مجله زیست شناسی جانوری
سال دوازدهم شماره 4 (تابستان 1399)

The human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone is used for infertility treatment. The existence of some inflammatory factors reduces the therapeutic effect of HCG. Therefore, a complementary factor is needed to improve HCG performance. Zingiber is the oldest herbal medicines with antiinfammatory property. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HCG and Zingiber extract on the gonads and accessory glands in the immature male rats. A total of 24 immature male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and treated with physiology serum (control), HCG hormone (experimental 1), zingiber extract (experimental 2), and HCG combined with Zingiber extract (experimental 3). After treatment, rats were autopsied. The testis and seminal vesicle were weighed. After tissue slide preparation, types A and B spermatogonia cells and primary spermatocytes were counted and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the germinal layer were measured. The obtained results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS software. The research results showed that the testicle weight in the experimental group 1 (HCG) and experimental group 3 (HCG and extract) has increased in comparison with the control group, but there is no significant difference. The weight of the seminal vesicle, number of types A and B spermatogonia cells, number of primary spermatocytes, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and thickness of the germinal layer have significantly increased in the experimental group 1 and experimental group 3 compared to control. HCG combined with Zingiber extract can positively affect the growth of gonads and accessory glands and development of spermatogenesis.

Expression of the growth arrest specific 8 (GAS8) and its naturally occurring antisense RNA (asRNA) (GAS8-AS1) was assessed in tumoral tissues of different origins. However, their association with immune-related disorders has been poorly understood. In the current study, we evaluated the expression levels of these genes in 50 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients compared with age and sex matched control. Expression assays were performed on peripheral blood samples of study participants following extraction of total RNA and cDNA synthesis using blood. Measurements were then made using the TaqMan (Real Time PCR) method with 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 all female patients and females aged less than 50 compared to the corresponding control subjects (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). Expressions of both genes were inversely correlated with age of male participants but no other subgroups. The current study shows the importance 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.

Medicinal plants with antioxidant properties can quantitatively and qualitatively improve the sperm fertility indicators and increase sperm fertilization in roosters by disrupting the production of free radicals and neutralizing oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of ginger extract on the biological parameters of Golpayegani rooster sperm. In this study, the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger in concentrations of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg / L was prepared and added to the drinking water of 36 adult male Golpaygani roosters for four weeks. After four weeks, the effect of different concentrations of the extract on sperm biological parameters (number, total motility, survival and normal morphology) was investigated and compared. Papanicolaou staining was used to evaluate a variety of abnormalities in different parts of the sperm. The results showed that adding ginger extract in all concentrations to drinking water significantly increased the overall motility of sperm and the percentage of sperm with normal morphology. However, a significant increase in the total number of sperm with high viability requires the addition of high doses of the extract (1000 and 2000 mg). There was no significant difference in some of the above indicators between the mean and high concentrations of the extract (P>0.05). In general, continuous consumption of ginger significantly increases the quantitative and qualitative indicators of rooster sperm and plays a role in the improvement of fertility in rooster.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pumpkin seeds and endurance training on oxidative stress syndrome in fast-twitch muscle tissue in male rats poisoned with hydrogen peroxide. For this purpose, a total of 48 adult male wistar rats weighing 220 ± 20 gr and at 8 weeks were administered in accordance with stress interventions (hydrogen peroxide), pumpkin seeds supplementation, and endurance training. In order to induce oxidative stress, intraperitoneal injection of H2O2 at a dose of 2 mmol/kg was performed three times a week every other day. Inoculation of pumpkin seeds was performed at 0.5 μg/day with intraperitoneal injection at a concentration of 300000 U/ml. The exercise groups daily exercised endurance training on a treadmill for 8 weeks, the endurance training protocol started at a speed of 8 m/min and the 10-degree gradient was started for 30 minutes on the treadmill in the first week and gradually increased to 20 m/min at an angle of 10 degrees for 60 minutes on the eighth week. For data analysis, repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferron's post hoc test were used at the level of =0.05. The results showed that training and receiving pumpkin seeds individually had significant effect on ATP concentration, ADP, ATP/ADP ratio, MDA and PAB of extensor finger muscle (fast-twitch) (p < /em> = 0.001). However, the interaction between training and pumpkin seeds had no significant effect on MDA (p < /em> = 0.56) and ATP/ADP ratio (p < /em> = 0.88), and extensor finger muscle (fast-twitch), but had significant effect on other variables (p < /em> = 0.001). Pumpkin seeds supplementation and endurance training can reduce oxidative stress in the body. Further research is required to be done on the supplementation of pumpkin seed and endurance training and its effects on oxidative stress.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a single bout of cycling exercise with and without blood flow restriction on serum concentrations of testosterone, cortisol and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in healthy men. For this purpose, 16 members of R8 Niavaran Gym were selected. Subjects were divided into two groups according to their power: cycling with foot arteries blockage and cycling without foot arteries blockage. The training session consisted of 3×3-minutes cycling with 50% Wmax intensity, with a rest interval of 30-45 seconds. The group without arteries blockage performed the same protocol, except that there were no blood flow restrictions. Blood samples were taken 24 hours before the start of the training period and 24 hours after the last training session. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and dependent t-test at the significant level of P <0.05. The obtained results showed that within-group changes in testosterone and TNF-α in the arteries blockage group and without arteries blockage group showed no significant changes (P≥0.05). Also, between-group changes showed no difference between the two groups (P≥0.05). the within-group changes of cortisol significantly increased in the arteries blockage group (P≤0.05) and did not show a significant change in the group without arteries blockage (P≥0.05). Between-group changes showed a difference between the two groups (P≤0.05). The present study showed that blood flow restriction activity had no significant effect on serum testosterone and TNF-α levels in healthy men in relation to the same activity without blood flow restriction, but this difference was significant in cortisol level. As a result, people who are reluctant to do intense and long-term exercise can increase testosterone and reduce inflammatory factors using a less intense restricted blood flow exercise.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) extract on hepatic enzymes performance and serum biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In this regard, 750 fish (initial weight: 10.4 ± 0.5 g) distributed in concrete pools and fed by 5 dietary treatments including 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 percent of alfalfa extract, respectively for 60 days. Serum parameters analysis showed that there was a significant difference between fish fed with alfalfa extract and control group. The highest and lowest levels of serum glucose were observed in treatment 4, and treatment 1 (control), respectively (p < 0.05). The highest level of total serum protein was observed in treatment 2, and the lowest was observed in treatment 5 (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between control, treatments 2, and treatment 4 in terms of total serum protein level (p > 0.05). The highest level of serum albumin was recorded in control. Based on the results, different levels of alfalfa extract led to a downward trend in serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels. The highest level of serum phosphorus was observed in treatment 4, and the lowest level was observed in the control (p < 0.05). Serum magnesium levels were also affected by alfalfa extract (p < 0.05). Based on the results, no significant differences were observed between experimental treatments in serum SGOT and SGPT levels during the 60-day experimental feeding period (p > 0.05). The highest level of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was in treatment 5 and the lowest level of serum ALP was observed in control (p < 0.05). The highest level of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was observed in control and the lowest in treatments 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Based on the results, 2 percent of alfalfa extract in the diet had the best effects on serum biochemical parameters and hepatic enzymes.

Methamphetamine is a hallucinogenic substance abused by millions of people all around the world. Cellular toxicity in some cell lines is one of the reported effects of this psychoactive substance. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of methamphetamine on the growth of adult mesenchymal stem cells extracted from uterine endometrial tissue in rats. In this experimental study, stem cells were extracted from uterine endometrial tissue in rats, and after cultivation, they were investigated in terms of being mesenchymal using flucytometry method and by CD34, CD90 and CD105 markers. In the third passage of cell culture, the effect of methamphetamine toxicity at a concentration of 0.6 mmol was investigated in a 1-8 day period on the growth of mesenchymal stem cells derived from uterine endometrial tissue by formula PDT= T× . Cells isolated from uterine endometrial tissue adhered completely to the floor of the flask 24 hours after being transferred to the cell culture flask. These cells were positive for non-hematopoietic surface marker expression (CD90, CD105) and negative in terms of hematopoietic marker (CD34) expression, so the mesenchymal identity of these cells was confirmed. The results of the cell count test also showed a significant reduction in the growth of cells treated with 0.6 mmol methamphetamine compared to the control group. The results of this study showed that the cells isolated from the uterine endometrial tissue were of the basic mesenchymal type. The results of cell counting revealed that methamphetamine can inhibit growth by inducing the effects of cell toxicity.

Stress is a strong stimulant that is considered as a damaging factor for a number of psychiatric and neurobiological disorders. Among different periods of life, embryonic life has a high degree of sensitivity and flexibility; hence, maternal experiences during pregnancy can form and predict the behavior of her descendent. In the present study, a new model of social stress was used during the rat pregnancy period to examine its influence over the behavior of adolescent offspring. Twenty Wistar rats (weighed approximately150-200gr) were used. After gestation, rats were divided into a control group and a stress group. The stress group members were subjected to restraint stress and predator stress with social instability since the second week of pregnancy. The effect of maternal stress was studied in offspring by dark-light box test during adolescence. The stress group showed a significant increase in the delay time for the first entry into the light box (T1) in comparison to the control group (p =0.0020(. The total time the animal remains in the light box (T2) and the number of the entries into the light box (n) decreased in comparison with control group, respectively )p =0.0003, p <0.0001). These variations were more prominent for males than females for all the above mentioned parameters. The induction of a new social stress model had a significant and different impact on the behavior of the mother and her offspring in adulthood. The results also revealed the difference between male and female resistance to stress.