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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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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: 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