Antibacterial Properties of Ajuga chamaecistus Subsp. Scoparia and Chemical Composition of its Oils

In the present study, we reported the essential oils chemical composition and antibacterial activities of the aerial parts of Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. ex Benth. Subsp. Scoparia (Boiss.) Rech.f. thatwere collected duringMay 2013 and April 2014 and extracted by SDE (simultaneous distillation–extraction) and Clevenger apparatus. GC/MS analysis of the plant essential oils led to the identification of chemical composition of its oils. The main constituents of the essential oils in two SDE (simultaneous distillation–extraction) and Clevenger apparatus were β-Pinene (23.5%), α-Pinene (6.9%), Limonene (10.8%), Linalool (8.3) and Eugenol (7.7%). Essential oil was tested for their antibacterial activities using Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria. The plant was screened for its antibacterial activity and showed antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris, S. paratyphi, B. subtilis, S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. dysenteriae

Evaluation of Bcl-2 Family Gene Expression and Caspase-3 Activity in Hippocampus STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats

We assessed the expression of Bcl-2 family members at both mRNA and protein levels as well as the Caspase-3 activity, in order to investigate the occurrence of apoptosis in hippocampus of STZ-induced diabetic rats. We selected twenty-four Wistar rats; half of them were made diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of a single 60 mg/kg dose of streptozotocin (STZ, IP), while the others received normal saline and served as controls. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bax mRNA and proteins were measured using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Caspases-3 activity was determined by using the Caspase-3/CPP32 Fluorometric Assay Kit. The result showed that mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were lower in hippocampus of diabetic group than that of the control group, whereas expressions of Bax in hippocampus of diabetic rats were higher than that of controls at both mRNA and protein levels (P < .01). Hyperglycemia was found to raise 6.9-fold hippocampal caspase-3 activity in diabetic group compared with control group (P < .001). Therefore, the induction of diabetes is associated with increased ratios of Bax/Bcl-2, Bax/Bcl-xL, and increased caspase-3 activity in hippocampus which shows that apoptosis is favored in hippocampal region

Evaluation of Bax and Bcl-2 Proteins Expression in the Rat Hippocampus due to Childhood Febrile Seizure

How to Cite This Article: Saeedi Borujeni MJ, Hami J, Haghir H, Rastin M, SazegarGh. Evaluation of Bax and Bcl-2 Proteins Expression in the Rat Hippocampus due to childhood Febrile Seizure. Iran J Child Neurol. Winter 2016; 10(1):53-60.AbstractObjectiveSimple Febrile Seizure (SFS) is the most common seizure disorder in childhood, and is frequently described as inoffensive disorder. Nevertheless, there is evidence suggesting the association between neonatal febrile seizures and hippocampal abnormalities in adulthood. This study was conducted at evaluating the hippocampal expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins following SFS induction in rat neonates.Materials &amp; MethodsFebrile seizure was modeled by hyperthermia-induced seizure in 22-dayold male rats by a hot water bath. The animals were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of seizure behaviors: Hyperthermia without seizure (n=10) and hyperthermia with seizure (n=10). To control the effects of environmental stress a sham-control group was also added (n=10). The rats’ hippocampi were dissected 2 or 15 days after hyperthermia. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were measured using Western Blotting technique.ResultsThe hippocampal expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly lower in the hyperthermia with seizure animals than that of the sham-control and hyperthermia without seizure groups. The expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein also significantly increased in the hippocampus of hyperthermia with seizure group rats compared to the sham-control and hyperthermia without seizure animals.ConclusionThe simple febrile seizure markedly disturbed the hippocampal expression of both Bcl2 and Bax proteins, resulting in apoptosis promotion in hippocampi of juvenile rats, which were measurable for at least 15 days

Morphometrical Study of Polysialylated Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Positive Cells in Rat Pups Hippocampus Following Induction of Seizure during Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Background:The polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) is expressed in developing brain. Fetal brain damage is caused by different conditions such as seizure and hypoxia. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of maternal seizures on the number of PSA-NCAM positive cells in pup&apos;s hippocampus. Methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (a) kindled rats which received PTZ (40 mg/kg, i.p.) during pregnancy from embryonic day 14-19 (E14-E19) every 48 h, (b) kindled rats which did not receive PTZ during pregnancy, (c) non-kindle, pregnant rats which received PTZ injection (40 mg/kg, i.p.) during pregnancy from E14 to E19 every 48 h, and (d) non-kindle, pregnant rats which received injection with an equal volume of normal saline as sham controls. At postnatal day 14 (PD 14 ), rat pups were perfused, and their brain were fixed, embedded and coronal sections stained by immunohistochemistry method. The number of PSA-NCAM positive cells per unit area in the pup&apos;s hippocampus was counted. Results: The number of PSA-NCAM positive cells in the CA1, CA3, and DG fields of pup&apos;s hippocampus, which was obtained from mothers who experienced PTZ injection during pregnancy, was decreased approximately 2.6 (P = 0.001), 2 (P = 0.001), and 2.1 (P = 0.001) times compared with non-PTZ treated maternal groups, respectively. Conclusions: Our study showed that maternal seizures reduced the number of neurons and also PSA-NCAM positive cells per unit area in the offspring hippocampus that it may cause impairment in hippocampal functions. Iran. Biomed. J. 15 (4): 157-163, 201

Evaluation of bax, bcl-2, p21 and p53 genes expression variations on cerebellum of BALB/c mice before and after birth under mobile phone radiation exposure

Objective(s): The increasing rate of over using cell phones has been considerable in youths and pregnant women. We examined the effect of mobile phones radiation on genes expression variation on cerebellum of BALB/c mice before and after of the birth. Materials and Methods: In this study, amobile phone jammer, which is an instrument to prevent receiving signals between cellular phonesand base transceiver stations (two frequencies 900 and 1800 MHz) for exposure was used and twelve pregnant mice (BALB/c) divided into two groups (n=6), first group irradiated in pregnancy period (19th day), the second group did not irradiate in pregnancy period. After childbirth, offspring wereclassified into four groups (n=4):Group1: control, Group 2: B1 (Irradiated after birth), Group 3: B2 (Irradiated in pregnancy period and after birth), Group 4: B3 (Irradiated in pregnancy period). When maturity was completed (8-10 weeks old), mice were dissected and cerebellum was isolated. The expression level of bax, bcl-2, p21 and p53 genes examined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time RT- PCR). Results: The data showed that mobile phone radio waves were ineffective on the expression level of bcl-2 and p53 genes) P>0.05(. Also gene expression level of bax decreased and gene expression level of p21 increased comparing to the control group (

Expression of GABAAα1, GABAB1, and mGluR2 receptors in the lateral geniculate body of male neonates born to diabetic rats

Objective(s): Diabetes during gestation is one of the most common pregnancy complications and has adverse effects on offspring, including a negative impact on the offspring’s central nervous system (CNS). Diabetes is a metabolic disease associated with visual impairment. Due to the importance of the lateral geniculate body (LGB) in the visual pathway, the present study examined the effect of maternal diabetes on the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAAα1 and GABAB1) and metabotropic Glutamate (mGlu2) receptors in the LGB of male neonates of diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in female adult rats by a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (STZ) 65 (mg/kg). In the Insulin-treated diabetic rats, diabetes was controlled by subcutaneous NPH-insulin injection daily. After mating and delivery, male offspring were killed by carbon dioxide gas inhalation at P0, P7, and P14 (postnatal days 0, 7, and 14). The expression of GABAAα1, GABAB1, and mGluR2 in the LGB of male neonates was determined using the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method.Results: The expression of GABAAα1 and GABAB1 was significantly reduced, whereas the expression of mGluR2 was markedly increased in the diabetic group compared with the control and insulin-treated groups at P0, P7, and P14.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that induction of diabetes altered the expression of GABAAα1, GABAB1, and mGluR2 in the LGB of male neonates born to diabetic rats at P0, P7, and P14. Moreover, insulin treatment could reverse these effects of diabetes

Analysis of Amygdala Nucleus in the Rat Brain: A review study

Amygdale is one of the limbic related sub-cortical nuclei lying in the depth of temporal lobe and rostral of the inferior horn of lateral ventricle. In fact, amygdale is a nucleus complex that plays an important role in the emotional response, anger, fear, regulation of cardiovascular system, memory processes and learning and in pathophysiology of many diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer, anxiety and depression. With regard to important of the amygdala in many critical functions, the cerebral disease and because of ethical problems most studies were done on animal models especially rats. Hence, in this review paper we tried to investigate different aspects of the rat amygdala complex including cyto, myelo and receptoarchitectonic

Educational Needs and Practical Skills of Master Anatomy Students Considering the Needs of the Community

Introduction. It is over a decade since the last revision in the curriculum of master of anatomy. The recent scientific and technologic progresses as well as the present weaknesses in the curriculum of anatomy push us to a new revision in this curriculum. This study was designed to determine the educational needs and practical skills of Master's degree (MS) graduates of anatomy regarding their professional needs. Methods. In this descriptive study, the viewpoints of expert faculty members in the country, about educational needs of MS of anatomy was asked by a questionnaire. In total, 53 questionnaires were returned. Moreover, the managers of the institutions who could employ MS anatomy graduates were interviewed. Finally the data was analyzed, and while the graduates' professional tasks were ranked, their educational needs were determined also. Results. Comparing the present curriculum with graduates' educational needs and also with educational programs in other countries revealed some headings to be added to the current curriculum including: "research methodology and biostatistics", "advanced microanatomical methods" (as an independent subject), "teaching methodology", "laboratory rotations", "cell biology", "how to fix and dissect a cadaver", "English for special purposes", "computer", "model making", "comparative anatomy", "clinical anatomy", and "practical pathology". Conclusion. In order to improve the curriculum leading to MS in anatomy, in addition to adding some new subjects and headings, more emphases on practical skills and increasing the credits of thesis is needed