Chlorpromazine-Induced Hyperprolactinemia on Rat’s Uterus

Background:

Hyperprolactinemia is a common side effect of antipsychotic drugs that requires further investigation. The current study was designed to evaluate dose-dependent effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on hormonal changes and uterine horn histological structure in rats. Moreover, the mammary glands were analyzed to show hyperprolactinemia-induced histological changes.

Methods:

Albino Wistar rats (n = 32) were divided into four groups. The first group was set as a control. In the three drug-treated groups (eight rats in each group), CPZ was administered by a gavage at doses of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day for 28 days. One day after the last administration of the drug, the animals were sacrificed. Histopathological and histomorphometrical analyses of the uterine horns and mammary glands were carried out to evaluate dose-dependent effect of CPZ on histological structure. Serum levels of prolactin (PRL), estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were also evaluated.

Results:

Remarkable (P < 0.05) elevation was observed in CPZ-administrated animals'' uterine horn endometrium, myometrium, and perimetrium thicknesses, and the mammary glands were observed with galactorrhea features. The serum level of progesterone and PRL significantly (P < 0.05) increased, while the serum concentration of LH, FSH, and estradiol was notably (P < 0.05) decreased depending on administrated CPZ dose. No histological and biological changes were occurred in the control animals.

Conclusion:

The present findings suggest that CPZ-induced disturbances not only depend on PRL level and increased PRL level largely depends on administrated doses of the CPZ. Key Words: Hyperprolactinemia, Uterus, Rats     

Pasteur Institute of Iran- An Evaluation Model

Background: Pasteur Institute of Iran was established in 1919 with the aim to produce vaccines and prevent communicable diseases in Iran. Over time, their activities extended into areas of research, education and services. Naturally, such a vast development begs establishment of a comprehensive management and monitoring system. With this outlook, the present study was carried out with the aim to design a performance assessment model for Pasteur Institute of Iran that, in addition to determining evaluation indicators, it could prepare the necessary grounds for providing a unified assessment model for the global network of the Pasteur Institutes. Method: This study was designed and performed in 4 stages: first; design of indicators and determining their scores. Second; editing indicators according to the outcome of discussions and debates held with members of Research Council of Pasteur Institute of Iran. Third; implementation of a pilot model based on the Institute’s activities in 2011. Fourth; providing the pilot model feedback to the stakeholders and finalizing the model according to an opinion survey. Results: Based on the results obtained, the developed indicators for Pasteur Institute of Iran evaluation were designed in 10 axes and 18 sub-axes, which included 101 major and 58 minor indicators. The axes included governance and leadership, resources and facilities, capacity building, knowledge production and collaborations, reference services, economic value of products and services, participation in industrial exhibitions, status of the institute, satisfaction and institute’s role in health promotion. Conclusion: The indicators presented in this article have been prepared based on the balance in the Institute’s four missions, to provide the basis for assessment of the Institute’s activities in consecutive years, and possibility of comparison with other institutes worldwide. Key Words: Pasteur Institute, Iran, Indicator, Evaluation     

Optimized conditions for determination of total soil organic matter in diverse samples by mass loss on ignition

Reliable measurement of soil organic matter (SOM) contents is crucial to assessment of soil health, productive longevity and the effects of climate change. In this study, the loss‐on‐ignition (LOI) method has been used to determine the SOM of dried soil samples with a wide range of clay, sand and silt contents from the Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency (ALP) program. Regressions of ALP participant data against LOI measurements at 350–650°C indicate that the extent of SOM oxidation depends more on the ignition temperature and time than on the sample compositions. Thus, LOI data from ignition at 350–550°C for 12 h relative to ignition at 650°C for 12 h converge at 650°C and the average coefficient of variance decreases to ≈ 4% at 650°C. Also examined are regressions of soil organic C from direct dry combustion as standards with LOI measured at 360°C for 2 h, LOI measured at 650°C for 12 h and with the Walkley‐Black procedure used in the ALP program.     

Natural Dyeing of Wool by Madder (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubia tinctorum L</Emphasis>.) Root Extract Using Tannin-based Biomordants: Colorimetric,Fastness and Tensile Assay

In this work, the natural dyeing behavior of woollen yarn with madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) root extract was studied. The effects of different tannin-rich plants (Rhus coriaria, Eucalyptus, Terminalia chebula, Quercus castaneifolia, Pomegranate) extract as biomordants and alum (as a chemical mordant) with two mordanting procedures (pre- and metamordanting) on color characteristics of the dyed samples were also investigated. The CIEDE2000 values, color strength (K/S), washing fastness and tensile property of the mordanted and dyed samples were assessed. Visually, a range of hues from orange to brownish-red were obtained. In general, pre-biomordanted samples with Rhus coriaria (10 %owf), Eucalyptus (10 %owf), Terminalia chebula (5 %owf), Quercus castaneifolia (5 %owf) and Pomegranate (5 %owf) showed almost the same color difference (ΔE₀₀) and wash fastness values compared to those treated with 3 %owf alum. Finally, it was concluded from the comparative studies that the biomordants have good potential to be considered as alternatives to the common chemical mordants.     

Effects of melatonin on oocyte maturation in PCOS mouse model

The purpose of oocyte in vitro maturation is generation of mature oocytes that could support future development. Efforts have been made to enhance oocyte developmental competence by developing optimal culture conditions. The present study is conducted to determine melatonin effects on quality of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) oocytes when it has been added during in vitro maturation, and immature oocytes were cultured in defined conditioned medium with and without different melatonin concentrations. Melatonin could significantly improve nuclear maturation of PCOS oocytes (81.1% vs. 56.3%, P < 0.05 were achieved with 10^?6 mol/L concentration). Cleavage rate was significantly higher in 10^?5 mol/L concentration compared to untreated oocytes in PCOS (54% vs. 35%, respectively) and it was significantly higher with 10^?6 mol/L concentration in the control group, 55% versus 38%, compared to untreated oocytes. This study showed that melatonin has the potential to induce oocyte nuclear maturation and guarantee fertilization potential. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Study of Chemical Composition and Efficacy of Different Extracts of Iranian Propolis on the Microbiological and Sensory Parameters of Minced Cyprinus carpio Meat at 4°C Storage

This study has evaluated the effects of different concentrations of the water and ethanolic extracts of Iranian propolis (WEP and EEP) on the microbiological and sensory parameters of minced common carp meat that was stored at 4°C for 9 days. The chemical compounds of the extracts were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. The results revealed that WEP and EEP extracts were efficient against the spoilage microorganisms, including total plate counts (TPCs), psychrotrophic populations (PTCs), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and even Staphylococcus aureus. There was a significant difference in the bacteria growth between samples treated with WEP or EEP and the control sample during storage. Inhibitory effects were, respectively, 7% EEP > 5% EEP > 3% EEP > 7% WEP > 5% WEP > 3% WEP. In all treatments, PTC counts were higher than 7 log CFU/g after 6 days as well as TPC, LAB, and S. aureus populations after 9 days. Overall, the results show that EEP and WEP have good antimicrobial activity due to high phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including caffeic acid, tectochrysin, aceacetin, chrysin, pinostrobin, pinobanksin-3-acetate, galangin-3-methyl ester, and pinocembrin chalcone. Sensory evaluation shows very slight improvement in sensory properties (color, odor, texture, and overall acceptability) of the treated samples with the different extracts of Iranian propolis.