The protective role of prenatal administration of ascorbic acid on autistic-like behavior in a rat model of autism.

Background: Autism is a complicated neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by several behavioral impairments. The pathology of autism is complex and not fully known. Several recent studies have shown alterations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in autism.

Improvement of autistic-like behaviors in adult rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid through early suppression of orexin receptor.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disabling psychiatric disease characterized by impairments in communication and social skills. The pathophysiology of autism is complex and not fully known. Considering the incidence of sleep disorders in individuals with ASD and the important role of orexin in sleep, it is possible to hypothesize that an alteration of the orexinergic system could be implicated in the pathogenesis of autism symptoms.

Neuroprotective Effect of Thiazolidine-2,4-dione Derivatives on Memory Deficits and Neuropathological Symptoms of Dementia on a Scopolamine-Induced Alzheimer's Model in Adult Male Wistar Rats.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a decline in memory deficits and neuropathological diagnosis with loss of cholinergic neurons in the brains of older adults. Based on these facts and an increasing number of involved people worldwide, this investigation aimed to study the improvement of memory and cognitive impairments via an anticholinergic approach of thiazolidine-2,4-diones (TZDs) in the scopolamine-induced model of Alzheimer type in adult male Wistar rats ( = 40). The results indicated data analysis obtained from and tests for ()-5-(3-hydroxybenzylidene)-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (TZ3O) (2 and 4 mg/kg) with the meta-hydroxy group and ()-5-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (TZ4M) (2 and 3 mg/kg) with the para-methoxy group showed a neuroprotective effect.

Effects of Goldblatt hypertension on rats' hippocampal cholinergic system.

Background: The classical renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has an important role in the cardiovascular system and water homeostasis in the body. Recently, the existence of RAS with all of its components has been shown in the mammalian brain. RAS participates in many brain activities, including memory acquisition and consolidation.

Silver nanoparticles modify the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis and block cortisol response to an acute stress in zebrafish, Danio rerio.

The present study aimed at assessing the effects of exposure to silver nanoparticle (AgNP) and a subsequent acute stress on the expression of various genes involved in the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis in zebrafish, . The fish were exposed to 0 (Control), 0.1 (LC), 0.

The effect of simvastatin on gene expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor, sterol regulatory element-binding proteins, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 mRNA in rat hepatic tissues.

The study aimed to assess the effect of simvastatin on gene expression of LDLR, SREBPs, and SCD1 in rat hepatic tissues fed with high-fat diets (HFD) and its association with some biochemical parameters. Thirty-two male Wister albino rats were divided into four equal groups (three test and one control groups). The biochemical parameters were determined by using spectrophotometer techniques and the Elisa method.

Effect of Bitter Melon on Spatial Memory of Rats Receiving a High-Fat Diet.

Introduction: Momordica charantia or bitter melon is a tropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceous widely grown in India. Its fruits have potent anti-oxidant properties due to the presence of tannins, vitamin C and flavonoids. There is much evidence it protects cognitive function and cholesterol level.

Vitamin E can compensate the density of M1 receptors in the hippocampus of scopolamine-treated rats.

M1 muscarinic receptor plays a fundamental role in memory and is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD); it has long been assumed as a therapeutic goal. By activating of the cholinergic receptor vitamin E helps with memory retention. But effects of vitamin E on density of M1 muscarinic receptor-immunoreactive (ir) neurons remain poorly understood.

Amphotericin B potentiates the anticancer activity of doxorubicin on the MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Despite the improvements in cancer treatment, breast cancer still remains the second most common cause of death from cancer in women. Doxorubicin (DOXO) is widely used for cancer treatment. However, drug resistance limits the treatment outcome.

Gonadectomy reduces the density of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons in male rat's hippocampus: testosterone replacement compensates it.

Background: In the present study, the role of gonadectomy on memory impairment and the density of androgen receptor-immunoreactive neurons in rats' hippocampus as well as the ability of testosterone to compensate of memory and the density of androgen receptors in the hippocampus was evaluated.

Methods: Adult male rats (except intact-no testosterone group) were bilaterally castrated, and behavioral tests performed 2 weeks later. Animals bilaterally cannulated into lateral ventricles and then received testosterone (10, 40 and 120 µg/0.

The protective role of ascorbic acid on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in a rat model of maternal lead exposure.

Oxidative stress is a major pathogenic mechanism of lead neurotoxicity. The antioxidant ascorbic acid protects hippocampal pyramidal neurons against cell death during congenital lead exposure; however, critical functions like synaptic transmission, integration, and plasticity depend on preservation of dendritic and somal morphology. This study was designed to examine if ascorbic acid also protects neuronal morphology during developmental lead exposure.

ATP regulation of a large conductance voltage-gated cation channel in rough endoplasmic reticulum of rat hepatocytes.

ATP-sensitive K+ channels play an important role in regulating membrane potential during metabolic stress. In this work we report the effect of ATP and ADP-Mg on a K+ channel present in the membrane of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) from rat hepatocytes incorporated into lipid bilayers. Channel activity was found to decrease in presence of ATP 100 microM on the cytoplasmic side and was totally inhibited at ATP concentrations greater than 0.

Evidence for a large conductance voltage gated cationic channel in rough endoplasmic reticulum of rat hepatocytes.

In this work, we report the single channel characterization of a voltage gated cationic channel from rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) membranes of rat hepatocytes incorporated into a planar lipid bilayer. The channel was found to be cation selective with a main conductance of 598+/-20 pS in 200 mM KCl cis/50 mM KCl trans. The channel open probability appeared voltage dependent with a voltage for half activation (V(1/2)) of 38 mV and an effective gating charge z of -6.