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Aim: The objective of the present study was to make a complex evaluation of behaviour, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and bone turnover in an ovariectomized rat model used to simulate postmenopausal clinical findings.Materials and methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups of 16 animals each: sham operated (SO) animals and ovariectomized (OVX) animals. Three months after the operation, a battery of behavioural tests was performed including an open field test (OFT), elevated pus-maze test (EPM), the social interaction test (SIT), the forced swim test (FST), and a hot plate test (HPT). At termination of experiment, weight gain and fat deposits (total and retroperitoneal) were measured. Serum concentrations of blood lipids were determined. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) serum concentrations were used for evaluation of the inflammation and bone turnover, respectively. Femur bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results: OVX rats did not demonstrate any significant behavioural changes in OFT and EPM tests but showed a decreased interaction time in SIT and an increased immobility time in FST test which indicated anxiety and depression. The OVX rats had a significantly lower pain sensitivity threshold. They had greater weight gain, increased total and retroperitoneal fat deposits, as well as elevated total fat/body weight and retroperitoneal fat/body weight ratios. Blood cholesterol, ALP and TNF-alpha of the OVX group were also significantly higher. Femur BMD of OVX rats was slightly but not significantly reduced.Conclusions: Estrogen deficiency in OVX rats caused depression, anxiety, hyperalgesia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and inflammationbefore the reduction in bone mineral density was prominent.

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Carrageenan-induced paw oedema is a widely used model of acute inflammation. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the flavonoid fustin on carrageenan-induced acute paw inflammation in rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were distributed equally between three groups – control, F10, and F20. In the course of 1 week, animals were treated once daily by intragastric gavage as follows: control group – with distilled water (10 mL kg−1) containing 50 μL Tween 80; groups F10 and F20 – with 10 mL kg−1 suspensions containing fustin in two doses (10 mg kg−1 and 20 mg kg−1, respectively) and 50 μL Tween 80. After the treatment period, carrageenan was injected in the left hind paw and paw oedema was evaluated 0, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 min after the injection using a plethysmometer. In the control group, paw oedema increased gradually and peaked at the 180th minute. Fustin treatment reduced the oedema in all time intervals and the effect was significant on the 30th and 60th minute after the injection. The present study indicated that fustin could suppress acute inflammation.

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PURPOSE: The present study investigated the effects of GA on exploratory behavior and locomotor activity in male Wistar rats. METHODS: GA (20 mg/kg) or saline were administrated orally to different groups of rats for 7, 14, 21 and 30 days. At the end of each experimental period, the changes in rat behavior were recorded in an Opto Varimex apparatus. The number of horizontal and vertical movements recorded every minute served as a measure of exploratory activity and habituation. The total number of movements was used as a measure of locomotor activity. RESULTS: It was found that after 7 days of treatment, GA did not significantly affect exploratory behavior and locomotor activity of rats compared to the saline-treated controls. After the 14 day treatment period, GA did not significantly affect horizontal activity but reduced the number of vertical movements. After 21 and 30 days, GA significantly reduced both horizontal and vertical movements of rats compared to the controls. At all testing periods, GA did not disturb habituation which is considered as an elementary form of learning. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that GA applied subchronically to rats has a sedative effect and does not disturb the memory and learning processes.

Were studied chemical composition, total content of anthocyanins pigments and aminoacid composition in forest fruits S. ebulus L., Vaccinium myrtillus L., Rubus caesius L., Ribes nigrum, Vaccinium vitis idaea L. and Grataegus monogyna for the purpose of using them as a raw material for the production of functional beverages. In the course of the work, it has been established that the berries are a valuable raw material for obtaining functional beverages. They are the source of many biologically active substances such as vitamins, polyphenol compounds, pigment and pectin substances, amino acids and macroelements.