1.Intrathecal administration of naringenin improves motor dysfunction and neuropathic pain following compression spinal cord injury in rats: relevance to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities
Sajad FAKHRI ; Shahryar SABOURI ; Amir KIANI ; Mohammad Hosein FARZAEI ; Khodabakhsh RASHIDI ; Ahmad MOHAMMADI-FARANI ; Ehsan MOHAMMADI-NOORI ; Fatemeh ABBASZADEH
The Korean Journal of Pain 2022;35(3):291-302
Background:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most debilitating disorders throughout the world, causing persistent sensory-motor dysfunction, with no effective treatment. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses play key roles in the secondary phase of SCI. Naringenin (NAR) is a natural flavonoid with known antiinflammatory and antioxidative properties. This study aims at evaluating the effects of intrathecal NAR administration on sensory-motor disability after SCI.
Methods:
Animals underwent a severe compression injury using an aneurysm clip. About 30 minutes after surgery, NAR was injected intrathecally at the doses of 5, 10, and 15 mM in 20 µL volumes. For the assessment of neuropathic pain and locomotor function, acetone drop, hot plate, inclined plane, and Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan tests were carried out weekly till day 28 post-SCI. Effects of NAR on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity was appraised by gelatin zymography. Also, histopathological analyses and serum levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase and nitrite were measured in different groups.
Results:
NAR reduced neuropathic pain, improved locomotor function, and also attenuated SCI-induced weight loss weekly till day 28 post-SCI. Zymography analysis showed that NAR suppressed MMP-9 activity, whereas it increased that of MMP-2, indicating its anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Also, intrathecal NAR modified oxidative stress related markers GSH, catalase, and nitrite levels. Besides, the neuroprotective effect of NAR was corroborated through increased survival of sensory and motor neurons after SCI.
Conclusions
These results suggest intrathecal NAR as a promising candidate for medical therapeutics for SCI-induced sensory and motor dysfunction.
2.The effects of vitamin C and vitamin B12 on improving spermatogenesis in mice subjected to long-term scrotal heat stress
Nafiseh MOEINIAN ; Fatemeh Fadaei FATHABADI ; Mohsen NOROUZIAN ; Hojjat-Allah ABBASZADEH ; Hamid NAZARIAN ; Azar AFSHAR ; Reza SOLTANI ; Fakhroddin AGHAJANPOUR ; Abbas ALIAGHAEI ; Reza Mastery FARAHANI ; Mohammad-Amin ABDOLLAHIFAR
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2024;51(4):334-343
Objective:
Scrotal hyperthermia poses a significant threat to spermatogenesis and fertility in mammalian species. This study investigated the effects of vitamin B12 and vitamin C on spermatogenesis in adult male mice subjected to long-term scrotal hyperthermia. The rationale is based on the sensitivity of germ cells and epididymal sperm to increased scrotal temperatures. While various factors, both internal and external, can raise the testicular temperature, this study focused on the potential therapeutic roles of vitamins B12 and C.
Methods:
After inducing scrotal hyperthermia in mice, vitamin B12 and vitamin C were administered for 35 days. We assessed sperm parameters, serum testosterone levels, stereological parameters, the percentage of apoptotic cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of the c-kit, stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna) genes.
Results:
Vitamin C was more effective than vitamin B12 in improving sperm parameters and enhancing stereological parameters. The study showed a significant decrease in apoptotic cells and a beneficial modulation of ROS and GSH levels following vitamin administration. Moreover, both vitamins positively affected the expression levels of the c-kit, Stra8, and Pcna genes.
Conclusion
This research deepens our understanding of the combined impact of vitamins B12 and C in mitigating the effects of scrotal hyperthermia, providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies for heat stress-related infertility. The findings highlight the importance of considering vitamin supplementation as a practical approach to counter the detrimental effects of elevated scrotal temperatures on male reproductive health.
3.The effects of vitamin C and vitamin B12 on improving spermatogenesis in mice subjected to long-term scrotal heat stress
Nafiseh MOEINIAN ; Fatemeh Fadaei FATHABADI ; Mohsen NOROUZIAN ; Hojjat-Allah ABBASZADEH ; Hamid NAZARIAN ; Azar AFSHAR ; Reza SOLTANI ; Fakhroddin AGHAJANPOUR ; Abbas ALIAGHAEI ; Reza Mastery FARAHANI ; Mohammad-Amin ABDOLLAHIFAR
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2024;51(4):334-343
Objective:
Scrotal hyperthermia poses a significant threat to spermatogenesis and fertility in mammalian species. This study investigated the effects of vitamin B12 and vitamin C on spermatogenesis in adult male mice subjected to long-term scrotal hyperthermia. The rationale is based on the sensitivity of germ cells and epididymal sperm to increased scrotal temperatures. While various factors, both internal and external, can raise the testicular temperature, this study focused on the potential therapeutic roles of vitamins B12 and C.
Methods:
After inducing scrotal hyperthermia in mice, vitamin B12 and vitamin C were administered for 35 days. We assessed sperm parameters, serum testosterone levels, stereological parameters, the percentage of apoptotic cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of the c-kit, stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna) genes.
Results:
Vitamin C was more effective than vitamin B12 in improving sperm parameters and enhancing stereological parameters. The study showed a significant decrease in apoptotic cells and a beneficial modulation of ROS and GSH levels following vitamin administration. Moreover, both vitamins positively affected the expression levels of the c-kit, Stra8, and Pcna genes.
Conclusion
This research deepens our understanding of the combined impact of vitamins B12 and C in mitigating the effects of scrotal hyperthermia, providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies for heat stress-related infertility. The findings highlight the importance of considering vitamin supplementation as a practical approach to counter the detrimental effects of elevated scrotal temperatures on male reproductive health.
4.The effects of vitamin C and vitamin B12 on improving spermatogenesis in mice subjected to long-term scrotal heat stress
Nafiseh MOEINIAN ; Fatemeh Fadaei FATHABADI ; Mohsen NOROUZIAN ; Hojjat-Allah ABBASZADEH ; Hamid NAZARIAN ; Azar AFSHAR ; Reza SOLTANI ; Fakhroddin AGHAJANPOUR ; Abbas ALIAGHAEI ; Reza Mastery FARAHANI ; Mohammad-Amin ABDOLLAHIFAR
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2024;51(4):334-343
Objective:
Scrotal hyperthermia poses a significant threat to spermatogenesis and fertility in mammalian species. This study investigated the effects of vitamin B12 and vitamin C on spermatogenesis in adult male mice subjected to long-term scrotal hyperthermia. The rationale is based on the sensitivity of germ cells and epididymal sperm to increased scrotal temperatures. While various factors, both internal and external, can raise the testicular temperature, this study focused on the potential therapeutic roles of vitamins B12 and C.
Methods:
After inducing scrotal hyperthermia in mice, vitamin B12 and vitamin C were administered for 35 days. We assessed sperm parameters, serum testosterone levels, stereological parameters, the percentage of apoptotic cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of the c-kit, stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna) genes.
Results:
Vitamin C was more effective than vitamin B12 in improving sperm parameters and enhancing stereological parameters. The study showed a significant decrease in apoptotic cells and a beneficial modulation of ROS and GSH levels following vitamin administration. Moreover, both vitamins positively affected the expression levels of the c-kit, Stra8, and Pcna genes.
Conclusion
This research deepens our understanding of the combined impact of vitamins B12 and C in mitigating the effects of scrotal hyperthermia, providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies for heat stress-related infertility. The findings highlight the importance of considering vitamin supplementation as a practical approach to counter the detrimental effects of elevated scrotal temperatures on male reproductive health.
5. Brucellosis: Pathophysiology and new promising treatments with medicinal plants and natural antioxidants
Mohsen ALIZADEH ; Fatemeh BEYRANVAND ; Saber ABBASZADEH ; Mohsen ALIZADEH ; Ali SAFARZADEH ; Mehdi MOHAMMADI ; Kimia AZARBAIJANI ; Saber ABBASZADEH ; Mahmoud BAHMANI ; Mahmoud RAFIEIAN-KOPAEI
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2018;11(11):597-608
Brucellosis is an old, infectious and common zoonosis whose causative agents are Gramnegative bacteria from the Brucella genus. Brucellosis is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or using unpasteurized dairy products of goats, pigs, camels, sheep, buffalo and cows. Brucellosis is still the most common zoonosis in the world, with most of cases occurring in developing countries. Today, an approach to traditional medicine and medicinal plants, especially with regards to the repeated recommendations of the World Health Organization, is a necessity. One-third of chemical drugs are produced by using plants and there is a high potential to produce more drugs from plants. Medicinal plants are helpful in the management of various conditions, especially bacterial diseases. Although there is not enough scientific evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of herbal drugs for the treatment of brucellosis, there is strong evidence on the antimicrobial effects of herbal drugs to prevent infection. Therefore, this article seeks to describe the antibacterial effects of some plant-derived essential oils or extracts, so that they can serve as promising choices to develop new anti-Brucella medications, as suitable alternatives to conventional antibiotics for brucellosis, as much as possible, taking into account the benefits of these herbal drugs.