Niloufar Darbandi, Hamidreza Momeni, Mahshid Tajiani,
Volume 20, Issue 10 (1-2018)
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer is a neurodegenerative disease wich caused memory impairment, reduced cognitive functions, intellectual ability and behavior changes. In this study, the effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) as a strong antioxidant on memory deficiency and number of CA1 pyramidal neurons in Streptozotocine (STZ) - induced Alzheimeric rats were studied.
Materials and Methods: 32 Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sham group, streptozotocin group, treated group with streptozotocin plus N-acetyl-cysteine, and treated group with N-acetyl-cysteine alone. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of STZ was done in the first and the third day of surgery and i.p injection of N-acetyl-cysteine was done in the fourth of surgery. After the memory test, the animals were killed and their brains were fixed and density of intact neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus was investigated. Statistical analysis was performed with software SPSS, ANOVA and Prisme software. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The ICV injections of STZ significantly reduced memory retention and intact pyramidal cells compared to the sham group (p<0.001). Administration of N-acetyl-cysteine improved STZ-induced effects on memory retrieval and increased intact neurons in hippocampal CA1 area compared to the STZ group (p<0.001). N-acetyl-cysteine alone doesn’t have any significant effect on memory retrieval and the number of intact neurons in hippocampal CA1 area compared to the sham group (p>0.05).
Conclusion: N-acetyl-cysteine improved memory retrieval and hippocampal CA1 area intact neurons in streptozotocin-induced Alzheimeric male rats.
Fateme Halalkhor, Ameneh Poorrahim, Marefat Siahkouhian,
Volume 26, Issue 5 (12-2023)
Abstract
Introduction: Anti-cytokine considerations in COVID-19 patients can play a significant role in preventing death, therefore, physical activity by reducing risk factors, as well as saffron with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, are considered as anti-cytokine solutions. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of saffron supplementation and endurance training on the concentration of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and L-cysteine in outpatients with coronavirus.
Methods: The statistical population of this research is outpatients with coronavirus, 36 of whom were randomly selected. Cytokines and L-cysteine were measured using a special kit and ELISA method. The research hypotheses were checked at a significance level of P < 0.05 using ANOVA test with repeated measurements with between-group factor.
Results: The results showed that endurance activity and saffron supplementation caused a significant decrease in IL-6 levels and the ratio of interleukin 6 to interleukin 10 (P ≥ 0.05). Also, endurance activity along with saffron supplementation caused a significant increase in serum L-cysteine concentration (P = 0.035). The results showed that there is no interaction effect between the measurement stages and the group, as well as intra-group and inter-group differences in interleukin-10 variables (P = 0.511).
Conclusions: The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 decrease due to saffron supplementation and endurance training, and the amount of L-cysteine increases, which helps the recovery of COVID-19 patients.
