Gene expression profiling in the rat motor cortex after motor skill training

Fine motor skills are learned through repetitive practice and once learned, last for a long time. Skilled reaching is linked to structural and functional changes in multiple brain regions including, in particular, the primary motor cortex. Previous studies demonstrated that fine motor skill learning is associated with cortical synaptogenesis and motor map reorganization. At present, studies have implicated an indispensable role of epigenetic alterations in both hippocampal- and striatal-dependent memory formations, while examinations into the epigenetic changes in the primary motor cortex are lacking. The current study was aimed to identify epigenetic changes in motor cortex as a result of extensive motor skill learning using the single pellet skilled reaching task. Male Wistar rats were trained in the single pellet skilled reaching task (n = 6) for 10 consecutive days or were, under similar conditions, given access to pellets that did not require skilled reaches (n = 6). Skilled motor trained rats exhibited a rapid increase in successful reaches during the first four days of motor training before reaching a plateau, indicative of the acquisition and consolidation of the learned task, respectively. Expression profiles of chromatin modifying enzymes were screened using epigenetic-targeted PCR arrays. Results suggest that gene expression levels of multiple chromatin regulatory enzymes were down-regulated in the motor cortex of trained animals compared to controls following 10 days of motor training in the skilled reaching task. Among the chromatin modifying enzymes, the transcription level of Smyd1 (SET and MYND domain containing 1; NM_001106595) was lower (-2.17 fold-change) in motor cortex after 10 days of training compared to controls. Our results point to an epigenetic regulation of chromatin modification markers in the primary motor cortex that possibly underlie the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis and the formation of procedural memory

Study on cytotoxic activity of chloroformic fractions from Astraceae family on a number of cancer cell lines

Cancer is considered as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The standard treatments of cancer are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is significant that a number of currently used anti-cancer agents are derived from natural sources, including plants, marine organisms and micro-organisms. In Iran, because of its climate diversity numerous varieties of plants can grow. Many of these plants such as Glycyrrhizaglabra, Foeniculumvulgare and Polygonumspecies have shown to possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Asteraceae or Compositae family is famous for its tranquilizing effect, antifungal and cytotoxic activities. In frame of an ethnopharmacological project, local healers of some provinces of north east of Iran were interviewed by using questionnaire forms and could identify a number of herbs mainly from Astraceae family which are used for treatment traditionally in some areas of northern part of Iran. To screen the anti cancer effects of plants from this family, plants  were collected and extraction was done by using methanol maceration and finally extracts were tested for their toxicity toward a number of cancer cell lines by performing colorimetric cytotoxicity assay, extracts with high toxicity were sent for fractionation. The current study was aimed to identify the possible cytotoxic effect of two chloroformic fractions from Asteraceae family on four cancer cell lines (HepG2, HeLa, MN1 and MDD2) by using MTT colorimetric cytotoxicity assay. Results suggest that following 72 hours exposure, both fractions exhibited a substantial antiproliferative effect in all four tested cell lines. Moreover, concentration range for inducing 50% of cell death (IC50%) was determined. Our results point to a robust inhibitory effect of chloroformic fractions specifically toward HeLa cancer cell lines. These plants represent valuable resources for the development of potential anticancer agents