Attenuation of morphine withdrawal signs by muscimol in the locus coeruleus of rats

This study examined the effects of intra-locus coeruleus injection of a gamma-amino-butyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor agonist on naloxone-induced withdrawal signs of morphine-dependent rats. Twenty different withdrawal signs were assessed. The total withdrawal score was calculated and used as an index of withdrawal intensity. The gamma-amino-butyric acid agonist and antagonists were injected 15 and 30 min before naloxone injection, respectively. Muscimol, a GABAA agonist (25, 50, and 100 ng/site), decreased the total withdrawal score in a dose-independent manner, whereas bicuculline (0.367, 3.67, and 36.7 ng/site), a GABAA antagonist, and CGP35348 (48.6 ng/site), a gamma-amino-butyric acid type B antagonist, alone had no effects. On the other hand, muscimol effects were reversed by CGP35348 (48.6 ng/site) but not by bicuculline (36.7 ng/site). It may be concluded that the effects of muscimol were antagonized by gamma-amino-butyric acid type B but not by GABAA receptor antagonists. The mechanism involved seems to be intricate and needs further study.     

Expansion of urban cutaneous leishmaniasis into rural areas of southeastern Iran: Clinical,epidemiological and phylogenetic profiles explored using 7SL high resolution melting‐PCR analysis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has increased remarkably in Iran and has expanded into new areas. The present study aimed to assess the emerging CL outbreak in southeastern Iran using high resolution melting‐polymerase chain reaction (HRM‐PCR) and phylogenetic analysis using the 7SL RNA gene marker. A cross‐sectional and analytical survey was conducted during a house‐to‐house census of 11,021 inhabitants in Narmashir County in southeastern Iran in 2016. The cases were detected by direct smear microscopic examination and sequencing and were characterized using the 7SL RNA gene. All age groups and sexes were equally affected. Most were single lesions (70.7%). The hands (55.2%) and face (37.9%) were the main sites of involvement. The disease was more common among illiterate persons. Sequencing and HRM‐PCR revealed that Leishmania tropica (accession no. MH632168 Qale‐Shahid) was the principal causative agent of anthroponotic CL (ACL) in new areas of expansion. This is the first emergence of ACL in rural areas of Narmashir County. Based on the molecular data, the causative parasite species confirmed to be L. tropica. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicated that a single clone of the organism derived from a single source has spread into the affected villages. Construction of a main road, population movement and recent urbanization in the area are likely the major factors associated with the establishment of this new outbreak. This study was essential to enable the planning of effective therapeutic and prophylactic measures to control the disease.     

Effects of Hypericum Scabrum extract on anxiety and oxidative stress biomarkers in rats fed a long-term high-fat diet

Metabolic Brain Disease - The continuous and long-term consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) leads to weight gain and obesity. A HFD and obesity increase the risks of psychiatric disorders, such as...     

Effects of Hypericum scabrum extract on learning and memory and oxidant/antioxidant status in rats fed a long-term high-fat diet

Metabolic Brain Disease - A high-fat diet (HFD) causes deficits in learning and memory by increasing oxidative stress. Antioxidants are known to improve learning and memory. Since Hypericum scabrum...     

Investigation of thymol effect on learning and memory impairment induced by intrahippocampal injection of amyloid beta peptide in high fat diet- fed rats

Metabolic Brain Disease - Obesity and consumption of a high fat diet (HFD) are known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the present study, we have examined the protective...     

Characterization of the CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat model of hepatic cirrhosis: insights into their electrophysiological properties

Although the key contributors of altering neurological function in hepatic encephalopathy are relatively well known, the electrophysiological mechanism of CA1 damage, a key vulnerable area during hyperammonemia, have not yet been defined. Therefore, here we focus on the electrophysiological mechanisms of cognitive impairments following bile duct ligation (BDL). We performed patch-clamp recordings from the CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampus of male Wistar rats, which underwent sham or BDL surgery. A striking electrophysiological change of hippocampal neurons in experimental model of BDL was observed in the present study. Spontaneous firing frequency and rate of action potential (AP) rebound was decreased and afterhyperpolarization amplitude (AHP) was increased significantly in hippocampal cells of BDL animals compared to sham group. Together, the results suggest that altered intrinsic properties of the hippocampal neurons may contribute to the cognitive abnormalities during hepatic encephalopathy (HE), highlighting the electrophysiological mechanisms for providing new treatments against HE.

     

Evaluation of Organelle Changes in Promastigotes of Unresponsive Leishmania Tropica to Meglumine Antimoniate in Comparison with Sensitive and Standard Isolates by Electron Microscopy

Background:

The control of leishmaniasis faces serious challenges because of resistance to the first-line antimonial drugs. We aimed to evaluate the differences in organelle changes of cultivated promastigotes obtained from skin lesions of sensitive and unresponsive isolates to meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) by electron microscopy.

Material and Methods:

This study was done in Bam city, southeastern Iran, in which the incidence of disease has sharply increased since the earthquake in 2003. The samples were taken from 66 patients who were referred to the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment center in Bam. A questionnaire was completed for each individual, recording their demographic characteristics and CL status. The scraping smears provided from the edge of active lesions with sterile blades were fixed with methanol, stained by Giemsa, and examined under a compound light microscope for amastigote form simultaneously. To prepare the specimens for transmission electron imaging, promastigotes were centrifuged and resuspened.

Results:

Transmission electron microscopic study of the cultivated promastigotes revealed that there were alterations in the organelles and structures of sensitive isolates compared with unresponsive and standard ones. Organelles and structures such as mitochondria, kinetoplast, microtubules, cytoplasmic vacuoles, plasma membrane and vesicles were studied. The alterations such as disintegration of kinetoplast into thin filaments and condensation of kinetoplast DNA core, changes in size, number and location of vesicles and microtubules were observed. We noted intense cytoplasmic vacuolization, and considerable swelling of mitochondria.

Conclusion:

The significance and relevance of these changes might help understand drug resistance patterns and help localize the best target site for inactivating the organism.     

Association between nitric oxide and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels in semen of diabetic men

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing in the world. One of the complications of diabetes includes disturbance of the reproductive tract, such as infertility, erectile dysfunction, and endocrine disruption. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical produced by most cells including the human male and female reproductive tracts. NO has a dual role where low concentrations are essential for homeostatic cellular biology and physiology, but high levels have detrimental effects relating to cellular damage from this reactive oxygen species (ROS). 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is an oxidized nucleoside of DNA that is currently used as a biomarker of cellular oxidative stress, where urinary levels can correlate with diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between nitrate/nitrite levels and 8-OHdG levels in the semen of diabetic and non-diabetic men. Concentrations of nitrate/nitrite and 8-OHdG were examined in seminal plasma of 32 diabetic and 35 non-diabetic men. The level of nitrate/nitrite was assayed by colorimetric reaction and 8-OHdG was measured by ELISA. Our results showed that the seminal plasma nitrate/nitrite levels were significantly higher in the diabetic group (p?相似文献