[Effect of Hydro-alcoholic extract of Jasminum sambac on morphine withdrawal symptoms in rats]

Background and Aim: The exact mechanisms of morphine dependence and withdrawal syndrome remain unclear. Many studies have been performed to find agents with low dependency in order to decrease withdrawal symptoms. On the other hand studies have shown the anticonvulsant and sedative effects of Jasminum sambac. The traditional use of this plant has shown its analgesic, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, sedative, and antispasmodic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Jasminum sambac on morphine withdrawal symptoms in rats

Material and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats with weight range of 225 - 275 g were randomly selected and divided into 5 groups. Each group consisted of 6 rats. In order to induce dependency, additive doses of morphine were injected subcutaneously for 13 days. On the 13[th] day, after the last dose of morphine, intraperitoneal saline injection [1 ml/kg:] was given to the morphine-saline group. We gave intraperitoneal injections of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract of Jasminum sambac to the three treatment groups respectively. Thirty minutes later, intraperitoneal injections of naloxone [4 mg/kg] was given to the treatment groups and the withdrawal symptoms including: jumping, rearing, genital grooming, abdominal writhing, wet dog shake and weight loss were recorded for 60 minutes

Results: Results of this study showed that 100 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract of Jasminum sambac significantly reduced the number of jumping and at all doses reduced rearing and genital grooming in the treatment groups compared to those in the morphine-saline group [P<0.01 and P<0.001]. In addition, hydroalcoholic extract of Jasminum sambac decreased total withdrawal scores at all used doses

Conclusion: We found that hydroalcoholic extract of Jasminum sambac was effective in decreasing the symptoms of morphine withdrawal symptoms. This effect is probably attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Effect of selegiline on liver cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation in rat

Background and Aim: Liver has a major role in protection of human against various toxins and drugs

Cholestasis can be defined as impairment of the bile flow which can lead to increased oxidant stress, hepatocyte damage and finally cirrhosis

Selegiline is commonly used in management of Parkinsoris disease

It has neuroprotective, antiapoptic and antioxidant properties

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of selegiline on liver cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation [BDL] in the rats

Material and Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups [IF= 6] including saline, sham + saline, BDL + saline, BDL + Selegiline [0.15 mg/kg] and Selegiline [0.15 mg/kg]

Under general anesthesia and sterile condition, laparatomy was done, and bile duct was ligated. After 14 days, liver function tests, serologic tests and serum TNF-alpha were performed for all groups after taking blood samples. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA

Results: The results of the this study showed that selegiline significantly increased Alb, AST, ALT and ALP in BDL selegiline group compared to BDL+ saline. Also, when compared to saline group, selegiline significantly increased PT

Conclusion: Selegiline in cholestatic rat model did not show a protective effect on the liver cells and in some cases exacerbated the symptoms

[Effect of cupping on morphine withdrawal symptoms in rat]

Nowadays, sedative drugs are the main therapeutic measures to attenuate the opioid withdrawal symptoms. These drugs have side effects, mainly dependency. However, physical therapies are found to be safe and without any serious adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cupping, a kind of physical treatment, on morphine withdrawal symptoms in the rats. In this study male Wistar rats weighting 225-275gr were used. The animals were randomly assigned to 8 groups [n=10] and treated with morphine [dependent groups] or saline [nondependent groups]. The dependent groups received the additive doses of the morphine twice a day for nine days in order to induce dependency. Afterward, cupping was conducted on the GV14 acupuncture point either one time before withdrawal induction or daily in addition to administration of morphine or saline. In the control groups, the cup was just placed on the point without any vacuum induction. On the ninth day, 30 minutes after administration of saline or morphine, all groups received naloxone injection and the withdrawal symptoms including jumping, rearing, body grooming, abdominal-writhing, and wet-dog shaking were recorded for 60 minutes. The results revealed that a single cupping before the withdrawal induction significantly attenuated the withdrawal symptoms [p<0.01] compared to the control group. However, daily cupping failed to decrease the withdrawal symptoms in the dependent rats. The results also indicated that daily cupping in the non- dependent rats increased the naloxone-induced withdrawal symptoms significantly [p<0.01] in comparison to the saline control group. We found that one time cupping before withdrawal induction decreased the withdrawal symptoms which might be the result of the effect of the cupping on releasing the endogenous opioids and gabaergic pathway

[ effect of donepezil on morphine-induced withdrawal syndrome in rats]

Long-term exposure to opiates induces physical and psychological dependency. Despite a large number of studies on this subject, cellular mechanism involved in this phenomenon is not yet exactly clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of donepezil, an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, on morphin-induced withdrawal symptoms in rats. In this experimental study,6 groups of male Sprague Dawly rats weighting between 225 and 300 g, received 10 mg/kg, ip morphine/ day in addition to 1 ml/kg,ip saline or 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/kg, ip donepezil. In order to induce dependency, morphine was administered subcutaneously every 12 hours for nine days. On the ninth day, 30 minutes after the last dose of morphine, control groups received 1 ml/kg, ip saline and experimental groups received ip donepezil. After 30 min, naloxone [4 mg/kg, ip] were administered for all groups and the withdrawal symptoms including: jumping, rearing, genital grooming, abdomen writhing, body grooming and wet dog shake, were recorded for 60 minutes. Our results showed that donepezil decreased withdrawal symptoms, also it could attenuate the total withdrawal score, significantly. The results of this study showed that donepezil as an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, could decrease withdrawal symptoms in rats

[Isolation of rat embryonic cortical neural stem cells and induction of differentiation]

Neural stem cells [NSCs] play an essential role in the development of embryonic nervous system and have the capacity for self-renewal in the adulthood which may be important for normal functions of the CNS, such as learning, memory and response to injury. These cells exist at different stages of development in different areas of the CNS. The purpose of this study was isolation and confirmation of stem cell and induction of differentiation of the cells isolated from the 15 day old embryonic rat cortex. This was an experimental study on 15 day old embryonic rat cortices [n=6]. 15 days after plug formation in female rats, the animals were transported to the laboratory. Under anesthesia and sterile condition, embryos were removed from the uterus. The meninges were separated by use of a stereoscope and the cortices of the embryos were dissected in HBSS buffer. Then the cortices were cut into small pieces and cultured in DMEM-F12 medium containing bFGF, EGF and B-27 supplement. The medium changed every day to keep the cells in an undifferentiated and proliferative state. DFN medium [DMEM-F12 and supplements N2] without growth factors was used for induction of differentiation. Immunocytochemical technique was used for confirmation of stem cells and detection of various neural cell types. Immunocytochemical evaluation revealed that, these cells were neural stem cells [nestin positive] and had the potential to differentiate in to the neuronal [expression of Beta tubulin III], oligodendrocyte [expression of OSP marker] or astrocyte [expression of GFAP marker]. This is a reliable method for isolation of embryonic neural stem cells and considering their embryonic origin; they can be used to investigate the effect of various agents on the process of CNS development. Also they might be effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative lesions

[ effect of nicorandil and glibenclamide on morphine-induced tolerance to the analgesic effect]

Long-term use of opiates induces tolerance to the analgesic effect. Despite significant investigations, the precise cellular mechanisms underlying opioid tolerance is not clear. Many studies have revealed the key role of nitric oxide in the morphin-induced tolerance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nicorandil [a nitric oxide donor and ATP sensitive potassium channel opener] and glibenclamide [an ATP sensitive potassium channel blocker] on morphine-induced tolerance. In this study male mice weighting [20-30g] were randomly placed into groups of 8, and received different therapeutic regimens for 5 days. Different groups received either morphine [50mg/kg, i.p]+normal saline [10ml/kg, i.p], or morphine [50mg/kg, i.p]+nicorandil [2.5, 5, 10mg/kg, i.p] or morphine [50mg/kg, i.p]+glibanclamide [5, 10, 15mg/kg, i.p] every day. Nociception was assessed using a hotplate apparatus on the 6th day. The nociceptive effect was recorded when the animal licked its hind paw or jumped due to the heat effect. Our results showed that tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine significantly increased in the group which received morphine+nicorandil [5, 10mg/kg, i.p], [p<0.05], while in morphine+glibenclamide group, tolerance significantly reduced [p<0.05]. The results of this study indicated that intraperitoneal injection of nicorandil increased tolerance to the analgesic effects of morphine while glibenclamide decreased tolerance. The above effect seems to be related to the role of nitric oxide [NO] and ATPsensitive potassium channel in this phenomenon

[Evaluation of the effect of intra cerebroventricular administration of CCPA on reduction of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine in rat]

Continuous or long term use of opiate drugs may cause tolerance to the analgesic effect of these drugs, which limits the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs. In this study we evaluated the effects of central administration of 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine [CCPA], a selective A1 receptor agonist, on morphine-induced tolerance in rats. Different groups of rats received daily intracerebroventricular [ICV] morphine [10 mg/kg, ip] in combination with saline 5 micro l/rat, or intracerebroventricular [icv] CCPA [20, 40, 80 micro g/5 micro l/rat]. Nociception was assessed by use of a hotplate apparatus [55 +/- 0.5°C]. Using a hot-plate device, the pain inducing effect was recorded when the rat licked its hind paw or jumped. Results showed that different doses of CCPA [20, 40, 80 micro g/5 micro l/rat, icv] delayed the tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine for 4, 8, and 10 days respectively. In addition, our results showed that CCPA increased the total analgesic effect of morphine. We found that intracerebroventricular administration of CCPA, A1 selective agonists, prevented morphine-induced tolerance to the analgesic effect in rat

[Effect of methanolic and n-hexanic extracts of allium porrum L. on some human coagulation tests in vitro]

Allium porrum L. is a plant from the Liliaceae family and has been used in Iranian foods as flavor. It has been used in traditional medicine in different ways. In the western parts of Iran, people believe that the fresh Allium juice can inhibit epistaxis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of methanolic and n-hexanic extracts of Allium porrum L. on coagulation tests in human beings in vitro. The methanolic and n-hexanic extracts of Allium porrum L. were prepared using continuous extraction method. Effect of different concentrations of extracts on prothrombin time [PT], partial thromboplastin time [PTT] and clotting time [CT] was evaluated. The result was analyzed by analysis of variance. The results of the present study showed that the methanolic extract of Allium porrum increased PT and PTT but failed to change the clotting time. In the presence of N-hexanic extract, clotting time increased but PT decreased. The results of this study indicated that Allium porrum extracts had a significant anti-coagulatory effect. However, some of the findings of this study are controversial, and further studies on animal models are needed in order to clarify the possible mechanisms

[Decrease in glutamate level in cerebral cortex and lumbar region of spinal cord of rat: a potential mechanism for minocycline in attenuating morphine-induced tolerance]

Chronic opiate administration induces tolerance to the analgesic effect. Despite extensive investigations in this ground, the precise cellular mechanisms underlying opioid tolerance and dependence remain controversial. Several studies have indicated that glutamatergic transmission and nitric oxide/ Nmethyl D-aspartate [NMDA] pathway could play an important role in morphineinduced tolerance. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intracerebro- ventricular [ICV] administration of minocycline [a second-generation tetracycline] on morphine-induced tolerance and elevation of glutamate level in cerebral cortex and lumbar region of spinal cord of rats after administration of morphine. Different groups of rats received either morphine [IP] and distilled water [ICV] or morphine [IP] and different doses of minocycline [ICV] or minocycline alone once per day. Nociception was assessed using a hot plate apparatus. The glutamate concentration in both regions was measured with a high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] apparatus. The results indicated that ICV administration of minocycline with doses of 60, 120, 240 micro g/10micro l/rat attenuated the morphine-induced tolerance and decreased glutamate level in the cerebral cortex. But glutamate level in the lumbar spinal cord decreased after administration of minocycline with doses of 120, 240 micro g/10micro l/rat. We found that central administration of minocycline attenuated morphine-induced increase of glutamate level in the cortex and lumbar spinal cord of rats which can be regarded as a possible mechanism for effect of minocycline on morphine-induced tolerance

[ case report of squamous cell carcinoma of scrotum]

Squamous cell carcinoma of scrotum is a rare disease. Risk factors are occupational contacts, low health conditions, psoriasis, treatment with PUAV, and HPV [human papilloma viruses]. In this paper a non occupational case is presented witch is not associated with other known risk factors. The patient is a 50 years man which was referred from dermatology clinic with a exophytic cutaneous lesion without any lymphatic or other organ involvement. The lesion was exissed completely .The pathologic report was well differentiated squamous cell arcinoma. In two years follow-up the patient has no complication and is disease free