[Evaluation of neuroprotective effect of propofol on pyramidal neurons in CA1 region of hippocampus among male lab rats following ischemia/ transient overall reperfusion]

Background: Ischemic stroke creates irreparable damages in patients with cerebrovascular disease. The CA1 region in hippocampus is one of the most sensitive areas of brain to ischemia. The recent reports have considered administrating propofol, as a neuroprotective agent. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of propofol on CA1 region of hippocampus on male lab rats following ischemia/ transient overall reperfusion in the empirical models

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 18 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups, each containing 6 rats to serve as control, ischemia and test subjects. Propofol in 40mg/kg dose was injected intraperitoneal, 1 hour before ischemia. The ischemia model was performed by bilateral blockage of common carotid arteries for 20 minutes. The Hematoxylin-Eosin, Nissl and TUNEL methods were used for evaluating histomorphologic changes, the changes in number of cells and the apoptotic bodies

Results: Injecting 40mg/kg propofol revealed protective characteristics on hippocampal pyramidal neurons of the ischemia/reperfusion induced lab rats

Conclusion: Ischemia causes death of neurons and morphological changes, while injecting propofol is able to significantly reduce the death of neurons and protect neurons against ischemic damages

effect of MDMA and pentoxifylline drug on bad/bcl-xl gene dosage expression changes on rat liver

MDMA generally known as ecstasy, have deleterious effects on the serotonergic neurotransmitter system. Recent findings suggest that the liver and brain are major target organs of MDMA-related toxicities. Although most research is being dynamically performed on brain, however, the molecular mechanisms by which MDMA elicits adverse effects in both organs are poorly undrestood.The present study was performed to obtain evidence for molecular mechanism of apoptosis involved in MDMA-induced hepatotoxicity in rat liver after MDMAadministration. Moreover, the antagonistic effect of pentoxifylline was assessed on hepatotoxicity after MDMA administration. In this experimental study, sample size and power in each group were calculated as 10 rats with 95% confidence level and 5% confidence interval. In the study, four experimental groups were selected including Control Normal, MDMA, MDMA+PTX and PTX+MDMA. MDMA was dissolved in PBS and intraperitoneally injected three doses of 7.5mg/kg with two hours gap between doses. Pentoxyfilline also was injected as 100mg/kg, simultaneously with third dose of MDMA. After treatment, total RNA was isolated from liver tissue [5mg]. Absorbance at 260nm, 280nm and 230nm were measured and immediately reverse transcription was performed. Included target genes were BAD and BCL-XL as pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic gene, respectively. After set up and validation, Real-Time PCR were performed and obtaining data were statistically analyzed to determine significantly differences between groups. Using Real-Time quantitative PCR results, BCL-XL gene expression ratio significantly increased in MDMA+PTX group. Moreover, BAD gene expression ratio increased and up-regulated in PTX+MDMA group [P-value <0.001].Our study focused on molecular mechanism of MDMA in programmed cell death using gene expression quantification of a pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptoic gene in MDMA-induced hepatotoxocity. The results shown MDMA prompted apoptosis in liver and pentoxifylline protects hepatotoxicity after and befor taking MDMA

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

[Effect of Tacrolimus on pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex in experimental brain ischemia model in Wistar rat]

Cerebral ischemia is known as a main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and there was no effective treatment yet. Global cerebral ischemia causes loss of pyramidal cells of brain cortex following global ischemic/reperfusion. Recently, using immunophilin ligands has been considered as a potential and appropriate strategy for neuroprotection. Since it was observed that tacrolimus [FK506], a useful immunosuppressant used in organ transplantation, provides neuroprotection and prevents neuronal damage,the importance of immunophilins in the development of neuroprotectors has emerged. In this study, we investigated the neurotrophic effect of the immunosuppressant agent FK506 in rat after global cerebral ischemia. In this experimental study, 25 Wistar rats were assigned to control [intact], ischemia and 3 FK506 treated [1, 3, 6 mg/kg] groups. Both common carotid arteries were occluded for 20 minutes followed by reperfusion. In 3 experimental groups, tacrolimus or FK506 was given as a single dose exactly at the time of reperfusion respectively as 1, 3, 6 mg/kg by intravenous administration [IV]. The same doses repeated by intraperitoneally administration [IP] 48 hours after reperfusion. After 4 days, the rats were sacrificed and brain sections were stained by H and E and Nissl. Our findings showed that 20 min ischemia decreased the number of the cortex pyramidal cells. But there were significant differences between number of cortex pyramidal cells in ischemia and FK506 [6mg/kg] groups. Our study suggests that tacrolimus has a neurotrophic effect on pyramidal cells of brain cortex and may candidate for treatment of ischemia brain damage

[ effect of pentoxifylline on global ischemia/reperfusion induced spatial memory impairment in estrous phase of female wistar rat]

The short break in cerebral blood flow causes permanent brain injury and behavioral dysfunction. The hippocampus, specifically the CA1 pyramidal cells, is highly vulnerable to ischemic injuries. There is no effective pharmacological strategy for improving brain tissue damage induced by cerebral ischemia. Previous studies reported that pentoxifylline has a neuroprotective effect on brain trauma and it is well known that endogenous estrogen improves stroke outcome during vascular occlusion. In this study, the possible positive effects of pentoxifylline and estrogen on behavioral deficit and neuronal damage were studied in female Wistar rats in estrous phase subjected to an experimental model of transient global brain ischemia. In this experimental study, female Wistar rats [n= 56] were assigned to control, ischemia, vehicle, and pentoxifylline - treated [200 mg/kg IP] groups and all of them were in their estrous phase. Pentoxifylline was administered at 1 h before and 1 h after ischemia. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, followed by reperfusion.Morris water maze and nissl staining was used for all groups. According to Morris water maze test results, cerebral ischemia could not exert any negative effect on cognitive spatial abilities after reperfusion and there were no significant differences between groups. In Nissl study, there were significant differences between number of pyramidal cells in both control and pentoxifylline - treated groups [P

[ rare variation in course and distribution of dorsalis pedis artery: a case report]

The dorsalis pedis artery [DPA] is usually described as a continuation of the anterior tibial artery [ATA]. It turns into the sole and participates in plantar arch formation at the base of the first interphalangeal space. After dissecting the lower limb of a 44 year old male cadaver, it was revealed that the dorsalis pedis artery is passing to the lateral of the foot. It had changed its direction to the medial of the foot as a arcuate artery. Awareness of these variations is very important for specialist to prevent the artery from any damages in surgical techniques, such as ankle arthroscopy. On the other hand, attention to these variations is very essential in diagnosing of common iliac artery thrombosis

[Neurotrophic effect of tacrolimus on pyramidal cells of CA1 region of hippocampus following transient global ischemia/reperfusion in male wistar rat]

Cerebral ischemia is known as a major problem in the world. Reperfusion following the ischemia ultimately leads to programmed cell death or apoptosis. Specific regions of the brain and certain types of neurons are more susceptible to cerebral ischemia, such as pyramidal neurons of CA1 region of hippocampus. Recently, using of immunophilin ligands has been considered to be a potential and appropriate strategy for neuroprotective and neurogenitor activity. Up to now, the right time of injection for providing the suitable effect on pyramidal cells of CA1 has not been assessed precisely. In this study, the neurotrophic effects of tacrolimus on CA1 cells were studied on 40 male Wistar rats in 8 experimental groups. Ischemia model was induced by ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries. For detecting the most appropriate time for 6mg/kg, Injection was done via single and double doses with intervals of 6, 24, 48 and hours. The repeated doses of 6mg/kg with interval of 48 hours are the suitable dose and time of injection. It seems that tacrolimus can be an appropriate strategy as a neurotrophic drug for treating brain ischemia

[Effect of pentoxifylline on hepatocytes' damages due to administration of ecstasy in Wistar rat]

Ecstasy is a psychoactive, hallucinogen drug and a member of amphetamines family and is used commonly worldwide. Ecstasy overdose leads to restlessness, anxiety, hallucination, cardiovascular disorders and liver toxicity. Recently, the use of vasodilators, such as pentoxifylline [PTX], is one of the new strategies for protection against liver lesions caused by some substances such as alcohol consumption. There are few studies about the protective effect of pentoxifylline on liver damages due to MDMA long administration. Therefore, a comprehensive study on the protective effect of pentoxifylline on liver lesions caused by prolonged use of ecstasy seems to be necessary. This experimental study was performed on five groups: control, Ecstasy [7.5 mg/kg], Experimental 1 [100 mg/kg PTX simultaneously with the last dose of Ecstasy], experimental 2 [100 mg/kg PTX a week before Ecstasy injection], and vehicle [normal saline] groups [n=25]. After two weeks, animals were killed and their livers were prepared for histological studies [H and E method] and TUNEL technique for investigating of apoptotic bodies. The apoptotic bodies and hepatocytes lesions in experimental group 1 were lower than the other groupsm except control. It seems that the use of pentoxifylline after consumption of pure ecstasy can decrease tissue damage and prevent the induction of apoptosis in rat liver

[ rare variation in radial artery: a case report]

Arterial variations can cause many problems in treatment of patients. So, it seems that knowledge about these variations can improve the process of treatments. During dissection of a 55 year-old male cadaver, it was seen that radial artery had been separated from the second part of axillary artery and brachial artery had been continued in forearm as ulnar artery. This variation is important because radial artery is used for injection of drugs, catheterization and bypass grafting of coronary arteries. Attention to this variation may facilitate the surgical approaches and decrease the risk of arterial injuries in upper limb