Effect of aqueous extract of Althaea root on tracheal smooth muscle in rat

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: بررسی اثر عوامل تاثیر گذار بر فعالیت انقباضی عضلات صاف نای می تواند گامی در جهت کنترل بیماری های انسدادی ریوی باشد. این پژوهش با هدف بررسی اثر عصاره آبی ریشه ختمی بر فعالیت انقباضی نای جدا شده موش صحرایی انجام شده است. روش بررسی: این مطالعه تجربی روی 30 قطعه نای (mm 5) جدا شده از 15 راس موش صحرایی نر سالم در 6 گروه (5 قطعه ای) انجام شد. اثر عصاره آبی (µg/ml 6/14، 8، 6/6، 6/2، 6/0، 2/0)، اپی نفرین (mµ 5) و پروپرانولول (mµ1) بر تغییر قدرت انقباض ناشی از کلرور پتاسیم (M m60) به روش ایزومتریک تحت کشش یک گرم در حمام بافت حاوی محلول کربس- هانسلیت اندازه گیری شد. برای مقایسه داده ها از آزمون های کروسکال والیس و تعقیبی دان استفاده شد. یافته ها: غلظت های تجمعی عصاره آبی ریشه ختمی (µg/ml 6/14، 6/6، 6/2، 6/0، 2/0) به صورت وابسته به غلظت و اپی نفرین به تنهایی انقباض نای ناشی از کلرور پتاسیم را کاهش داد (001/0

Protection of flunarizine on cerebral mitochondria injury induced by cortical spreading depression under hypoxic conditions

A rat cortical spreading depression (CSD) model was established to explore whether cerebral mitochondria injury was induced by CSD under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions and whether flunarizine had a protective effect on cerebral mitochondria. SD rats, which were divided into seven groups, received treatment as follows: no intervention (control Group I); 1 M NaCl injections (Group II); 1 M KCl injections (Group III); intraperitoneal flunarizine (3 mg/kg) 30 min before KCl injections (Group IV); 14% O2 inhalation before NaCl injections (Group V); 14% O2 inhalation followed by KCl injections (Group VI); 14% O2 inhalation and intraperitoneal flunarizine followed by KCl injections (Group VII). Following treatment, brains were removed for the analysis of mitochondria transmembrane potential (MMP) and oxidative respiratory function after recording the number, amplitude and duration of CSD. The duration of CSD was significantly longer in Group VI than that in Group III. The number and duration of CSD in Group VII was significantly lower than that in Group VI. MMP in Group VI was significantly lower than that in Group III, and MMP in Group VII was significantly higher than that in Group VI. State 4 respiration in Group VI was significantly higher than that in Group III, and state 3 respiration in Group VII was significantly higher than that in Group VI. Respiration control of rate in Group VII was also significantly higher than that in Group VI. Thus, we concluded that aggravated cerebral mitochondria injury might be attributed to CSD under hypoxic conditions. Flunarizine can alleviate such cerebral mitochondria injury under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN VOLUME OF INSULAR CORTEX IN NORMAL AND NEURODEGENERATIVE HUMAN BRAINS : A STEREOLOGIC AND MACROSCOPIC STUDY

Lillie is known about the sexual differences in volume of human insular cortex in normal subjects and those suffering from ncurodcgcncrativc diseases. The objective of this study is 10 investigate the sex difference in volume of the left insular cortex in normal right-handed subjects versus subjects suffering from Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. This study was performed on 72 normal human brains (38 males. 34 females). II brains suffered from Alzheimer (4 males. 7 females), and 13 brains suffered from Parkinson (9 males, 4 females). The right hemispheres were used for neuropathologic studies. The volumes of the len insular cortex in the male and female normal subjects were 6.65 :.:: 1.55 em: and 5.X3 ,t: 1.12 em'. respectively (P = 0.0 I). The volumes of the left insular cortex in the male and female subjects suffering from Alzheimer were 5.6X :i.: !.49 ern' and 4.49 :i: (l.X6 em'. respectively (P = 0.2 I). The volumes of the left insular cortex in the male and female subjects suffering from Parkinson were 5.99 ± 1.05 em' und 5.37 ::: 0.51 em'. respectively (P =:= O. I8). The present study shows a significant larger left insular cortex volume in normal right-handed males than in females. No significant sexual difference in volume of the left insular cortex in subjects suffering from Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases W,IS observed. Disappearance of the normal sexual dimorphism in the volume of the insular cortex may be due to a more severe degeneration of this conical area in males during thc ncurodcgcncrativc disorders

A HISTOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF MYELINATED NERVE FIBERS BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL AND EXTREME CAPSULES IN HUMAN BRAIN

Introduction: To recognize the myelinated nerve fibers of the external and extreme capsules in human brain. Materials and Methods: 10 adult and normal brains (20 hemispheres) from both sexes were studied using 15 mm serial secions in all three cardinal planes after fixation and processing. These sections were stained by Klüver – Barrera and Heidenhin – Woelcke methods. Results: Some fibers from different parts of the cortex through corona radiata entered the dorsal border of the external capsule, These fibers moved ventraly and ventrocaudaly toward the ventral border of the external capsule, and most of them entered the cerebral peduncles trans -, sub-, or retrolenticularly. Some fibers passed through dorsal part of putamen and connected the external capsule with posterior limb of the internal capsule. Some fibers passed between rostrum of corpus callosum and venteral part of the external capsule. Some fibers traced from the external capsule to posterior bundle of the anterior commissure; some of them entered the commissure but others terminated in nucleus basalis (Meynert) neurons. Some fibers passed through rostral part of the external and extreme capsules.Most of the fibers of the extreme capsule interconnected the temporal and frontoparietal operculi with the insular gyri, or with each other. A group of the extreme capsule fibers connected the adjacent insular gyri with each other. Some fibers exchanged between the extreme capsule and the claustrum. There were fibers which went between the external and extreme capsules through the dorsal claustrum. Conclusion: It is concluded that the external capsule contains all three groups of fibers, but it is mainly projectional; on the other hand, the extreme capsule is mainly associational. Thus, in our opinion, these two capsules should be classified in different groups

Evaluating the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the vegetative and reproductive organs and an antimicrobial activity of essential oil and extract of two Salvia species in Kashan region

Background: Different species of Salvia L. genus were used for disinfection and blood glucose regulation in traditional and modern medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical compositions of the essential oils of S. sclarea L. and S. reuterana Boiss. and their antimicrobial properties.Materials and Methods: The species collected from the heights of Kashan mountains were dried. Volatile fractions were isolated by simultaneous distillation-extraction technique. The analysis of the essential oils was performed using the GC and GC-MS. The in-vitro antimicrobial activities against 10 bacterial strains were evaluated using the disk diffusion and micro-well dilution techniques.Results: Twenty-nine and 12 compositions were identified in leaves and flowers of the essential oil of S. sclarea, respectively. Twenty-six compositions were identified in leaves and 31 in flowers of the essential oil of S. reuterana. The S. sclarea L. essential oil showed the highest sensitivity against Proteus vulgaris. Moreover, the lowest concentration of S. reuterana essential oil was highly effective in inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans. A. niger was the most resistant microbes against the extract of flowers and leaves of the two species of the essential oils. Staphylococcus aureus was highly resistant to the essential oil and extract of flowers and leaves of S. sclarea and also the essential oil of flowers and leaves of S. reuterana, but it showed sensitivity to the extract of flowers and leaves of S. reuterana. Conclusion: Considering the relatively high antimicrobial activities of the species, the effective compounds in the flowers can be used for antibacterial purposes

Patterns of neurotransmitter receptor distributions following cortical spreading depression

Spreading depression (SD), a self-propagating depolarization of neurons and glia, is believed to play a role in different neurological disorders including migraine aura and acute brain ischaemia. Initiation and propagation of SD modulate excitability of neuronal network. A brief period of excitation heralds SD which is immediately followed first by prolonged nerve cell depression and later by an excitatory phase. The aim of the present study was to characterize local and remote transmitter receptor changes after propagation of cortical SD. Quantitative receptor autoradiography was used to asses 16 transmitter receptor types in combined striatum-hippocampus-cortex slices of the rat 1 h after induction of cortical SD. In neocortical tissues, local increases of glutamate NMDA, AMPA, and kainate receptor binding sites were observed. In addition to up-regulation of ionotropic glutamate receptors, receptor binding sites of GABA(A), muscarinic M1 and M2, adrenergic alpha(1) and alpha(2), and serotonergic 5-HT(2) receptors were increased in the hippocampus. Cortical SD also upregulated NMDA, AMPA, kainate, GABA(A), serotonergic 5-HT(2), adrenergic alpha(2) and dopaminergic D1 receptor binding sites in the striatum. These findings indicate selective changes in several receptors binding sites both in cortical and subcortical regions by SD which may explain delayed excitatory phase after SD. Mapping of receptor changes by cortical SD increases our understanding of the mechanism of SD action in associated neurological disorders

O OR RI IG GI IN NA Diabetes mellitus type 1 induces dark neuron formation in the dentate gyrus: a study by Gallyas' method and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a chronic endogenous stressor. We investigated the effects of a diabetes mellitus type 1 on dark neuron formation in granular layer of dentate gyrus. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 60 mg/kg dissolved in saline. Control animals were received only saline. In the end of eight weeks, the brains were removed and hippocampi studied by Gallyas' method and transmission electron microscopy. Results: The comparison between the rate of dark neurons in diabetic group (223±25) and of control (5.75±4.34) showed significant level of difference (p<0.05). Ultrastructurally dark neurons showed apoptotic death criteria namely: dark and electron dense appearance, chromatin condensation, margination and clumping. Conclusions: Present results suggest that STZ-induced diabetes accelerates dark neuron formation with apoptotic criteria in granule layer of dentate gyrus