The Effect of Methamphetamine on Pituitary-Gonad Hormone Axis and Testicular Tissue in Adult Rats

Background & Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of methamphetamine on pituitary-gonadal hormone axis and testicular tissue. Materials & Methods: 36 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups including control, experimental 1, 2 and 3. Experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 received 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg of methamphetamine, respectively by gavage for 45 days. At the end of the period, blood samples were taken from the hearts of the animals. Hormone levels were measured by ELISA kit and after preparation of tissue sections and staining, testicular tissue changes were studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and ANOVA test. Results: Serum concentrations of testosterone in experimental groups 2 and 3 showed a significant increase compared to the control group. Serum concentrations of LH and FSH hormones in all experimental groups were significantly reduced compared to the control group. The number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids in all experimental groups had a significant concentration-dependent decrease compared to the control group. In tissue sections, concentration-dependent changes were observed in the experimental groups in terms of the number of different lineage cells, different cell arrangements, and the spaces created inside the seminiferous tubules compared to the control group. Conclusion: Methamphetamine use has destructive effects on the pituitary-gonadal axis and testicular tissue which can accelerate the risk of infertility in males

Surveying the Effect of the Phenol Compounds on Antibacterial Activity of Herbal Extracts: In vitro Assessment of Herbal Extracts in Fasa-Fars Province

Background & Objectives: Due to increase in  bacterial drug resistance, discovering new antibacterial compounds is really important. The objective of this study is to evaluate the phenol compounds effect on antibacterial activity of herbal extracts of Fasa-Fars province in vitro. Materials & Methods: The antibacterial activity of 26 plants was studied by disk diffusion, well, and MIC methods in compare with 13 standard antibiotics against S. aureus and E. coli as control bacteria. Measurement of phenol compounds were performed by Seevers and Daly colorimetric methods using Folin-ciocalteu indicator. Results: Inhibition zone of bacterial growth  against S. aureus in well and disk methods were 32 and 22 mm in using Zataria multiflora, respectively .And there were 23 and 16 mm against E. coli in Zataria multiflora, respectively. Less effects and inhibition zones, less than 15mm on both strains, were seen in using  Saturina hortensis, Cinamomum zeylanicum, ­Artemisia absinthium, ­Urtica dioica, Carum carvi L. cyminum Cuminum, Achillea fragrantissimia, Marticaria chamomilla, Zingiber officinale, Origanum majorana, and Plantago psyllium. Most effective MIC results, 7.8 µg/ml, were related to the extracts of Zataria multiflora, Carum copticum L. Rosmarinus officinalis L., and Laurus nobilis L. Phenol compound amounts were approximately between 66.51±1.9 and 233.15±5.1 mg/gr extract in Zataria multiflora and Plantago psyllium, respectively. Conclusion: Results of antibacterial activity of extracts and relation with phenol compound amounts indicate the antibacterial effect of phenol compounds in herbal extracts