Neuroprotective role of chrysin in attenuating loss of dopaminergic neurons and improving motor, learning and memory functions in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson disease (PD). Enhanced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons to apoptotic cellular death are the leading pathogenetic mechanisms. Chrysin is an active flavonoid. Its neuroprotective effects have been reported. This study examined the neuroprotective effects of chrysin in ameliorating the dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and motor behavioral changes in rotenone model of PD. METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into three groups: Control, rotenone-treated, and rotenone+chrysin treated groups. Rotenone was given at a dose of 3 mg/kg daily intraperitoneally, and chrysin was given at a dose of 50 mg/kg daily intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. Using five neurobehavioral assessment tests, evaluation was done weekly to record the motor behavioral changes. After 4 weeks, animals were sacrificed, brains were removed, and section from striatum and substantia nigra were stained using hematoxylin and eosin and cresyl violet stains. Immunohistochemical sections were also prepared using anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody. RESULTS: Rotenone-induced Parkinson like changes were evident from deteriorating motor behavior. These animals showed extensive loss of dopaminergic neurons, decreased immunoreactivity against anti-TH antibodies and number of TH positive dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal region. Chrysin treated animals showed a significant reduction in motor behavioral changes, degeneration and loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and increased immunoreactivity to anti-TH antibody. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that chrysin confers neuroprotection in rat model of PD. It attenuates the degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and motor behavioral abnormalities.

Neuroprotective potential of polydatin against motor abnormalities and dopaminergic neuronal loss in rotenone induced Parkinson model / Potencial neuroprotector de la polidatina contra las anomalías motoras y la pérdida neuronal dopaminérgica en un modelo de Parkinson inducido por la rotenona

Among the neurodegenerative disorders, Parkinson disease (PD) is ranked as second most common. The pathological hallmark is selective degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the nigro-striatal regions of brain with appearance of the Lewy bodies. Present study explores the neuro-protective potential of polydatin in terms of amelioration of degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in nigro-striatal regions of brain and distorted neuromotor behavior in the rotenone model of Parkinson's disease. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group A (control), Group B (rotenone treated) and Group C (rotenone+polydatin treated). Rotenone was administrated intraperitoneally (i.p) at a dose of 3 mg/kg/body weight while polydatin was given i.p. at a dose of 50 mg/ kg/body weight for four weeks. Then, animals were sacrificed; substantia nigra (SN) & striatum isolated from brain and five micron thick sections were prepared. Cresyl violet (CV), H&E and Immuno-histochemical staining using anti-TH antibody was done. Motor behavior was assessed weekly throughout the experiment using five different methods. Rotenone treated parkinsonian animals showed deterioration of motor behavior, weight loss, loss of dopaminergic neurons and diminished immune-reactivity in the sections from the nigrostriatal regions of these animals Polydatin+rotenone treatment showed contradicting effects to parkinsonism, with amelioration in weight loss, neuro-motor behavior, dopaminergic loss and immune-reactivity against dopaminergic neurons. Present study revealed a neuro-protective potential of polydatin in animal model of PD by ameliorating the neuro-motor abnormalities and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in nigrostriatal regions.

Entre los trastornos neurodegenerativos, la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) se clasifica como la segunda más común. El sello patológico es la degeneración selectiva de las neuronas dopaminérgicas en las regiones nigro-estriatales del cerebro, con la aparición de los cuerpos de Lewy. El presente estudio explora el potencial de protección neuronal de la polidatina en términos de la mejora de la degeneración de las neuronas dopaminérgicas en las regiones nigro-estriatales del cerebro y el comportamiento neuromotor distorsionado en el modelo de rotenona de la enfermedad de Parkinson. Treinta y seis ratas macho Sprague Dawley se dividieron en tres grupos: Grupo A (control), Grupo B (tratado con rotenona) y Grupo C (tratamiento con rotenona + polidatina). La rotenona se administró por vía intraperitoneal (i.p.) a una dosis de 3 mg/kg/peso corporal, mientras que la polidatina se administró i.p. a una dosis de 50 mg/kg/ peso corporal durante cuatro semanas. Posteriormente, los animales fueron sacrificados. Se aislaron la substantia nigra (SN) y cuerpo estriado de los cerebros y se realizaron secciones de cinco micras de espesor. Se realizó una tinción de violeta de cresilo (CV), H&E y tinción inmunohistoquímica usando anticuerpo anti-TH. El comportamiento motriz se evaluó semanalmente durante todo el experimento utilizando cinco métodos diferentes. Los animales parkinsonianos tratados con rotenona mostraron deterioro del comportamiento motriz, pérdida de peso, pérdida de neuronas dopaminérgicas y disminución de la reactividad inmune en las secciones de las regiones nigroestriadas. El tratamiento con polidatina + rotenona mostró efectos contrarios al parkinsonismo, con mejoría en la pérdida de peso, en el comportamiento motor, en la pérdida dopaminérgica y en la reactividad inmune contra las neuronas dopaminérgicas. El presente estudio reveló un potencial de protección neuronal de la polidatina en el modelo animal de la EP al mejorar las anomalías neuro-motoras y la degeneración de las neuronas dopaminérgicas en las regiones nigroestriatales.

Prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity amongst Saudi school children, a study done by using three noninvasive methods.

UNLABELLED: Obesity has become a global epidemic. It's level in the Middle Eastern and Asian countries have reached to an alarming level. Rapid transition of life style and urbanization has not only affected adults but also the younger population. OBJECTIVE: This study records the trends of prevalence of obesity and over weight in the school children of both genders of Al Qassim region by employing three different non-invasive methods and recorded their differences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on Saudi students of secondary and intermediate levels between 12-14 years of age. The total number of the students who participated in the study was 242, 129 males and 113 females. A self-administered pre-coded questionnaire was used. Body mass index, skin fold thickness and bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) readings were recorded. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 11. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Chi square test with a P value <0.05, was used to compare the prevalence rates. RESULTS: Prevalence of obesity and over-weight recorded were higher in the boys but the rates recorded by three methods have shown a wide variation. Several factors, such as change in dietary habits, socioeconomic status and the family history of obesity have shown association but physical inactivity and father's obesity were found significant contributory factors. There is an urgent need for intervention to prevent and control obesity and its consequences amongst children in Saudi Arabia.

Growth plate changes associated with Hypothyroidism amongst the pre and postnatal rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study is intended to examine the effect of hypothyroidism and thyroxin replacement on axial and appendicular skeletal growth, growth plate thickness and to observe associated microscopic changes within the growth plates. METHODOLOGY: Experimental albino rats were developed with carbimazole and carbimazole plus thyroxin. Animals were administered with these drugs throughout pregnancy (prenatally) and for a period of six weeks, postnatally. At the end of the experiment the animals were sacrificed, measured and processed to demonstrate the bony and cartilaginous parts. Ulna and tibia of both sides were removed and processed for light microscopy and growth plate measurement. RESULTS: At the end of the experiment, reduction in the crown rump length was observed in the carbimazole treated animals. It was 8.77%, 13.26% and 7.25% in the prenatal, two weeks and six weeks age group animals respectively. In carbimazole plus thyroxin treated animals, this reduction was 3.22%, 2.94% and 3.42%, when compared to their age matched controls. Reduction in the thickness of the Epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) was 16.89% and 12.80% in the ulna of the two and six weeks age group and 18.06 % and 15.65% in the tibia of the these animals respectively. The carbimazole plus thyroxin treated animals showed an increase in the thickness of EGP as compared to their age-matched controls though the crown rump length of these animals was less than the controls. Prenatally treated hypothyroid rats showed disrupted growth plates without any well-formed microscopic zones. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the pre and postnatally, carbimazole induced hypothyroidism and its replacement therapy affected the axial and appendicular skeletal growth. Proximal limb bones of the prenatally induced hypothyroid animals showed the greatest skeletal change in this study.

Ultra structural evidence of axonal regeneration following intracranial transection of optic nerve.

OBJECTIVE: The present work was aimed at studying the ultra structural changes of the proximal (retinal) stump of the intracranially transected optic nerve of the rat for any possible regenerative ability. METHODS: Specimens were collected one (1 wpo) and four weeks(4 wpo) after the transection and the cross sections of the stumps were studied by electron microscopy by dividing them into three zones, (1) the central zone, (2) the intermediate zone, and (3) the peripheral zone. RESULTS: The present results showed evident morphological changes in these zones both in the 1 wpo and 4 wpo groups. The signs of degeneration were more marked in the central zone than in the peripheral zone and they were more prominent in the 1 wpo group than in the 4 wpo group. The most prominent sign of the degeneration was loss or lack of the healthy myelinated axons. The main evidence of the regenerative ability was the reappearance of the apparently healthy myelinated axonal profiles, with a parallel decrease of the non myelinated ones. This regenerative feature was more prominent peripherally and might be an indication that ischemia was the cause of optic nerve degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: The present work revealed a clear morphological evidence of the regenerative capability of the intracranially transected optic nerve though it is considered as a part of the CNS.

Efeitos do óleo de Nim (Neem) na estrutura e função de ovários de ratas albinas adultas / Effect of Neem oil on the structure and function of the mature female albino rat ovaries

Objetivo: Esse estudo foi realizado para observar o efeito do tratamento com óleo de Nim sobre a fertilidade, a estrutura microscópica do ovário e as alterações associadas ao nível sérico dos hormônios reprodutivos em ratas albinas adultas. Métodos: Os animais foram divididos em grupos – Grupo A1: fêmeas tratadas com baixa dose (0,6 ml de óleo de Nim/animal); Grupo A2: fêmeas tratadas com alta dose (1,2 ml de óleo de Nim/animal); Grupo A3: controles para Grupo A1, receberam dose equivalente de óleo de amendoim; Grupo A4: controles para Grupo A2, receberam dose equivalente de óleo de amendoim. Os animais foram observados por seis semanas. No fim desse período, os animais foram anestesiados, o sangue coletado por punção cardíaca e, depois, sacrificados. Os ovários foram removidos e fixados em solução de formol a 10% para microscopia e em metanol, para cromatografia líquida de alto desempenho. Rresultados: À microscopia, os cortes dos ovários revelaram diminuição do número de folículos maduros. Alterações significativas nos níveis de hormônios reprodutivos e a presença de concentrações maiores dos componentes ativos do óleo de Nim nas gônadas entre as ratas tratadas, também foram demonstradas neste estudo. Cconclusões: Esses achados permitem concluir que o óleo de Nim tem potencial anticonceptivo dose-dependente em ratas albinas.