Morphology of Rat Hippocampal CA1 Neurons Following Modified Two and Four-Vessels Global Ischemia Models

Background: An appropriate animal model of ischemia stroke is essential for evaluation of different therapeutic methods. Two and four-vessel global ischemia models are one of the most common types of transient cerebral ischemia. Objectives: In this study, the morphology of rat hippocampal CA1 neurons in modified models of two and four-vessel ischemia and reperfusion were evaluated. Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. In group 2 and 3, both common carotid arteries were occluded for 10 minutes in either 3 or 24 hours of reperfusions, respectively. In group 4 and 5, both common carotid and vertebral arteries were occluded for 10 minutes in either 3 or 24 hours of reperfusions, respectively. Group 1 as control, underwent the whole surgery without any arteries occlusion. Hippocampi of the rats in all groups were processed and tissue sections were stained using the Nissl method. The morphology of CA1 neurons were studied under a light microscope and compared different groups. Results: In all groups ischemic changes were apparently observed in hippocampus CA1 neurons. In two-vessel occlusion model, after 3 and 24 hours of reperfusions, ischemic cells accounted for 14.9% and 23.2%, respectively. In four-vessel occlusion model, after 3 and 24 hours of reperfusions, ischemic cells accounted for 7.6% and 44.9% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: Modified four-vessel occlusion model resulted in significant ischemic changes after 24 hours of reperfusion in CA1 neurons of rat hippocampus

A faunistic study on Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) of Iran

Abstract: The fauna of some families of Iranian Chalcidoidea is studied. In total, 24 species of six families, Chalcididae (3 species from 3 genera Brachymeria Westwood, Chalcis Fabricius and Dirhinus Dalman), Encyrtidae (7 species from 6 genera Anagyrus Howard, 1896, Copidosoma Ratzeburg, 1844, Diversinervus Silvestri, 1915, Encyrtus Latreille, 1809, Microterys Thomson, 1876 and Syrphophagus Ashmead, 1900), Eupelmidae (8 species from 4 genera Anastatus Motschulsky, Eupelmus Dalman, Eusandalum Ratzeburg and Pentacladia Westwood), Eurytomidae (3 species from 2 genera Eurytoma Illiger and Tetramesa Walker), Mymaridae (single species from the genus Anaphes Haliday) and Perilampidae (2 species from the genus Perilampus Latreille) were collected and identified

Neuroprotective Effects of Oxytocin Hormone after an Experimental Stroke Model and the Possible Role of Calpain-1

Background Different mechanisms will be activated during ischemic stroke. Calpain proteases play a pivotal role in neuronal death after ischemia damage through apoptosis. Anti-apoptotic activities of the oxytocin (OT) in different ischemic tissues were reported in previous studies. Recently, a limited number of studies have noted the protective effects of OT in the brain. In the present study, the neuroprotective potential of OT in an animal model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and the possible role of calpain-1 in the penumbra region were assessed. Methods Adult male Wistar rats underwent 1 hour of tMCAO and were treated with nasal administration of OT. After 24 hours of reperfusion, infarct size was evaluated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were used to examine the expression of calpain-1. Nissl staining was performed for brain tissue morphology evaluation. Results OT reduced the infarct volume of the cerebral cortex and striatum compared with the ischemia control group significantly (P < .05). Calpain-1 overexpression, which was caused by ischemia, decreased after OT administration (P < .05). The number of pyknotic nuclei in neurons increased dramatically in the ischemic area and OT attenuated the apoptosis of neurons in the penumbra region (P < .01). Conclusion We provided evidence for the neuroprotective role of OT after tMCAO through calpain-1 attenuation. Key Words Stroke tMCAO calpain-1 oxytoci

Strong protective effect of the APOL1 p.N264K variant against G2-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and kidney disease

African Americans have a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease, especially focal segmental glomerulosclerosis -, than European Americans. Two coding variants (G1 and G2) in the APOL1 gene play a major role in this disparity. While 13% of African Americans carry the high-risk recessive genotypes, only a fraction of these individuals develops FSGS or kidney failure, indicating the involvement of additional disease modifiers. Here, we show that the presence of the APOL1 p.N264K missense variant, when co-inherited with the G2 APOL1 risk allele, substantially reduces the penetrance of the G1G2 and G2G2 high-risk genotypes by rendering these genotypes low-risk. These results align with prior functional evidence showing that the p.N264K variant reduces the toxicity of the APOL1 high-risk alleles. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms of APOL1-associated nephropathy, as well as for the clinical management of individuals with high-risk genotypes that include the G2 allele

Buckling analysis of thin-walled cold-formed steel structural members using complex finite strip method

In this paper, a generalised complex finite strip method is proposed for buckling analysis of thin-walled cold-formed steel structures. The main advantage of this method over the ordinary finite strip method is that it can handle the shear effects due to the use of complex functions. In addition, distortional buckling as well as all other buckling modes of cold-formed steel sections like local and global modes can be investigated by the suggested complex finite strip method. A combination of general loading including bending, compression, shear and transverse compression forces is considered in the analytical model. For validation purposes, the results are compared with those obtained by the Generalized Beam Theory analysis. In order to illustrate the capabilities of complex finite strip method in modelling the buckling behavior of cold-formed steel structures, a number of case studies with different applications are presented. The studies are on both stiffened and unstiffened cold-formed steel members

Effects of closed-end and open-end vasectomies on rat's testis

Background: Vasectomy is one of the most effective tools of population control. Controversies are arisen with respect to the effects of vasectomy on testis and the process of spermatogenesis, thus the present study was carried out to determine the effects of closed-end and open-end vasectomies on rat's testis in Kashan University in 2000.Materials and methods: For this experimental study, 20 Sprague Dawely rats were randomly selected. They were 8-12 weeks old and assigned in two groups of closed-end and open-end vasectomies. For the first group (closed-end) right vas deferens underwent closed-end operation and vas deferens of the left side underwent Sham operation, however for the other group (open-end) right and left vas deferens underwent open-end and Sham operations, respectively. 4 months later, their testes were removed and their weight, volume and macroscopic appearance were determined. Then, microscopic changes including histologic changes, seminoferous ducts, interstitial tissue, number of spermatogonia, number and type of spermatocytes, etc were all recorded. T-test was used for data analysis.Results : Histologic studies revealed that testicular tissue was normal in control group but have changes in the case group. In injured ducts detachment of immature cells from epithelium, epithelial vacuolization, thickening and folding of periductal membrane, and removal of germ cells were prominent changes. Quantitative evaluation of normal ducts revealed that there was significant differences between groups regarding: number of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, round spermatid, long spermatid, the proportion of long spermatid to sertoli, ductal diameter, and volume and weight of testis. Conclusion : There was no significant difference between the closed- and open-end vasectomies, however both affect the testicular tissue. Effects of increased hydrostatic pressure were less prominent in closed-end technique. Further studies with special attention on increased antisperm antibody , and seminoferous ductal structure wit0.h ultrastructure and immunochemistry are strongly suggested

Sub cloning of mouse mousculus glucocerebrosidase enzyme gene in lentiviral vector and transfer to HEK cell line

Background: Gene therapy is an important technique in clinical research which offers new visions for the treatment of genetic deficiencies. Gaucher disease caused by genetic deficiency of glucocerebrosidase (Gba) enzyme has attracted special consideration in gene therapy. The aim of this project is cloning and transfering of glucocerebrosidase enzyme gene to HEK cell line by enhanced lentiviral vector. Materials and Methods: The cDNA of glucocerebrosidase enzyme gene was synthesized, amplified with specific primers by PCR methods, cloned in non-expressing vector and sequenced. The recombinant gene was subcloned in enhanced lentiviral vector by GFP reporter gene. After culturing the HEK cell line, the recombinant lentiviral vector was transferred to them and the transfer of Gba gene was examined by GFP reporter gene. Results: The amplification and cloning of glucocerebrosidase enzyme gene was confirmed by restrictive enzymes. The sequence of Gba gene was compared correctly by its reported sequence. Subcloning of Gba gene in lentiviral vector was confirmed by different restrictive enzymes. The transfer of Gba recombinant gene was confirmed by reporter gene with flurecent proteins. Conclusion: This project is a part of gene therapy protocol performed by the transferring of mouse glucocerebrosidase enzyme gene to HEK cells by lentiviral vector

Stability of stiffened cold-formed steel I-sections using the bubble finite strip method

This paper proposes a semi analytical complex finite strip method using bubble functions to study the local, distortional and global buckling of stiffened as well as unstiffened cold formed steel I-sections under compression and bending loading conditions. The method is programmed and used to investigate the elastic buckling of mono and doubly symmetric I-sections containing longitudinal flange stiffeners. The effect of longitudinal flange stiffeners on the stability of cold-formed I-section members is surveyed. Furthermore, a comparison between stiffened and unstiffened cold-formed I-sections is made for different buckling modes. The accuracy of bubble finite strip method in predicting the buckling stresses of monosymmetric cold-formed I-section beams in comparison with Generalized Beam Theory (GBT method) will be established. Case studies are performed for different geometric properties of the sections and the stiffeners on the buckling strength of cold-formed steel I-sections

Effect of anatomy practice background on quality of anatomy education

History and Objectives: Due to importance of learning and long-term memory and recent reports emphasizing requirements for learning and due to the importance of anatomy courses on the clinical learning process, the present study was carried out on medical students of Kashan Medical University accepted in 1996 academic year and taking abdominal and thoracic anatomy courses. Materials and Methods: An experimental study was performed on 56 medical students. Students taking abdominal anatomy were taken as an experimental group and control group was consisted of students taking the anatomy of thorax. Laboratory sessions were held before and after the lecture classes for the experimental and control groups respectively. Mean score for mid-term and final exam and student’s evaluation of the courses were analyzed by Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney test. Results: Mean score of lecture classes of control group (13.2±3.11 from 20) in comparison to experimental group (15±2.93) was decreased (P<0.005). In addition, total score for the course (Lecture and laboratory, …) for control group (12.8±2.53) in comparison with experimental group (14.3±2.67) are decreased (P<0.004). 67% of students accepted the new educational method and 69% were more comfortable with the new method. Conclusion: Offering the laboratory (Practical) anatomy sessions before the corresponding lecture classes will facilitate the learning process. Further investigation of the present method with other courses and its long-term effect on learning and cognition is recommended

A faunistic study on the Odonata (Insecta) from Kurdistan province and vicinity, western Iran

Ghahari, H., Thipaksorn, A., Naderian, H., Sakenin, H., A.A (2012): A faunistic study on the Odonata (Insecta) from Kurdistan province and vicinity, western Iran. Linzer biologische Beiträge 44 (2): 1079-108