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Background: There are numerous studies on the effects of caffeine on memory and learning. The activation of α2-adrenoreceptors has been reported to impair memory functions in both rats and humans. In this study, interaction of α2-adrenergic system and caffeine on memory and learning was evaluated.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 90 wistar rats assigned into six groups of fifteen. Rats received yohimbine (4, 6, 8, 10 μg), as a α2-adrenergic antagonist, clonidine (2, 4, 6 μg), as a α2-adrenergic agonist, and caffeine (10, 20, 30 μg). The cannula was implanted into the right lateral ventricle of all rats with steriotaxi method. Then, they were trained in shuttlebox. Post-training intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection was carried out in all experiments and optimum doses were identified.
Results: Caffeine and yohimbine fostered memory and learning (p<0.001), while clonidine diminished these abilities compared to saline injection (p<0.05). Co-administration of the optimum doses of clonidine and yohimbine showed statistically significant reduction in the time of step-through latency (p<0.05). Instead, co-administration of clonidine and caffeine revealed no significant increase in the time of step-through latency (NS).
Conclusion: It is concluded that yohimbine and caffeine, unlike clonidine, increase memory.

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Background: The sexually dimorphic nuclei in the preoptic area (SDN-POA) of hypothalamus are a cluster of cells which size, shape and their cellular morphology are related to gender and age. Different stressors affect on hypothalamus nuclei. In this study, effect of vibration stress was studied on endocrine system and sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN) of hypothalamus.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, male immature Wistar rats (15 days old) were divided into 3 groups Control, Experimental E350 and E500. Experimental groups were exposed to vibration stress by shaker with frequency 350mot/min and 500mot/min, 15 minutes daily for 3 weeks. At the end of this period, serum plasmic hormones, such as cortisol, testosterone, estradiol and progesterone, were evaluated. Sections of the brain tissue were prepared for histological and microscopic studies.
Results: Cortisol levels increased significantly in experimental E350 (p<0.05) and E500 (p<0.001) groups. Testosterone level decreased significantly in experimental E500 (p<0.01) group. Progesterone increased significantly in experimental E500 (p<0.01). Estradiol did not show a significant decrease. Microscopic studies of brain showed significant decrease of number and density of sexually dimorphic nuclei in the preoptic area (SDN-POA) of hypothalamus in male immature Wistar rats with vibration stress.
Conclusion: Vibration stress induces dysfunction of hypothalamus- pituitary- adrenal axis which can lead to homosexuality and other sexually behavioral disorders.

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Background: Imatinib mesylate selectively inhibits bcr/abl and other non-specific tyrosine kinases and represents a model of targeted therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) as well as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). This study was designed to evaluate effects of imatinib on pregnancy and development of fetus. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, imatinib was administrated orally at doses of 7, 12, 22, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day and control groups received sterile water. The pregnant rats were subdivided into 2 groups. In group one, the pregnant rats were sacrificed on day 18 of gestation and the number alive and dead of foetuses were checked. The brain of fetuses were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin for histological studies. Selected slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). In group two, the fetuses were allowed to become mature. The effect of drug on learning and memory were assessed by a passive avoidance method using shuttle box apparatus.
Results: Histological studies revealed no evidence of teratogenic effects of imatinib on development of frontal and parietal bones. Imatinib given in 100 mg/kg dose caused weight decrease (p<0.001) and increase mortality in fetuses (p<0.01). Administration of imatinib in 7, 12, 22 and 50 mg/kg doses showed statistically significant reduction in learning and memory of fetuses (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Imatinib can decrease development, learning and memory of fetuses. So, it is recommended that women treated with imatinib avoid becoming pregnant.

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Background: Finasteride, a 4-azasteroid compound, is a specific inhibitor of type P 5α-reductase that converts testosterone into 5α-dihydrotestosterone. In the present study, the effects of human dose of finasteride on the number of spermatogenic cells, seminiferous, prostatic and epididymal tubules diameter and thickness of mature NMRI mouse were investigated, both in in vivo and in vitro conditions. Material and methods: In this experimental study, in in vivo condition, 18 mature NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups of 6: control (without treatment), sham (treatment whit physiologic serum) and experimental (treatment with drug). Experimental group was received intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg/day finasteride for 7 days. In in vitro condition, testes, prostates and epididyms of 18 mature NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups of 6: control (fixation with bouin without treatment), sham (treatment with physiologic serum) and experimental (treatment with 5 mg/kg/day of finasteride in culture media for 3 days). Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey test by SPSS software. P- value< 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: In in vivo condition, treatment with finasteride did not cause significant reduction in the number of spermatogenic cells, seminiferous tubules diameter compared with control group. But, in in vitro condition, significant decrease was observed. In both conditions, the drug could cause significant decrease in prostatic tubules diameter and thickness compared with control group. Diameter and thickness of epididymis tubules were decreased just in in vitro condition.
Conclusion: Finasteride can act in long-term treatment, high doses and in in vitro condition better than other conditions.

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Background: Kombucha is used for the treatment of several diseases, including wound healing, in traditional medicine. Due to its effective abilities, such as antibiotic activities, detoxification, and its impact on skin luminosity, we attempted to determine its effect on injured skin in in vivo condition.
Materials and methods: 30 male NMRI strain were randomly assigned in control (injured skin), sham (exposed with sweet tea) and experimental (received Kombucha) groups. A 3mm diameter wound with complete skin thickness was made on the back of each mouse. Treatment with Kombucha was applied three times a day for 18 days. At the end of study, histological study was carried out on the under-treatment tissues.
Results: Significant decrease in wound diameter was observed in experimental group compared to control group (P<0.001). Furthermore, significant increased epidermal thickness and decreased derm and hypoderm thickness were seen in experimental group compared to control group (P<0.05). Hair follicle diameter was significantly increased in experimental group compared to control group, while skin thickness diameter was in coordination with control group.
Conclusion: External use of Kombucha on open wound skin with complete skin thickness effectively accelerates wound-healing procedure and also increases hair follicle diameter and length in in vivo condition.

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Background: Zinc plays a clear role in the synthesis, storage and secretion of insulin. In this study, effect of zinc intake by pregnant rats on their diabetosized offspring was investigated.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, pregnant rats were divided in two groups. Control group received normal food and water during pregnancy and after birth, and experimental group received zinc sulphate along this time. Male offsprings from control group were divided in three groups: C1: with normal food and water, C2: diabetosized and C3: received zinc sulphate. Male offsprings from experimental group were divided in four groups: exp1: with normal food and water, exp2: diabetosized, exp3: received zinc sulphate and exp4: diabetosized and received zinc sulphate. Treatment continued for 30 days and water and food intake and urine quantity were measured per day for offsprings. Also, weight, blood glucose and insulin level were detetmined.
Results: Water intake and urine quantity were decreased significantly in exp2 and exp4 (experimental diabetic groups) in comparison with C2 (control diabetic group) (both p<0.01). Body weight was not significantly different between C2 group and exp2 and exp4 groups. Blood glucose was decreased significantly (p<0.001) in exp2 and exp4 in comparison with C2 and blood insulin level was increased significantly (p<0.01, p<0.001) in exp2 and exp4 in comparison with C2.
Conclusion: Zinc intake has useful effects on the control of diabetes and it decreases the symptoms of diabetes.

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Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative, age-related disease characterized by dementia and the loss of neuronal cells in the brain.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the male wistar rat were studiedin five groups: control group: intact rat, sham group: NBM destructed rats by ibotenic acid and receiving salin for 14 days via gavage, experimental groups 1, 2 and 3: rat with destructed NBM and receiving 1mg/kg, simvastatin 1mg/kg, and atorvastatin and simvastatin each 0.5mg/kg via gavage, respectively, for 14 days. Learning and memory of all groups were examined by the shuttle box. In order to histological surveys, the brain were removed completely and transferred to formalin 10%.
Results: STL (duration of stay in the clear) was significantly increased in the experimental groups compared with control and sham groups (P<0.001). Statin caused significant decreasing (P<0.001) of TDC (duration of stay in the dark) in the experimental groups in comparison of control and sham groups. Histological studies of brain showed significant increasing of the granular cell in the DG area and also the significant increasing of the pyramidal cell CA1 area in group 2 (P<0.001) and group 3 (P<0.01).
Conclusion: This study showed that statins may result in improving learning and memory and repair of hypocamp in male Alzheimer rats.

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Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sequence effects of simvastatin and fatigue, specifically the interaction between fatigue effects and passive avoidance learning in simvastatin treated rats.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats weightening 300-350 g were divided into 4 groups: control group: treated with enough tap (n=10), Sham group: rats which were gavaged with distilled water and food (n=10), first experimental (Exp1) and Second experimental (Exp2) group: rats which were gavaged with distilled water and food (n=10) and simvastatin with dose of 1 mg/kg for 35 days (n=10). Then, both experimental groups were forced to swim in aquariums for 35 days at 9-10 AM to 13-14 PM. At the end of treatment days, passive avoidance learning (PAL) system was considered and monitored. The learning and memory of all groups were studied. After performing behavioral tests, testosterone and cortisol were measured.
Results: fatigue decreased learning activity in Exp group one (P<0.001), while simvastatin causes increase in learning actitives in Exp group two. Also, fatigue induced by forced swimming caused significant decrease of testosterone hormone level (P<0.001), increase of cortisole hormone level (P<0.001) in experimental groups in comparison with sham and control groups.
Conclusion: Our study showed that fatigue due to long term swimming causes decrease in learning, while simvastatin drug is effective for prevention of decrease of learning and memory in fatigued rats.

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Background: Atherosclerosis is a major cause of death in many countries, which causes specific clinical symptoms that may be different based on the affected area and the characteristics of the lesion. Despite being familiar with this disease, some of its basic characteristics have not been discovered yet. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Scrophularia striata extract on cardiovascular structural changes or atherosclerosis disease.
Materials and methods: 20 adult male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 control groups, hypercholesterolemic (8 weeks of high-fat diet), hypercholesterolemic + Scrophularia striata (4 weeks of high-fat diet + 4 weeks of Scrophularia striata in the amount of 400 mg/kg) and the Scrophularia striata extract group (4 weeks of normal diet + 4 weeks of Scrophularia striata extract at the rate of 400 mg/kg) were divided. At the end of the course, blood was taken from the ear vein.
Results: After consuming a high-fat diet in the hypercholesterolemic group, serum total cholesterol and LDL levels increased and alkaline phosphatase and HDL decreased significantly, compared to the control group. High-fat diet results in increased thickness of endothelium and calcification in the vessel. Also, the above indicators showed a significant decrease in the hypercholesterolemia+ Scrophularia striata group compared to the hypercholesterolemia group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The findings showed that after consuming a high-fat diet, ingestion of Scrophularia striata may have a protective effects on the rabbit’s vessels.