An investigation on body weights, blood glucose levels and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones in diabetic and metformin-treated diabetic female rats

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which affects whole body systems including reproductive system. Diabetes is also a contributing factor to infertility. Metformin is one of the most common drugs to control hyperglycemia. In this study, 36 adult Sprague-Dawley female rats (170-210 g) were divided into 3 groups (control, diabetic and diabetic-treated by metformin). In second and third groups, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (45 mg kg-1, IP) and the third group was treated by metformin hydrochloride (100 mg kg-1 day-1, PO) for 8 weeks. Body weights were compared and blood glucose, gonadotropins and sexual hormones were measured. In diabetic group the blood glucose level significantly (P < 0.05) increased in comparison with that of control and metformin-treated diabetic rats. The results also revealed that, in the untreated diabetic rats, the mean body weights and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in comparison with the control. Although there were significant (P < 0.05) reduction in mean body weights in metformin-treated diabetic rats, reduction in pituitary-gonadal axis hormones was not as sharp as in untreated diabetic rats and only level of progesterone was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in comparison with the control. The results of this investigation revealed that there was a clear relationship between experimental diabetes with body weight and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones, and treatment with metformin relatively restored diabetic complications

Investigating the Anti-Depressant and Anxiolytic Effects of the Rosa canina L. Fruit in Syrian Rats Treated with Bisphenol A

Background & objectives: The pathophysiology of depression is very complex. Rosa canina L fruit contains various antioxidant compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects of the aqueous- alcoholic extract of the Rosa canina L fruit in the behavioral tests including forced swimming, tail suspension, maze, and sucrose preference tests, as well as biochemical tests such as antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels. Rosa canina L with high amounts of vitamin C, has anti-depressant and anxiety effects. Methods: In this experimental study, 60 Syrian male mice were divided into 5 groups of 12, including the control group, the bisphenol A group, and three groups treated with oral bisphenol A at a dose of 125 mg/kg per day and the aqueous- alcoholic extract of the Rosa canina L fruit at doses of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg/day was administered from day 50 to 120 after birth. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and the One Way ANOVA test. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The findings showed that bisphenol A significantly increased the duration of immobility in the forced swimming and tail suspension test. The extract at the level of 400 mg/kg decreased the duration of immobility in both tests. Bisphenol A significantly reduced the antioxidant capacity of serum and brain. The extract at the level of 400 mg/kg significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of both the brain and serum. Conclusion: The findings of this research showed that the fruit of the Rosa canina L has antioxidant effects, and with a significant decrease in antioxidant capacity and immobility in Syrian mice treated with the extract, therefore it has anti-depressant and anxiety effects

The Ultrastructural Study of Oocyte and Zona Pellucida in Ovarian Follicles of Untreated and Metformin-Treated Diabetic Rats Subsequent to Induction of Experimental Diabetes

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder affecting the whole body systems including the female reproductive organs. Moreover, diabetes is an important cause of infertility. Metformin is commonly used to control hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes. This study was done to evaluate the ultrastructural changes of ovarian follicles in diabetic rats and their response to metformin.Methods: Thirty-six adult Sprague-Dawley female rats (170-210 g) were studied in three groups (Control, diabetic and metformin-treated rats). In the second and third groups, diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg). The rats in the third group were later treated by metformin monohydrochloride (100 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed and their right ovaries were observed under transmission electron microscope. Quantitative data were analyzed by student t-test in SAS software.Results: In comparison with the control group, significant decreases in zona pellucida thickness and the mean number of microvilli were observed (respectively, P<0.01 and P<0.001) in diabetic rats. Significant decreases in zona pellucida thickness were also observed in metformin-treated rats (P<0.05) but changes in the number of microvilli were non-significant. The number of organelles in oocyte cytoplasm was higher and they were natural or natural-looking in metformin-treated rats versus the diabetic ones. Reduction in the number of mitochondria and their ballooning cristae were of the most noticeable changes in diabetic rats.Conclusion: Diabetes decreases the number of microvilli and oocyte organelles and diminishes zona pellucida thickness leading to structural changes in the organelles but metformin could improve the aforesaid conditions