Effects of Royal Jelly and Tocotrienol Rich Fraction in obesity treatment of calorie-restricted obese rats: A focus on white fat browning properties and thermogenic capacity

Background: Obesity has reached an alarming rate worldwide. Promoting thermogenesis via increasing the function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) or white adipose tissue (WAT) browning has been proposed as a new protective approach against obesity. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of Royal Jelly (RJ) and tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on BAT activation and WAT browning during calorie restriction diet (CRD) in obesity model. Methods: In this experimental study, 50 obese Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups and then received one of the following treatments for a period of 8-week: High-fat diet (HFD), CRD, RJ + CRD, TRF + CRD, and RJ + TRF + CRD. Effects of RJ and TRF, individually and in combination on body weight and the expression of key thermoregulatory genes in WAT and BAT were examined by quantitative real-time (qRT-PCR). Also, morphological alterations were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: RJ (- 67.21 g ±4.84 g) and RJ + TRF (- 73.29 g ±4.51 g) significantly reduced weight gain relative to the CRD group (- 40.70 g ±6.50 g, P < 0.001). In comparison with the CRD group, RJ and RJ + TRF remarkably enhanced the uncoupling protein1 (UCP1) expression in WAT (5.81, 4.72 fold, P < 0.001) and BAT (4.99, 4.75 fold, P < 0.001). The expression of PR domain containing 16(PRDM 16), cAMP response element-binding protein1 (CREB1), P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (P38MAPK), and Bone morphogenetic protein8B (BMP8B) have significantly increased following RJ and RJ + TRF treatments (P < 0.001). However, the expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (CEBPβ) and Bone morphogenetic protein7 (BMP7) did not remarkably change. Multilocular beige cells in WAT and compacted dense adipocytes were also observed in BAT of RJ and RJ + TRF received groups. TRF showed no substantial effects on the expression of the mentioned thermoregulatory genes and brown fat-like phenotype. Conclusion: Our results suggest that, Royal Jelly promotes thermogenesis and browning of WAT, contributing to an increase in energy expenditure. Thus, Royal Jelly may give rise to a novel dietary choice to attenuate obesity. © 2020 The Author(s)

Study of Sperm Parameters and Sperm Fertility in Mice were Exposed to Tamoxifen during Embryonic Development

Introduction: Tamoxifen is steroidal drug, which mainly treats breast cancer and also used to stimulate ovulation. The purpose of the present study was the evaluation of sperm parameters and fertility of mice whose mothers had received tamoxifen during pregnancy. Methods: In this study, 30 female and 15 male mice of NMRI were selected for mating. After mating female mice were randomly divided into two groups, the first group (control) and second group (experimental). All of which contained 15 mice. From the day 13th day of pregnancy, experimental group has received tamoxifen with the dosage of 5 mg/kg for 7 days. After childbirth of the mated mice, male infants were selected. After reaching the age of puberty (6-8Weeks), adult mice were sacrificed by the cervical dislocation. After take sperm, sperm parameters (count, normality and motility), and sperm fertility was performed. In this study SPSS software and statistical t-test was used (p <0.001).) Results: Studies showed that sperm parameters and sperm fertilization were significantly different. The number of sperm in the control group was 83.50&plusmn;28.20 million, and in the experimental group was 60&plusmn;14.14 million. There was a decrease in average sperm count in the experimental group compared with the control group (p <0.001). Our findings from in vitro fertilization culture media showed that embryos formation and oocyte disruption between control and experimental groups significantly different (p <0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that tamoxifen exposure during development can cause histological changes in the seminiferous tubules, which can lead to infertility

Effect of Tamoxifen on Seminiferous Tubules Structure during Pregnancy in Adult Mice

Introduction: Tamoxifen is a nonsteroidal drug which mainly treats breast cancer. It is also applied for stimulation of ovulation and remedy of infertility. Regarding the tamoxifen binding to estrogen receptors and the possible role of estrogens in spermatogenesis, the present study aimed to histologically evaluate spermatogenesis in the seminiferous ducts of mice, whose mothers had received tamoxifen during pregnancy. Methods: In the present study, 30 female and 15 male mice of NMRI race were selected for mating. Since 13th day of pregnancy, the experimental group received tamoxifen with the dosage of 5 mg/kg intra-peritoneally for 7 days, wherease the control group received normal saline. After childbirth of the mated mice, male infants were selected and monitored in the standard laboratory conditions. After reaching the age of puberty (6-8Weeks), adult mice were sacrificed by the cervical dislocation, and the testes were removed for histological evaluation of spermatogenesis. After routine histological processing, the samples were studied by the light microscope. Results: Histological studies showed that spermatogenic and Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules in control and experimental groups were significantly different, though no difference was observed in the number of Leydig cells in the both groups. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that tamoxifen exposure during development can cause histological changes in the seminiferous tubules, which can lead to infertility in the male rat

Effects of methanol extract of soy on the apoptosis of hippocampal cells in ovariectomized rats

Background: The decline in estrogen level after menopause results in a decrease in life quality and different neurological disorders such as memory impairment. However, hormone replacement therapy remains controversial. Some studies have been investigated the effects of soy phytoestrogens (e.g. genistein) on cognitive brain functions. This study aimed to examine the effect of oral administration of soy extract on the apoptosis of hippocampus cells. Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 rats were randomly allocated into 3 equal groups: 1) Sham (surgery without ovariectomy) 2) ovariectomized (OVX) and 3) treatment (OVX+soy extract). The animals in the treatment group received soy extract (60mg/kg) daily in drinking water by gavage for six weeks. At the end of treatment, brain samples of all animals were collected for tissue sectioning. Apoptosis in hippocampal cell was studied using the TUNEL method and a light microscopy. Results: Oral administration of soy extract significantly decreased the number of apoptotic (neuronal and glial) cells (P<0.05), while ovariectomy significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells in the ovariectomized group compared to the Sham (P=0.034) and treatment groups (P=0.016). Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that the oral administration of soy extract in ovariectomized rats had neuroprotective effects by decreasing the number of apoptotic cells

Impact of prunus cerasus on PGR and HAS2 in cumulus cells and fertility outcome

Purpose: Cumulus cells have a critical role in normal oocyte development and fertilization. Prunus cerasus is an anthocyanin rich berry and performs strong antioxidant activity. The present study set to determine if Prunus cerasus can affect expression of HAS2 (hyaluronan synthase 2) and progesterone receptor in Cumulus cells and its consequences outcome of the in vitro fertilization. Methods: 60 female and 15 male adult mice were used for mating and IVF (in vitro fertilization). Prunus cerasus extraction was added to the diet of female mice for 30 days. Ovulation induction and oocytes collection were done as routine. The cumulus cells were dissected apart, and the expression of progesterone receptor and HAS2 was detected using RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction). Fertilization rate was evaluated by IVF. All data were analyzed using t-test. Results: Data was showed that expression of progesterone receptor and HAS2 in cumulus cells of mice that received prunus cerasus increased. Moreover, oocyte fertilization rate also increased significantly. Conclusion: Prunus cerasus as an antioxidant natural can become an important medication for improving oocyte quality and opening new opportunities for infertility treatment. It is concluded that Prunus cerasus consumption could improve fertility rate by increasing progesterone receptor and HAS2 activity in cumulus cells

Biomedical applications of zeolite-based materials: A review

Zeolites are crystalline, hydrated aluminosilicates of alkali earth cations, consisting of 3D frameworks of SiO44� and AlO45� tetrahedral, linked through the shared oxygen atoms, which have been widely applied in multifarious technological approaches such as adsorbents, catalysts, ion exchangers, molecular sieves for separation, and sorting the molecules according to their crystalline size dimensions. On the other hand, the unique and outstanding physical and chemical properties of zeolite materials such as porous character, ion exchangeability, water absorption capacity, immunomodulatory and antioxidative effects, biocompatibility and long-term chemical and biological stability, make them increasingly useful in various filed of biomedicine including drug delivery systems, wound healing, scaffolds used in tissue engineering, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial, implant coating, contrast agents, harmful ions removal from the body, gas absorber, hemodialysis, and teeth root filling. Therefore, this review focuses on the more recent advances of the use of zeolites in various biomedical applications feedbacks especially drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering with special emphasis on their biomaterial perspectives. © 2020 Elsevier B.V