Nova Biologica Reperta

Impact of the interaction between morphine and α-noradrenergic system of basolateral Amygdala on anxiety-related behavior and memory

Farhad Valizadegan

Basolateral Amygdala is an important site of anxiety. Interactions between α-adrenergic and opioidergic systems in Basolateral amygdale were used for investigation anxiety and memory. The elevated plus-maze has been employed. The male wistar rats were used for this test. The site of BLA was cannulated bilaterally. Rats we injected morphine (4, 5.6 mg/kg) intraperitonealy, while clonidine (1, 2, 4 µg/rat) and yohimbin (0.5, 1,2 µg/rat) were injected to BLA. Open arm time percentage (%OAT), open arm entry (%0AE) and locomotor activity were determined by this behavioral test. Retention tested 24 hours later. Administration of morphine (6mg/kg) increased the OAT% in anxiety test, indicating anxiolytic-like effect. Intra Basolateral amygdala infusion of clonidine (4μg/rat) has an anxiolytic-like effect. While co-administration clonidine (4μg/rat) and in effective dose of morphine (4mg/kg) showed significant increase of OAT% in anxiety test; thus presenting anxiolytic response. Intra Basolateral amygdala administration of yohimbine (2μg/rat) decreased OAT% indicating of decrease anxiety-like behavior. While co-administration of intra Basolateral amygdala clonidine (4μg/rat) and effective dose of morphine (6mg/kg) showed a significant increase of OAT%, presenting anxiolytic response; co-administration of ineffective doses of morphine (4mg/kg) and yohimbine (1μg/rat) with the effective dose of clonidine (4μg/rat) showed that yohimbine could reverse the anxiolytic-like effect of morphine and clonidine. It should be noted that there are no significant changes in locomotor activity. The results indicate that morphine creates the compromise changes in adrenergic neurons of Basolateral amygdala by changing the α-adrenergic system on anxiety.

Association between gene polymorphism rs11614913 in microRNA196a2, with Non-small cell lung cancer risk in the population of southern Iran

Mohammad Tahmaseb

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death worldwide and result in 1.4 million deaths per year. Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Iran, with rates of 4.7 to 9.2 per 100 thousand populations. Despite the low incidence, survival is not promising. Identification of biological markers and their application in diagnosis of cancer could lead to early diagnosis and therefore longer survival rate in patients. In this study, we evaluated the association of SNP rs11614913 in mir-196a2 with risk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in population of southern Iran. SNP rs11614913 in miR-196a2 was assayed in 95 lung cancer patients and 100 controls. Polymorphism was determined by RFLP-PCR. The PCR product was digested with TaaI (5’ ACN^GT) which generated two bands (187bp and 196bp) in TT, three bands (187bp, 196bp and 383bp) in TC and one bandn(383bp) in CC individuals. Analysis of electrophoretic pattern of digestion products revealed that the frequencies of C allele for SNP rs11614913 miR-196a2 were 0.695 in patients and 0.76 in controls. As a result, the genotype frequencies of TT, TC and CC were 0.074, 0.463 and 0.463 in patients and 0.06, 0.36 and 0.58 in controls. The statistical analysis indicates the presence of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium between the two alleles of the gene in the population studied (p>0.05). Based on the results in this study, no significant association between SNP rs11614913 and susceptibility to NSCLC was found. However, male participants who possess TC/TT genotypes showed high risk for NSCLC compared to those possessed CC genotypes (recessive genetic model).

The impact of sheep testis extract on hair follicle growth and skin healing of Wistar rats

Javad Baharara

Since administration of androgens has been considered appreciable in hair follicle growth and wound healing, therefore the main objective in this study is evaluation the effect of sheep testis extract on improvement and growth of hair follicle and regeneration of injured Wistar rat skin. In this experimental study, rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, control (negative control), sham (treatment with physiologic serum), experimental group 1 (treatment with 100% sheep testis extract), experimental group 2 (treatment with 75% extract), experimental group 3 (treatment with 50% extract), positive control 1 (treatment with honey) for evaluation of wound healing and positive control 2 (treatment with Minoxidil) for evaluation of hair follicle growth. Then, rats were killed after and removed approximate wound skin, fixed in 10% formalin, kept in paraffin block. In addition, it was prepared serial section with 6 µm thickness and performed hematoxylin eosin staining. Then, epidermal thickness, the number of fibroblast, basal cells, inflammatory cells, vessel bud and hair follicle were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by one way ANOVA, Tukey test at p ˃0.05. The results showed that wound healing process, hair follicle formation, the re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, the number of basal cell, fibroblasts, and the number of follicles was significantly improved in the experimental group 1, 2, rather than control group (p ˃0.05). Results of this study demonstrated that the sheep testis extract induced improvement in regeneration process, wound healing and hair follicle growth in rats which can be suggested as an appreciable candidate due to rich source of androgen and growth factors in clinical wound healing studies.

The phylogenetic position of Brown trout (Salmo trutta L. 1758) in the Jajrud River using D-Loop sequence

Iraj Hashemzade Sagharloo

In this study phylogenetic relationship of the Jajrud River Brown trout Salmo trutta L. 1758 in the Namak Lake basin was analyzed using complete D-Loop sequence of the mitochondrial genome, compared to other Iranian populations of the species. The results clarified that Jajrud brown trout, similar to other Iranian brown trout populations belongs to the Danube phylogenetic lineage. The observed haplotype in the Jajrud population is similar to the reported haplotype in the Karaj River. Based on the results the Namak Lake basin brown trout affined to the Caspian populations and its relationship to Salmo macrostigma was not confirmed. Since the Karaj and Jajrud River haplotypes have not been observed in the Caspian Sea basin and because of its relationship to other Iranian and Danube haplotypes it is plausible to consider this haplotype as an old haplotype that also may exist in the Caspian Sea basin. According to the biology of Brown trout, geographic characteristics, and based on the properties of the Namak haplotype it may be inferred that the Namak Basin Brown trout populations are native to the basin and are not introduced.

The effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles enriched yeast on the growth performance, digestive enzymes activity and lipid metabolism in two Artemia species

Ebrahim Najd Gerami

Nowadays, nanoparticles (NPs) have the great potential application in different industries. Among all NPs, titanium dioxide NPs is the biggest ecotoxicological and ecophysiology concerns due to the increase of anthropogenic input into the aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the effects of titanium dioxide NPs enriched yeast on the growth, survival; digestive enzymes activity and lipid metabolism in Artemia urmiana (AU) and Artemia franciscana (AF) were investigated. The experiment was designed in two treatments (control and enriched yeast with titanium dioxide NPs) and each with four replicates for both Artemia species. At the end of experiment, the results indicated that titanium dioxide nanoparticles did not affect on the Artemia species growth but significantly increased AF survival. No significant difference was observed in AU survival. Also the results showed, NPs significantly decrease AU digestive enzymes activity and reverse pattern was observed for AF. The effect of NPs on the body lipid content was investigated in Artemia species and the results revealed that all the NPs decrease this parameter in AU but did not affect on AF lipid body content. The results obtained in this experiment, suggest that the eco-physiological effects of titanium dioxide NPs different in Artemia urmiana and Artemia franciscana.

A comparative study on the effects of rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid on the cell viability, ceramide metabolism and antioxidant enzyme responses in the Hep-G2 cancer cell line

Narges Najjarpour

Carnosic acid and Rosmarinic acid are family of polyphenols that are found in Rosmary plant. They have property biological behaviors such as anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-oxidants. This study compared the effects of these two compounds based on ceramide metabolism in cell line of Hep- G2. In this experimental study, Hep-G2 cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented containing bovine fetal serum and antibiotics. Cells with double dilution were then cultured from tow substance Carnosic acid and Rosmarinic acid from concentrations 0 to 70 µM for 24 h and viability of cells was determined by MTT method. Spectrophotometer was used to measure of caspase-3 activity.To measure the level of ceramide, a recombinant ceramidase acid enzyme and naphthalene-2,3-dialdehyde, which is fluorescent and is connected to sphingosine resulted from ceramidase acid, were added to the cell extract and was ultimately determined by HPLC. In this study also activity of ensymes as sphingomylinase, acid ceramidase, glucosyl ceramide synthase was measured. Carnosic acid increased cell viability dose-dependent in Hep-G2 cells by reducing ceramide levels and decreasing activity of ensymes as caspse-3, sphingomylinase, glucosyl ceramide synthase and increasing activity of the enzyme acid ceramidase. Rosmarinic acid in concentrations of up to 50 µM decreased cell viability by increasing ceramide levels and activity of caspse-3, sphingomylinase and decreasing activity of enzymes as acid ceramidese and glucosyl ceramide synthase. Also this substance in concentrations of up to 40 µM caused increasing activity of caspse-3 enzyme. Although in most cases, polyphenols have resulted in induction of apoptosis and decreased cell viability, but in some cases they have inversely affected and caused cell growth.

Interaction of salinity and ascorbic acid with some biochemical features in Satureja khuzestanica

Hamzeh Amiri

In order to study the interaction effects of salinity and ascorbic acid on the photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugar, proline, and protein in Satureja khuzestanica plant, factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (salinity in 4 levels 0, 40, 80 and 120g in 100kg soil and ascorbic acid in 2 levels 0 and 2 mM ) with 6 replicates. The results showed that salt stress reduced photosynthetic pigments amount by increasing the soil salinity from 0 to 40g NaCl in 100kg soil and then increased by 80g NaCl in 100kg soil and again decreased by concentration of 120g NaCl in 100kg soil. The amount of solouble sugar, proline and protein by the soil salinity increased from 0 to 40g in 100kg soil and then decreased in concentration of 80g NaCl in 100kg soil, in 120g NaCl in 100 kg soil increased amount of characters. In present of ascorbic acid photosynthetic pigments amount of pigments increased by increase the soil salinity from 0 to 40g NaCl in 100kg soil and then decreased by 80g NaCl in 100kg soil and again increased by concentration of 120g NaCl in 100kg soil. But, amount of solouble sugar, proline and protein by the soil salinity decreased from 0 to 40g in 100kg soil and then increased in concentration of 80g NaCl in 100kg soil. Finally, in 120g NaCl in 100kg soil decreased amount of characters.

An update on the flora of Iran: Iranian angiosperm orders and families in accordance with APG IV

Atiye Nejad Falatoury

The increasing influence of APG classification system necessitates an update on taxa recorded in most regional floras including Iran. Many changes in circumscriptions of families and orders have occurred in APG in comparison with other classification systems. However, here we only attempt to emphasize on changes in the Iranian flora, especially in comparison with “Flora Iranica” and “Flora of Iran”. Of the overall 132 family names which have been mentioned here, 22 families are not found in Flora Iranica. Based on the APG IV system, 21 families which had been mentioned in Flora Iranica for Iran should be merged with other families. Accordingly, the angiosperms of Iran comprise 8012 species, approximately 1234 genera and 132 families placed in 39 orders. Gymnosperms (17 spp.), ferns (60 spp.) and mosses (534 spp.) included, the number of plant species of Iran exceeds approximately 8628 species. The largest angiosperms families of Iran are Fabaceae (1401 spp.) and Asteraceae (1234 spp.) in terms of number of species, and Asteraceae, Poaceae, Apiaceae and Fabaceae in terms of number of genera. The largest angiosperm order of Iran in terms of family number is Caryophyllales. The largest genera of Iran are Astragalus with about 830 species and Cousinia with about 280 species. In the two latest versions of APG a linear sequence of families is provided to be used by herbarium curators.