Two 1.5 and 2.5-year-old female German Shepherd dogs were suddenly dead in a factory around Tehran. According to the owner, the dogs were healthy, vaccinated and dewormed but the carcasses were found on the factory yard in the morning. At necropsy, the carcasses were congested and cyanotic. The liver and kidneys were dark and congested and the lungs were congested and edematous. Characteristically, the stomaches of the dogs were filled with undigested food. Stomach contents and liver were analyzed for strychnine, nicotine, morphine, cyanide and zinc phosphide. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) confirmed the presence of strychnine in stomach contents and liver. Histopathologic examination revealed severe edema and congestion of all tissues especially kidneys, liver and lungs. The true incidence of strychnine toxicosis in animals is unknown in Iran but it seems that strychnine is the most common source of dog poisoning. Strychnine is used for destroying stray dogs especially in large urban areas. Malicious poisoning in dogs is also recorded.

Objectives: Convulsion is a common disorder of nervous system and many studies have been done about it. Anticonvulsant effects of progesterone and morphine have been shown by some studies. In present study, the interaction between progesterone and morphine has been investigated in strychnine- induced convulsion.Methods: To ensure the elimination of sex hormones cyclic changes effect in the body mice were ovariectomized. After two weeks of recovery, they were divided into nine groups (6-8 mouse in each group). Convulsion model was induced by subcutaneously injection of strychnine. All drugs were intraperitoneally injected except strychnine. The studied groups included: groups receiving 1- normal saline (5ml/kg) 2- Morphine (1mg/kg) 3- Morphine (2mg/kg) 4- Morphine (3mg/kg) 5– almond oil (5ml/kg) 6 - progesterone (25mg/kg) 7 - progesterone (50mg/kg) 8- morphine (3mg/kg)+progesterone (25mg/kg) 9- morphine (3mg/kg)+progesterone (50mg/kg). Onset of convulsion and time of death were determined.Results: The results showed that the morphine has no effect on anticonvulsant effect of high dose of progesterone but it reduced the anticonvulsant effect of low dose progesterone.Conclusion: reduced anticonvulsant effect of low dose progesterone by morphine seems to be a result of interaction of the morphine with neurotransmitters system such as GABAregic system.

Background and Objective: Effects of electeromagnetic exposure on different parts of neruous system and memory of humans and animals has been established. In spite of important human studies, animal studies have been more precise and comprehensive. Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF, <300Hz), have been reported to induce a variaty of behavioral and physiological function changes in animals. The object of present study was to determine the delay and durartion time of convulsions induced by co- exposure of ELF and strychnine.Materials and Methods: The effects of ELF on convulsions induced by strychnine (1mg/Kg) were investigated in 60 albino mice. Animals were devided into 6 groups (n=10), including control (I), 100Hz and 20Volt (II), 25Hz and 20Volt (III), 25Hz and 260Volt (IV), 100Hz and 260Volt (V), and 100Hz and 260Volt (VI). Delay time (Det) and duration time (Dut) of convulsions were measured respectively. Increase and decrease in Det and Dut were determined and were compared in control and five ELF exposed groups.Results: There was no significant difference in Det and Dut parameters between control (I) and III, IV and VI groups. In all these groups the convulsions terminated in animal death after a low Dut. In contrast there was a significant difference (P<0.001) in Det parameters between control (I) and the other groups (II and V). No deaths happened in groups (II and V).Conclusion: Co-exposure of higher ELF frequency and strychnine may decrease the epileptic effects of the drug.

Introduction Strychnine is a natural alkaloid, which is used as pesticide for many years. In this report, a case of suicide with Strychnine was presented. Patient Information In a suicide scene, a 55-year-old male health worker was found with spastic and arched back spine and rigid muscles similar to rigor mortis. In autopsy, signs of superficial burning were seen in the mucous membranes of mouth, pharynx. The lungs were anthracotic and edematic and had diffuse hemorrhage. There were signs of ischemia in the ventricular muscles. A suicidal note and a glass containing a small amount of a white fluid were found in death scene. Samples of contents of stomach, gallbladder, blood, and liver were obtained for toxicology investigations. In these samples, the presence of strychnine toxin was confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography. Conclusion Despite the ban on the use of strychnine, it seems that this poison is still used in some areas. By observing suicide cases, it seems that there is a need for more precise monitoring to prevent stereotypes.

Objectives: Some kinds of epilepsy are refractory to treatment with standard antiepileptic drugs. Several plant species are used in the treatment of convulsions. In this study we attempted to extract and evaluate the protective effect Peganum harmala on convulsion induced by strychnine in mice.Method: After collection of Peganum harmala seeds and ground to obtain powder. The methanolic extract was prepared. Albino Swiss male mice were orally pretreated dose dependently (15, 30 and 45mg/kg) with Peganum harmala (Methanolic extract), for a period of 15 days, also a group of animals received phenytion (30 mg/kg i.p). After eight hours the animals were injected intraperitoneally single dose of strychnine 1.7 mg/kg.Results: The convulsion was observed on strychnine treated animals. The convulsion was significantly decreased among those animals pretreated with phenytoin (p<0.05). However, the protective effect of, Peganum harmala was evident at the dose of 45 mg/kg and the starting of convulsion time along with its duration were delayed in comparison to control group, the respiratory arrest time were also delayed. Increased survival rate were observed on Peganum harmala/phenytoin treated animals.Conclusion: The results obtained from the present study indicate that the Peganum harmala at the doses of 15 and 30 mg/kg were not effective against strychnine induced convulsion. However, Peganum harmala was effective at the dose of 45 mg/kg and its effect was comparable with phenytoin. It seems that the Peganum harmala seeds inhibits convulsion in mice by modulating the glycine and NMDA receptors. However, the exact mechanism Peganum harmala seeds on convulsion induced by strychnine remains elusive and needs further experimentation.

Background: Vitamins play an important role in the improvement of neurological diseases by reducing free radicals, therefore, in this study, the effect of combine therapy sodium valproate with vitamin C and E was evaluated on seizure in adult rat. Material and methods: 49 rats were divided to 7 groups consisting of control group (saline: 1ml/kg (, sodium valproate groups (100 or 200 mg/kg sodium valproate), Vitamin C group (250 mg/kg), vitamin E group (100 mg/kg) and vitamin C or vitamin E with sodium valproate groups. The animals received a subcutaneous injection of strychnine for induction of convulsive seizures, 30 minutes after intraperitoneal administration of drugs or saline. Then convulsion onset time and death time and survival rate were recorded. Results: Sodium valproate with doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg delayed the convulsion onset time and death time significantly compared to the control group and the survival rate was 36% and 100% respectively. The combination of sodium valproate and vitamin C significantly increased the time to start seizure and death time than the control group. Also the survival rate was 57%. The combination of sodium valproate and vitamin E increased the onset of seizure and the duration of death compared to the control group and 66% of the rats survived. Conclusion: The use of vitamin C and E with sodium valproate has a significant role in reducing seizure induced by strychnine in adult rat.