Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases globally. Mast cells are known to be the main source of brain histamine, which is identified as  being involved in seizure modulation. Sodium cromoglycate is a popular mast cell stabilizer and is proposed as the first line therapy in chronic asthma and systemic mastocytosis. Considering the importance of gestational period in brain formation and given the apparent role of the histaminergic system in developmental stages, the question arises as to whether gestational exposure to sodium cromoglycate can impact epileptic susceptibility in the offspring. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gestational exposure of sodium cromoglycate on pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptiform activities in the rat offspring. METHODS: Twelve pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n=4) including: two treatment groups which received intraperitoneal Sodium cromoglycate in doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg once daily at the last week of pregnancy, and the control group which only received Phosphate-buffered saline at the same amount (0.5 ml) and the same order. At postnatal day 12, eight male pups were selected from each group’s offspring. Anesthetized pups were transferred to stereotaxic frame and silver electrodes were implanted surgically over the brain cortex. After recovery, pups were placed into the recording chamber and pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptiform activities were measured. RESULTS: Electrographic data showed a decrement in seizure latency and increment in frequency/amplitude of the spikes in sodium cromoglycate groups in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). Also, Parallel behavioral observations were consistent with the electrographic data. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results reveal enhanced epileptiform activity in developing rats due to prenatal exposure to sodium cromoglycate

Background: Cell therapy and cell culture have received much attention in recent decades. Suitable cell growth requires growth supplements such as fetal bovine serum (FBS). FBS is component rich in nutrients, growth factors and supplementary compounds. However, FBS utilization has some limitations including mass production. Therefore, finding alternatives with the same growth promoting effects is inevitable. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the effect of bovine platelet lysate (PL) and PRP on different cell lines as a cost effective and available alternative for FBS. METHODS: Three conventional cell lines were investigated. Protein pattern of PL and platelet rich plasma (PRP) in comparison to FBS was determined using SDS page electrophoresis, and MTT and plating efficiency of cell lines in presence of PL and PRP were evaluated. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that platelet rich plasma and platelet lysate could increase cells’ viability similar to FBS. These results were significant in comparison with control group. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that platelet lysate could be a valuable candidate to replace FBS in cell culture techniques, however, more studies should be done to understand its exact efficacy.

Background: Fatty acid mobilization and inflammatory response of adipose tissues vary in various depots, hence the response of fat-tailed and thin-tailed sheep breeds to different energy balances was hypothesized to be different due to differences in proportion and metabolism of various adipose depots in these breeds which may affect whole body insulin sensitivity. Objective: Current study aimed to evaluated the changes in plasma metabolites including non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in response to negative and positive energy balances and their correlation with insulin sensitivity indexes in Lori-Bakhtiari fat-tailed and Lori-Bakhtiari × Romanov cross breed thin-tailed lambs. Methods: Thirty-six male lambs (18 fat-tailed and 18 thin-tailed lambs) were placed in individual pens and experienced periods of negative (21 d) and positive (21 d) energy balances. Lambs were bled weekly to measure plasma metabolites. Pearson correlation coefficients among variables were generated using Proc Corr of SAS. Results: In thin-tailed but not fat-tailed lambs, plasma NEFA showed a negative correlation with plasma glucose (R = -0.47; P < 0.0003) and insulin (R = -0.46; P < 0.0005) content. Plasma NEFA negatively correlated with revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (RQUICKI) and severity of the correlation was higher in fat-tailed (R = -0.58; P < 0.0001) comparing to thin-tailed (R = -0.40; P < 0.003) lambs. In fat-tailed lambs, plasma NEFA and insulin were the most influential factors on RQUICKI, whereas in thin-tailed lambs, insulin was the main factor affecting RQUICKI. Conclusion: The results of current study demonstrate that despite higher basal and negative energy balance induced plasma NEFA content in thin-tailed lambs, the contribution of plasma NEFA to insulin resistance was higher in fat-tailed lambs, whereas negative correlation between plasma NEFA and insulin content in thin-tailed lambs demonstrate higher sensitivity of insulin secretion capacity to plasma NEFA content.

Background: Echoes are frequently observed in cat bladder contents through ultrasonography and often mentioned as incidental findings. No comprehensive study has been conducted so far on the precise echoes nature in the bladder contents ultrasonography in cats. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to provide an accurate description of the cat bladder contents echoes and to specify the relationship between ultrasonographic findings and urinalyses. METHODS: 30 adult DSH cats were investigated. Bladder ultrasonography was performed. The numbers of echoes in the bladder were qualitatively divided into four classes. At least 5 ml of urine was collected with cystocentesis. Urinalysis was performed on the urine sediment. The statistical analyses were done. RESULTS: Echoes were observed in 19 cases. The echoes were suspended in 17 of the cases, in those cases they were observed and clumped in 2 cases. Of the 19 cases where echoes had been observed in the bladder contents, 9 included oil droplets, 2 included struvite crystals and 4 included hematuria as reported in urinalysis. For 6 of the cats with echoes in the bladder contents, oil droplets, RBCs, and crystals were not reported in urinalysis. The number of echoes observed in the bladder in presence of RBCs, oil droplets, crystals, and leucocytes was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, most of the echoes observed in the ultrasonography of cats’ bladder contents can be associated with the presence of oil droplets in the urine, which is in accordance with previous studies.

Background: Small intestine and peripheral organs are the main organs for digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. OBJECTIVES: To investigate effects of different levels of Vitamin E and Selenium on growth performance and small intestine morphometry in Japanese quail. METHODS: A total of 405 mixed sex Japanese quails were randomly allocated into 9 experimental groups by 3×3 factorial design (3 replications and 15 chicken per pen) using Vitamin E (0, 150 and 300 mg/kg) and sodium Selenium (0, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg feed) for the entire study. Then, feed intake, body weight gain and food conversion ratio were recorded on days 17-21, 22-35 and 17-35 of the study. At day 35 of the study, 3 birds were randomly selected from each replication, slaughtered and various sections of small intestine (10, 50 and 90% of small intestine length) sampled for morphometry characteristics. Villi height and crypts depth were measured microscopically. RESULTS: According to the results, different levels of Vitamin E and Selenium supplements had no effect on growth performance (P>0.05). Also, supplementation of diet with Vitamin E and Selenium significantly increased villi height and crypts depth in various sections of small intestine on day 35 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest Vitamin E and Selenium supplemented diets had beneficial effect on small intestine morphometry characteristics in Japanese quail. Keywords:

Background: The experimental model of streptozotocine (STZ)-induced diabetes explains changes in the male reproductive system as part of the disease. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the olive leaf extract effects on STZ-induced diabetes and to examine its modulatory effects on sperm quality. Methods: Twenty adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups: the first group served as untreated control. Groups 2, 3 and 4 of rats were injected STZ (65 mg/kg). The animals which exhibited blood glucose levels higher than 250 mg/dl by days 4-6, were considered as diabetic rats. Groups 3 and 4 received olive leaf extract (100 and 150 mg/kg, orally) and vehicle to the control and diabetic rats (group 2) for 10 consecutive days. Results: Glycated haemoglobin percentage (%HbA1c) as a diabetic index significantly decreased in the animals ingested by the 150 mg/kg of the extract compared to the diabetic group (P

Background: The achievement of an effective compound for prevention/treatment of hypertension with fewer complications has been of interest in recent years. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effects of L-citrulline pretreatment on the tension of isolated rat aortic tissues precontracted by different vasoconstrictors. METHODS: Sixteen male Wistar rats (300-350g) were randomly divided into two groups of control and test. The control group was injected 1ml distilled water, while the animal in the test group received 200 mg/Kg L-citrulline (CIT) i.p. for 7days. Rats were euthanized, their thoracic aortas were immediately separated and placed into a petridish containing cold Kerebs-Henseleit solution (KHS). The aorta were cleaned of the surrounding tissues and cut into 4 rings in the presence of 95% O2+5% CO2. The aortic rings divided into 6 subgroups, were suspended into organ bath containing KHS at 37oC. The isolated rings were contracted by 2×10-6 M phenylephrine (Phe) and 60Mm KCl. When the plateau was reached, a cumulative concentration of acetylcholine (Ach) was added into organ bath to induce relaxation. The effects of CIT on relaxation and the role of NO were tested using L-NAME as a pharmacological probe. RESULTS: The pretreatment of rats by CIT significantly (P<0.05) reduced the plateau contraction induced by Phe. CIT also significantly (P<0.01) decreased the contraction induced by KCl and L-NAME+Phe. However, cumulative addition of ACh significantly (P<0.001) decreased the vasoconstriction induced by Phe but not by KCl and L-NAME+Phe in both control and CIT-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: It suggests that, CIT can reduce the rat aorta vasoconstriction through releasing NO.

Background: Feeding unsaturated fatty acids sources in dairy cows is considered as a strategy to improve animal health during postpartum period and milk fatty acid profile. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplement and combination of sesame meal and oil on performance and milk fatty acid composition of dairy cows during transition period. METHODS: Twenty-one multiparous Holstein cows (249 days of pregnancy) were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments including: 1) control with a source of calcium salts of palm oil (0.95 and 1.68% of the dry matter in prepartum and postpartum diets, respectively), 2) conjugated linoleic acid supplementation (0.4 and 0.5% of the dry matter in prepartum and postpartum diets, respectively) 3) sesame meal (2.18 and 4.32% of the dry matter in prepartum and postpartum diets, respectively) and calcium salt of sesame oil (0.83 and 1.4% of the dry matter in prepartum and postpartum diets, respectively) as source of n-6. RESULTS: Dry matter intake, body weight, body condition score, average milk yield and component including fat, protein and lactose were not affected by dietary treatments. The proportion of short and medium chain fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were not affected by dietary treatments. Conjugated linoleic acid supplement numerically increased content of cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid and reduced short chain fatty acids ( CONCLUSIONS: Feeding conjugated linoleic acid supplement and combination of sesame meal and oil had no effect on performance, milk composition and fatty acid profile.

BACKGROUND: Fasciola species are parasitic trematode with world wide distribution that infects wild and domesticated herbivores, particularly ruminants. The aim of the present study was to investigate the intra species variations of F. gigantica, from goats and buffalos isolates in two common geographic climates of Iran. METHODS: Fasciola species were collected from goat, buffalo, sheep, and cattle in different regions. Cytochrome c oxidase I (COX1) of mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) was amplified from individual trematodes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using universal primers, and the amplicons were consequently sequenced and sequencing data were analyzed, using Clutal W software against the GenBank database. RESULTS: A monomorphic DNA segment of approximately 499bp was seen in Fasciola isolates. The results of the amino acid sequence alignment defined strictly conserved amino acid residues in buffalo isolates of F. gigantica and partially conserved residues for goat isolates of F. gigantica. There are four tandem amino-acid replacements in the goat isolates at the position of 135-138, where Leucine (L), F (Phenylalanine), T (Threonine), and D (Aspartate) sequences changed into S (Serine), L (Leucine), H (Histidine), and L (Leucine), respectively. Furthermore, a replacement in the sequence of amino acid was found in isolates from buffalo at the position of 154, where Serine (S) was transformed into Leucine (L). CONCLOUSION: The findings our study indicate that the variants of goat and buffalo can be responsible for persistence of Fasciola infection in the endemic areas of Iran. It seems that biological differences could be occurred by considering a variety of F. gigantica-hosts in Iran. Thus, suitable approaches are required for effective treatments and useful control strategies.