The amelioration of nicotine-induced reproductive impairment in male mouse by Sambucus ebulus L. fruit extract / 대한해부학회지

Nicotine as a toxic agent in cigarette smoke impairs the reproductive system. Sambucus ebulus extract (SEE) is shown to have some beneficial effects such as antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SEE on the hormones of the pituitary-gonadal axis, lipid peroxidation index, antioxidant enzymes, spermatogenesis, and epididymal sperm parameters in male mice treated with nicotine. Adult male mice were divided into five groups; A: normal saline, B: 1 mg/kg nicotine, C: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 10 mg/kg SEE, D: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 50 mg/kg SEE, D: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 100 mg/kg SEE. Treatments lasted for 35 days. The spermicidal activity of SEE was tested in vitro. Sperm count, motility and morphology were assessed for fertility. Serum testosterone, prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured, using ELISA. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured, using colorimetric assays. Spermatogenesis was evaluated by Johnsen’s score and morphometry in histological slides. SEE at different doses did not have any spermicidal activity. Sperm parameters were reduced in the nicotine-treated group, compared with controls (P<0.01). Nicotine reduced testosterone and LH levels (P<0.01) and increased prolactin (P<0.01).A hike in MDA and a reduction in SOD activity without change on CAT, were observed in the nicotine group. Nicotine caused hypospermatogenesis. SEE improved most of the above-mentioned parameters, especially in the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Beneficial effects of SEE in the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg on male reproduction impairment, induced by nicotine might be partly attributed to the reduction of oxidative stress and changes in the hormones of the pituitary-gonadal axis.

The amelioration of nicotine-induced reproductive impairment in male mouse by Sambucus ebulus L. fruit extract / 대한해부학회지

Nicotine as a toxic agent in cigarette smoke impairs the reproductive system. Sambucus ebulus extract (SEE) is shown to have some beneficial effects such as antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SEE on the hormones of the pituitary-gonadal axis, lipid peroxidation index, antioxidant enzymes, spermatogenesis, and epididymal sperm parameters in male mice treated with nicotine. Adult male mice were divided into five groups; A: normal saline, B: 1 mg/kg nicotine, C: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 10 mg/kg SEE, D: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 50 mg/kg SEE, D: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 100 mg/kg SEE. Treatments lasted for 35 days. The spermicidal activity of SEE was tested in vitro. Sperm count, motility and morphology were assessed for fertility. Serum testosterone, prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured, using ELISA. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured, using colorimetric assays. Spermatogenesis was evaluated by Johnsen’s score and morphometry in histological slides. SEE at different doses did not have any spermicidal activity. Sperm parameters were reduced in the nicotine-treated group, compared with controls (P<0.01). Nicotine reduced testosterone and LH levels (P<0.01) and increased prolactin (P<0.01).A hike in MDA and a reduction in SOD activity without change on CAT, were observed in the nicotine group. Nicotine caused hypospermatogenesis. SEE improved most of the above-mentioned parameters, especially in the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Beneficial effects of SEE in the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg on male reproduction impairment, induced by nicotine might be partly attributed to the reduction of oxidative stress and changes in the hormones of the pituitary-gonadal axis.

Effects of verapamil on CA1 pyramidal cells of hippocampus following ischemia reperfusion in rats

Brain ischemia is one of the most important problems in the world and causes severe brain damages, especially in CA1 region of hippocampus. Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil, have neuroprotective effects. This study was done to investigate neuroprotective effects of verapamil on the CA1 region of hippocampus in the male rat. This experimental study was conducted on 24 male adult Wistar male rats [250-300 g] that were divided into four groups: control, ischemia, vehicle and treatment. For induction of ischemia, both common carotid arteries were blocked for 20 minute followed by reperfusion. Verapamil [10 mg/kg] was administrated 1 hour before and after ischemia intraperitoneally in treatment group. The brains were dissected and processed for Nissl staining. The results were analyzed by analysis of variance [ANOVA] and Tukey's tests. Data showed no significant difference between the number of viable pyramidal cells in CA1 region of hippocampus in control and 10 mg/kg verapamil treated groups, but number of pyramidal cells reduced in ischemia and vehicle groups and there was significant difference between these groups with control [P<0.05]. This study showed that the injection 10mg/kg of verapamil can reduce damaged cells in CA1 region of hippocampus in rats that were subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia. It seems that administration of verapamil [l0mg/kg] decreases severity of neuronal damage in CA1 cells of hippocampus in rat following transient ischemia reperfusion

Oxytocin can decrease germ cells dapsgtotic index in testis under acute ischemia reperfaasion in a rat model

Background: Ischemia reperhs on [IR] is the main pathology of torsion of testis I and it is a common urologic emergency. There is some evidence that shows oxytocin I [OT] plays role in ischemia reperhsion. Objective: To evaluate this hypothesis that OT can decrease germ cell apoptotic index in testis under acute ischemia reperfusion in arat model. Materials and Methods: 20 adult rats were randomly divided into four groups: I Control, IR, OT and IF.+ OT [OTA]. Testicular ischemia was achieved by 720" torsion of the left testis for 2 hr. Then, torsion was removed and reperfusion was performed. Immediately after induction of reperfusion 0.03 pgkg OT were administered intraperitoneally to the IR+ OT. Three hours after surgery left testis I was removed and evaluations were made by Johnson's score, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and histomorphometry for study of maturity of spermatogenesis, endocrine profiles, apoptosis and quantitative studies, respectively. Results: The results showed in addition tissue edema and congestion, a significant reduced in Johnson's score were detected in IR group in comparison with controls [p=0.01], and apoptotic index increased significantly @=0.001]. Administration of OT in OT+IR group, increased Johnson's score but it was not statistically significant. Germinal epithelium thickness was increased significantly [p=0.03], although apoptotic index decreased significantly in comparison with the IR group [p=0.04]. However there was not significant difference in serum levels of I testosterone, FSH and LH innone of groups [p=0.07].Conclusion: These results suggested that OT can decrease apoptotic index and: improves complication of a cute ischemic reperftlsion in testis in a rat model

[Evaluation of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum in Guilan province]

Colorectal cancer is the second cause of mortality in developed countries. The p53 gene and some of it's polymorphisms are among the causes for cancer development. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the p53 codon 72 polymorphism in colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens compared with controls. We performed a case-control study among 112 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 112 controls in Rasht, Iran. Different genotypes of codon 72 were determined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The frequency of the Arg/Arg genotype of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism was 35.7%, for Arg/Pro it was 50.9%, and for Pro/Pro it was 13.4% in colorectal cancer patients. Among controls, the Arg/Arg genotype was seen 37.5%, Arg/Pro was noted in 50%, and Pro/Pro was seen in 12.5% [p = 0.95]. When tumor location was taken into consideration, 68.8% of the Arg/Arg carrier genotypes were associated with an increased incidence of left colon cancer. There was a significant statistical relationship between expression of the Arg allele in colorectal cancer samples and metastases [p=0.003]. The majority of colorectal cancer patients with p53 Arg homozygosity had left-sided colon cancer. There was also a relation between p53 Arg homozygosity, lymph node involvement, and metastases. Thus, we have suggested that the correlation between this polymorphism, tumor risk, and metastasis should be studied to determine its effectiveness as a diagnostic factor

[ protective effects of melatonin on the histological changes of testis in busulfan-treated adult mice]

Antineoplastic chemotherapy is usually accompanied by fertility impairment and the aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of melatonin, a pineal gland hormone with potent antioxidant activity, on busulfan-treated adult male mice. This study was performed on 32, eight-week old adult male mice. The animals were divided into four groups consisting of a control and three experimental groups. The animals in the control group received dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], a solvent, the second group a single dose of intraperitoneal busulfan [20 mg/kg], the third group a single dose of intraperitoneal melatonin [10 mg/kg] for five days and the fourth group melatonin [10 mg/kg] for five days upon an initial dose of busulfan [20 mg/kg]. Thirty-five days after the treatments, all the animals were sacrificed and dissected. Johnson is score were determined by examining the morphometric characteristics of seminiferous tubules and estimating Leydig cell volumes and germ cell counts. Busulfan-treated mice showed reductions in Johnson's score and quality of spermatogenesis [p<0.001] in comparison to the controls. The quantitative values of seminiferous tubules [p<0.05] and the nuclear volume of Leydig cells [p<0.05] were significantly lower in the busulfan-treated mice relative to the controls. In the fourth group, melatonin not only caused a remarkable normalization in seminiferous tubule indices [p<0.05], but also increased the nuclear volume of Leydig cells [p<0.001], the relevant Johnson's score [p<0.001] and all germ cells in comparison to the second group [p<0.05]. Melatonin might have a possible protective effect against busulfan-induced testicular damage. Although the protective mechanism of melatonin has not been fully revealed, the protection seems to be through a decrease in oxidative stress