مجله زیست شناسی جانوری
سال دوازدهم شماره 1 (پاییز 1398)

The expression of the growth arrest specific 8 (GAS8) and its naturally occurring anti-sense RNA (GAS8-AS1) have been assessed in tumoral tissues of different origins. However, their association with immune-related disorders has been poorly understood. In the current study, we evaluated expression levels of these genes in 50 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients compared to the age and sex matched healthy controls. Expression assays were performed on peripheral blood samples of study participants. Total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed using blood samples. Then assay was performed using TaqMan (Real Time PCR) technique by designing specific primers and probes sequences. Expression of both genes was significantly higher compared to controls (P=0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively). The difference in GAS8 expression was also significant in total female patients and females aged less than 50 years compared to the corresponding controls (P=0.002 and 0.006 respectively). GAS8-AS1 expression was higher in male patients in both age-based subgroups compared to the corresponding healthy subjects (P<0.0001). Expression of both genes was inversely related to the age of male participants, but this relationship was observed in none of the subgroups. The current study shows the significance of GAS8 and GAS8-AS1 in the pathogenesis of MS and the putative role of GAS8-AS1 as a diagnostic biomarker in a subset of patients.

The effect of social stress on the occurrence of cardiovascular and mental diseases is obvious. In order to investigate the effect of these stresses on oxidative stress induction, and changes in the oxidant and antioxidant levels, the model for roommate change restriction and observation in the presence of curcuma longa antioxidant was designed A total of 60 Wister rats were kept under standard conditions of temperature, light, and water. In the under-stress groups, each rat was provided with one third of its common food. The roommate change stress and observation were applied to two groups of these rats. Two groups of rates were fed by the food contained curcuma longa. These rats kept under defined conditions for each group for 4 months i.e., roommate change, observation, curcuma longa; food restriction, observation, roommate change, curcuma longa; control; control, curcuma longa. After the rats' maintenance period was completed, they were anesthetized with ether and their kidney and brain tissues were homogenized. Each of the given factors i.e., malon-dialdehyde, glutathione, nitric oxide, cathepsin D and lipofuscin was measured in tissues. The malon-dialdehyde level increased significantly both in brain and kidney in under-stress group. The level of nitric oxide and glutathione increased in brain, but the activity of cathepsin D and lipofuscin accumulation remained unchanged. Also the amount of nitric oxide and glutathione remained the same. The brain is more sensitive to MDA formation, but the amount of glutathione and nitric oxide is higher. Thus social stress induced changes do not occur equally in kidney and brain tissues.

Isospora is a common intestinal parasite in ornamental birds, especially passeriformes. Isospora infection can induce enteritis and reduce digestibility and nutrient adsorption. In this study, a comparison was made between the efficiency of toltrazuril and sulfadiazine on reducing Isospora oocyte shedding in infected canaries. To this purpose, a total of 165 infected canaries in 48 cages were divided into 3 groups, including control group, infected and treated with toltrazuril group, and infected and treated with sulfadiazine group. The mean oocyte shedding in groups was compared statistically before and after treatment. Results showed there is no significant difference in the rate of Isospora oocyte shedding between canaries treated with toltrazuril and those treated with sulfadiazine. Therefore, in the current conditions of Iran, toltrazuril and sulfadiazine seem to be equally effective in controlling Isospora infection in canary.

Up-regulation of Activin-A levels in cancer patients affected by cachexia has been reported. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of four weeks continuous and interval exercise training on Activin-A levels in muscular tissue of breast cancer bearing female mice. A total of thirty-two 6-8-week-old female Balb/c mice were randomly assigned in four groups, including: control, tumor control, interval training + tumor and continuous training + tumor groups of 8. Interval and continuous exercise training program performed for four weeks, five sessions per week on rodent special treadmill. Forty eight hours after the last exercise session, gastrocnemius muscle tissue was removed and after it was homogenized, Activin A levels were measured using ELISA method in muscular tissue. Tumor volume was also measured with digital caliper and in order to analyze data, the one-way analysis of variance test and Tukey post-hock test were used. Results of the current study showed that Activin-A levels in muscular tissue of continuous training group were significantly lower than tumor control group (p = 0.026). However, no significant difference was found in Active-A levels between the tumor control group and interval training group (p = 0.105). Gastrocnemius muscle weight in healthy control group was significantly higher compared to tumor groups (p < 0.05) and continuous and interval exercise training did not lead to significant changes in gastrocnemius muscle weight (p > 0.05). Moreover, tumor volume in continuous and interval training group was significantly lower than tumor control group (p < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed between continuous and interval training groups (p = 0.681). According to the results current study, it could be argued that exercise training, at least in the short term (four weeks), cannot exert significant effects on muscular tissue of female mice with breast cancer.

Due to their lower complications than chemical compounds, herbal medicines have received attention from doctors. In this study, Internal Layer of  Persian Oak (Quercus persica), which is used in traditional medicine for chronic dermatologic disorders and eczema, was utilized to investigate cutaneous ulcer healing. Thirty adult male Wistar rats in 5 groups were treated while kept under normal laboratory conditions by creating a wound with dimensions of 1.5 × 1.5 cm2 and a depth of 2 mm in the back. The control group, the sham group, and the experimental groups consist of hydro-alcoholic extract of Internal Layer of Quercus persica at a dose of 250 mg / kg, hydro-alcoholic extract of Quercus persica at a dose of 500 mg / kg, and hydro-alcoholic extract of Quercus persica extract at a dose of 1000 mg / kg, respectively. Topical treatment of ulcers was performed in a 10-day interval every other day, and on the 6th, 8th and 10th days, tissue samples were prepared from the scars. After samples were washed, they were fixed in 10% formalin and hematoxylin-eosin staining of samples, epidermal thickness, wound healing percent, and collagen density were assessed and data were analyzed using SPSS software. In the experimental groups, there was a significant increase (at the level of p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) in the epidermal thickness and the wound healing percent, indicating the significant effect of Internal Layer of Iranian oak Jaft extract on the wound reconstruction, but no significant effect was observed on collagenization in this study Internal Layer of Iranian oak hydroalcoholic extract may have an effective role in accelerating skin wounds healing.

In this project, the effect of salvia officinalis extract coating in three treatments (at concentration of 1, 2, and 3%, respectively) was investigated on chemical and microbiological characteristics of fillets prepared from hypophthalmichthys molitrix during the 14-day refrigeration storage (4 °C) period. On days 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 of storage, the treatments were chemically analyzed in terms of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), microbial load (total bacterial load) and moisture content, acidity (PH), and water holding capacity (WHC). Based on the obtained results, the amount of TVB-N in all treatments was significantly reduced compared to control treatment (p < 0.05). The increasing trend of bioaburic acid during storage period in all treatments was significantly lower than the control treatment. Considering total bacterial load, all of the coated specimens had significantly lower bacterial load compared to the control group except for the first day. Based on the evaluation results of treatments moisture during the storage period, there was a significant difference in all indices except on day 14. There was also no significant difference between samples with regard to samples WHC. Considering pH, a significant difference was observed in indices on different days between samples except on days 4 and 14. In relation to pressurized water, the obtained data from treatments showed no significant difference except on day 4. Considering that treatment 3 (treatment coated with 3% salvia extract) showed more advantages in most indices compared to other coated treatments, the above mentioned coating was therefore recognized as the best treatment in this study and its application is recommended for effective preservation of the chemical and microbial properties of food products during the storage period.

Rehabilitation training in cardiac patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) improves several physiological capacities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of combined training on plasma levels and ghrelin gene expression in PBMNC among CABG patients. In this quasi-experimental study, 30 cardiac patients of Javad Al-Aemeh cardiac specialty hospital of Mashhad, who underwent CABG operation, were selected using convenience and purposeful sampling method and randomly divided into two equal groups (n=15): combined training and control. The combined training group performed selected aerobic and resistance training protocols for eight weeks, three sessions per week. Before and after training program, body composition assessments and blood sampling were performed to measure variables. Then, the obtained data were analyzed using independent and dependent t-tests at the significance level of 0.05. Data analysis showed that combined training significantly reduces body weight and BMI and significantly increases plasma ghrelin levels and relative expression of ghrelin gene in PBMNC (P≤0.05). Additionally, a significant difference was observed between plasma ghrelin levels and relative expression of ghrelin gene in PBMNC of training group compared to control group (P≤0.05). It seems that eight weeks of combined rehabilitation training increases plasma levels and ghrelin gene expression in PBMNC among CABG patients and can promote desirable physiological adaptations in cardiovascular health.

Metabolic syndrome is one of the most common metabolic disorders that put a person at many risks, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, especially in younger people has led to an increase in its incidence in pregnancy. Diabetes mellitus is one of the risk factors for labor, and the incidence of major malformation is twice as high as in women with diabetes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological changes of the liver in mothers with diabetes and metabolic syndrome and to review the existing therapeutic methods.  This study was conducted on 34 wistar rats. Animals were divided into nine groups. Female rats were prepared for sampling and microscopic studies after the pregnancy period was passed. In diabetic groups, the effects of diabetes were reduced only by taking metformin, and exercise had no effect on healing the liver tissue, while in the group of metabolic syndrome, exercise could reduce the effects of syndrome and this result was more effective than metformin and the combination of metformin and exercise also had significant rehabilitation effects on liver. In some variables, such as hyperemia and inflammation, these effects were observed less than those who only exercised. In metabolic syndrome group, who exercised, no hyperemia and inflammation was observed, while in metabolic syndrome group under metformin treatment and exercise, inflammation and congestion were observed. The results show the combination of metformin, and sports exercise can reduce changes caused by metabolic syndrome and probably diabetes.