Nongnut Uabundit

Cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects of Bacopa monnieri in Alzheimer's disease model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., a plant belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, has been used in the traditional system of Ayurvedic medicine to improve intelligence and memory for a long time. Therefore, the potential of this plant to protect against Alzheimers disease has been raised but less supported document is available. AIM OF THE STUDY To determine the effect of alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive function and neurodegeneration in animal model of Alzheimers disease induced by ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A). MATERIALS AND METHODS Male Wistar rats were orally given the alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri at doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg BW via feeding needle for a period of 2 weeks before and 1 week after the intracerebroventricular administration of AF64A bilaterally. Rats were tested for spatial memory using Morris water maze test and the density of neurons and cholinergic neurons was determined using histological techniques 7 days after AF64A administration. RESULTS Bacopa monnieri extract improved the escape latency time (p<.01) in Morris water maze test. Moreover, the reduction of neurons and cholinergic neuron densities were also mitigated. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that Bacopa monnieri is a potential cognitive enhancer and neuroprotectant against Alzheimers disease.

Anethum graveolens Linn. (dill) extract enhances the mounting frequency and level of testicular tyrosine protein phosphorylation in rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Anethum graveolens (AG) extracts on the mounting frequency, histology of testis and epididymis, and sperm physiology.MethodsMale rats induced by cold immobilization before treating with vehicle or AG extracts [50, 150, and 450 mg/kg body weight (BW)] via gastric tube for consecutive 1, 7, and 14 d were examined for mounting frequency, testicular phosphorylation level by immunoblotting, sperm concentration, sperm acrosome reaction, and histological structures of testis and epididymis, respectively.ResultsAG (50 mg/kg BW) significantly increased the mounting frequency on Days 1 and 7 compared to the control group. Additionally, rat testis treated with 50 mg/kg BW AG showed high levels of phosphorylated proteins as compared with the control group. In histological analyses, AG extract did not affect the sperm concentration, acrosome reaction, and histological structures of testis and epididymis.ConclusionsAG extract enhances the aphrodisiac activity and is not harmful to sperm and male reproductive organs.

Changes of testicular phosphorylated proteins in response to restraint stress in male rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate male reproductive parameters via changes of potential testicular protein markers in restraint-stress rats.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups (non-immobilized control and restraint-immobilized/stress groups, n=8 each group). The stress animals were immobilized (12 h/d) by a restraint cage for 7 consecutive days. All reproductive parameters, morphology and histology were observed and compared between groups. In addition, the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) and phosphotyrosine proteins (previously localized in Sertoli and late spermatid cells) in testicular lysate was assayed by immuno-Western blotting.ResultsTestosterone level, sperm concentration and sperm head normality of stress rats were significantly decreased while the corticosterone level was increased as compared with the control (P<0.05). Histologically, stress rats showed low sperm mass in epididymal lumen and some atrophy of seminiferous tubules. Although the expression of testicular StAR protein was not significantly different between groups, changed patterns of the 131, 95, and 75 kDa testicular phosphorylated proteins were observed in the stress group compared with the control group. The intensity of a testicular 95-kDa phosphorylated protein was significantly decreased in stress rats.ConclusionsThis study has demonstrated the alteration of testicular phosphorylated protein patterns, associated with adverse male reproductive parameters in stress rats. It could be an explanation of some infertility in stress males.中文概要目 的寻找雄性大鼠应激模型中潜在的睾丸蛋白标记物,探索评估男性生殖能力新的参数。创新点压力可以影响男性生育能力,但其具体机制尚未明了。睾丸组织中酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白在精子形成过程中扮演着重要的角色。本研究首次利用动物模型说明了压力对睾丸组织中酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白表达的影响,进而探索评估男性生殖能力新的参数。方 法雄性SD 大鼠被随机分为对照组和束缚应激的实验组。实验组大鼠每天禁足12 小时,持续7 天。观察比较两组类固醇激素、精子密度、生殖系统形态学和组织学的差别,同时利用免疫印迹方法比较两组睾丸组织裂解产物中急性类固醇调节蛋白和酪氨酸的表达差别(早期在支持细胞中表达,后期在精子细胞中表达)。结 果实验组大鼠的睾酮水平和精子密度较对照组均显著降低,而精子畸形率和皮质酮显著升高。组织学比较发现实验组大鼠精子团数量减少并且出现输精管萎缩。两组大鼠睾丸组织中酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白的表达具有显著差异,实验组95 kDa 的磷酸化蛋白表达量显著降低,但两组急性类固醇调节蛋白的表达没有显著差异。结 论本研究证明束缚应激可使大鼠睾丸组织磷酸化蛋白表达降低,并相应伴随着生殖能力参数的降低。这也许可以从一个方面解释压力对男性不育的影响。

Variant insertion of the teres major muscle.

The teres major (TerMa) muscle has a clinical significance for tendon transfer procedures in patients with massive rotator cuff tears. Individually, it originates from the dorsum of the inferior angle of scapula and inserts into the medial lip of bicepital groove of the humerus. Functionally, TerMa in cooperation with latissimus dorsi (LD) adducts arm, medially rotates arm, and assists in arm extension. The variation of TerMa insertion is very rare. In the shoulder and axillary regions of a 33-year-old Thai male cadaver, the variant insertion of the right TerMa was found. The muscle fibers of TerMa are directly attached at the supero-medial border of LD tendon. Notably, there was no terminal tendon of TerMa. To explain an unusual movement of the arm, this rare variation of the TerMa insertion is necessary to be recognized. This case report is very important for surgeons to preoperatively consider using the terminal tendon of TerMa for tendon transfer in treating patients with irreparable cuff tears.

Antioxidant activity and protective effect of Clitoria ternatea flower extract on testicular damage induced by ketoconazole in rats

Background: Ketoconazole (KET), an antifungal drug, has adverse effects on the male reproductive system. Pre-treatments with antioxidant plant against testicular damage induced by KET are required. The flowers of Clitoria ternatea (CT) are proven to have hepatoprotective potential. However, the protective effect on KET-induced testicular damage has not been reported. Objective: To investigate the protective effect of CT flower extracts with antioxidant activity on male reproductive parameters including sperm concentration, serum testosterone level, histopathology of the testis, and testicular tyrosine phosphorylation levels in rats induced with KET. Methods: The antioxidant activity of CT flower extracts was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Male rats were treated with CT flower extracts (10, 50, or 100 mg/kg BW) or distilled water via a gastric tube for 28 d (preventive period: Days 1–21) and induced by KET (100 mg/kg BW) via intraperitoneal injection for 7 d (induction period: Days 22–28). After the experiment, all animals were examined for the weights of the testis, epididymis plus vas deferens and seminal vesicle, serum testosterone levels, sperm concentration, histological structures and diameter of testis, and testicular tyrosine phosphorylation levels by immunoblotting. Results: The CT flower extracts had capabilities for DPPH scavenging and high reducing power. At 100 mg/kg BW, the extract had no toxic effects on the male reproductive system. Significantly, in CT+KET groups, CT flower extracts (50 and 100 mg/kg BW) alleviated the reduction of reproductive organ weight parameters, testosterone levels, and sperm concentration. In addition, CT flower extracts gave protection from testicular damage in KET-induced rats. Moreover, in the CT100+KET group, CT flower extracts significantly enhanced the expression of a testicular 50-kDa tyrosine phosphorylated protein compared with that of other groups. Conclusions: C. ternatea flower extracts possessing antioxidant activity are not harmful to the male reproductive system and can protect against testicular damage in KET-induced rats.

Duplicated axillary arch muscles arising from the latissimus dorsi

Many origins and insertions of an axillary muscular slip (also known as Langers or axillary arch muscles) have been documented previously. In this report, we found duplicated axillary arch muscles (two variant muscular slips) originating from the inferolateral border of the right side latissimus dorsi muscle. Obviously, these axillary arch muscles can be distinguished as short and long muscular strips. While the origin was the same, the short muscular slip inserts into the fascia covering on the pectoralis minor, whereas the longer one inserts on/into the aponeurosis of pectoralis major. For the surgery in the axillary region, this rare variation should be considered a cause of surgical interventions.

Phyllanthus emblica L. Branch Extract Ameliorates Testicular Damage in Valproic Acid-Induced Rats

El acido valproico (AVP) es utilizado frecuentemente en el tratamiento de pacientes epilepticos y puede danar los parametros reproductivos que causan la infertilidad masculina. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el efecto protector de la rama Phyllanthus emblica L. (PE) sobre el dano testicular de ratas inducidas con AVP. Ratas machos fueron divididas en 6 grupos (control, AVP, PE 250 mg/kg peso corporal, APV+ PE 50, 100, 250 mg/kg peso corporal, respectivamente). Los animales fueron pretratados con PE durante 23 dias y se administro AVP durante 10 dias antes de medir todos los parametros reproductivos. Los resultados mostraron que todas las dosis de PE protegen significativamente el peso y los niveles reducidos de testosterona testicular en ratas con AVP. El extracto de PE mejoro significativamente la concentracion de espermatozoides en ratas tratadas con AVP. Por otra parte, la histologia testicular de los grupos PE+AVP mostro disminucion de la histopatologia testicular en comparacion con el grupo tratado solo con AVP. Por lo tanto, parece que el extracto de la rama PE puede prevenir danos testiculares incluyendo los parametros reproductores masculinos en ratas inducidas con AVP.

Dimorfismo Sexual Usando la Distancia Inter-Estiloide y la Implicación Clínica del Proceso Estiloides Elongado en el Noreste de Tailandia

Skeletal remains are crucial in forensic identification of the sex, especially human skulls including the styloid process, a bony projection from the skull. Hence, the objectives of the present study were undertaken to assess the value of th e sty oid process for the sex identification of unknown skulls and also to investigate the prevalence of elongated styloid process in 102 huma dry skulls from the northeast Thai population. As a result, the interstyloid distances at both base and tip of the styloid processe s were found to be significantly different between male and female specimens, although no significant difference was found in the length of th styloid process between males and females. In addition, the occurrence of the elongated styloid process was not associated with the gen der, although its prevalent laterality on the left was recognized. It is suggested that the styloid process can be applied to the se x iden ification by measuring the interstyloid distance at the base or the tip of these processes.

Ultrastructure of Spermatogenesis in the Testis of Paragonimus heterotremus

Lung fluke, Paragonimus heterotremus, is a flatworm causing pulmonary paragonimiasis in cats, dogs, and humans in Southeast Asia. We examined the ultrastructure of the testis of adult P. heterotremus with special attention to spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The full sequence of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis, from the capsular basal lamina to the luminal surface, was demonstrated. The sequence comprises spermatogonia, spermatocytes with obvious nuclear synaptonemal complexes, spermatids, and eventual spermatozoa. Moreover, full steps of spermatid differentiation were shown which consisted of 1) early stage, 2) differentiation stage representing the flagella, intercentriolar body, basal body, striated rootlets, and electron dense nucleus of thread-like lamellar configuration, and 3) growing spermatid flagella. Detailed ultrastructure of 2 different types of spermatozoa was also shown in this study.