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Background: Considering the anti-oxidant properties of Pistacia atlantica and lack of data regarding its efficacy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, this study aims at investigating the effect of the Pistacia atlantica fruit extract in treating experimentally induced colitis in a rat model. Methods: Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 220±20 g) were used. All rats fasted 24 hours before the experimental procedure. The rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, each containing 10 induced colitis with 2ml acetic acid (3%). Group 1 (Asacol), group 2 (base gel) and group 7 (without treatment) were assigned as control groups. Group 3 (300 mg/ml) and group 4 (600 mg/ml) received Pistacia atlantica fruit orally. Group 5 (10% gel) and group 6 (20% gel) received Pistacia atlantica in the form of gel as enema. Macroscopic, histopathological examination and MDA measurement were carried out. Results: All groups revealed significant macroscopic healing in comparison with group 7 (P

Kisspeptin and RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) are known to affect GnRH/luteinizing hormone (LH) in several species, including the rat. It has been hypothesized that GnRH/LH changes during the rat estrous cycle may result from changes in the expression of KiSS1 and RFRP-3 genes. Therefore, the present study investigates KiSS1 and RFRP-3 gene expression at the transcriptional level in the rat hypothalamus during the estrous cycle. In the present experimental study, 36 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (3-4 months old) were used to study the expression of KiSS1 and RFRP-3 mRNA in the hypothalamus during the estrous cycle. Four rats were ovariectomized, whereas the remainder were allotted to four different phases of the estrous cycle (n=8 per estrus phase). Rats were decapitated, and the hypothalami were immediately dissected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Expressions of KiSS1 and RFRP-3 mRNAs were analyzed by real-time PCR. The expression of KiSS1 mRNA during estrus was lower than other phases of the cycle (p < 0.01). Expression of KiSS1 mRNA during the metestrus phase was lower than the proestrus phase (p < 0.01). The expression of RFRP-3 mRNA during proestrus was lower than the diestrus phase (p < 0.01). Results of the present study showed the role of coordinated expression of KiSS1 and RFRP-3 mRNA in the hypothalamus in the control of the rat estrous cycle.

Background The full-thickness articular cartilage defects of knee have a poor healing capacity that may progress to osteoarthritis and need a knee replacement. This study determines the healing effect of bioglue in fullthickness articular cartilage defect of femoral condyle in rabbit. Methods Forty-eight male rabbits were randomly divided into four equal groups. In group A, 4 mm articular cartilage defects were created in the right and left medial femoral condyles. Then a graft from xiphoid cartilage was transferred into the defect together with a designed bioglue and the knees were closed. In group B, an articular cartilage defect was created identical to group A, but the defect size was 6 mm. In group C, 4 and 6 mm articular cartilage defects were created in the right and left medial femoral condyles respectively. The graft was transferred into the defect and the knees were stitched. In group D, articular cartilage defects were created similar to group C, just filled with bioglue and closed. The rabbits were euthanized and subgroups were defined as A1, B1, C1 and D1 after 30 days and A2, B2, C2 and D2 after 60 days. The cartilages were macroscopically and histologically investigated for any changes. Results Microscopic and macroscopic investigations showed that bioglue had a significant healing effect in the femoral condyle. Conclusion Addition of bioglue can effectively promote the healing of articular cartilage defects.

Background: Articular cartilage defect can lead to degradation of subchondral bone and osteoarthritis (OA). Objective: To determine the healing effect of transplantation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) in full-thickness femoral articular cartilage defects in rabbit. Methods: 12 rabbits were equally divided into cell-treated and control groups. In cell-treated group, 2×106 cells of third passage suspended in 1 mL of DMEM was injected into articular defect. The control group just received 1 mL of DMEM. Dulbecco’s modified Eagles medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 1% penicillin and streptomycin and 2 mM L-glutamine were used for cell culture. To induce cartilage defect, 4 mm articular cartilage full-thickness defect was created in the knee. For histological evaluation in each group (H&E, safranin-O and toluidine blue), 3 rabbits were sacrificed 4 weeks and 3 animals, 8 weeks after cell transplantation. Results: In cell therapy group post-transplantation, no abnormal gross findings were noticed. Neo-formed tissues in cell-treated groups were translucent with a smooth and intact surface and less irregularity. In cell-treated group after 8 weeks post-transplantation, the overall healing score of experimental knees were superior when compared to other groups. Conclusion: We showed that Ad-MSCs, as an available and non-invasive produced source of cells, could be safely administered in knee osteochondral defects.

Methimazole is an oral antithyroid compound that exhibits a skin-depigmenting effect when used topically. However, the effect of topical methimazole on thyroid function has not been reported. This study was aimed at assessing the safety of topical methimazole used to treat pigmented lesions, without affecting thyroid hormones due to systemic delivery. The pharmacokinetics of methimazole, either applied in the form of a 5% topical formulation to facial skin or taken orally in the form of a 5-mg tablet by 6 volunteers, were determined. In addition, the effect of long-term topical applications of 5% methimazole on the function of the thyroid gland in 20 patients with epidermal melasma was determined following 6 weeks of once-daily application. Cutaneous adverse effects of topical methimazole were determined. From 15 min up to 24 h after application, methimazole was undetectable in the serum of the individuals receiving single topical methimazole dosing. Methimazole, however, was detected in serum after 15 min of oral administration and remained detectable in serum up to 24 h after administration. Long-term topical methimazole applications in melasma patients did not induce any significant changes in serum TSH, free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine levels. Topical methimazole was well tolerated by the patients and did not induce any significant cutaneous side effects. Present data together with the previously shown non-cytotoxic and non-mutagenic characteristics of methimazole indicate that this agent could be considered as a safe skin-depigmenting compound for topical treatment of skin hyperpigmentary disorders in humans.

BACKGROUND: In-utero xenotransplantation of stem cells in abnormal fetuses effectively treats several genetic illnesses. OBJECTIVE: The current research aimed to evaluate structural and morphological alterations in the liver of rabbit fetuses following xenotransplantation of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJ-MSCs), using a stereological technique. METHODS: All hWJ-MSCs were isolated from the human umbilical cord, and their authenticity was established by flowcytometry and differentiation. At gestational day 14, the rabbits were anesthetized, and hWJ-MSCs were injected into the uteri of 24 fetuses. Twenty-two fetuses were born successfully. Ten rabbit liver specimens were prepared from injected fetuses including; eight rabbits on day three following birth and two rabbits on the 21st post-natal day. The non-injected fetuses were considered positive controls. The livers of the control and hWJ-MSCs-treated rabbits were fixed, processed, stained, and examined through stereological approaches. RESULTS: In the hWJ-MSCs-treated group, the mean liver weight and volume increased by 42% and 78% compared to the control group. The total volume of the hepatocytes increased by 63%, and that of sinusoids by three folds in the treated rabbits. The total volume of the central veins increased by 70%. The total number corresponding to hepatocytes in the experimental group increased by 112% compared to the rabbits in the control. The total volume of the hepatocyte nuclei in the experimental group increased by 117% compared to the rabbits in the control. CONCLUSION: After xenotransplantation of human MSCs, host tissue microenvironments (here, the rabbit liver) were altered and these included quantitative factors corresponding to the liver tissue and hepatocyte morphometric indices.