Effects of N-acetylcysteine on Noise Exposure-induced Oxidative Stress and Depressive- and Anxiety-like Behaviors in Adult Male Mice.

INTRODUCTION: Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric disorders. These conditions widely occur in industrial societies and severely affect individuals' lives. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of NAC on chronic noise-induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. METHODS: Fifty male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, as follows: control, noise90 dB, noise110 dB, noise 90+NAC, and noise 110+NAC groups. Animals in the noise groups were exposed to 90 dB 2 h/day and 110 dB 2 h/day for 30 days. The NAC groups received NAC (325 mg/kg P.O.) 20 min after being exposed to noise. To evaluate depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, the examined mice were subjected to the Open Field Test (OFT), Sucrose Preference Test (SPT), Tail Suspension Test (TST), and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) tasks. At the end of the behavioral tests, the study animals were sacrificed. Accordingly, the levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) were determined in the Hippocampus (HIP) and the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC). RESULTS: The obtained results suggested that noise exposure would induce anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, being reversed by NAC administration. Moreover, chronic administration of NAC significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA levels) in the PFC and HIP of noise-exposed mice. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that administrating NAC would reduce the adverse effects of noise on the brain and would exert anti-depressant and anxiolytic effects.

Comparison of the effects of zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles on the expression of hepcidin gene in rat liver.

OBJECTIVES: Nanoparticles have special properties, such as increased intestinal absorption, permeability, and so on. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have medical applications such as using in drug production. Studies of ZnO nanoparticles have shown the role of these particles in reducing or increasing the genes expression. Given the important role of hepcidin in the development of anemia and iron overload diseases, this study investigated the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the hepatic expression of the hepcidin gene to help find a way to treat these diseases. METHODS: In this experimental study, 24 male Westar rats were divided into three groups: control, ZnO treating group and ZnO nanoparticle treating group. Both ZnO and ZnO nanoparticles were injected with 50 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. At the end, serums were collected and iron, ferritin and IL-6 levels were measured. Expression of the hepcidin gene was done by Real Time PCR. RESULTS: ZnO and the ZnO nanoparticle significantly increased the expression of the hepcidin gene relative to the control group. The increase in expression of the hepcidin gene in ZnO nanoparticles was more significant than in the ZnO. CONCLUSION: ZnO nanoparticles led to significant increase in expression of the hepcidin gene.

Renoprotective effects of the methanolic extract of Tanacetum parthenium against carbon tetrachloride-induced renal injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have demonstrated that carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) increases the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in many tissues including the kidney, heart, lung, brain, and liver. The major aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective activity of Tanacetum parthenium extract (TPE) in renal tissues of CCl4-intoxicated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were divided into seven groups of six rats. Group 1 was the control group that was not treated with CCl4. The rats in the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, 1:1 in olive oil) on day 14. Rats in the groups bTPE40, bTPE80, and bTPE120 were gavaged with 40, 80, and 120 mg/kg of TPE, respectively for 14 constitutive days on a daily basis, before CCl4 administration. Rats in groups aTPE80 and aTPE120 were gavaged with 80 and 120 mg/kg of TPE, respectively, 2, 6, 24 and 48 hr after receiving CCl4. Blood samples were collected at the end of the 16th day through an intracardiac puncture and then serums were separated. RESULTS: CCl4 increased urea, creatinine, uric acid and creatinine: albumin (C/A) ratio level in serum and decreased total antioxidant and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPx) when compared to the control group (p<0.001). But administration of TPE to rats either before or after exposure to CCl4, attenuated these changes when compared with CCl4 control group (p<0.05 - p<0.001). CONCLUSION: TPE had potent nephroprotective effects against oxygen free radicals produced through CCl4 metabolism.

Hepatoprotective effect of methanolic Tanacetum parthenium extract on CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Tanacetum Parthenium Extract (TPE) on Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, biochemical factors, and liver enzymes in the rats damaged by Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4). 54 male Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups each consisting of 6 rats. Two of the groups were control groups (normal and damage control groups), 4 of them were exposure groups which were respectively administered with 40, 80, and 120 mg/kg of TPE and silymarin for 14 days before being damaged by CCl4, and the other 3 groups were post-treatment groups which received 80 and 120 mg/kg of TPE and silymarin 2, 6, 24, and 48 h after being injected with CCl4. At the end of the study, biochemical factors, serum liver enzymes, malondialdehyde level, antioxidant enzymes, and liver morphology were assayed. Pre- and post-treatment with TPE could significantly decrease ALT, AST, ALP, TG, LDL, TC, and glucose levels and increase HDL, and albumin levels and catalase, SOD, and GPx activities compared to the CCl4-damaged control group. The results of this study are indicative of the antioxidant activity of TPE, its potential hepatoprotective effects, and its probable therapeutic properties for laboratory animals damaged by CCl4.

Antibacterial effect of different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite on Enterococcus faecalis biofilms in root canals.

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution in reducing bacterial growth in Enterococcus faecalis biofilms in root canals. Methods. The root canals of maxillary central incisors of 104 subjects underwent chemomechanical debridement. In order to remove the smear layer, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution was used for 3 minutes in the root canals. Then, the samples were immersed in 1 mL of 17% EDTA for 3 minutes. Finally, the root canals were irrigated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. After removing the smear layer, the samples were sterilized. Then E. faecalis biofilms formed within the root canals at 4-, 6-, and 10-week intervals were evaluated. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups in terms of the antibacterial treatment: group 1: 1% NaOCl solution; group 2: 2.5% NaOCl solution; group 3: 5.25% NaOCl solution; and group 4: PBS solution. After preparation of root canal filings, the counts of live bacteria were calculated through the classic method of counting, i.e. colony forming units (CFU), followed by the analysis of data. Results. In groups 2 and 3, there was no bacterial growth due to complete removal of E. faecalis biofilms (P<0001), while the bacterial counts in group 1 at 4-, 6- and 10-week intervals decreased compared to the control group. Conclusion. The bacterial cells in mature and old biofilms have higher resistance to 1% NaOCl solution compared to the young biofilms. However, the 2.5% and 5.25% NaOCl solutions caused complete inhibition of the growth of E. faecalis biofilm in all the stages of development.