دکتر محسن خلیلی

 Different intensities of exercise may have a different effect on the level of brain-derived neurogenic factor (BDNF). Hence, this study aimed to determine the effect of sprint interval training with short repetitions on hippocampal BDNF level, spatial learning and memory in adult rats.

 Sixteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control (CO, n=8) and exercise (EX, n=8) groups. The exercise was performed for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, 4-9 repetitions of 10 seconds sprints, and 1-minute rest. At the end of the training period, the learning and memory of the animals were evaluated by Y maze and shuttle box tests. 48 hours after the test, the rats were anesthetized and the hippocampal tissue was isolated. BDNF levels were measured in hippocampal tissue homogeneity. The independent t-test was used to analyze the data at the alpha level of 0.05.

 Statistical analysis of the data showed that the level of BDNF in EX hippocampus was significantly higher than that of CO (P<0.001); While there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the results of Y-maze and shuttle box behavioral tests (P˃0.05).

 According to the findings of the present study, it seems that SIT may help to increase the hippocampus BDNF level in rats by spending much less training time (30-40 min./week) than other training protocols; But it has no positive or negative effect on learning and memory.

Acute liver injury is a fatal syndrome that causes rapid loss of liver function. Crocin is the active ingredient of saffron with antioxidant, protective and anti-apoptotic properties. In this study, the protective effect of crocin was evaluated on the liver dysfunction in male laboratory mice.

In this experimental study, 28 male mice (20-24 g) were divided into control, liver damage, and two groups treated with crocin at doses of 50 or 200 mg/kg. liver damage was caused by the injection of lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine with doses of 50 microg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Crocin dissolved in distilled water was fed by gavage at 50 or 200 mg/kg, starting 3 days before and up to 1 hour before injury induction. 24 hours after injury induction, the mice were anesthetized with a mixture of 120 mg/kg ketamine and 10 mg/kg xylazine, and sacrificed in compliance with ethical rules after taking a blood sample from their hearts. liver markers including MDA, SOD, Cat, MPO, and TNF-α were measured. Data was analyzed with GraphPad Prism 9.3 software using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests with significance level set at p<0.05.

Administration of crocin decreased serum levels of liver markers MDA, MPO, and TNF-α and increased SOD in crocin-treated groups as compared to the LPS/D-Gal group (p<0.05); Cat change was not significant (p>0.05).

Crocin with strong antioxidant activity was able to reduce liver dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

The liver is the largest gland in the body with multiple functions. Methotrexate causes acute and chronic liver damage. In this study, the effects of diosgenin were investigated as a steroidal sapogenin on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and neutrophil infiltration activity in a methotrexate-induced liver injury model in male rats.

40 rats in 5 groups; control, control treated with diosgenin 50 mg/kg, methotrexate at a dose of 20 mg/kg (i.p) and two groups treated with diosgenin at doses 10, 50 mg/kg (gavage) were divided. The rats were anesthetized and the liver tissue was isolated after killing. After tissue homogeneity, neutrophil infiltration activity and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-test were used, and the significance level was p <0.05.

The potential of the mitochondrial membrane in the methotrexate group treated with diosgenin 10 mg/kg was significantly reduced compared to the control group and in the group treated with diosgenin 50 mg/kg was significantly increased compared to methotrexate. On the other hand, myeloperoxidase increased significantly in the methotrexate group and treated with diosgenin 10 mg/kg compared to the control group and decreased significantly in the group treated with diosgenin 50 mg/kg compared to the methotrexate group.

Diosgenin at a dose of 50 mg/kg in the methotrexate-induced liver injury model was able to improve mitochondrial health and reduced neutrophil infiltration.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Sprint Interval Training (SIT) on the plasma liver enzymes, liver tissue total-antioxidant-capacity (TAC) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in male rats.

In an experimental trial, 16 male rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (CO,n=8) and exercise (EX,n=8). The rats after the period of adaptation to the environment and familiarization with exercise were trained 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Finally, after anesthesia and direct blood sampling from the heart, serum was extracted for liver enzymes and liver tissue was removed to assess tissue TAC and MDA. Independent t-test was used to analyze the data at the alpha level of 0.05 in SPSS version 22.

Statistical analysis of the data showed a significantly higher liver tissue TAC in the EX group compared to the CO group (P=0.01); but no significant intergroup difference was observed related to liver tissue MDA (P=0.24). There was no significant difference between the groups in the ALT (P=0.26) and GGT (P=0.44) level; but the AST (P=0.01) and ALP (P=0.001) level in EX group was significantly lower than CO group.

The results showed that SIT increases the antioxidant capacity and induces desirable changes in the liver enzymes levels and this training protocol can have a beneficial effect on the health status of the liver.

Methotrexate can induce testicular tissue damage and infertility by increasing the activity myeloperoxidase and destroying mitochondrial membrane. Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diosgenin on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and neutrophil infiltration in methotrexate-induced testicular injury in the rat.

40 rats were divided into 5 groups: control, diosgenin-treated control with a dose of 50 mg/kg, methotrexate, two groups of diosgenin-treated methotrexate at doses of 10 or 50 mg/kg. Methotrexate at a dose of 20 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally one day after diosgenin administration. Diosgenin was administered daily for two weeks at doses of 10 or 50 mg/kg. At the end, the rats were anesthetized and the testis was removed. MPO and MMP in testicular tissue were measured. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-test were used.

The MMP of the methotrexate group showed a significant decrease compared to the control group (p=0.003). The diosgenin-treated methotrexate group at a dose of 50 mg/kg showed a significant increase as compared to the methotrexate group (p=0.008). The level of MPO in the methotrexate group showed a significant increase as compared to the control group (p=0.009). The diosgenin-treated methotrexate group at a dose of 50 mg/kg showed a significant decrease as compared to the methotrexate group (p=0.039).

Diosgenin reduces the harmful effects of methotrexate on MPO and MMP in testicular tissue.

Depression is a common sign in Alzheimer's patients and there are many mutual mechanisms for both illnesses progression. Electroshock therapy is an effective procedure for alleviation of depression, so we used it for treatment of depression in alzheimer’s male rats.

For this purpose, 48 male Wistar rats divided in 6 groups : 1- control, 2- Depressed, 3- Alzheimer, 4- Alzheimer+shock, 5- Alzheimer+depression and 6-alzheimer+depression+shock. Dementia and depression were induced through I.C.V. injection of streptozotocin and i.p injection of reserpine respectively. Finally, the animals were subjected to memory and depression behavioral tests and their’ data were comparisoned by statistical tests.

Obtained data from sucrose preference test elevated plus maze and open field showed that, electroshock therapy could yield a significant alleviation effect on mode condition of depression in Alzheimer’ rats.

The respectable alleviation activity of depression-like behavior due to electroshock in Alzheimer's rats which concomitant with depression, shows that this method can be used potentially in these male rats.

There are many reports for mutual mechanisms for seizure and pain alleviation. Also with respect to the herbal medicine recommendation in new medicine, in this study we used the extract of an important candidate fumaria officinal for relief of pain and seizure in mice.

In our experiments 40 mice were divided to 5 groups (n=8): 1-control 2- positive control and three groups of extract treatment respectively 200, 600 and 800 mg/kg. All of the animal groups were conducted to formalin and tail immersion tests for assessment of pain and finally seizure analysis were done by injection of PTZ (100 mg/kg) to the animals and initiation time (s) for myoclonus, clonus and the tonus signs were measured for seizure analysis.

Our results indicated that the extract in three doses (200, 600 and 800 mg/kg) can reduced the formalin acute and chronic pain. Also the start time for seizure signs i.e, myoclonus, clonus and seizures could elevated markedly in lower doses of the extract (200 and 600 mg/kg).

In addition, treatment of the mice with hydroalcoholic extract of fumaria officinalis leaf could significantly reduce the acute and chronic pain and increase the initiation time of the seizure signs.

It has been shown that spermatogenesis disorder could induce infertility in male individuals. This study investigated the effect of resistance training on testicular function, spermatogenesis and sperm parameters in adult male Wistar rats.

Twenty adult male rats were selected and randomly divided into two groups; 1- control (n=10) and resistance training (n=10). The exercise was performed three days a week for a period of 5 weeks. We chose the method of 50% of body mass with 30 g overload and a resting time of 90 s. Testosterone of the serum, interstitial testicular fat density, spermatogenesis indexes and other sperm parameters were measured and then analyzed by statistical t-test.

In resistance training groups, there was a significant increase in the number of Leydig cells and interstitial fat density of the testis in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05), but this difference was not shown for the level of serum testosterone. Also, histological analysis showed that resistance training could significantly reduce spermatogenesis indices i.e. tubular differentiation index (TDI), spermiogenesis index (SI) and repopulation index (RI) in comparison with control group (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, this training could not yield the marked changes on number and the diameter of spermatozoon tube and its epitheliums. Finally, our results showed that motility and viability of sperm decrease prominently but, the amount of DNA fracture increased.

Resistance training could disrupt the process of spermatogenesis and sperm parameters that might yield infertility in male individuals.

Diabetes mellitus is accompanied with disturbances in learning, memory, and cognitive skills in the human society and experimental animals. Considering the potential anti-diabetic effect of the medicinal plant Crocus sativus (Saffron) and the augmenting effect of its consumption on the memory and mental health, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of chronic interaperitoneal administration of Crocus.S extract on learning and memory in diabetic rats.

In this experimental study a total of 60 male rats were divided into normal and diabetic groups. Then, each of these groups was divided into three subgroups. Two of these subgroups received 30 and 60 mg/kg crocus.s extract in the treatment periods, but the third group didn’t receive any treatment. At the end of treatment period, each of these subgroups was evaluated by two ways: Y-maze (alternative behavior percentage) and shuttle box (initial latencies (IL) and step-through latencies (STL)) in passive avoidance test. Finally, obtained data were subjected to one way ANOVA test and post hoc Tokey analysis.

Treatment of the diabetic animals with the extract could antagonized the augmenting effect of diabetics on initial latency (P< 0.05). Also, treatment of the diabetic rats with the extract (60 mg/kg) increased the reduced step through latency time (recall of the data) induced by diabetic in the animals (P< 0.05). However, obtained data from Y maze test show that the extract could not improved the spatial memory disruption due to diabetics.

Chronic Crocus.S injection is effective on the capability of maintaining information in the stores memory and reminding in the diabetic rats. However, the extract could not improve the spatial memory in the diabetic rats.

Regarding the prevalence of epilepsy in human society and with respect to insufficiency of used treatment, the new strategy and methods for medical treatment of epileptic patients are necessary. Ferula assa foethica (F.foethica) is an important species of medicinal plant that has been used in traditional medicine as an anticonvulsant herb. So the present study has investigated anti-convulsioneffect of F.foethica gum extract using PTZ-induced kindling method.

In the present study, 60 balb/c male mice were randomly selected and divided into 6 experimental groups (n = 10 in each group), i.e. 1. control, 2. PTZ, 3, 4 and 5. treatment groups which received the extract in 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg; i.p, respectively, and 6. positive control group which received VA (100 mg/kg) as an anticonvulsant drug. All groups were kindled by 11 period injection of PTZ(35 mg/kg; i.p.). In the 12th injection, all groups were tested for PTZ challenge dose (75 mg/kg). However, exhibited phase of seizure (0-5) were observed and noted till 30 min after PTZ injection.

Our data showed that the F. foetida gum extract has a reduction effect on seizure intensity, progression, and duration.

The attained results showed that hydro-alcoholic gum extract of F. foetida can be used in grand male seizure treatment.

Inflammation is a side effect of many diseases that could yield immune system disability. The recognized acute and chronic inflammations are the main factors for permanence of infection and long lasting in recovery of disease. Regarding to incomplete treatment of inflammation by using chemical drugs and alkaloid compounds of barberry (berberis vulgaris) root bark such as Berberine that have strong anti-inflammatory property, in the present study, the anti-inflammatory effect of alcoholic extract of berberis vulgaris fruit using experimental methods is examined.

In this research as an experimental study, 86 male NMRI rats weighting 300-350 gr were chosen at random, and were divided into five groups: 1-control (only Evans blue), 2-sham (inflamed without treatment) 3, 4 and 5- treatment groups which received the alcoholic extract of barberry at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Each of groups was subjected to three methods in order to measure the acute inflammation (formalin injection to paw, xylane to ear and intraperitoneally received acetic acid), and one group was examined with chronic inflammation (implantation of cotton in groin border of rats). Finally in a complementary assessment, the analgesic effect of the most effective dose of extract was evaluated using formalin test.

Effective doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg of berberis vulgaris fruit extract could change significantly the light absorption of inflamed foot, from 0.1±0.03 in control group to 0.15±0.02 and 0.16±0.01 respectively (p<0.05). In addition, 300 mg/kg dose of extract, increased the light absorption of peritoneal fluid significantly from 1.43±0.1 in control group relative to 0.7±0.09 in experimental group (p<0.05). Chronic inflammation has decreased significantly from 33.4±2.14 in control group relative to experimental groups (20.11±2.27 and 24.15±2.84, respectively) (p<0.01, p<0.05). Finally, the late phase of chronic pain has decreased significantly by dose of 300 mg/kg from 1.79± 0.18 (control) to 1.25± 0.1 (p<0.01).

Our result shows that alcoholic extract of barberry in medium and maximum doses is able to decrease the formalin and acetic acid injection-induced inflammation in foot and peritoneum significantly and also can decrease an external body-induced chronic inflammation as well. In addition, the reduction of late phase of chronic pain in parallel with chronic inflammation suppression is considerable.