scholarly journals Changes in Hippocampal Androgen Receptor Density and Behavior in Sprague-Dawley Male Rats Exposed to a Low-Pressure Blast Wave

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-145
Author(s):  
Jay R. Hoffman ◽  
Amitai Zuckerman ◽  
Omri Ram ◽  
Oren Sadot ◽  
Hagit Cohen

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exposure of a low-intensity blast wave on androgen receptor (AR) density in the hippocampus and the potential influence on behavioral and cognitive responses. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either a blast exposed group (n = 27) or an unexposed (control) group (n = 10). Animals were treated identically, except that rats within the control group were not exposed to any of the characteristics of the blast wave. Behavior measures were conducted on day seven post-exposure. The rats were initially assessed in the elevated plus maze followed by the acoustic startle response paradigm. Spatial memory performance using the Morris water-maze test was assessed at 8-days post-exposure, for seven consecutive days. Following all behavioral tests AR immunofluorescence staining was performed in different hippocampal subregions. Results: A significant elevation in anxiety index (p < 0.001) and impaired learning (p < 0.015) and spatial memory (p < 0.0015) were noted in exposed rats. In addition, a significant attenuation of the AR was noted in the CA1 (p = 0.006) and dentate gyrus (p = 0.031) subregions of the hippocampus in blast exposed animals. Correlational analyses revealed significant associations between AR and both anxiety index (r = –.36, p = 0.031) and memory (r = –0.38, p = 0.019). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that exposure to a low-pressure blast wave resulted in a decrease in AR density, which was associated with significant behavioral and cognitive changes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 524-539
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Heidari Soureshjani ◽  
◽  
Majid Kheirollahi ◽  
Parichehreh Yaghmaei ◽  
Fattah Sotoodehnejadnematalahi ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: Alzheimerchr('39')s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disease that gradually destroys memory and cognitive skills. The disease is caused by the formation of beta-amyloid plaques, oxidative stress, dysfunctions in the cholinergic system, neuronal killing inflammation, and ultimately brain atrophy. Donepezil and hyoscyamoside have inhibitory effects on these pathogens; therefore, their impact on the learning process of Alzheimer’s rats in the Morris Water Maze was investigated. Methods & Materials: In the present experimental study, 60 male rats of Wistar breed with approximately 7 weeks age within the control group (rats that received normal water and food), the PBS group (underwent surgery), PBS group (received solvent Aβ), the first Alzheimer›s group (animals that received beta-amyloid by Alzheimer’s surgery, second Alzheimer’s group (after Alzheimer’s surgery, they received 1 cc of normal saline daily, and treatment groups that treated the rats with beta-amyloid after Alzheimer. In the hyoscyamoside group, they received 10 mg/kg daily of hyoscyamoside for 28 days. The donepezil group received it 4 mg/kg daily for 28 days by gavage. The Morris Water Maze test was used to evaluate learning and memory. Data were analyzed by ANOVA statistical analysis and Post Hoc test. Ethical Considerations: The Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch approved the research (Code: IR.IAU.SRB.REC 1397.057) Results: Beta-amyloid injection caused extensive damage to memory. The treatment groups with hyoscyamoside and donepezil spent less time and distance with a significant level (P<0.001) than the group of Alzheimer’s patients to find the hidden platform. In the reminder phase, where the previously hidden platform was located, they spent more time, with a significant level (P<0.001) in the local quarter. Conclusion: Treatment of rats with hyoscyamoside and donepezil improved spatial memory in Alzheimer’s rats. They appear to play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1569
Author(s):  
Tomislav Šušnjar ◽  
Ivana Kuzmić Prusac ◽  
Ivan Švagelj ◽  
Anđela Jurišić ◽  
Tomislav Šušnjar ◽  
...  

Background: The aim of this study was to compare consequences in single and triple testicular biopsy by biopty gun in pubertal rats using histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were used as the experimental model. The rats were randomly divided into three study groups. The rats from the first group (n = 12) received a single-biopsy of upper pole of the left testis, while the rats from the second group (n = 10) received triple-biopsy of upper and lower poles and lateral surface of left testis. The third group (n = 10) was a control group. On the eightieth day after the biopsy in all rats bilateral orchiectomy and funiculectomy were performed to obtain testicular tissue and sperm for analysis. The consequences of the puncture were observed by pathohistology, immunohistochemistry and semen analysis. Results: The results of the study showed lower percentage of sperm count (14.5 mill/mL vs. 16 mill/mL, p = 0.130), sperm motility (24.6% vs. 32.7%, p > 0.05), abnormal sperm (30% vs. 27%, p > 0.05), atrophic tubules (21% vs. 6%, p < 0.001), volume (1.7 mL vs. 2.28 mL, p < 0.01) and apoptotic index (1.56 vs. 1.19, p = 0.650) in the testes with a triple-biopsy compared to the testes with a single-biopsy. Semen analysis showed a borderline significant difference between the group with triple-biopsy where sperm count was lower than it in the control group (14.5 mill/mL vs. 17.5 mill/mL, p = 0.05). A single-biopsy has little effect on the testis, especially on overall fertility. A triple-biopsy showed higher degree of the testicular damage but without a significant impact on overall fertility. Semen analysis showed that single- and triple-biopsies did not have a significant effect on sperm count, motility and morphology. Conclusion: Biopty gun procedure is a cheap, simple and reliable method for testicular biopsy in rats without a significant effect on sperm count, motility and morphology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-303
Author(s):  
Eni Widayati ◽  
Taufiqurrachman Nasihun ◽  
Azizah Hikma Savitri ◽  
Nurina Tyagita

Objective: The effect of Pimpinela alpina Molk (PaM) on decrease in Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression in liver cells apoptosis have been proven. However, the difference result between 7 and 15 days treatment duration of PaM need to be confirmed. This study aimed to confirm that treatment of PaM during 15 days is more effective decreasing Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression in liver cells following UVB irradiation. Methods: In the post test only control group design, 35 Sprague Dawley male rats, 300 gram body weight were divided into two arms, consisting of three groups respectively. First arm comprise Neg-7, PaM7-100, and PaM7-150. Second arm comprise Neg-15, PaM15-100, and PaM15-150. Nor-G was added as normal control neither exposed to UVB nor PaM treatment. In negative group was only radiated to UVB and PaM groups were exposed to UVB and treatment with 100, and 150 mg PaM per oral for 7 and 15 days respectively. At day 8 (first arm) and 16 (second arm), liver organ was taken and Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression assessed by Immunohistochemical staining method. Result: Post Hoc LSD analysis indicated that Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression in PaM15-100 and PaM15-150 was significant lower compared to that of Nor-G, PaM7-100, and PaM7-150, p < 0.05. Conclusion: Ttreatment of PaM with doses 100 and 150 mg for 15 days was better in decreasing Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression of liver cells following UVB irradiation. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(2) 2020 p.296-303


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Masoud Hosseinzadeh ◽  
Amir Alizadeh ◽  
Parnian Heydari ◽  
Marzieh Kafami ◽  
Mahmoud Hosseini ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Neurotoxicity is an adverse effect caused by cisplatin due to inflammation and oxidative stress in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to assess the effects of vitamin E injection on the learning and memory of rats with cisplatin-induced cognitive impairment. Methods: Male rats were administered with cisplatin (2 mg/kg/7 day; intraperitoneally [i i.p.]) and/or vitamin E (200 mg/kg/7 day; i.p.) for 1 week, and the control group received saline solution. Spatial memory was evaluated using Morris water maze (MWM). In addition, the hippocampal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured using biochemical methods. Results: According to the findings, cisplatin significantly increased the escape latency, while decreasing the time spent and travelled pathway in the target quadrant on the final trial day compared to the control group. Furthermore, pre-treatment with vitamin E significantly reversed all the results in the spatial memory test. The biochemical data indicated that vitamin E could decrease MDA activity and increase thiol and SOD activity compared to the control group. Conclusion: According to the results, vitamin E could improve cisplatin-induced memory impairment possibly through affecting the hippocampal oxidative status.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
I. C. Chukwudi ◽  
O. C. Omemgboji ◽  
B. M. Anene

This study investigated the efficacy of different chemotherapeutic regimes in the treatment of rats experimentally infected with diminazene aceturate-resistant strain Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Thirty Sprague Dawley male rats used for the study were randomly assigned to six groups of five rats eachas follows: group A-uninfected untreated (negative control), group B-infected and untreated (positive control), groups C-F were infected and treated with 1.0 mg/kg isometamidum chloride, administered intramuscularly on day 11 post-infection. However, rats in groups D, E and F received further treatments with 700 mg/kg sodium-ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid, 0.4 mg/kg verapamil and 3 mg/kg chlorpromazine, respectively, administered orally for four days. Clearance of parasite post-treatment (PT), mortality PT, relapse parasitaemia post-clearance, body weight change, rectal temperature, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (HB) concentration and red blood cell count (RBC) were determined during the experiment. Result showed parasite clearance PT of 100% in groups D and E, 80% in group F and 20% in group C by 24 hours PT. The infection relapsed on day 35 PT in 40% of rats in group C, on day 37 PT in 20% of rats in group F and lastly 20% of rats in groups D and E on day 39 PT. Rats that received drug combination showed marginal improvement in erythrocytic parameters analysed when compared with those treatment with isometamidium alone. Combination therapy showed faster clearance of parasite from the blood and also prolonged relapse post-clearance, thus had a better promising efficacy when compared to using isometamiduim chloride alone.


2020 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Kheradmandpour ◽  
Seyed Abolfazl Aminifar ◽  
Mahin Dianat

: Ocimum basilicum (OB) contains more than 30 plant species that are found in different regions, especially in Africa. OB contains various substances, especially Chavikol, Methyl Ether or Strangol, Linalool, and Agenol, which have antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and anti-lipid properties. On the other hand, along with lifestyle changes, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmias, which cause high mortality, is increasing. Moreover, the modern drugs used for arrhythmia can also induce another type of abnormal heart rhythm. Regarding the effectiveness and fewer side effects of herbal medicine, we decided to study the preventive effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of OB on CaCl2-induced arrhythmias in rats. Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into the control group (2 weeks, normal saline, gavage) and three groups receiving different concentrations of hydro-alcoholic extract of OB (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, gavage for 2 weeks). The arrhythmia model was established using CaCl2 (IV, 140 mg/kg). The number of ventricular fibrillation (VF), ventricular premature (PVC), and ventricular tachycardia (VT) were studied. Also, the oxidative stress parameters, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were measured in heart tissue samples. Statistical analysis was done using Fisher's exact test and ANOVA, and also, P < 0.05 was considered as a significant level. The obtained results showed that administration of OB caused a decrease in MDA and an increase in SOD levels, which were associated with improved electrocardiogram parameters and reduced cardiac arrhythmias, which suggests the therapeutic potential of the plant in cardiovascular disorders.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Cahyani Ratna Sari ◽  
Mawaddah Ar Rochmah

<p>Centella asiatica is considered herbal plant for increasing memory performance. Brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF) has a significant role in memory formation process, while stress causes memory impairment. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts of Centella asiatica leaf on serum BDNF concentration of rats that was taken serially before and after chronic electrical stress. Materials and Methods : Twenty male rats (Sprague Dawley) were divided into four groups: control/aquades group and groups treated with different doses (mg/kg) of Centella asiatica :150 (CA150), 300 (CA300) and 600 (CA600). Each rat underwent memory exercise for nine days before and after electrical stress and oral administration of ethanol extracts of Centella asiatica for twenty-eight days. Blood sampling was taken serially from rats’ tail for four times : (1) before memory exercise, (2) after memory exercise (before stress), (3) after chronic stress, and (4) after memory exercise (following chronic stress). Concentration of serum BDNF was assessed using ELISA. Results: There was no significant difference in serum BDNF concentration between groups in first and second serum sampling, which was prior to chronic stress and administration of different treatments. However, there was significant difference in third and fourth serum sampling between groups. Mean concentration of serum BDNF (ng/ml) in third and fourth sampling for control group, CA150, CA300, and CA600, respectively were 1.88+0.21 &amp;1.93+0.24; 2.29+0.13 &amp; 2.01+0.22; 2.29+0.08 &amp;1.86+0.11; 2.71+0.70 and 2.99+0.27 (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Ethanol extracts of Centella asiatica leaf increases serum BDNF concentration in rats after chronic stress. <br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: stress, memory, Centella asiatica, BDNF</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1219-1225
Author(s):  
Farah Dayana Rosli ◽  
Noor Hashida Hashim ◽  
Yusmin Mohd Yusuf ◽  
Khairul Osman ◽  
Siti Fatimah Ibrahim ◽  
...  

Purpose: To assess the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on the integrity of sperm DNA in nicotineinduced sperm impairment in rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into four equal groups: control group received normal saline orally for 60 days; nicotine group was subcutaneously injected with 5 mg/kg/day nicotine for 30 days and then given normal saline for the next 30 days; TQ group was given normal saline for 30 days followed by TQ at 5 mg/kg/day for 30 days; and nicotine-TQ group received 5 mg/kg of nicotine for 30 days and 5mg/kg of TQ for another 30 days. Sperm DNA breakages were evaluated using Comet assay. The expression levels of protamine 1 (PT1) and transition nuclear protein 2 (Tnp2) genes which are essential for the proper compaction of the sperm DNA were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: Thymoquinone significantly decreased DNA fragmentation in the sperm of nicotine-treated rats. However, there was no change in PT1 gene expression. Tnp2 was downregulated in the nicotine group and slightly upregulated in nicotine-TQ group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrate the potential benefits of TQ in improving sperm DNA quality of nicotine-induced male infertility.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahad Shafiei Bafti ◽  
Amir Hossein Haghighi ◽  
Roya Askari ◽  
Alireza Keyhani ◽  
Mahla sadat Nabavi Zadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract Methamphetamine (METH) can cause neurotoxicity and increase the risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. This study aimed to investigate the effect of moderate-intensity interval training (MIT) on gene expression and antioxidant status of the hippocampus of METH-dependent rats. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups (n=7): saline, METH, MIT, and METH+MIT. METH was injected intraperitoneally at 5 mg/kg for 21 days. The MIT (intermittent running) was performed on the treadmill 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Morris Water Maze test was performed to measure learning and memory. Then, the hippocampal tissue was extracted to evaluate changes in gene expression and biochemical enzymes. The data were analyzed using one-way and two-way ANOVA methods at P<0.05. The results showed that METH injection significantly reduced spatial memory and antioxidant enzymes and increased the expression of α-synuclein (α-syn), cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), tau and phosphorylated tau (p-Tau) genes compared to the saline group. MIT significantly increased spatial memory and antioxidant enzymes. However, it reduced α-syn, CDK5, tau and p-tau expression. Thus, METH caused neural damage, and MIT could protect the neural system against METH-induced insults in male rats.


Author(s):  
Subramani Parasuraman ◽  
Brenda Ngu Yen Qin ◽  
Lam Chew Hui ◽  
James Yu Kar Beng

Abstract Background Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) acts as an antioxidant by preventing oxidative stress. The effect of EGCG on aluminum-induced testicular injury is not clear. Hence, the present study is planned to investigate the effect of EGCG on aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced changes in behavior, biochemical parameters, and spermatogenesis in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into six groups with six animals each. All the animals were administered with respective assigned treatment once daily for 28 days. The animals in groups I to VI were administered with drug vehicle, AlCl3, vitamin C, EGCG, vitamin C, and EGCG, respectively. The animals in groups V and VI were additionally challenged with AlCl3 (10 mg/kg) immediately after vitamin C and EGCG administration, respectively. Changes in behavior were measured on day 1, 14 and 28. At the end of the study, the blood sample was collected from all the animals, and the serum was separated and used for biochemical analysis. Later, the rats were subjected to bilateral orchiectomy; sperm was collected from the cauda epididymis for microscopic examination. Then, the animals were sacrificed, and the organs such as the brain, lungs, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, and testis were collected for organ weight analysis. Results The animal administered with AlCl3 showed a reduction in locomotor activity, grip strength, and escape latency time whereas vitamin C prevented the effect of AlCl3. But, EGCG did not show any significant changes in AlCl3-induced behavioral and biochemical changes. At the end of the study, vitamin C prevented AlCl3-induced behavioral and biochemical changes. The group of animals administered with AlCl3 showed a reduction in the number of spermatozoa whereas AlCl3 + vitamin C and AlCl3 + EGCG did not show any significant changes in the number of spermatozoa when compared to the control group. Conclusion EGCG prevented AlCl3-induced reduction in epididymal sperm count of male rats and did not show any significant effect on AlCl3-induced changes in behavior and biochemical parameters, whereas vitamin C had an ameliorative effect on AlCl3-induced changes in behavior, biochemical parameter, and spermatogenesis. Graphical abstract


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document