The protective effect of vitamin E on rats’ ovarian follicles following an administration of diazinon: An experimental study

Background: Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate insecticide that has been widely utilized in agriculture all over the world and caused many negative effects on different species such as plants and animal species, especially on a human. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin E on rats’ ovarian follicles following an administration of diazinon. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: a control group (without any intervention), sham group (received only pure olive oil, as solvent), experimental group I (DZN+olive oil, 60 mg/kg), experimental group II (vitamin E, 200 mg/kg), and experimental group III (DZN: 60 mg/kg+vitamin E: 200 mg/kg). All drugs were injected intraperitoneally, except vitamin E which was administrated by gavage. The animals were sacrificed after two weeks and the left ovary was used to measure proliferation of ovarian follicles. Tissues were analyzed by the PCNA technique and viewed with an optical microscope for evaluating cell proliferation. Results: The result of the present study revealed that the number of proliferative cells in the experimental group I decreased significantly in contrast to the control group in secondary and Graffian follicles (p< 0.001). The administration of vitamin E plus DZN significantly increased proliferative cells compared to the DZN group (p< 0.001). Primordial follicles showed that all study groups were lacking PCNA positive cells, which means no expression of PCNA in these follicles. The results of this study showed that primary follicles in all study groups had a few and scattered PCNA positive cells with no significant difference between the groups (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Results showed that DZN reduced proliferation in secondary and Graffian follicles and vitamin E increased it. The results of this study suggested that vitamin E by its antioxidant activity was able to improve the DZN-induced ovarian toxicity. Key words: Diazinon, Proliferation, Ovary, Vitamin E, Rat

Protective effects of peel and seed extracts of Citrus aurantium on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cell line

A b s t r a c t Oxidative stress and apoptosis contribute to neuronal degeneration in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and is considered responsible for the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is thought to be involved in glutamate-induced apoptosis process. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of Citrus aurantium in the glutamate-induced rat's adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12 cells) were investigated. The cell viability and apoptotic cell death were measured using MTT and propidium iodine (PI)

Salvia verticillata Improved Cognitive Deficits in a Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion Rat Model

CCH, resulting from multiple cerebrovascular diseases, has been considered the primary cause of cognitive impairment in recent years. In this process, oxidative stress plays a critical role and damages hippocampal neurons. Research has shown that Salvia verticillata has a significant antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activity due to its polyphenolic compounds. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Salvia verticillata on a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. A total of 24 rats were subjected to Salvia verticillata or vehicle orally from one week before 2VO surgery for 14 days. Cerebral hypoperfusion was induced by the bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (2VO, n = 12 and sham, n = 12). The cognition of rats was evaluated 1 week after surgery in the MWM. In the MWM test, 2VO rats showed longer escape latency time and swimming distance and spent a shorter time in the target quadrant (p 0.05). Our results indicated that Salvia verticillata treatment significantly improved cognitive deficits in cerebral ischemic rats, probably by reducing oxidative stress damage

Antioxidant and toxicity studies of biosynthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles in rats

Funding Information: We would like to thank the Vice Chancellery for Research and Technology, MUMS for financial support (grant no 930954) and facilities.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Common polymorphisms in genes related to vitamin D metabolism affect the response of cognitive abilities to vitamin D supplementation

It is possible that vitamin D acts as a neurosteroid and that vitamin D deficiency may have an adverse impact on brain function and cognitive function. There are a few reports that have demonstrated an association between polymorphisms of genes involved in vitamin D metabolism and neurodegenerative disease. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between common, functional vitamin D–associated gene variants and cognitive abilities and to investigate the effect size of this polymorphism on cognitive capabilities associated with high-dose vitamin D supplementation. A total of 319 healthy adolescents received a high dose of vitamin D (50,000 IU)/week for 9 weeks. A questionnaire was used to assess cognitive abilities at baseline and after treatment. The genotypes of the CYP2R1-rs10766197 and GC-rs4588 variants were determined using TaqMan genotyping techniques. At baseline, total cognitive ability scores were higher in the AA group who were homozygous for the uncommon allele, compared with the other (AG and GG) genotypes of the CYP2R1-rs10766197 polymorphism (104.9 ± 27.8 vs. 79.1 ± 38.8 vs. 73.1 ± 25.6; p < 0.001, respectively). During the supplementation period, cognitive ability scores increased in individuals with the AG and GG genotypes, while individuals with a AA genotype did not show significant change in total score after intervention (p = 0.17). For GC SNP (rs4588), no major differences at baseline and trial-net change of cognitive tasks score were observed between the genotypes under three genetic models (pSNP = 0.67). Vitamin D supplements have trait-dependent effects on cognitive performance that suggests a causal role for vitamin D in cognitive performance. The rs10766197 variant, near the CYP2R1 gene locus, significantly modified the efficacy of high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation for its effects on improving cognitive abilities indicate that some subjects might require a higher dose to benefit from in terms of cognitive performance

High dose vitamin D supplementation can improve menstrual problems, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome in adolescents

Vitamin D has a crucial role in female reproduction, possibly through its effects on calcium homeostasis, cyclic sex steroid hormone fluctuations, or neurotransmitter function. We have assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation on dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in adolescents. In this study, 897 adolescent girls living in Mashhad and Sabzevar, Iran, received 9 high-dose vitamin D supplements (as 50000 IU/ week of cholecalciferol) and were followed up over 9 weeks. We evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on individuals in 4 categories: those with only PMS; individuals with only dysmenorrhea; subjects with both PMS and dysmenorrhea and normal subjects. The prevalence of PMS after the intervention fell from 14.9% to 4.8% (P<0.001). Similar results were also found for the prevalence of subjects with dysmenorrhea (35.9% reduced to 32.4%), and in subjects with both PMS and dysmenorrhea (32.7% reduced 25.7%). Vitamin D supplementation was associated with a reduction in the incidence of several symptoms of PMS such as backache and tendency to cry easily as well decrement in pain severity of dysmenorrhea (P<0.05). High dose vitamin D supplementation can reduced the prevalence of PMS and dysmenorrhea as well has positive effects on the physical and psychological symptoms of PMS

A genetic variant in the cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily R member 1 determines response to vitamin D supplementation

Background Globally, about 1 billion people have inadequate levels of serum vitamin D and it is prevalent in all ethnicities and age groups. Few foods naturally contain sufficient vitamin D; therefore, most people get their requirements through supplementation. Hence vitamin D status is affected by genetic and environmental determinants including season of measurement, diet habitual, health status, body mass index and concurrent medication. Further studies are necessary to understand how genetic variation influences vitamin D metabolism. We aimed to explore the association between a potential vitamin D-related polymorphism (the rs10766197 polymorphism in the CYP2R1 gene) with the response to supplementation of vitamin D in 253 healthy Iranian girls. Material and method A total of 253 healthy subjects received 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly for 9 weeks. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations and metabolic profiles were measured at baseline and after 9 weeks of supplementation. The genotypes of the CYP2R1 variant (rs10766197) were identified using TaqMan genotyping assays. Results Serum 25(OH)D during the supplementation, increased in all individuals. Subjects with a AA major genotype at this locus had higher vitamin D concentrations after intervention (Changes (%) 448.4% ± 425% in AA vs 382.7% ± 301% in GG). This genetic variant modulated the response to supplementation (p < 0.001 and p-value SNP = 0.05). Regression analysis showed that the probability of affecting serum 25(OH)D, in individuals who had homozygous major allele GG was two-fold higher than carriers of the uncommon allele A (OR = 2.1 (1–4.2); p = 0.03). Interestingly, the Hs-CRP was reduced in AA carries while was elevated in individuals with GG and AG genotypes, after high-dose vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion Changes in serum vitamin D and metabolic profile following high dose supplementation with vitamin D were associated with CYP2R1 polymorphism. Although carriers of the common G allele showed a greater response in the serum vitamin D

Protective Effect of Safranal against Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rat

Gentamicin is an important aminoglycoside antibiotic. Howeverits use is limited to serious and life threatening gram negativeinfections, because of its high nephrotoxicity potential in patients.There are reports that safranal, the active ingredient ofsaffron with antioxidant properties, exerts protective effectagainst ischemic injuries occurred by certain nephrotoxins includinggentamicin. Therefore, in the present study, we examinedthe protective effect of safranal against gentamicin-inducednephrotoxicity in rat. After acclimatization, animals were randomlydivided to three groups (8 rats /each group). On day one,each animal was placed separately in a metabolic cage for collecting24-hour urine samples. On day two, after collectingurine samples for measuring glucose and protein, the rats ingroup 1 received saline 1 ml/kg for 6 days, those in group 2 receivedgentamicin 80 mg/kg/day for 6 days, and the remainingrats in group 3 received safranal 0.5 ml/kg followed by gentamicin80 mg/kg/day for 6 days. Injections were intraperitoneally.All the animals were euthanized 24 hours after the lastdose. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture, andconcentration of blood urea, creatinine, and urinary glucose andprotein, as the indicators of nephrotoxicity were measured. Ourresults showed that in group 2, concentration of blood urea nitrogenp<0.01, creatinine p<0.05, urinary glucose p<0.001, andprotein p<0.01 were significantly increased compared with thecontrol and safranal-treated groups. There was no significantdifference between the control and safranal-treated groups.Safranal exerts protective effects against gentamicin-inducednephrotoxicity in rat