Effect of 5Hz electromagnetic waves on movement behavior in male wistar rats (in vitro)

Various stresses during life can affect metabolism and brain activities, immune and endocrine systems directly and indirectly, and ultimately, causes animal behavior change. The cellular and molecular level change in neurotransmitter and hormone concentrations led to the functional changes of operating systems in the intracellular organelles.  These events cause of course oxidative stress. All these reactions cause general or limited inflammation that is characterized by increased phenomena of inflammatory cytokines. Electromagnetic waves are the most important stimulus of ions and biomolecules therefore they change ions movement in a living organism. This process can lead to neuronal and behavioral changes. Yet, certainly, radiation pattern, intensity and magnetic field strength will be highly effective in response (reaction). In the present study, short-term (one day) and medium-term (3 days and 7days) and long-term (19 days and 21 days) effects of extremely low-frequency waves (ELF) on behavioral and metabolic activities in male wistar rats with an average weight 180-250g have been investigated.

Experiences Living with Fatigue in Iranian Veterans Chemically Injured by Sulfur Mustard Gas: A Phenomenological Study

SummaryPurposeFatigue affects the quality of life. Evidence shows that the phenomenon of fatigue is experienced differently depending on the type of disease and its consequences. The aim of the study was to explicate the meanings of the experience of living with fatigue in chemically injured veterans.MethodsThe hermeneutic phenomenology approach was used in this study, with an emphasis on Van Mennen's viewpoint and approach. According to Van Mennen, six overlapping dynamic activities are recommended to conduct a phenomenological study. During unstructured interviews, the participants were asked to describe their daily living experiences with fatigue. The participants were individuals who were chemically injured due to exposure to mustard gas. After examining every statement in the interview text, extractions of the meaning units, clustering, and themes were performed.ResultsThe data explication was based on the third to sixth stages of Van Mennen's approach. The experience living with fatigue was classified into four essential themes: fatigue as a chronic condition, as an unstable and affected situation, as a physical condition of the entire individual, and as a mental condition of the entire individual.ConclusionDue to unique social interactions and pathogenicity, victims of mustard gas experience fatigue differently than patients with other chronic diseases

The effects of Valerian on sleep spindles in a model of neuropathic pain

Introduction: Valeriana officinalis is known to be one of the most famous herbal supplements for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Despite its widespread use in most countries all around the world, there is little scientific information and research on how this medication affects sleep patterns, and there are almost no studies on its effects on the characteristics of sleep spindles. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Valerian extract (VAL) on sleep spindles and induced anxiety in chronic neuropathic pain model in rats. 24 male rats were divided into three groups: neuropathic group (n=9) in which the rats underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI), sham group (n=7) in which the sciatic nerves of the animals were exposed without any constriction and also fed with the vehicle, and the third group was under CCI condition and treated with Valerian (n=8). All the rats underwent electrode implant surgery so that we could record electroencephalogram and electromyography waves. In all the three groups, EEG and EMG recordings were recorded three times (150min each time). The initial recording was just prior to the CCI surgery and the rest were 3 and 6 days following CCI surgery. Moreover, cold allodynia and elevated plus maze tests were performed 3 and 6 days following the CCI surgery. Results: Valerian treatment could repair the allodynia induced by neuropathy. On the other hand, by Valerian treatment (400mg/kg) during neuropathy, the REM sleep, decreased and the non-REM sleep increased. Moreover, there was an increment in sleep spindle density and spindle frequency even in neuropathic condition. Discussion: This herbal supplement improves the quality of sleep in neuropathy conditions

Role of basal stress hormones and amygdala dimensions in stress coping strategies of male rhesus monkeys in response to a hazard-reward conflict

Objective(s): In the present study the effect of stress on monkeys that had learned to retrieve food from a five-chamber receptacle, as well as the relationship between their behavior and the serum cortisol and epinephrine levels and relative size of the amygdala was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Six male rhesus monkeys were individually given access to the food reward orderly. They could easily retrieve the rewards from all chambers except for the chamber 4, which a brief, mild electric shock (3 V) was delivered to them upon touching the chamber’s interior. The coping behaviors were video-recorded and analyzed offline. Baseline serum cortisol and epinephrine levels were measured before the experiments using monkey enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. One week after the behavioral experiment, the monkeys’ brains were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging under general anesthesia. The cross-sectional area of the left amygdala in sagittal plane relative to the area of the whole brain in the same slice was evaluated by the planimetric method using ImageJ software. Results: Exposure to the distressing condition caused different behavioral responses. Monkeys with higher baseline levels of serum cortisol and epinephrine and larger amygdala behaved more violently in the face of stress, indicating adopting emotion-focused stress-coping strategies. Conversely, those with low plasma epinephrine, moderate cortisol, and smaller amygdala showed perseverative behavior, indicating a problem-focused coping style. Conclusion: In dealing with the same stress, different responses might be observed from nonhuman primates according to their cortisol and epinephrine levels as well as their amygdala dimensions

Neurological Complications of Corona Virus: A Mini-Review: COVID-19 and Neurological Complications

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the coronavirus, there were reports of neurological complications, indicating that virus infection may have risks involving the nervous system. Stroke, encephalopathy, moderate to severe headaches, anosmia and dysgeusia, hallucination, and depression were the most neurological complications reported. The most important neurological complication of COVID-19 is anosmia, which is caused by the infection of the olfactory support cells. Hallucination and depression have been observed in those admitted to the intensive care unit, which is primarily related to general inflammatory reactions. Although brain autopsies of people who have died because of COVID-19 have shown that the virus can be detected in brain tissue. Studies indicate that viral infection has only been detected in the vascular part of the blood-brain-barrier. Perhaps the most critical finding of coronavirus infection in the brain is the activation of astrocytes and microglia in patients with COVID-19, which dilates the cerebral arteries in the brainstem, allows killer T cells to enter brain tissue, and causes cytotoxic effects in this part of the brain. This review focused on the neurological complications associated with COVID-19 and the possible mechanisms underlying these complications

Neurological Complications of Corona Virus: A Mini-Review

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the coronavirus, there were reports of neurological complications, indicating that virus infection may have risks involving the nervous system. Stroke, encephalopathy, moderate to severe headaches, anosmia and dysgeusia, hallucination, and depression were the most neurological complications reported. The most important neurological complication of COVID-19 is anosmia, which is caused by the infection of the olfactory support cells. Hallucination and depression have been observed in those admitted to the intensive care unit, which is primarily related to general inflammatory reactions. Although brain autopsies of people who have died because of COVID-19 have shown that the virus can be detected in brain tissue. Studies indicate that viral infection has only been detected in the vascular part of the blood-brain-barrier. Perhaps the most critical finding of coronavirus infection in the brain is the activation of astrocytes and microglia in patients with COVID-19, which dilates the cerebral arteries in the brainstem, allows killer T cells to enter brain tissue, and causes cytotoxic effects in this part of the brain. This review focused on the neurological complications associated with COVID-19 and the possible mechanisms underlying these complications

Commentary: New View on Treatment of Drug Dependence

In the 1960s, discovery of pleasure system (defined as reward system) in the brain that may underlie drug reward and addiction encouraged many scientists to investigate the mechanisms by which drug abuse affects central nervous system function. In this regard, investigators developed several drugs targeting the brain reward system for drug dependence therapy. However, no positive results obtained in drug addiction treatment. It seems that more brain systems other than brain reward system must be considered in this regard

Identification of Site of Morphine Action in Pregnant Wistar Rat Placenta Tissue: A C14-Morphine Study

Objective: In previous studies it has been emphasized that the site of morphine action may be either in the embryo or the placenta. In the present study, we attempt to identify the site of morphine action on the fetal section of Wistar rat placenta by using C14-morphine.Materials and Methods: In this study (experimental), female Wistar rats (weights: 170-200 g) were mated with male rats and their coupling times recorded. Experimental groups received daily doses of 0.05 mg/ml of C14-morphine in their drinking water. On the 9th and14th embryonic days, the pregnant rats were anesthetized and the placenta and uterus surgically removed. Placentas were fixed in 10% formalin for two weeks, then processed, sectioned in 5 μm and 25 μm thicknesses, and fixed on glass slides for further evaluation. The 25 μm sections were delivered to black and white film for three days. Films were processed and evaluated with a digital inverse microscope for possible radiological impression. The 5 μm sections were processed for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and evaluated by light microscope and MOTIC software.Results: Our results indicated that the site of action of C14-morphine was possibly located on the blood plexus of the fetal portion of the placenta. In addition, oral morphine consumption was shown to inhibit fetal and maternal placental development in the experimental groups.Conclusion: We conclude that morphine’s effectiveness on the reduction of embryo growth and development may be via its effects on the blood plexus of the fetal section of the placenta

Effects of Memantine, an NMDA Antagonist, on Metabolic Syndromes in Female NMRI Mice

Introduction: The brain glutamate neurotransmitter system and its NMDA receptors in the nucleus accumbens play an important role in the incidence of the phenomena of sensitivity and addiction. The present study examined the inhibitory effect of glutamate NMDA receptors in the nucleus accumbens in response to chronic stress. Methods: After the unilateral and bilateral cannula placement in the nucleus accumbens, one group of the animals received different intra-accumbens doses of memantine (0.1, 0.5 and 1 µg/mouse) 5 minutes before receiving the electric shock stress at their soles (using a Communication Box) and the other group received intraperitoneal doses of memantine (0.1, 0.5 and 1mg/kg) 30 minutes before receiving the same shock. Chronic stress increased the animals' plasma corticosterone, food and water intake and weight and reduced their defecation rates and eating latency.  Results: The intraperitoneal administration of memantine increased plasma corticosterone, water intake, fecal weight and eating latency, but had no effect on food intake or weight. The dose and site-dependent intra-accumbens administration of memantine either exacerbated the effects of stress on plasma corticosterone levels and water and food intake, or else had no effect on these parameters. Furthermore, the administration of memantine had no effect on animal’s weight and inhibited the effects of stress on fecal weight and eating latency. Discussion: The inhibition of glutamate NMDA receptors in the nucleus accumbens can inhibit and/or exacerbate the dose and site-dependent effects of chronic stress, with gender playing a significant role in producing this effect