Melatonin as a protective agent in spinal cord damage after gamma irradiation

SummaryBackgroundRadiation causes serious damage to the spinal cord and several agents are used for protection.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the neuro-radioprotective effect of melatonin on the cervical spinal cord.Materials/MethodsA sample of 32 male adult Wistar albino rats weighing 200–250g was used. They were divided into four groups of eight animals: control, melatonin (30mg/kg per day) and radiation (single Gamma dose of 10Gy) groups and the group that received radiation plus melatonin. After 72 hours, all rats were sacrificed for histopathological analysis of malondialdehyde, glutathione and protein biochemicals.ResultsMalondialdehyde and protein levels were decreased after melatonin treatment while glutathione level was increased (p<0.005). Overall histopathological changes were markedly decreased after melatonin treatment in comparison to radiation group (p<0.05).ConclusionsIn conclusion melatonin may be useful in preventing the spinal cord against radiation toxicity due to its potential for free oxygen radical scavenging

Neural Differentiation and Developmental Effects of Honey Bee Venom on PC12 Cells: A Comparison to Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)

The rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC12 that in in-vitro condition under inductive factors differentiate and convert into neuron-like cells. Researches have shown that different factors, for example, NGF and bee venom or its components have different effects on proliferation, survival and differentiation of the cells. In this study the PC12 cells were seeded in the culture medium (RPMI-1640) at 5µ103 cell ∕well in poly-D-lysine (0.05mg∕ml) coated 24- well culture plates, allowed to grow for 24hrs, and PC12 cells were treated with NGF for 10 days and were surveyed morphologically in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days and used various concentrations of honey bee venom for cellular differentiation analysis that the optimum concentrations were 1μg/ml and 3μg/ml, and using NGF with the concentration of 50ng/ml and the venom with the concentrations of 1μg/ml and 3μg/ml simultaneously. The viability of PC12 cells was analyzed by using MTT assay, and cell differentiation were surveyed AChE activity assay and morphologically

Melatonin as a protective agent in spinal cord damage after gamma irradiation

BackgroundRadiation causes serious damage to the spinal cord and several agents are used for protection.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the neuro-radioprotective effect of melatonin on the cervical spinal cord.Materials/MethodsA sample of 32 male adult Wistar albino rats weighing 200–250g was used. They were divided into four groups of eight animals: control, melatonin (30mg/kg per day) and radiation (single Gamma dose of 10Gy) groups and the group that received radiation plus melatonin. After 72 hours, all rats were sacrificed for histopathological analysis of malondialdehyde, glutathione and protein biochemicals.ResultsMalondialdehyde and protein levels were decreased after melatonin treatment while glutathione level was increased (

The effects of Elaeagnus Angustifolia fruit aqueous extract on histomorphometric changes of hippocampus in Balb/c mouse embryo

Background & Objective: The use of herbal medicine rapidly increased because in comparison with chemical drugs they have less harmful health effects. Since some pregnant women due to have joint and muscle pains may be taken administration of Elaeagnus angustifolia by their own or physicians and the use of Elaeagnus angustifolia may have adverse effects on their fetuses development. This study investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia on histomorphometric changes of the hippocampus of mouse fetuses. Material & Methods: : Twenty-one pregnant mice were randomly divided into three groups. The control group received sufficient amount of drinking water, the sham group received 20 ml of water (solvent of Elaeagnus angustifolia) daily and the experimental group received aqueous Elaeagnus angustifolia extract at dose of 500 mg / kg daily from 0 to 20  days of gestation. Pregnant mice were killed on the 20th day of pregnancy and the fetuses were removed and examined for external congenital malfomations. Fetal body weights and crown-to-rump lengths were measured. The head of fetuses were fixed and processed  and were then embedded and their heads were coronally sectioned and were then stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Finally the hippocampus of fetal brain were examined using a light microscope and the Motic software. Finally, the thickness and cell number of radial, stratum  oriens, molecular and ventricular hippocampus were evaluated using ligth microscopy and Motic software. Results: Mean fetal weight and CRL of fetuses and mean thickness of ventricular layer in CA1 and CA2 significantly increased in experimental group compared to control and sham groups. The mean thickness of radiatum layer of CA3 significantly decreased in experimental group compared to control and sham groups. Additionally, mean number of cells in ventricular layer of CA1 significantly increased in experimental group compared to control and sham groups. Conclusion: Administration of aqueous extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia to pregnant mice can cause changes in fetal development and cause some changes in the hippocampal formation CA1 and CA3 neuronal layer in the mouse embryo

The Effect of Human Menopausal Gonadotropin Administration on Follicle Recruitment Waterfowls During Non-Breeding Season

Objective: It has been seen that wild waterfowls stop breeding during captivity. In the longterm,this may put their species in danger and there would be a need to find a way for artificialreproduction.In this study, a common medication for human controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)was tested on wild waterfowls to answer the question of whether this application can causeovarian follicular recruitment and does it help the fowl ovulate and lay eggs.Materials and Methods: The animal experimental model was the adult female Mallard.The timing of research was scheduled for mid-July through mid-August which counts as outofseasonfor Mallard breeding.75 IU/bird/day was injected IM for 10 days. After completion of injections, the ovarian tissueswere retrieved and considered for morphological and histological assessments.Results: The results show a positive effect for human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) onmost of the evaluated parameters. In the experimental group; ovarian size, number of differentiatingoocytes (vitellogenic and post-vitellogenic) and theca layer diameter were significantlymore than the control group (p<0.05). Differences in the other parameters (the numberof undifferentiated and pre-vitellogenic oocytes, nucleus and arteriole diameter) comparedbetween control and experimental groups were not statistically significant.Conclusion: It seems that hMG has a positive and meaningful effect on ovarian follicularrecruitment and its administration will be an effective method for ovulation induction in femaleMallards. This may especially be combined with artificial insemination to help the laying eggsbecome fertilized

Effects of green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate on the proteolipid protein and oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 messenger RNA gene expression in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis

The cuprizone multiple sclerosis (MS) animal model is characteristic for toxic demyelination and represents a reversible demyelination and remyelination system. It has been shown that green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) might be effective in improving the symptoms and pathological conditions associated with autoimmune inflammatory diseases in several animal models. In this study the effects of EGCG on proteolipid protein (PLP) and oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1) expression in the cerebral cortex of a murine model of cuprizone-induced demyelination was investigated. C57BL/6 mice were treated with cuprizone for six weeks in order to induce demyelination. Immediately after the cessation of cuprizone the animals were divided into 6 groups (n = 10 for each group). The first two groups were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with EGCG in the amount of 50 mg/kg/daily body weight for 2 and 4 weeks. The second two groups (SHAM) were injected IP with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 2 and 4 weeks, and the third two groups were left without injection as controls. After two and four weeks the mice were killed and the cerebral cortex was collected and the expression of Plp and Olig1 was studied by real-time PCR. The results showed significant increases in PLP and Olig1 expression in the EGCG-treated groups as compared to the SHAM and control groups (p < 0.0001). It is concluded that EGCG increases PLP and Olig1 expression in the cerebral cortex of a mouse model of MS induced by cuprizone

Effect of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Heracleum persicum (Golpar) on Folliculogenesis in Female Wistar Rats

Objective: Medicinal plants are widely used throughout the world. Since these plants are known to have minimal side effects, many people embrace them. The golpar plant, scientifically known as Heracleum persicum (H. persicum), is a common Asian and Iranian medicinal plant. The use of golpar is recommended in traditional medicine as a contraceptivemedication for females; however, no scientifically documented evidence has been reported. This study investigates the effects of the golpar plant on ovarian tissue and folliculogenesis.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, H. persicum hydroalcoholic extract (HPHE) was used at 400 mg/kg and 1600 mg/kg doses. Adult female rats were divided into three groups: control, sham, and experimental(I, II). The control group did not receive any injection, the sham group received saline solution, and the experimental group received IP injections of HPHE for 21 days, once every other day, during the sexual cycle. At the end of the injection period, ovarian samples were harvested for histological studies. The FSH assay was performed according to the chemiluminescence immunoassay(CLIA) method. Data were statistically analyzed by the Instat3 program and one-way ANOVA. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results: In the experimental group the numbers of primordial and primary follicles increased(p<0.001), while the number of preantral and antral follicles decreased (p<0.01). The atretic follicles decreased in the experimental group, but this decrease was not significant.There was no statistical difference in FSH concentration when compared with the control group.Conclusion: This report gives primary information on the in vivo effects of the HPHE on the ovarian follicles of the female Wistar rat. The results suggest that administrationof HPHE may have inhibitory effects on folliculogenesis and cause infertility in females