis. Conclusion: IN general, the results of the present study showed that out of a total of 67 male patients in the two centers under study, the prevalence of complications due to plasmapheresis therapy was 82. 08% and the most important of them were thrombocytopenia and catheter-related complications. Identifying the complications of therapeutic plasmapheresis can lead to better treatment and better control of the complications of this treatment.

Background and aims: Aim of this study was to determine effect of 8 weeks combined training and vitamin D consumption on some of muscle damage, inflammatory, and anti-oxidative indices in drug addicted women. Methods: In a semi-experimental study design, 32 addicted women to methamphetamine and heroin, with average age of 28. 3 ± 6. 7 years, weight of 62. 06 ± 10. 3 kg, and BMI of 24. 10 ± 2. 9, were chosen from an addiction treatment camp and randomly divided into four groups of training, training + supplement (vitamin D), supplement, and control. Training group did resistance training with intensity of 40– 70% of one-repetition maximum for 18 to 28 min and aerobic training with intensity of 50– 70% of heart rate reserve for 12 to 37. 5 min for 8 weeks with 3 sessions in each week. In order to measure muscle damage, inflammatory, and anti-oxidative enzymes blood samples were taken before and after training protocol and supplementation. To check normal distribution of data, Shapiro-Wilk test was used. For analyzing the effect of independent variables, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures, dependent T test, and post-hoc Bonferroni test at significance level of 0. 05 were used. Results: Results of dependent T test showed that creatine kinase in training and training + supplement groups, Lactate dehydrogenase in training group, and total antioxidant capacity in training + supplement group were significantly increased (p < 0. 05). Malondialdehyde in training + supplement and supplement groups, and C reactive protein in training + supplement group showed significant decrease (p < 0. 05). Between groups comparison showed that compared to control group, total antioxidant capacity indices and C reactive protein in training + supplement group were significantly increased and decreased, respectively (p < 0. 05). In addition, creatine kinase in both training + supplement and training groups, was significantly increased compared to control group (p < 0. 05). Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation with combined training can increase total antioxidant capacity and decrease C reactive protein in drug addicted women.

Background and aims: Alzheimer's disease (AD), is the most common neurodegenerative disease that is associated with cognitive and behavioral disorders and the rapidly increasing prevalence. In addition to its detrimental effects on learning and memory, AD affects the mitochondria as a vital organ of the cell as well as the hippocampal tissue that is the site of learning and memory. In this study, we investigated the concomitant effects of streptozotocin (STZ) on spatial memory, mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and hippocampal β-amyloid plaques in rats. Methods: Animals were randomly divided into control, sham and STZ groups receiving streptozotocin 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg/kg through intracerebroventriclular (icv) injection. Learning and memory of rats was examined 14 days later by Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Moreover, mitochondrial ROS in the brain and β-amyloid plaques in the hippocampus were evaluated. Results: STZ 3 mg/kg (single dose, icv) was found the effective dose for impairing learning memory in the shortest possible time (14 days). Using Congo red staining, a number of amyloid beta plaques were observed in the hippocampus. Mitochondrial ROS production also increased by this dose of STZ. Conclusion: Behavioral, biochemical, and histological findings of the present study suggest STZ 3 mg/kg icv injection to rats as one of the acceptable animal models of AD.

Background and aims: Various studies have shown that the use of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) can alter the reproductive process in different animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the effect of conjugated linoleic acid on some qualitative parameters of sperm and fertility in roosters. Methods: Thirty-two roosters with 59 week age, were randomly divided into four group (eight roosters in each group) and transferred to individual cages. All experimental groups were given the same basic diet and different levels of conjugated linoleic acid: treatment 1 (0 gr per day per rooster), treatment 2 (0. 2 gr per day per rooster), treatment 3 (4 0. 0 gr per day per rooster) and treatment 4 (0. 6 gr per day per rooster) were given as capsules. The experiment was continued for 9 week after 2 week of habituation. Sperm quality parameters including: semen volume, total motility, progressive motility, semen concentration, percentage of abnormal sperm, percentage of live sperm, active membrane sperm and malondialdehyde concentration were evaluated weekly. During two weeks, semen was collected to assess fertility and hatching rates and inoculated into 68 broiler breeder chicken (17 birds in each group). Results: CLA did not have a significant effect on sperm parameters and body weight (p > 0. 05). The effect of test time on all sperm parameters except seminal volume was significant. Also, the interaction effect between treatment and time was significant on sperm concentration, semen total motility, sperm membrane activity and body weight but was not significant on other parameters (p > 0. 05). Fertility results show that different levels CLA did not have a significant effect on fertility and hatching. Conclusion: Our results indicate that different levels of conjugated linoleic acids have no beneficial effects on the quality of fresh sperm in broiler breeder flocks.

Background and aims: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women. Saffron petals consist of, glycosides, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. In this study the effects of saffron petal extract (SPE) in PCOS-induced rats are evaluated. Methods: mice were divided into control, sham, PCOS, and experimental groups. PCOS and experimental groups were injected with testosterone enanthate (1 mg). After 4 weeks, the experimental group was treated with SPE at doses of (50, 200, and 600) mg/kg for 14 days. Ovary and blood samples were collected for histological, serological analyses, in addition, the expression of genes was analyzed. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Results: Results showed that SPE The results showed that the petal extract in PCOS mice reduced luteinizing hormones (p < 0. 05, p < 0. 01), estrogen (p < 0. 05, p < 0. 01, p < 0. 001). And testosterone (p < 0. 05, p < 0. 001), increase in follicular stimulating hormones (p < 0. 05, p < 0. 01) and progesterone (p < 0. 05, p < 0. 01) Decreased the expression of inflammatory genes and increased antioxidant enzymes in serum (p < 0. 001). Conclusion: The present study provides in vivo evidence that saffron petal extract improved the PCOS in mice via increasing antioxidant factors, reducing inflammatory genes expression, and restoring the estrogenic feedback mechanism on the pituitary-ovary system. `

Background and aims: Agricultural pesticides including organophosphates cause various adverse effects on body tissues. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of malathion on sex hormones and its carcinogenic effects through skin contact in male mice. Methods: Thirty adult male mice were divided into control and treatment groups. In the treatment group, 1 ppm malathion in 1 ml was poured on the skin for 12 weeks. At the end of the period, serum levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH were measured. Tissue samples were also taken from the target organs. Cytotoxicity was also assessed in vitro using MTT and micronucleus tests and IC50 was determined. Results: LH hormone did not significantly change by malathion but FSH and testosterone significantly decreased compared to the control group. A mild hepatotoxicity was observed in malathion-treated group. The frequency of micronuclei at concentrations of 25, 50, and100 μ g / ml, and the MTT test at concentrations of 10-100 μ g / ml showed significant difference compared to control group (p < 0. 05). Conclusion: Skin contact with malathion can have destructive effects on sex hormones and body tissues. Given the excessive use of this insecticide in Iran, it is necessary to pay more attention to how it is used and the amount of human contact with it to prevent possible dangers on body tissues.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Ginger in improving sperm fertility indices in poultry. Ginger extract (0. 5, 1. 0 and 2. 0 g/L, for two weeks) was added to the drinking water of 36 adult roosters. Then, specific sperm fertility indices including percentage of motile sperm, fast progressive movements, slow progressive movements, abnormal movements, active sperm and specialized sperm motility index were measured. Hematology indices, immunity titer against Newcastle disease vaccine and testis weight were also determined. The highest number of sperms with fast progressive movements, the highest amount of active and motile sperms and the lowest amount of structural and motor abnormalities of sperm were observed in concentrations of 1 and 2 g/L. Ginger had no effect on hematology, immunity and testis weight. Adding Ginger to the diet of breeder roosters can improve sperm fertility, which leads to increased hatchability.