การเปลี่ยนแปลงของเซลล์โกนาโทรปภายในต่อมใต้สมอง ในช่วงวงจรการสืบพันธุ์ในรอบปีของปลาบู่ทรายเพศเมียตัวเต็มวัย

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Treatment with Pueraria mirifica extract prevented muscle atrophy and restored muscle strength in ovariectomized rats

Pueraria mirifica (PM) is a phytoestrogen-rich plant that was tested to establish if its phytosteroids could prevent estrogen dependent sarcopenia. The effect of PM on the estrogen levels, estrous cycle, toxicity, muscle mass, strength and endurance of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and gastrocnemius muscles of ovariectomized rats was investigated. Adult female Wistar rats were divided into six groups: Sham-operated (SHAM); ovariectomized (OVX) fed with distilled water (PM0); OVX injected with 40 μg/kg estradiol benzoate (E40); (4-6) OVX fed with ethanolic extract of PM at doses of 50 (PM50), 500 (PM500) and 1000 (PM1000) mg/kg for 90 days. After treatment with all three doses of PM, no toxicity was detected to the hematopoietic system and liver function whereas the E40 group did show toxic effects. Treatment with 50 and 500 mg/kg of PM showed no effect on uterine hypertrophy and caused no arrest of the estrous cycle whereas treatment with estrogen and 1000 mg/kg of PM treatment did. The estrogen level, the cross sectional area of the EDL and the gastrocnemius muscle fiber strength and endurance were all significantly reduced in the PM0 group compared to that of the SHAM group (p<0.05) but were significantly increased in the E40, PM50, PM500 and PM1000 compared to that of the PM0 group (p<0.05). This indicated that the estrogenic activity of PM alleviated muscle atrophy and built up muscle strength and endurance. Thus, the 50 and 500 mg/kg of PM were suitable for treating estrogen dependent sarcopenia in ovariectomized rats

Alteration of gonadotrophs in the pituitary gland during the annual reproductive cycle of the adult female sand goby (Oxyeleotris marmoratus)

Pituitary gonadotrophs were studied in the adult female sand goby (Oxyeleotris marmoratus) during its annual reproductive cycle, aiming at investigating the alteration of gonadotropic cell types and their functions. The glands were divided into 3 groups according to maturity stages of the ovary: immature, mature and gravid stages. All of the ovarian stages were found throughout the year except in November, when only the gravid stage was identified. By using anti-chum salmon GTH Iβ and anti-chum salmon GTH IIβ antibodies for immunohistochemistry, strong anti-GTH IIβ reaction were observed in the proximal pars distalis (PPD) of the pituitary gland in all stages and the number of cells was significantly increased in the gravid stage (60.1±3.5 cell/mm2) compared to that of the immature (35.5±4.4 cell/mm2) and mature (48.3±7.2 cell/ mm2) stages (P<0.05). In the immature and mature ovarian stages, a great number of vacuoles was observed in areas of the PPD normally occupied by the gonadotrophs. The anti-GTH IIβ labeling gonadotrophs exhibited patterns of activity, correlated with the ovarian maturity. Anti-GTH Iβ labeling gonadotrophs were not observed in any stage, suggesting that GTH IIβ may be the only hormone regulating ovarian function of the sand goby

Serum levels of 17β-estradiol in ovariectomized rats fed young-coconut-juice and its effect on wound healing

Exogenous estrogens such as 17β-estradiol (E2) can lower the risk of dementia in postmenopausal women (PMS), but can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Estrogen can, however, promote wound healing in ovariectomized rats and in PMS women. Phytoestrogen (PE) derived from plants might be a safer alternative source of estrogen for use in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Young coconut juice (YCJ), Cocos nucifera (Arecaceae), that is believed to contain PE and other sex hormone-like substances, was therefore investigated for its possible beneficial effects on accelerating wound healing in ovariectomized rats, a model system for the postmenopausal condition. Sixty ovariectomized (ovx) rats were devided into 6 groups, 10 rats per group. group 1 received E2 (i.p.) at 2.5 µg/kgBW/day (control); groups 2 and 3 received YCJ at 20 mL and 100mL/kg BW/day, respectively. Group 4 received YCJ 100 mL/kg BW plus E2 at 2.5 µg/kg BW/ day twice a week, all for 5 weeks. The other two groups were ovx and sham-operated controls receiving vehicle, Milli Q water, like the rest, everyday once a day. Using a chemiluminescent immuno assay, circulating E2 in the ovariectomized group fed with YCJ at 100 mL/kg BW/day was not significantly different from the control group. Circulating E2 was lowest in the ovariectomized rats fed with 100 mL/kg BW of YCJ plus 2.5 µg/kg BW E2 twice a week. This finding indicates an antagonist effect of estrogen-like hormones in YCJ that competes with estradiol for the estrogen receptors. In these experiments, we noted that wound healing was significantly accelerated in ovariectomized rats receiving 100 mL YCJ /kg BW/day compared with any other groups

The neuroprotective effect of Nasturtium officinale on learning ability and density of parvalbumin neurons in the hippocampus of neurodegenerative-induced mice model

According to European traditional pharmacopeia, as well as in Chinese traditional medicine, watercress (Nasturtium officinale) has a property in enhancing physical stamina during stress condition. The aim of the study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of watercress extract (WCE) on dexamethasone-induced neurodegeneration in mice. Swiss albino male mice (35-40 g) were divided into 6 groups: double distilled water (DW) and normal saline solution (NSS) (DW+NSS), DW and dexamethasone (DW+DEX)-treated for 21 days, 80 mg/kg of watercress extract (WCE) and NSS (80WCE+NSS), and WCE-treated (14 days prior to and during dexamethasone treatment) at variable doses of 20 mg/kg (20WCE+DEX), 40 mg/kg (40WCE+DEX), and 80 mg/kg (80WCE+DEX). At the end of the experiment, animals were tested for spatial memory and learning ability by Morris Water Maze apparatus to determine the escape latency time (ELT), and the density of parvalbumin (PV)-immunoreactive (PV-ir) neurons in the hippocampus of the brain, using immunohistochemistry. After dexamethasone treatment, the animals had significantly lower body weight, higher ELT and reduced density of PV-ir neurons in the CA1 and CA2 regions of the hippocampus, compared to the control animals. These parameters partially improved in animals supplemented with WCE but without a dose-related pattern. This study suggests that WCE may be beneficial for neuroprotection in stress-induced neurodegeneration