Antidepressant-like effects of omega-3 fatty acids in postpartum model of depression in rats

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a psychiatric disorder that occurs in 10–15% of childbearing women. It is hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acids, which are components of fish oil, may attenuate depression symptoms. In order to examine this hypothesis, the animal model of postpartum depression was established in the present study. Ovariectomized female rats underwent hormone-simulated pregnancy (HSP) regimen and received progesterone and estradiol benzoate or vehicle for 23 days, mimicking the actual rat's pregnancy. The days after hormone termination were considered as the postpartum period. Forced feeding of menhaden fish oil, as a source of omega-3, with three doses of 1, 3, and 9 g/kg/d, fluoxetine 15 mg/kg/d, and distilled water 2 ml/d per rat started in five postpartum-induced and one vehicle group on postpartum day 1 and continued for 15 consecutive days. On postpartum day 15, all groups were tested in the forced swimming test (FST) and open field test (OFT), followed by a biochemical assay. Results showed that the postpartum-induced rats not treated with menhaden fish oil, exhibited an increase in immobility time seen in FST, hippocampal concentration of corticosterone and plasmatic level of corticosterone, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These depression-related effects were attenuated by supplementation of menhaden fish oil with doses of 3 and 9 g/kg. Moreover, results of rats supplemented with menhaden fish oil were comparable to rats treated with the clinically effective antidepressant, fluoxetine. Taken together, these results suggest that menhaden fish oil, rich in omega-3, exerts beneficial effect on postpartum depression and decreases the biomarkers related to depression such as corticosterone and pro-inflammatory cytokines

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) induce neurogenesis and improve cognitive performances of male Sprague Dawley rats

Neurogenesis is influenced by various external factors such as enriched environments. Some researchers had postulated that neurogenesis has contributed to the hippocampal learning and memory. This project was designed to observe the effect of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) in cognitive performance that influenced by the neurogenesis. Different doses of ∆9-THC were used for observing the neurogenesis mechanism occurs in the hippocampus of rats. The brains were stained with antibodies, namely BrdU, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nestin, doublecortin (DCX) and class III β-tubulin (TuJ-1). The cognitive test was used novel-object discrimination test (NOD) while the proteins involved, DCX and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), were measured. Throughout this study, ∆9-THC enhanced the markers involved in all stages of neurogenesis mechanism. Simultaneously, the cognitive behaviour of rat also showed improvement in learning and memory functions observed in behavioural test and molecular perspective. Administration of ∆9-THC was observed to enhance the neurogenesis in the brain, especially in hippocampus thus improved the cognitive function of rats

Toxoplasma gondii stimulates the behavioural changes of rodents: updated evidence

In recent years, there have been an increased number of reports in the literatures on animal behavioural changes linked with intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Evidence for animal behavioural changes with Toxoplasma gondii infection comes from experimental tests on animal models such as mice and rats. These studies describe the important mechanisms of behavioural changes which involving neuromodulator and neurotransmitter level. Furthermore, behavioural changes also have been identified in human as well as animal models that may also play a role in development of schizophrenia in humans

An inhibited dopamine synthesizing cell model of AADC deficiency

Introduction: Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADC) is a rare autosomal recessive pediatric neurotransmitter disease. To date it remains poorly understood mainly due to an absence of a disease model. The dopaminergic neuroblastoma cell SH-SY5Y was chosen to develop our AADC deficiency model. These cells are not native dopamine synthesizers. Objective: To develop a dopamine-producing cellular model of AADC deficiency using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Methods: Dopamine pathway proteins were identified with Western Blotting. Dopaminergic differentiation was attempted using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with dopamine detection via HPLC-ECD post alumina extraction. Treatment with L-DOPA provided SH-SY5Y with excess precursor. RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of markers of mature neurons. Results: Western Blot screening identified AADC, dopamine β-hydroxylase and tyrosine hyrdoxylase proteins, indicative of a dopaminergic pathway. ATRA was unsuccessful in producing dopamine from the cells. L-DOPA treatment however, generated dopamine first visible as a HPLC-ECD peak 30 minutes post-incubation. Prior to this, SH-SY5Y dopamine synthesis from L-DOPA has never been documented. This de novo synthesis is then inhibited using benserazide to form our AADC deficiency cell model. RT-PCR showed that SH-SY5Y cells express markers of mature neurons in its ‘native’ state and is not affected by L-DOPA and benserazide treatment. This cell model will potentially benefit many areas of AADC deficiency research. Conclusion: SH-SY5Y cells produced HPLC-ECD measureable amounts of dopamine with the addition of L-DOPA. Our model of AADC deficiency is generated by quelling the dopamine production with Benserazide

Effects of mitragynine from Mitragyna speciosa Korth leaves on working memory

Aim of the study: Mitragyna speciosa Korth from Rubiaceae family is a tropical plant indigenous to Southeast Asia particularly in Thailand, Peninsular of Malaysia and Indonesia. The leaves have been used by natives for their opium-like effect and cocaine-like stimulant ability to combat fatigue and enhance tolerance to hard work. However there is no scientific information about the effect of mitragynine on the cognitive performances. This study is designed to examine the working memory effects of mitragynine which is extracted from Mitragyna speciosa mature leaves. Materials and methods: The cognitive effect was studied using object location task and the motor activity in open-field test. Mitragynine 5, 10 and 15. mg/kg and were administered by intraperitoneal (IP) for 28 consecutive days and evaluated on day 28 after the last dose treatment. Scopolamine was used as the control positive drug. Results: In this study there is prominent effects on horizontal locomotor activity was observed. Mitragynine significantly reduced locomotor activity in open-field test compared with vehicle. In object location task mitragynine (5, 10 and 15. mg/kg) did not showed any significances discrimination between the object that had changed position than the object that had remain in a constant position. Conclusion: Our results suggest that chronic administration of mitragynine can altered the cognitive behavioral function in mic

Menhaden fish oil attenuates postpartum depression in rat model via inhibition of NLRP3-inflammasome driven inflammatory pathway.

Background and aimPostpartum depression (PPD) is a familiar problem which is associated with about 10–20% of women after child delivery. Fish oil (FO) has a therapeutic potentials to many diseases including mood disorders. However, there is paucity of data on the effects of FO supplementation on PPD rat model. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the potentials of FO in ameliorating depressive-like behaviors in PPD rat by evaluating the involvement of NLRP3-inflammasome.Experimental procedureThirty six virgin adult female rats (n = 6) were randomly divided into six groups; Group 1–3 were normal control (NC), Sham (SHAM) and ovariectomized group (OVX) respectively whereas group 4–6 were PPD rats forced-fed once daily with distilled water (PPD), fish oil (PPD + FO; 9 g/kg) and Fluoxetine (PPD + FLX; 15 mg/kg) respectively from postpartum day 1 and continued for 10 consecutive days. Rats behaviors were evaluated on postpartum day 10 through open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST), followed by biochemical analysis of NLRP3 inflammasome proteins pathway in their brain and determination of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR).ResultsPPD-induced rats exhibited high immobility and low swimming time in FST with increased inflammatory status; NLR, IL-1β and NFкB/NLRP3/caspase-1 activity in their hippocampus. However, administration of FO or fluoxetine reversed the aforementioned abnormalities.ConclusionIn conclusion, 10 days supplementation with FO ameliorated the depressive-like behaviors in PPD rats by targeting the NFкB/NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β activity. This has shed light on the potential of NLRP3 as a therapeutic target in treatment of PPD in rats

Anatomical variations of median nerve formation, distribution and possible communication with other nerves in preserved human cadavers

Formation, distribution and possible communication of the median nerve are essential to know in treatment and surgeries of various conditions of injuries e.g. repair or reconstruction of the median nerve post traumatic accident. In the present study, 44 upper limbs were dissected. Root forming the median nerve, the median nerve in relation with the axillary artery and communication of the median nerve with other nerves were noted

D-galactose and aluminium chloride induced rat model with cognitive impairments

Cognitive impairments and cholinergic dysfunctions have been well reported in old age disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). d-galactose (D-gal) has been reported as a senescence agent while aluminium act as a neurotoxic metal, but little is known about their combined effects at different doses. The aim of this study was to establish an animal model with cognitive impairments by comparing the effects of different doses of co-administrated D-gal and aluminium chloride (AlCl3). In this study male albino wistar rats were administered with D-gal 60 mg/kg.bwt intra peritoneally (I.P) injected and AlCl3 (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg.bwt.) was orally administered once daily for 10 consecutive weeks. Performance of the rats were evaluated through behavioural assessments; Morris water maze (MWM) and open field tests (OFT); histopathological examination was performed on the hippocampus; moreover biochemical measurements of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and hyperphosphorylated tau protein (p-tau) were examined. The results of this experiment on rats treated with D-gal 60 + AlCl3 200 mg/kg.bwt showed near ideal cognitive impairments. The rats exhibited an obvious memory and learning deficits, marked neuronal loss in hippocampus, showed increase in AChE activities and high expression of p-tau within the tissues of the brain. This study concludes that D-gal 60 + AlCl3 200 mg/kg.bwt as the ideal dose for mimicking AD like cognitive impairments in albino wistar rats. It is also crucial to understand the pathogenesis of this neurodegenerative disease and for drug discovery

Discovery of anatomic variant of saphenous nerve from human cadaver dissection

Introduction: Saphenous nerve is the longest and largest pure sensory nerve, supplying the medial side of the thigh, leg and foot. Materials and Methods: In the present case study, during routine cadaveric dissection of the antero-medial part of the thigh, an interesting anomalous pattern of saphenous nerve was seen in the right lower limb of a 62 years old embalmed male cadaver from the Department of Human Anatomy, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Results: This saphenous nerve can be recognised as an unusual anatomical variant in which it gives a motor branch to the sartorius muscle during traversing the adductor canal and it was accompanied by blood vessels at the same time. The nerve continues its usual course and pierces the fascia lata, between the tendon of sartorius and gracilis and becomes subcutaneous. Conclusion: Knowledge of the variant anatomy of the saphenous nerve is important to surgeon in avoiding nerve injuries during adductor canal nerve block, nerve entrapment surgery, reconstructive surgery, pain management services and knee surgery successfully

Arthroscopic Mumford procedure utilizing the anteromedial and Neviaser portals – a pilot cadaveric study on neurovascular structures at risk

Introduction: Degenerative disorder involving the acromio-clavicular joint (ACJ) is quite common especially in the elderly. One of the surgical modalities of treatment of this disorder is the Mumford Procedure. Arthroscopic approach is preferred due to its reduced morbidity and faster post-operative recovery. One method utilizes the anteromedial and Neviaser portals, which allow direct and better visualization of the ACJ from the subacromial space. However, the dangers that may arise from incision and insertion of instruments through these portals are not fully understood. This cadaveric study was carried out to investigate the dangers that can arise from utilization of these portals and which structures are at risk during this procedure. Methods: Arthroscopic Mumford procedures were performed on 5 cadaver shoulders by a single surgeon utilizing the anteromedial and Neviaser portals. After marking each portals with methylene blue, dissection of nearby structures were carried out immediately after each procedure was completed. Important structures (subclavian artery as well as brachial plexus and its branches) were identified and the nearest measurements were made from each portal edges to these structures. Results: The anteromedial portal was noted to be closest to the suprascapular nerve (SSN) at 2.91 cm, while the Neviaser portal was noted to be closest also to the SSN at 1.60 cm. The suprascapular nerve was the structure most at risk during the Mumford procedure. The anteromedial portal was noted to be the most risky portal to utilize compared to the Neviaser portal. Conclusion: Extra precaution needs to be given to the anteromedial portal while performing an arthroscopic distal clavicle resection in view of the risk of injuring the suprascapular nerve of the affected limb