نشریه پلاسما و نشانگرهای زیستی
سال پانزدهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 60، پاییز 1401)

Various peptides are involved in food intake regulation in the bird and mammalian brain. Melanocortin and corticotropin play an important role in food intake control. On the other hand, phoenixin-14 increases food intake. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of corticotropin and melanocortin with a sub-effective dose of phoenix -14 on food intake in neonatal chickens.

A total of one hundred and ninety-two neonatal chicks were randomly divided into three experimental groups. Each experiment had a control group and three treatment groups (n=12 in each group). In all experiments, 3-hours food-deprived birds received intracerebroventricular ‎injections of either control diluent or drug solution. Then the birds had ad libitum access to the ‎food and fresh water, and then cumulative food intake (gr) was measured based on the ‎percentage of the body. In the first experiment, control solution, phoenixin-14 (0.8 nmol), Astressin-B (CRF1/CRF2 receptor antagonist; 30 µg), and phoenixin-14 + Astressin-B were injected. ‎  In the second experiment, control solution, phoenixin-14, Astressin-2B (CRF2 receptor antagonist; 30 µg), and phoenixin-14 + Astressin-2B were injected. In the third experiment, control solution, phoenixin-14 (0.8 nmol), SHU9119 (MC3/MC4 receptor antagonist; 0.5 nmol), and phoenixin-14 + SHU9119 were injected. In the fourth experiment, control solution, phoenixin-14 (0.8 nmol), MCL0020 (MC4 receptor antagonist; 0.5 nmol), and phoenixin-14 + MCL0020 were injected.

The results showed that co-inject ion of phoenixin-14 + Astressin-B and phoenixin-14 + Astressin-2B significantly increased food intake(p<0.05), while co-injection of phoenixin-14 + SHU9119 and phoenixin-14 + MCL0020 had no effect(p>0.05).

According to the results of the present study, there is probably a synergistic effect between phoenixin-14 and corticotropin system on food intake control of neonatal chicks.

The traditional method for staining cartilage and bone in vertebrates is to use Alcian blue and Alizarin red. Acid is used in the base of the ingredients of Alcian Blue solution, which led to clear distinguishing of the stained skeletal structures as much as possible. But the problem is that if acid is used, some of the bone ions are removed leading to errors in the results. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare two using acid and acid-free protocols for staining cartilage and bone during the early development of Common bream (Abramis brama) to provide a solution in future studies.

For staining, we applied acid-based (acetic acid) and acid-free protocols using Alican blue and Alizarin red during the processing stages of watering, staining of cartilage and bone, neutralization, watering, protein digestion, color removal, and washing and clearing.

Based on the results, it can be stated that in studies of the early development of bony fishes, the use of cartilage and bone staining method based on the acid-free protocol is more suitable than using acid because this method helps to better understand the sequence and pattern of skeletal ontogeny more accurately during the early development period.

One of the most common cancers in the menopausal age is breast cancer. To control menopause symptoms in women with breast cancer, given that hormone therapy is not recommended, alternative treatments such as phytoestrogen therapy can be considered. Black cohosh is a phytoestrogen plant that is used to control menopause symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of tamoxifen with black cohosh plant on ovarian tissue ultrastructure and measurement of sex hormones in adult female three-spot gourami fish.

For this purpose, the number of 120 pieces of three-spot gourami adult female fish with an average weight of 5±1 grams in 8 treatments with control groups including control 1 (intact) and control 2 (solvent, Ethanol 60 %) and treatments receiving doses of 10, 50, 100 mg/kg of tamoxifen drug and 10, 50, 100 mg/kg of black cohosh hydroalcoholic extract were divided. All the injections were done in 10 times and every other day for twenty days and in the amount of 0.02 ml between the dorsal fin muscle and the lateral line. Then, after anesthetizing the fish, the ovary was examined by light and electron microscope. For measuring the levels of steroid hormones, the fish tissue was homogenized by homogenizer.

Black cohosh extract decreased the level of 17-beta estradiol and testosterone hormones. Tamoxifen decreased the level of 17-beta estradiol, testosterone and progesterone hormones. Examining the light and electron microscope images showed that both tamoxifen and black cohosh had an inhibitory effect on oocyet maturation.

Conclusion:

 The results of this study showed that black cohosh plant extract and tamoxifen reduce oocyte maturation.

Common operations during reproduction and breeding or during research studies often cause stress and physiological responses in fish, which subsequently lead to adverse effects such as immunosuppression, delayed growth, and death. The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the efficacy of benzocaine as an anesthetic in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Moreover, the effect of anesthesia with effective concentrations of benzocaine and stress caused by manipulation on hematological indicators was studied.

For this purpose, ten fish individually were exposed to 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 200 mg/L benzocaine, and time to induction (deep anesthesia) and recovery from anesthesia were measured. In the second experiment, 7 fish were deeply anaesthetized with 125 and 150 mg/L benzocaine. Subsequently, Fish were subjected to stress by acute handling, blood sampling and maintaining them out of the water for 2 min. for assessing possible stress effects caused by acute handling, blood was collected as described above without anesthesia. In control group, fish immediately after netting with their head covered with wet cloth to reduce stress, blood collection was performed by cutting caudal peduncle and lasted less than 15 s.

At concentration of 50 mg/L, benzocaine failed to induce deep anesthesia in fish within the 10 min exposure period whereas at concentrations of 125, 150 and 200 mg/L, all the fish were anaesthetized within 3 min of exposure. Induction and recovery times for benzocaine were significantly dependent on concentrations (P<0.05). Hematological results between groups showed no significant changes in white blood cell count and hematocrit level. Acute handling caused significant increase in hemoglobin, red blood cell count, serum glucose and cortisol levels compared to control and anaesthetized group (P<0.05).

This study demonstrates that rapid induction of deep anesthesia with a relatively high concentration of benzocaine (125 mg/L) block the stress-induced cortisol response with the lowest effects on the hematological and serum biochemical indices in gold fish and therefore would be recommended as eligible dose for handling and hematological studies in this species.

Aging causes structural changes in the heart that are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a period of aerobic and resistance training on some metalloproteins that affect heart fibrosis in elderly mice.

For the present experimental study, 27 male Wistar rats with an average age of 24 months were prepared from the center of Pasteur Institute and after weighing were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, resistance training and low intensity aerobic training. Then, the aerobic training group started training for 12 minutes with an intensity of 12 meters per minute in the first week, and at the end of the eighth week, the time reached 52 minutes and the intensity was constant. The resistance training group did 8 repetitions in the first week with 5% of body weight and in the eighth week the intensity reached 40% of body weight. Sampling was performed 48 hours after the last training session.

results showed that there was a significant difference between the effect of aerobic and resistance training methods on MMP-2 and the percentage of collagen deposition in the heart tissue of elderly mice. But there is no significant difference between the effect of two training methods on MMP-9.

According to the results, the use of aerobic and resistance training on heart fibrosis is recommended in consultation with a physician, which is more recommended on the use of resistance training.

Currently, zinc and its compounds are used as a suitable material for the treatment of infection in burns, open wounds and chronic wounds. This investigation, was designed and carried out with the aim the local effect of green zinc nanoparticles on blood biochemical parameters and skin tissue repair during wound healing in laboratory rat.

In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups of 6. Then, by creating a 2 cm burn on the back of the rats, treatment was immediately performed with zinc nanoparticles ointment (1%, 4%, 16%) and zinc oxide ointment and pure Vaseline for 21 days. After sampling from the percentage of wound repair in the skin of rats was calculated. Similarly, blood sampling was done from the hearts of rats and serum was used to check biochemical parameters.

The percentage of wound healing in the 4% ointment group and zinc oxide ointment was significantly higher than the control group. In addition, all the concentrations of ointment were safe in terms of their effect on liver enzymes.

Conclution: 

The results of investigation showed that the ointment of 4% zinc nanoparticles was the best treatment group, which accelerated the repair of skin wounds. Based on the results of the present experimental study, probably the ointment produced by the identified green nanoparticles could be suggested as a strong repair agent in skin lesions naturally.

Changes related to thyroid hormones cause gonadal dysfunction and infertility Present study aimed at determining the effect of Dosin ( Sativa Nigella and honey mixture) on sex stroids and spermatogenesis following Methimazole induction of hypothyroidism in rats.

In this experimental study, 60 adult male Wistar rats aged about 10-11 weeks were randomly divided into six groups of ten, including the control group, The Sham group,experimental group 1; the adminstration of methimazol  at dose of 25 mg/kg for 10 day  , experimental group 2; the adminstration of Dosin alone at dose of 200 mg/kg for 21 days, groups Experiments 3 and 4 ; the adminstration of Dosin at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg for 21 days, were divided. At the end of the experiment, blood was taken from the heart of the animals and the serum concentrations of dihydrotestosterone, androsterone, dihydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was also performed to examine testicular tissue changes.

The amount of dihydrotestosterone, dihydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione in experimental groups 3 and 4 showed a significant increase compared to experimental group 1. The amount of androsterone in experimental group 4 increased compared to experimental group 1.In experimental groups 3 and 4, primary spermatocyte cells, spermatids and the amount of epididymal sperm storage showed a significant increase compared to experimental group 1.

 Based on the results, black seed and honey (ducin) improve and multiply the cells of spermatogenic germ line in rats with hypothyroidism

 Adiponectin with properties similar to exercise increases glucose uptake in muscle and decreases glucose production in the liver. Cinnamon has modulating properties against oxidative stress, blood sugar and obesity. Therefore, considering the effect of exercise training on adiponectin gene expression, the effect of high-fat diets on obesity and the effects of cinnamon on weight loss, the present study seeks to answer the question whether six weeks of aerobic exercise and cinnamon extract on adiponectin gene expression in Fat and liver tissues and the mass of these tissues have different effects in male rats fed with a high-fat diet.

 The present study was conducted in the form of a multi-group research project with a control group the average of the research variables among the groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni supplementary test and independent t-tests and two-way analysis of variance at the significance level p ≥ 0.05 for all tests with the aim of determining the differences between the groups.

 The results showed the effect of high-fat diet on adverse changes in adiponectin gene expression in adipose tissue and liver, body weight and weight of adipose tissue and liver. Performing aerobic exercise alone, consuming cinnamon extract alone and the interaction of aerobic exercise and cinnamon extract caused favorable changes in the expression of adiponectin gene in adipose tissue and liver and the weight of adipose tissue and liver compared to the high-fat diet group.

 It seems that from the desirable and accepted physical activities and sports exercises on the Adipose tissue and liver, maybe some food intakes such as cinnamon supplement extract combined with sports exercises have synergy with useful exercises.