نشریه ارمغان دانش
سال بیستم شماره 9 (پیاپی 104، آذر 1394)

Oxidative stress is a result of the imbalance between free radicals and the antioxidant system of the body. Increased oxidative stress in brain causes dysfunction of brain activities, destruction of neurons, and disease such as Alzheimer. Antioxidants, for example vitamins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids have been extensively investigated as potential therapeutic agents in vitro and in vivo for prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present experimental study, the neuro-protective effect of quince leaf hydroalcoholic extract (QLHE) on intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (icv-STZ)-induced oxidative stress in cortical tissue of rat brain was examined. In the present experimental research, forty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, sham, icv-STZ and icv-STZ treated with QLHE groups. The ICV-STZ group rats were injected unilaterally with ICV-STZ (3 mg/kg) using a stereotactic device and QLHE (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg/day) were administered for 6 weeks starting from 3 weeks before of ICV-STZ injection. The rats were killed at the end of the study and their brain cortical tissue superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were measured. The assay of catalase and superoxide dismutase was performed by following the Genet method. The amount of protein was determined according to the Bradford method.The statistical analysis was performed using one way ANOVA. Data were expressed as mean±SD and P<0.05 was considered significant. The present study indicated that in the ICV-STZ group showed significant decrease (P<0.001) in enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase and catalase in the cortical tissue of the brain. Treatment of different doses of QLHE significantly increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity compared to icv-STZ group (P<0.001) in cortical tissue of the brain. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of quince leaf hydroalcoholic extract as a powerful antioxidant in preventing the oxidative damage by increasing the catalase and superoxide dismutase activity caused by ICV-STZ in cortical tissue of rat brain. Although further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of neuroprotective effect of quince leaf, the hydroalcoholic extract seems to partly exert their effects via increasing the antioxidant enzymes activities.

The photoreceptor layer is a main part of the retina. The Aloe Vera has antioxidant, antibacterial and antidiabetic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the ultrastructure of the photoreceptor layer of male rats under the effect of methanol intoxication and protective effects of Aloe Vera extract against the methanol toxicity. The present experimental study was conducted on 30 adult male Wistar rats in three groups of ten: as control, methanol intoxication, methanol intoxication receiving 400 mg/kg Aloe Vera extract for 30 days. Methanol intoxication was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4gr/kg of methanol for 30 days. At the end of experiment, the eyes were removed and retina was separated near the optic disc and immersed in gluteraldehyde 4%. The retinal tissue was rinsed with buffer and fixed in osmium tetroxide 1% and dehydrated through a graded alcohol series. Additionally, the tissues were placed in a mixture of propylene oxide and resin and embedded in pure resin. Semi thin and ultrathin sections prepared and studied by transmission electron and light microscopes. Using One Way ANOVA and Tukey test data were analyzed. The obtained results exposed the decrement of the pathological sign in Aloe Veramethanol group in comparison to methanol intoxication group. The outer segment loss, high vacuolization in inner segment and condense and pyknotic nuclei were seen in the methanol intoxication group. However, the moderate outer segment loss, light vacuolization in inner segment and condense nuclei were observed in the Aloe Vera-methanol group. Morphometric observations indicated that the thickness of photoreceptor layer decreased in the methanol intoxication group and little reduction in the Aloe Vera-methanol group was observed. The decrement of thickness in this group had significant difference with the control group. But the decrement of thickness of photoreceptor layer in the Aloe Vera-methanol group had no significant difference with the control group. These observations revealed that methanol caused injury in the photoreceptor layer and that Aloe Vera could improve the damage to the photoreceptor layer.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with some of the metabolic dysfunctions represented with chronic hyperglycemia. This disease can disrupt the function of testicular tissue and decline male sexual ability. Some of the medicinal herbs such as fenugreeks have protective effects on tissues via hypoglycemic and anti-oxidative properties. In the present paper, the effects of fenugreek seed extract was evaluated on testicular tissue of 20 day-old embryos from diabetic rats. In the present experimental study, sixty normal female rats were divided into three normal groups: non-diabetic control, glibenclamide and fenugreek groups and three diabetic groups: diabetic control, glibenclamide treatment and fenugreek treatment groups. Single injection of streptozotocin was used for induction of diabetes in these female rats. After detection of pregnancy, 1000 mg/kg fenugreek seed extract was fed to non-diabetic and diabetic fenugreek groups and 5 mg/kg glibenclamide was fed to non-diabetic and diabetic glibenclamide groups. Non-diabetic and diabetic control group was fed with distilled water as the same volume as the fenugreek extract. After 20 days, their embryos were pulled out and fixed at 10% formalin. After tissue processing, five micron sections were stained with Hematoxylin- eosin and evaluated for morphometric changes of testicular tissue. Data were evaluated with One-Way ANOVA test and Duncan post-hoc test. The mean diameter of seminiferous tubules and testis capsule thickness indicated no significant differences between fenugreek treatment and diabetic control groups (P> 0.05). Mean body weight of male embryos was significantly lower in fenugreek treatment group in comparison with the diabetic control group (P≤ 0.05). The leydig, sertoli and spermatogonial cells number was significantly higher in fenugreek treatment group in compression with diabetic control group (P≤ 0.05). The present study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds may increase leydig, sertoli and spermatogonial cells number in testis of diabetic rats.

Back ground & In the recent years, the increasing use of electronic devices which generate electromagnetic fields, focused researchers’ attention to investigate the electromagnetic fields effects on human health. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of prolonged exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF) on the adrenergic system in the small intestine of male rats. In the present experimental study, 21 Adult male rats (wistar) were divided into three groups: experimental group, which were exposed to ELF (50Hz, 1mT) for 75 days, the sham-operated group, which were kept in similar conditions exception Off solenoid; and the control group, which were kept in normal conditions. After 75 days, the rats were anesthetized by intra peritoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium (50 mg/k). Then, the ileum tissue was dissected and divided into 1 cm strips. The strips were placed in organ baths containing oxygenated, pH=7.4 Krebs solution. Furthermore, the mechanical activity of the tissue was recorded with force transducer of bridge amplifier which was linked to A-D Instrument power lab in response to Phenylephrine(4 ×10-6 M). Data was analyzed using one way ANOVA test. Relaxation changes of isolated ileum tissue was displayed in two ileum strips with same length and in the same animal, According to the obtained results, the ileum relaxation in exposure to ELF (experimental) compared to the control and sham groups significantly increased (p≤0.05). Accordingly, the relaxation changes of ileum in response to the phenylephrine at different times and after deducting the basic tension represented a significant increase (p≤0.05) of Ileum relaxation in the experimental group compared to the sham and control groups. It can be concluded that prolonged exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields may lead to increase of the α1-adrenergic receptors sensitivity.

Stroke is the third cause of mortality and the first cause of disability in the world. During ischemia, free radical production increases. Antioxidants can prevent oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Because Satureja hortensis contain antioxidant compounds, in this study we discussed the effect of Satureja hortensis on infarct volume and neurological defects. In the present experimental study, thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=7). The control group (receiving distilled water + induction ischemia), three experimental groups (receiving hydroalcholic extract of Satureja hortensis with doses of 50, 75 and 100mg/kg plus induction of ischemia) and the sham group (receiving distilled water + no induction of ischemia). The pretreatment was performed for 30 days, orally via gavage. Every day, animals were treated once and at 11-10 am. Ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed by Longa et al method. This model resulted local ischemic stroke for sixty minutes. The volume of tissue infracts analysis was done by Image Tool software and neurological deficits score analysis by behavioral evaluation in the studied groups. The corrected infract volumes were analyzed by SPSS version 18 software by LSD method and neurologic deficits analysis by Mann-Whitney U, and P<0.05 was considered significant. Obtained Data indicated that pretreatment of Satureja hortensis reduced the total volume of tissue infract in three groups receiving the extract with 50mg/kg (150.52±4.29), 75mg/kg (136.18±5.98) and 100mg/kg (106.83±5.22) doses compared to control (196.9±3.85) groups (p<0.001). Extracts reduced neurological deficit scores in the two groups receiving the doses 75(1.58±0.26) and 100mg/kg (1±0.31) of extracts, compared to the control (3.28±0.28) group (p=0.001). It appeared that Satureja hortensis due to the reduced volume of tissue damage and neurological disorders lead to the protective effect against stroke damage.

Nandrolone decanoate is one of the most drug Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). On the other hand, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) induce secretion of testosterone and increased androgen production. The main aim of this study investigated the effects of mentioned hormone on destructive effects of drug AAS in cells and tissues of male reproductive system. In the present laboratory-experimental study, male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of three. Treated groups received 10 mg/kg/weekly of Nandrolone (Nd) for eight weeks, hormone group (H) rats received 500 IU weekly (IM or intra muscular) of hCG for 8 weeks, Nandrolone plus hCG group (Nd – H) received Nandrolone solvent or peanut oil as a vehicle or sham (Sh) and Control (CO) without any injection. Sperm parameters such as motility, count and morphology were evaluated after 8 weeks by light microscopic. In addition, percentage of sperm viability was prepared using Eosin-nigrosin. Moreover, testes, Epydidim tail, prostate and seminal vesicle were weighted by laboratory scales. Statistical analysis was carried out by one-way ANOVA. The percentage of progressive motile sperm was decreased in Nd and Nd - H groups in comparison to the control and sham groups. The percentage of normal sperm morphology was not significantly decreased in treated groups compared to the control and sham groups. In addition, the results of sperm morphology indicated that a high percentage of abnormal sperm morphology (Tailless and Coil) was seen in the Nd experimental group. Additionally, the viability percentage was significantly decreased in the Nd group in comparison to the other groups. The testes weight was significantly decreased in the Nd group compared to the control and sham groups. The hCG had positive effects on the destructive effects of Nandrolone on sperm parameters of adult rats and decreased negative effects of Nandrolone.

As a communication technology, Wi-Fi allows electronic devices such as laptops to exchange data or connect to a network resource such as the Internet via a wireless network access point using 2.4 GHz microwave radiation. However, with the exponential development of wireless communication technology, the public concern regarding the safety of this technology has increased rapidly. The main goal of this study was to assess the bio effects of duration of exposure of an animal model to 2.4 GHz microwave radiation emitted from a common Wi-Fi router on sperm quality. In the present experimental study, 84 male Wistar rats were used. The mice were randomly divided based on the duration of exposure to microwave radiation and distance to the modem into seven groups of 12. Group II rats were exposed to 2.4 GHz microwave radiation for 2 hours per day in term of 7 days at a distance of 30 cm from the router. The rats in this group were allowed to live for 53 days then sacrificed and semen samples analyzed. Rats in all the groups except group II, were sacrificed 30 min to 1 hr.After exposure. To analyze the results, The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. The average sperm with normal morphology, testes weight and number of spermatogonial cells after exposure to microwave radiation decreased. With increasing exposure time and reduce the distance to the modem, testis weight and the number of spermatogonia cells significantly reduced. Beams of microwave radiation from Wi-Fi modems leads to sperm morphological changes and weight loss of testicular spermatogonia. With increasing exposure time and reduce the distance to the modem, testis weight and the number of spermatogonia cells significantly reduced.

Introduction and Tooth caries is the most prevalent infectious disease in children. The purpose of this study was to assess carries experience indexes and related factors among 7-12 year-old school children in Yasuj, Iran, in 2014. In the present Cross-sectional and analytical study, using a two-stage random sampling, 460 students from primary schools of Yasuj city and surrounding villages were selected. The children were clinically examined at their school by a professional calibrated dentistry team. Their demographic and socioeconomic status, mouth health behaviors and teeth carries status and consumed nutritional materials were gathered by a questioner and a dental chart. The data were analyzed using inferential statistical methods. The SPSS software version 22 was used to extract the outputs and α=0.05 was considered as the significant level. The dental caries prevalence of deciduous, permanent and total of two type of dents were 75.2, 41.1 and 89.8 percent, respectively and the dmft, DMFT and dmft+DMFT indexes were 3.57, 0.87, and 4.44, respectively.. The caries prevalence of permanent teeth and DMFT in girls were significantly higher than boys (p=0.046), but the caries prevalence in total of dents in boys was significantly higher than girls (p=0.32). Furthermore, the dental caries prevalence in permanent teeth and DMFT in children resident in rural areas were significantly higher than those in urban areas (p<0.0001). The DMFT had a direct association with the children’s age and the dmft + DMFT index had a significant adverse linear correlation with Body Mass Index (BMI) of children (p=0.004). Moreover, the output indicated that tooth caries experiences in children who used dental flossing was significantly lower (p=0.027). Correspondingly, in children who used tooth brushing, consumed dairy foods, whom their fathers being official employees and parents having higher education, dental caries prevalence was lower (p>0.1). Prevalence and severity score of dental caries among 7 - 12 year-old Yasuj students were higher than the WHO standards. The tooth caries experiences were more prevalent in boys and in children resident in rural areas, increased with age and decreased with BMI and less prevalent in children with higher family socioeconomic status. Tooth brushing and flossing and consuming dairy foods were protective agents in occurring tooth caries in primary school children in Yasuj, Iran.