Dexamethasone effects on Bax expression in the mouse testicular germ cells.

Exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) leads to numerous changes in various biological systems including the reproductive system. The aim of the present study was to find out whether dexamethasone (Dex), a widely used GC, would influence the apoptosis and expression of Bax, an important proapoptotic protein, in the mouse testicular germ cells. Experimental groups of 8 male NMRI mice received one of the following treatments daily for 7 days: 4, 7 and 10 mg/kg Dex. Control groups were treated with equivalent volumes of saline. Experimental and control animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection. Immunohistochemical procedure was used to evaluation of Bax expression and the deoxyuridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was applied to assessment of the apoptotic germ cells. Bax expression was upregulated mainly at stages VII-VIII of spermatogenic cycle (

Different Cytotoxic Effects of Caper from Different Geographical Regions May Be Related to Changes in Mitochondrial Sirt3

Background and objectives: Beside its nutritional role, caper (Capparis spinosa) has long been used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer remedy. In the present study, we tested whether this plant can make effective changes in Sirt3 and mitochondrial function in colorectal carcinoma cell line since mitochondrial dysfunction has long been implicated in both cancer and diabetes and benefit confers by caper in these diseases might be due to mitochondrial alterations. Methods: Total flavonoids and phenolics were assayed using colorimetric tests. Cytotoxicity of a phenolic-flavonoid rich extract of caper collected from two different geographical regions (south and west) were mechanistically studied in HT-29 cell line. Activity of an essential mitochondrial enzyme, Sirt3 has also been evaluated along with other parameters. IC50 of extracts were determined by MTT cytotoxicity assay, cell death and mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated via flow cytometric analysis. Also, at IC50 concentrations, Sirt3 activity was determined fluorimetrically. Results: The results showed that caper induced significant cytotoxicity in HT-29 cells followed by mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, ROS overproduction, Sirt3 activity alteration and cell death. Conclusions: The above-mentioned cytotoxic parameters were inversely proportional to the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract showing that other mechanisms beyond their antioxidant capacities may contribute to their anti-cancer effects. In other term, these results suggest that antioxidant capacity may not directly contribute to the anticancer property

Association of Follicular Fluid Antioxidants Activity with Aging and In Vitro Fertilization Outcome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: This research was aimed at assessing the relationship between the follicular fluid (FF) antioxidantsactivity, aging and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome.Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 65 women undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmicsperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles due to unexplained infertility. Ovarian stimulation was performed using thelong gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol. After ovum pickup, FF was collected and processedto measure the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) andglutathione (GSH). Day 3 after ICSI, fresh embryos were transferred and later, possible pregnancy was assessed.Patients participating in this study were divided into four groups on the basis of age and pregnancy outcome.Results: SOD activity was not significantly different between the groups (P=0.218). GSH in the group whose participantswere aged ≤35 years and were pregnant was higher than that in other groups. CAT activity in groups withyounger participants was higher compared to the other groups. The mean TAC was higher in groups with pregnantparticipants compared to the non-pregnant women. Correlation analysis showed that: GSH level had a significantnegative correlation with age (P<0.001, R -0.55) and a significant positive correlation with pregnancy (P=0.015,R=0.30). CAT level also had a significant negative correlation with age (P<0.001, R=-0.42) and the level of TAC hada significant positive correlation with pregnancy (P<0.001, R=0.59).Conclusion: According to our results, the levels of TAC, GSH and CAT in younger and pregnant women were highercompared with those undergoing ICSI cycles. Given the correlation of FF antioxidant activity with age and pregnancy,it is necessary to carry out more research on these compounds and the maintenance of pregnancy

Impacts of Iranian Agricultural Water Resources Conservation Policies (Case of Baft County in Dashtab Plain)

Water scarcity has made water management one of the top priorities in the world because of climate change and population growth on the one hand and increasing demand for food on the other. The present study aimed to simulate the effects of conservation policies on water resources in the Dashtab plain, Iran, using the positive mathematical programming (PMP) method. Data were collected by a questionnaire for which 136 questionnaires were filled by randomly sampled experts of Agricultural Jihad Organization. The results showed that out of the three policies adopted in this study including limiting irrigation inputs, reducing irrigation input subsidies, and reducing crop prices, reducing subsidies on irrigation inputs were the best policy to protect irrigation resources and farmers' incomes

A Proteomic Analysis of Human Follicular Fluid: Comparison between Younger and Older Women with Normal FSH Levels

The follicular fluid (FF) is produced during folliculogenesis and contains a variety of proteins that play important roles in follicle development and oocyte maturation. Age-related infertility is usually considered as a problem that can be solved by assisted reproduction technology. Therefore, the identification of novel biomarkers that are linked to reproductive aging is the subject of this study. FF was obtained from healthy younger (20–32 years old) and older (38–42 years old) women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) due to male factor infertility. The FF was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the identification of proteins were exploited using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometry. Twenty three protein spots showed reproducible and significant changes in the aged compared to the young group. Of these, 19 protein spots could be identified using MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS. As a result of MASCOT search, five unique downregulated proteins were identified in the older group. These were identified as serotransferrin, hemopexin precursor, complement C3, C4 and kininogen. A number of protein markers were found that may help develop diagnostic methods of infertility

Holothuria leucospilota Extract Induces Apoptosis in Leishmania major Promastigotes

Background: The present study aimed to survey antileishmanial activity of methanolic Holothuria leucospilota extract against Leishmania major promastigotes in vitro. Methods: Promastigotes were cultured in RPMI 1640 and after reaching the stationary phase, the study was conducted with different concentrations of the extract. Afterwards, MTT colorimetric assay for the obtaining of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was utilized. Furthermore, in order to determine the possible induction of apoptosis in L. major promastigotes, flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation methods were employed using annexin-V FLUOS staining kit and DNA ladder kit, respectively. Results: The IC50 value of H. leucospilota extract at three time points of 24, 48, and 72 h was estimated 2000, 300 and 85 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, the extract revealed a dose and time-dependent antileishmanial activity. Furthermore, various characteristics of apoptosis appeared after L. major promastigotes treatment, which included cell shrinkage, formation of apoptotic bodies, blebbing of the cell membrane, and externalization of phosphatidylserine, although no laddering pattern was observed. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of H. leucospilota possesses lethal effect on L. major promastigotes and induces the apoptosis in parasites. Further studies are required to address the apoptosis mechanism in vivo

The Impact of Ovarian Stimulation and Luteal Phase Support on Embryo Quality and Implantation Process in Mice

Background: The luteal phase defect is a common event following the ovarian stimulation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of human chorionic gonadotropine (hCG) and progesterone hormones to improve the luteal phase defect. Materials and Methods: 60 mice were superovulated routinely with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) (7.5U) and hCG (10U). The mice were mated and divided into 3 groups: 1- control (n=20) 2- hCG treatment (n= 20), and 3-Progesterone treatment (n=20). Each group was divided again into two subgroups. The mice (10 from each group) had no injection in group one and were injected intraperiteneal (IP) by hCG (5U/day) and progesterone (1mg/day) subcutaneously (sc) in groups 2 and 3, respectively for four days. On the day 5, the animals were killed by cervical dislocation and the uterus were flushed to count the number of blastocyst and their quality. The above treatment were carried out for 12 days in the other 10 mice in each group. Similarly group one had no injection and groups 2 and 3 were injected by hCG and progesterone for 12 days respectively by the same manner as mention above. The animals were killed on day 13 and the implanted embryos were counted. The uterus and ovary were processed on days 5 and 13 of pregnancy for histological studies. Results: The mean number of blastocysts per mouse were: 12.2%, 2.6% and 3% in group 1 to 3, respectively. The nomber of implanted embryos were 29 as: 13 living fetus in one mouse and 16 resorption fetus in the other. The morphology of uterus on day 5 was as follow: no development in the stroma and endometrial gland in control group, the stroma and endometrial gland so developed to form the saw teeth appearance which indicated on receptivity of uterus in hCG treated group similar to progesterone treated group, but without the saw teeth appearance. The continuation of hCG injection maintained the receptivity of uterus; while, the continuation in progesterone caused metaplesia of epithelium. The morphology of ovaries in all three groups showed no changes in corpus luteum size on day 5, and showed the following changes on day 13: increasing the number of primary and secondary follicles in control group; while, reducing the size of corpus luteum in hCG group. Conclusion: Progesterone did not improve the uterus and implantation rate. The prolonged usage of progesterone can change the morphology of uterus to more abnormal state in conterast to the prolonged usage of hCG

Antibacterial and antioxidant double-layered nanofibrous mat promotes wound healing in diabetic rats

Diabetic wounds are problematic to heal owing to microbial infections as well as decreased proliferation and high concentrations of reactive oxygen species. In this study, a double-layered nanofibrous mat containing grape seed extract (GSE) and silver sulfadiazine (SSD) was fabricated. A synthetic biodegradable polymer, e.g., polycaprolactone (PCL), and a natural material (i.e., collagen) were employed as wound dressing substances. The results showed that GSE possesses antioxidant activity which can be helpful in reducing free radicals. The platform exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The double-layered nanofibrous mat containing GSE and SSD not only was not toxic but also amplified the cell proliferation compared to a pure mat, showing the effect of plant extract. After induction of a round wound, the animals were divided into three groups, namely (1) normal group (receiving + GSE/-GSE nanofiber), (2) diabetic group (receiving + GSE/-GSE nanofiber), and (3) control group (receiving gauze). In vivo evaluation demonstrated no significant differences in the healing process of normal rats. Surprisingly, fully repaired skin was observed on day 14 in the double-layered nanofibrous mat containing GSE in the normal and diabetic groups whereas the wound of diabetic rats treated with pure mat was not completely healed. The macroscopic and microscopic results after 14 days showed the following order in wound repair: Normal/ + GES > Diabetic/ + GSE > Normal/-GES > Diabetic/-GSE > control (with gauze) (p < 0.05). Accordingly, the double-layered nanofibrous mat containing GSE and SSD used in the present study could be considered as a suitable wound dressing in order to shorten healing time and prevent infection during the wound healing process

The Effects of Exendine-4 on Insulin Producing Cell Differentiation from Rat Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exendin-4 (EX-4) on differentiation of insulin-producing cells (IPCs) from rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (RAT-BM-MSCs). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, RAT-BM-MSCs were cultured and the cells characterized by flow cytometry analysis of cell surface markers. RAT-BM-MSCs were subsequently treated with induction media with or without EX-4. After induction, the presence of IPCs was demonstrated with dithizone (DTZ) staining and gene expression profiles for pancreatic cell differentiation markers (PDX-1, GLUT-2, insulin) were assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Insulin excreted from differentiated cells was analyzed with radioimmunoassay (RIA). The two-tailed student’s t-test was used for comparison of the obtained values. Results: The percentage of DTZ-positive cells significantly increased in EX-4 treated cells (p<0.05). Expression of the islet-associated genes PDX-1, GLUT-2 and insulin genes in EX-4 treated cells was markedly higher than in the cells exposed to differentiation media without EX-4. RIA analysis demonstrated significant release of insulin with the glucose challenge test in EX-4 treated cells compared to EX-4 untreated cells. Conclusion: The results of this study have demonstrated that EX-4 can enhance differentiation of IPCs from RAT-BM-MSCs