Improvement of quality attributes of sponge cake using infrared dried button mushroom.

Infrared-hot air method, when properly applied, can be used for achieving a high-quality product. The objective of this study was to determine the rheological properties of cake batters and physico-chemical, textural and sensory properties of sponge cake supplemented with four different levels (control, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 %) of button mushroom powder. The button mushroom slices were dried in an infrared-hot air dryer (250 W and 60 °C). The physical (volume, density, color) and chemical (moisture, protein, fat and ash) attributes were determined in the cakes. Increasing the level of substitution from 5 % to 15 % button mushroom powder significantly (p < 0.05) increased the protein and ash. The apparent viscosity in cake batter, and volume, springiness, and cohesiveness values of baked cakes increased with increasing button mushroom powder levels whereas the density, consistency, hardness, gumminess, chewiness and crumb L, b values of samples showed a reverse trend. Sensory evaluation results indicated that cake with 10 % button mushroom powder was rated the most acceptable.

Interaction between dorsal hippocampal NMDA receptors and lithium on spatial learning consolidation in rats.

Previous investigations have shown that NMDA receptors play an important role in learning and memory process. Lithium is a primary drug for management and prophylaxis of bipolar disorder. It can regulate signal transduction pathways in several regions of the brain and alter the function of several neurotransmitter systems involved in memory processes. The present study aimed to test the interaction of NMDA glutamatergic system of the CA1 region of dorsal hippocampus and lithium on spatial learning. Spatial memory was assessed in Morris water maze task by a single training session of eight trials followed by a probe trial and visible test 24h later. All drugs were injected into CA1 regions, 5min after training. Our data indicated that post- training administration of lithium (20µg/rat, intra-CA1) significantly impaired memory consolidation. Intra- CA1administration of NMDA, a glutamate receptor agonist (0.001 and 0.01µg/rat) showed spatial learning facilitation. Infusion of D-AP5, a glutamate receptor antagonist (0.05 and 0.1µg/rat) showed impairment of spatial memory. Our data also indicated that post- training administration of ineffective dose of NMDA (0.0001µg/rat) significantly decreased amnesia induced by lithium in spatial memory consolidation. In addition, post-training intra-CA1 injection of ineffective dose of D-AP5 (0.01µg/rat) could significantly increase lithium induced amnesia. It seems probable that signaling cascades of NMDA receptors that regulates synaptic plasticity are targets of anti-manic agents such as lithium. Our results suggest that NMDA receptors of the dorsal hippocampus may be involved in lithium-induced spatial learning impairment in the MWM task.

Repeated pretreatment of morphine prevents morphine-induced amnesia: A possible involvement for dorsal hippocampal NMDA receptors.

BACKGROUND: Learning and memory processes can be affected by morphine administration. It has been previously demonstrated that the effects of morphine depend on the timing of drug administration. In the present study, the effects of microinjections of a NMDA receptor agonist and antagonist into the CA1 regions of the dorsal hippocampi (intra-CA1) on repeated pretreatment of morphine-induced prevention of morphine-induced amnesia have been investigated. METHODS: Step-through inhibitory avoidance task of memory has been used to examine retrieval of memory formation, 24 h after training in male Wistar rats. RESULTS: The results indicate that post-training administration of morphine (7.5 mg/kg) impaired memory retrieval, but not in the animals, which received previous repeated morphine (7.5 and 10 mg/kg) injections followed by morphine withdrawal. Repeated co-administration of NMDA (7.5 and 10 ng/rat, intra-CA1) with an ineffective dose of morphine (5 mg/kg), once daily for three days reversed morphine-induced amnesia. Repeated bilateral intra-CA1 microinjections of NMDA, once daily for three days followed by a five-day washout had no effect on the expression of amnesia produced by post-training morphine. Three-day administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, D-AP5 (0.5 - 2 µg/rat, intra-CA1) followed by a five-day washout had no effect on morphine-induced amnesia. On the other hand, intra-CA1 microinjections of the same doses of D-AP5 prior to injection of 7.5 mg/kg of morphine (per day×3 days) decreased the reversal of morphine-induced amnesia. CONCLUSION: These data imply that the dorsal hippocampal NMDA receptor mechanism(s) may modulate the effect-induced by repeated morphine administration on a challenge dose of morphine-induced amnesia.

The effects of dopaminergic drugs in the ventral hippocampus of rats in the nicotine-induced anxiogenic-like response.

Nicotine an active alkaloid of tobacco has dopaminergic properties. The drug alters anxiety-like behavior in rodents. Ventral hippocampus (VHC) may be a site for modulation of anxiety-like behaviors. The possible involvement of ventral hippocampal dopaminergic receptor mechanism in the nicotine influence on anxiogenic-like response has been investigated in the present study. The effects of apomorphine, sulpiride and SCH23390 on nicotine response in elevated plus maze in rats have been investigated. Intraperitoneal administration of nicotine (0.6mg/kg) decreased percentage of open arm time (%OAT) but not percentage of open arm entries (%OAE) and locomotor activity, indicating an anxiogenic-like response. Intra-hippocampal injection (intra-VHC) of apomorphine, a D(1)/D(2) dopamine receptor agonist (0.1 and 0.2microg/rat) also caused anxiogenic-like effects, but the drug blocked that of nicotine. Intra-VHC administration of the D(2) receptor antagonist, sulpiride (1, 2.5 and 5microg/rat) or the D(1) receptor antagonist, SCH23390 (0.01, 0.1 and 1microg/rat) did not elicit any response. However, pretreatment with sulpiride (1microg/rat) or SCH23390 (0.1microg/rat) decreased nicotine's effect. The results may indicate a modulatory effect for the D(1) and D(2) dopamine receptors of VHC in the anxiogenic-like response induced by nicotine.