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  Introduction: The increasing use of EMF (electromagnetic field) generating apparatus (refrigerators, computers, TV, etc) caused an increasing interest in investigations of its adverse effects on human health. This study is done to investigate the effects of EFM on Balb/c mice.

  Materials and Methods: This is an experimental study in which at first a circuit generating low frequency electromagnetic field (50 Hz, 15G) was designed. Then adult virgin female mice were placed in coil and exposed to 15 gauss electromagnetic field for 4 day and 6 hour per day. Then their blood was examined to assay the level of hormones (FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone). Also ovary and uterus sections were studied with light & electronic microscope.

  Results : Results showed that the weight and size of ovary was not significantly affected in females exposed to the low frequency electromagnetic field and their offspring. Our results also showed that the number of ovary follicles were significantly affected in exposed females (p<0.05). Also the study of micrographs showed hetrochromatinated oocytes and follicular cells and increasing polysomes, accumulation of mitochondria and cleft nucleus. Decreasing amount of FSH, LH and 50% decrease in couplation rate was also seen as compared with the control group.

  Conclusion: Results of this study is indicator of EFM effects on gonads^, structure and endocrine system and decreases fertility.

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Introduction: Previous investigations and available data demonstrate that there are different patterns of diseases distribution in developed and developing countries. While in developed countries the major cause of death are cancers, in developing countries the main cause of death are infectious diseases. Various factors may be responsible for different causes of death in two those groups of countries. There are raising scientific evidences that some infectious and parasitic organisms when enter the body may effect the tumor growth. In order to explore this presumption, in this work the effect of Leishmania major infection on fibrosarcoma tumor growth in mouse model has been investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study a group of inbred mice (n=6) were infected with Leishmania major as case group. After one month both these mice and some more mice as control group (n=6) were challenged with fibrosarcoma cells. The size of growing solid tumors was measured in individual mouse every two days up to two weeks. This measurement was performed 5 times on days 5, 7, 11, 13 and 16. Tumor area was also calculated for every single mouse. T-test was used to analyze data. Results: Results of this work showed that the mean size of tumor in case group was smaller than that of control group only in the first week following challenge with fibrosarcoma cells but the tumor mass was bigger in days 13 and 16 in case group. However the difference between the tumor mass in case and control groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Results of this investigation revealed that there was no significant difference between the tumor mass in case and control mice. However to explore more about the hypothesis of this study, it is recommended that the research work be carried out using different tissue parasites and also different cell lines.

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Introduction: The increasing use of the electromagnetic field producer sets in daily living causes concerns about these waves on human health. The effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (50 Hz) on induction of chromosomal damages on bone marrow erythrocytes of male Balb/C mouse has been investigated in this research. Materials and Methods: This is an experimental study in which the laboratory system of producing electromagnetic with low frequency (50 Hz) was used. Five week old male Balb/C mice were divided into three controls, sham-exposed and experimental groups. The experimental mice exposed were exposed to electromagnetic field (50 gauss) for 4 days (12 hours/day). After treatment, the chromosomal damages were assessed using micronucleus test in polychromatic erythrocytes and resultant quantity data were analyzed using t and Mann-Whitney test. Results: Results showed that frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes of experimental group (14/35±1/589) was more than Sham-exposed (8/958±1/049) and control group (7/65±0/768) significantly (p<0/05). Conclusion: Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (50 Hz) causes chromosomal damages induction in polychromatic erythrocytes of bone marrow male Balb/C mouse.

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Abstract Background: Vitamin A is an important messager molecule for differentiation setting, cells proliferation and morphogenesis. In this research, an effect of vitamin A on limb bud development of Balb/C mouse was determined. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 10 female pregnant mice were divided to control and experimental groups. Control mice were maintained in natural situation and experimental mice were received vitamin A 15000IU/kg intraperitoneal injection at gestational day 10.5. Control and experimental mice were dissected in day 15.5 of gestation and after a morphology study their embryos were prepared for histological studies with microscope and were stained by Hematoxylin & Eosin method. Results: Comparison of crown- rump length, fore limb width, length of zone 1 (finger and palm) and zone 2 (wrist) of fore limb and total length of hind limb in experimental embryos with control group didn’t have significant difference in means. But, mean of embryos weights and length of total fore limb and length zone 3 (arm and forearm) of experimental embryos fore limb were more then control (p<0.001). Also, in comparison mean of hind limb width of experimental to contol embryos, increase was observed (p<0.006). But number and size of chondrocyte in 4 zones of fore and hind limb in experimental group didn’t have significant difference to control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Concentration of 15000IU/kg vitamin A has progressive effects on the fetuses’ weight and fore limb bud development of Balb/C mouse.

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Abstract Background: Spinal cord slices culturing from adult mammals could be considered as a suitable in-vitro model for evaluating cellular viability, spinal cord injury and cell death mechanisms. In present study, determining of cell death in motor neurons of cultured spinal cord slices in adult mouse was done. Materials and Methods: In a experimental- laboratory study, thoracic regions of spinal cords from 4 Balb/c mice were cut into 400-µm slices using tissue chopper and incubated in a Co2 incubator at 37˚C for different periods of time. Freshly prepared slices (0h) and cultured slices were fixed and sectioned using cryostat. To study morphological and biochemical features of cell death, fluorescent staining, TUNEL method and agarose gel electrophoresis were used. Results: In freshly prepared slices of motor neurons showed no apoptotic changes. While, 6, 12 and 24h after culturing, this neurons displayed morphological features of apoptosis including cell shrinkage as well as nuclear and chromatin condensation. Also, 6 and 12h after culturing were TUNEL positive. In addition, extracted DNA from cultured slices for 24h were indicated the nucleosomal DNA fragmentation on agarose gel electrophoresis. Conclusion: Results were showed the occurrence of apoptosis in motor neurons of cultured adult mouse spinal cord slices.

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Background: Noticing the daily advancement of the role of electromagnetic field generators in human life, examination of the biologic impacts of these waves has come to be extensively appreciated by researchers. During pregnancy, vitamin A is extremely essential for the development of fetus and its lack, insufficiency or excess can result in embryonic malformations. This study investigated the synergetic effects of vitamin A and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on the development of embryo skin in Balb/C mice. Materials and Methods: This study was experimental in nature. Eighteen pregnant mice were divided into control, sham-exposed and experimental groups. The mice in the experimental group were given an intra-peritoneal injection of 15000 IU/kg vitamin A on the 10.5th day of gestation and were, then, exposed to a 50Hz electromagnetic field 4 hours a day from 10 through 12th day of gestation. The animals were dissected and investigated morphologically and histologically on 17.5th day of gestation. Results: The results showed an increase in the mean weight of fetuses in the experimental group in comparison to the sham- exposed group (p<0.05). Also, Crown-Rump of fetuses in the experimental group increased in comparison to those in the sham- exposed group (p<0.001). Epidermis thickness increased significantly in experimental group in comparison to sham- exposed (p<0.05), while the average number of basal, spinous cells and hair follicles decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the sham- exposed (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate that vitamin A usage and synergetic exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields (50Hz) profoundly affect the development and growth of skin epidermis in the fetus of Balb/C mouse.

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Background: Morphine is one of the derivations of opium alkaloids. Contradictory reports exist on hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic effects of morphine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of opioid receptors involved in blood glucose changes in morphine-treated Balb/c mice. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 8 groups of male Balb/c mice (n=6), including group1(morphine), group 2 (naloxone (morphine antagonist) + morphine), group 3 (naltrindole ( receptor antagonist) + morphine), group 4 (norbinaltorphimine ( receptor antagonist) + morphine), group 5 (CTOP ( receptor antagonist) + morphine), group 6 (saline), group 7 (saline + saline), and group 8 (saline + morphine). Blood samples were obtained from retro-orbital sinus at 0, 1, 2, and 3 hours after injection. Blood glucose level was measured by enzymatic technique. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The application of morphine resulted in significant hypoglycemia in comparison with the control group which was significantly compensated by naloxone compared to the morphine group. The application of naltrindole could significantly inhibit hypoglycemia induced by morphine compared to the control group, whereas norbinaltorphimine and CTOP failed to do so. Conclusion: Since naltrindole could compensate for hypoglycemia due to morphine, hypoglycemia caused by morphine is likely to be mediated by opioid receptors

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Background: Green tea due to its antioxidant properties can prevent some types of chromosomal damage. In this study, the effects of green tea on repressing chromosomal aberrations induced by cell phone waves in bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes of male Balb/C mice were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into five groups: control (natural conditions), sham exposed (no exposure to cell phone waves in vitro), experimental group 1 (exposure to cell phone waves), and experimental group 2 (intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg dose of green tea extract for 5 days and exposure to cell phone waves), and experimental group 3 (intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg dose of green tea extract for 5 days and exposure to cell phone waves). Micronucleus test was run in all groups. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey tests using SPSS software (p<0.05). Results: The mean number of micronucleus in polychromatic erythrocytes of the sham group (3.47± 0.253) compared with control group (3.43 ± 0.605) did not show a significant difference (p> 0.05), whereas the mean micronucleus frequency in the experimental group 1 (5.64±0.308) increased significantly. However, the mean micronucleus frequency in experimental group 2 (0.92 ± 0.129) and experimental group 3 (0.55 ± 0.046) compared with the control and sham exposed groups decreased significantly (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Cell phones microwaves (940 MHz) induce chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes of male Balb/C mice, but green tea has inhibitory effects and reduces chromosomal damage.

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Abstract

Background: Nanoparticles are used in various applications due to unique mechanical and physicochemical properties such as their increased surface area to volume ratio and quantum effects. This study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of zinc oxide nanopaticles on hematological and biochemical parameters BALB/c mice.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 28 adult male mice BALB/c, were divided into four groups (one control group and three experimental groups). The mice in the experimental groups orally received Zinc Oxide nanoparticles with doses of 50, 100 and 300 mg/kg for 14 days. The control group received distillated water only. On 15th day, some hematological and biochemical parameters were studied on the blood samples collected.

Results: Results showed that Zinc Oxide nanoparticles cause changes in blood cells. In high concentration, nanoparticles increased some of factors such as white blood cells, hemoglubin, MCV and neutrophil and besides decreased amount of RBCs, pLTs, hematocrit, lymphocytes, glucose and kratenin significantly (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles cause harmful effects due to the considerable variations in hematological and serum parameters in mice  in a dose-dependent way.