BACKGROUND Brain synthesis of steroids including sex-steroids is attracting much attention. The endogenous synthesis of corticosteroids in the hippocampus, however, has been doubted because of the inability to detect deoxycorticosterone (DOC) synthase, cytochrome P450(c21). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The expression of P450(c21) was demonstrated using mRNA analysis and immmunogold electron...

Genistein (Gen), is commonly consumed phytoestrogen among Asian and known to exert weak estrogenic effects. To account for potential reproductive effects in male rats, Control, Gen1, Gen10, Gen100 mg/kg body weight and Estradiol were administered to gestational day 10 (GD10) female Sprague Dawley for 5 weeks. At postnatal day, P50, the rats were sacrificed. Blood was taken and reproductive tiss...

Published results from our laboratory identified prohibitin (PHB), a gene product expressed in granulosa cells (GCs) that progressively increases during follicle maturation. Our current in vitro studies demonstrate that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates Phb expression in rat primary GCs. The FSH-dependent expression of PHB was primarily localized within mitochondria, and positively ...

Objective: This study investigated the effect of resistant maltodextrin (RMD) on reproduction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic male rats. Methods: Forty male rats were induced with diabetes by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg) and nicotinamide (100 mg/kg). Five groups were analyzed in total: normal, Diabetic rats without RMD, diabetic rats with RMD 1.2 g/100 g ...

BACKGROUND The combination of rituximab and 2-CdA is an effective therapy for B-cell tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms and enzymatic pathways involved in the interaction between the two agents are not fully understood. In this study, we provide molecular evidence for positive interaction between these two agents with resultant therapeutic benefit. METHODS Efficacy of the R-2CdA regime...

Introduction: Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β (GSK-3β) participates in several signaling pathways and plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and neuropathic pain. The ratio of phosphorylated GSK-3β over total GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β/t-GSK-3β) is reduced following nerve injury. Apoptosis is a hallmark of many neuronal dysfunctions in the context of neuropathic pain. Thus, this st...

background: plasmodium vivax malaria accounts for approximately 88% of malaria cases in iran. there is limited in­formation on genetic diversity of p. vivax in the country and a need to develop and apply an effective vaccine against the dis­ease is necessary. among many potential candidates, msp -3β gene is promising target. this study was designed and car­ried out to determine the variation of...