Effect of Oat (Avena Sativa L.) Extract on Experimental Sciatic Nerve Injury in Rats.

Peripheral nerve disorders are the most common neurological problems; therefore, it is important to intervene to treat or stop the resulting side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oat extract on experimental sciatic nerve injury in rats. Totally, 50 adult male rats were divided into five groups (n=10). Group 1 was exposed to sham condition, and group 2 was regarded as the control group (nerve injury without treatment). Moreover, groups 3-5 were subjected to sciatic nerve injury, and they received oral gavages of the oat extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), respectively. Subsequently, 2 and 4 weeks later, the rats were euthanized for pathological evaluation of nerve repair. The results showed an increase in the formation of the perineurium and epineurium dose in the oat-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), compared to the control group after 2 weeks (P<0.05). Furthermore, the presence of inflammatory cells in the oat extract-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) decreased, compared to that in the control group after 2 weeks (P<0.05). In addition, the swelling of the axon significantly decreased in the oat extract-treated groups (200 and 400 mg/kg), compared to the control group (P<0.05). However, the axon dose-dependently increased in oat-treated groups (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), compared to that in the control group after 4 weeks (P<0.05). These results suggest that oat extract has positive effects on sciatic nerve repair in rats.

Investigation of the Effects of Spinal Dexamethasone Injection as a Premedication in Rabbit Anesthesia.

Anesthesia and analgesia are important in human and veterinary medicine, especially in surgical procedures. Rodents, avians, and exotic species are required to be anesthetized using an appropriate anesthetic regimen. This study aimed to suggest a new anesthetic drug and method in order to facilitate anesthesia as well as analgesia among rabbits, laboratory animals, and humans. Spinal injection of dexamethasone combined with intramuscular ketamine among rabbits can play the role of premedication agents. A total of 24 healthy white adult rabbits from New-Zealand were equally assigned into four groups. Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were subjected to spinal xylazine (5mg/kg) with ketamine (35mg/kg,IM), spinal dexamethasone (0.37mg/kg-four times diluted) with ketamine (35mg/kg,IM), dexamethasone (4mg/kg,IM) with ketamine (35mg/kg,IM), and spinal dexamethasone (0.37mg/kg-four times diluted), respectively. The results showed that there was a significant difference in terms of clinical reflexes recorded for group 2, compared to groups 1 and 3. A significant difference was also observed regarding clinical reflexes between group 2 and the other groups. Furthermore, no abnormality was observed in terms of histological sections within groups 2 and 4. Spinal dexamethasone can be used as a premedication combined with ketamine in rabbit anesthesia.

Effect of local irradiation with 630 and 860 nm low-level lasers on tympanic membrane perforation repair in guinea pigs.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the effect of low-level lasers on the healing of tympanic membrane perforation, one of the most common otological pathologies. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-four guinea pigs were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. One day after the induction of a 2 mm diameter, centred myringotomy in all animals, the tympanic membranes in the experimental group were irradiated with 630 and 860 nm lasers for 10 days. Two weeks later, histological changes in the membranes were evaluated. RESULTS: Tympanic membrane thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration in the tympanic membranes and surrounding tissues were significantly less in the experimental group (p < 0.001). The distance from the external auditory canal wall to the malleus tip did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.42). CONCLUSION: The results show that the combined application of 630 and 860 nm lasers had a significant effect on the healing of tympanic membrane perforation, and on the prevention of thick fibrotic or atelectatic neomembrane formation.