The antidepressant-like effect of Ocimum basilicum in an animal model of depression

We investigated the efficacy of Ocimum basilicum (OB) essential oils for treating depression related behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes caused by exposure to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in mice and to explore the mechanism underlying the pathology. Male albino mice were divided into four groups: controls; CUMS; CUMS plus fluoxetine, the antidepressant administered for pharmacological validation of OB; and CUMS plus OB. Behavioral tests included the forced swim test (FST), elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the open ?eld test (OFT); these tests were performed at the end of the experiment. We assessed serum corticosterone level, protein, gene and immunoexpression of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) as well as immunoexpression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Ki67, caspase-3 in the hippocampus. CUMS caused depression in the mice as evidenced by prolonged immobility in the FST, prolonged time spent in the open arms during the EPM test and reduction of open field activity in the OFT. OB ameliorated the CUMS induced depressive status. OB significantly reduced the corticosterone level and up-regulated protein and gene expressions of BDNF and GR. OB reduced CUMS induced hippocampal neuron atrophy and apoptosis, and increased the number of the astrocytes and new nerve cells. OB significantly increased GFAP-positive cells as well as BDNF and GR immunoexpression in the hippocampus.     

Histochemical observations on the juxtanuclear complex of organelles in the hamster oocyte.

The hamster ovarian oocyte surrounded by 2-3 layers of granulosa cells develops a large juxtanuclear complex of organelles, consisting of basophilic substance, mitochondria and some lipid inclusion bodies. The basophilic substance staining for RNA, protein and some diffuse lipoprotein forms the material with which the granular mitochondria, composed of protein and phospholipid, apparently multiply. The lipid inclusion bodies consist of phospholipids. The results of this histochemical investigation have been correlated with those of ultrastructural studies on the hamster oocyte. The paranuclear complex of organelles described in this paper has also been compared and contrasted with that seen in the primordial oocyte of hamster, as reported in the previous publication. The functional significance of juxtanuclear entities has been discussed in relation to the multiplication of organelles to be accumulated during oocyte growth.     

Preparation of soybean seed samples for FT-IR microspectroscopy

Typical preparation of seed samples for infrared (IR) microspectroscopy involves imbibition of the seed for varying time periods followed by cryosectioning. Imbibition, however, may initiate germination even at 4° C with associated changes in the chemistry of the sample. We have found that it is possible to section seeds that are sufficiently hard, such as soybeans, on a standard laboratory microtome without imbibition. The use of dry sectioning of unimbibed seeds is reported here, as well as a comparison of different mounting media and modes of analysis. Glycerol, Tissue-Tek, and ethanol were used as mounting media, and the quality of the resulting spectra was assessed. Ethanol was the preferred mountant, because it dried quickly with no residue and thus did not interfere with the spectrum of interest. Analysis in transmission mode using barium fluoride windows to hold the samples was compared with transmission-reflection analysis with sections mounted on special infrared-reflecting slides. The two modes of analysis performed well in different regions of the spectrum. The mode of analysis (transmission vs. transmission-reflection) should be based on the components of greatest interest in the sample.     

Measurement of concanavalin A induced agglutination of follicular, luteal and atretic rat granulosa cells

To determine changes in the surface membrane of granulosa cells related to follicular atresia and luteinization, their agglutination behavior with Concanavalin A has been studied by quantitative spectrophotometry. As compared to the granulosa cells of normal Graafian follicles, the agglutination rate (delta A546/5 min) and final level of agglutination significantly increased in atretic and decreased in luteinized cells indicating the increase of Con A binding sites with atresia and decrease with luteinization. Treatments of granulosa cells with EDTA and trypsin enhanced agglutination of follicular and luteal cells but had no effect on atretic granulosa cells.     

Regulation of in vitro progesterone release from caprine luteal tissues by prostaglandins E2 and F2a

Luteal slices obtained from Day-10 cyclic, sexually mature, mixed-breed, superovulated goats were used to study the effects of prostaglandins E(2) and F(2)a (PGE(2) and PGF(2)a) on the release of progesterone. The goats were synchronized for estrus using a single intramuscular injection of 5 mg PGF(2)a given during the mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Multiple follicular growth and superovulation were induced using a treatment regiment of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) previously standardized in our laboratory (1). The luteal slices were treated with PGE(2) or PGF(2)a at concentrations of 1 and 10 ng/ml each. Untreated luteal slices continued to release significant amounts of progesterone over the entire period of incubation (30 to 360 minutes). There was a progressive increase in progesterone accumulation following treatment with PGE(2) at both concentrations. The mean progesterone values were significantly higher in the PGE(2)-treated groups at all incubation periods than in the controls. Progesterone values at 10 ng/ml were higher (P<0.05) than at 1 ng/ml. Treatment with PGF(2)a decreased (P<0.05) progesterone release at 60 to 360 minutes of incubation compared with that of the corresponding controls for each incubation period. However, there appeared to be no differences (P>0.05) in mean progesterone values between the two concentrations of PGF(2)a. The results of this study showed that PGE(2) enhanced the release of progesterone by caprine luteal tissues, whereas PGF(2)a inhibited its release.     

THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR THE INHIBITION OF INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE—POTENTIAL FOR A NOVEL CLASS OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS

In recent years, NO, a gas previously considered a potentially toxic chemical, has become established as a diffusible universal messenger mediating cell—cell communication throughout the body. In mammals, NO is a recognized mediator of blood vessel relaxation that helps to maintain blood pressure. In the central nervous system NO acts as a non-conventional neurotransmitter and participates in the establishment of long-term plasticity required for memory formation. In addition, NO is responsible for some parts of the host response to sepsis and inflammation and contributes to certain disease states. A number of strategies have emerged with regard to a pharmacological control of pathological NO overproductions. This review will discuss these novel therapeutic approaches that may provide new means for clinical medicine.     

Effects of L-cysteine on lead acetate induced neurotoxicity in albino mice

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that adversely affects nervous tissues; it often occurs as an environmental pollutant. We investigated histological changes in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of adult albino mice following exposure to lead acetate. We also studied the possible ameliorative effect of the chelating agent, L-cysteine, on lead-induced neurotoxicity. We divided albino mice into six groups: 1) vehicle-only control, 2) L-cysteine control, 3 and 4) treated for 7 days with 20 and 40 mg/kg lead acetate, respectively, and 5 and 6) treated for 7 days with 20 and 40 mg/kg lead acetate, respectively, followed by 50 mg/kg L-cysteine for 7 days. Lead acetate administration caused disorganization of cell layers, neuronal loss and degeneration, and neuropil vacuolization. Brain sections from lead-intoxicated mice treated with L-cysteine showed fewer pathological changes; the neuropil showed less vacuolization and the neurons appeared less damaged. L-cysteine at the dose we used only marginally alleviated lead-induced toxicity.     

Molecular evolution of mammalian lactate dehydrogenase-A genes and pseudogenes: association of a mouse processed pseudogene with a B1 repetitive sequence

A mouse genomic clone containing a lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDH-A) processed pseudogene and a B1 repetitive element was isolated, and a nucleotide sequence of approximately 3 kb was determined. The pseudogene and B1 element are flanked by perfect 13-bp repeats, and the B1 sequence starts at 14 nucleotides 3' to the presumptive polyadenylation signal of the pseudogene. The nucleotide sequences of the LDH-A genes and processed pseudogenes from mouse, rat, and human were compared, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The rate and pattern of nucleotide substitutions in the LDH-A pseudogenes are similar to previously reported results (Li et al. 1984). The average rate of nucleotide substitutions in the LDH-A pseudogenes is 4.3 X 10(- 9)/site/year. The substitutions of C----T and G----A are most frequent, and A----G substitutions are relatively high. The rate of synonymous substitutions in the LDH-A genes is 5.3 X 10(-9), which is not significantly higher than the average rate of 4.7 X 10(-9) for 35 mammalian genes. The rate of nonsynonymous substitutions in the LDH-A genes is 0.20 X 10(-9), which is considerably lower than the average rate of 0.88 X 10(-9) for 35 mammalian genes. Thus, the mammalian LDH-A gene appears to be highly conserved in evolution.