The possible involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in amnesia induced by scopolamine was investigated. An inhibitory (passive) avoidance task was used for memory assessment in male Wistar rats. The results revealed that intra-NAc administration of a nonselective muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist, scopolamine (1 and 2 g/rat) impaired memory consolidation in the animals when tested 24 h later. Post-training intra-NAc administration of NMDA (0.005 and 0.01 g/rat) also impaired memory consolidation, whereas post-training intra-NAc administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801 (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/rat) did not. Intra-NAc co-administration of an ineffective dose of NMDA with ineffective doses of scopolamine (0.25 and 0.5 g/rat) after training had no significant effect on memory consolidation, but intra-NAc injections of effective doses of NMDA (0.005 and 0.01 g/rat) prevented the amnesic effect of an effective dose of scopolamine (2 g/rat). In contrast, intra-NAc co-administration of MK-801 (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/rat) along with an effective dose of scopolamine (2 g/rat) did not prevent the effect of the latter drug. It can be concluded that NMDA receptors in the NAc are involved in the modulation of memory consolidation that was affected by scopolamine.
Introduction: simply put, probiotics are beneficial bacteria for our body and play an important role in chronic stress. They have an effect on the behavior of creatures and are transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy. New research has confirmed the effect of probiotics on reducing stress. This study aimed to assess the effects of probiotics on pregnancy stress in first generation off springs in mice.
Method: In this experimental study, 24 mice with a weight range of 28 to 38 g were identified and placed in 3 groups; normal, water, PRB(probiotic ). The probiotic group received immobility stress with probiotic gavage during pregnancy. The water group received saline-induced immobility stress during pregnancy, and the normal group received none stress and gavage. Each group consisted of 8 male offsprings. The elevated plus maze and hole board tests were carried out. The levels of BDNF gene expression in the brain of mice were measured. Serum corticosterone and ACTH levels were measured, then the hippocampus tissue in mice was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining.
Results: Behavioral tests showed that the open arm time among offsprings whose mothers had received probiotics during stress was greater than the other groups, which indicated a lower level of stress. Measurement of corticosterone and ACTH hormones in the serum of first generation neonates showed that the amount of hormones in the probiotic group was significantly reduced compared to the other two groups. The level of BDNF gene expression in the probiotic group was higher than in the water group and the number of dead hippocampal cells in the brain of the pro biotic group mice was less than the number of dead cells in the hippocampus of the water group mice.
Discuss: Consumption of probiotics during pregnancy can reduce stress in first generation children, which was proven by behavioral tests and hormonal and tissue tests in the present study. Probiotics with antioxidant roles seem to reduce cellular inflammation and, by absorbing a variety of vitamins and neurotransmitter precursors, they play an important role in reducing stress in first generation off springs.
In the current experimental work, silver chloride nanoparticles (AgClNPs) were fabricated using Onopordum acanthium L extract and their apoptotic and cytotoxicity properties on breast cancer MDA_MB232 and normal HEK293 cell lines were also evaluated. AgClNPs formation was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) profile. Effect of fabricated AgClNPs on MDA_MB232 and HEK293 cells viability was performed using colorimetric MTT assay. Alterations in the mRNA expression levels of CAD and Bax genes in MDA-MB-232 cells were done using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) method. Subsequently, apoptotic properties were determined using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy studies. MTT results investigated that AgCLNPs have a significant dose-dependent lethal activity on MDA_MB232 compared to HEK293 cell lines. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) results have also shown that AgCLNPs could up-regulate the apoptotic Bax and CAD gene expressions in the MDA_MB232 cells. Additionally, apoptotic assessment was performed by cell cycle analysis, annexin V/PI test, Hoescht 33258 dye, acridine orange and ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining along with the detection of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Our results suggest that novel silver chloride nanoparticles fabricated by Onopordum acanthium L extract can display some promising cytotoxic properties through inducing apoptosis pathway.
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