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 Background and objectives: During the last years the effects of pulsative electromagnetic fields have been studied in the human and animals nervous system. The using of these fields in today living has caused worriment in safety of human. Stress causes very problems in behavior and function of biological systems. In this survey the effects of electromagnetic fields on stress behaviors of rats have been studied.

 Methods: In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields with 700 milli Gauss currency produced by triangle electrical currents with low (10 Hz) and high (110 kHz) frequencies on stress behaviors in 60 adult, male Wistar rats. The rats were divided to two groups of control and test. The animals were exposed to the field for 80 minutes and in order to evaluate the possible effect of electromagnetic fields the Tail pinch (T.P.) test was conducted. The results were analyzed using statistical tests.

  Results: Analyzing of the results of response time and stress behavior by T-test. In the group exposed electromagnetic fields of triangular low waves (10 Hz) for 80 min the results were meaningful (p < 0.05). The response and stressed behavior with this field is decreased very much. The results of two groups after 80 min under this field that have a difference in frequency showed that effects of frequency in behavior was meaningless.

  Conclusion: The results of this study showed that electromagnetic fields produce anti-stress effect in rats. The radio waves (A.W) have higher effects.

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  Background & Objectives: Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the effects of acute resistance exercises on the structure and the function of heart, but little works done on effects of chronic resistance exercises. So, the objective of current study was to investigate the long term effect of regular exercises on cardiac function and oxidative stress.

  Methods: Forty male Wistar rats in the weight range of 250- 300 g were used in this study. They were divided in 2 following groups: The 3 months exercises test group and control group which remained without exercises. Regular resistive exercise was carried out according to the model proposed by Tamaki et al. Test group rats exercised for three months. Finally the hearts of 10 rats in each group were taken for homogenization, oxidative stress measurement and the other ten were examined for heart function. Malondialdhyde as an index of oxidative stress and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxides and catalase as an indicator of antioxidant capacity with special kits were specifically measured.

  Results: Regular resistive exercise didn't significantly affect the rats' weight, but heart weight in exercise group showed a significant increase (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in heart rate in exercise group (p<0.05). Left ventricle contraction strength and coronary flow had a significant increase in exercise group in comparison with control group (p<0.05). There was not any significant difference in Malondialdhyde and antioxidant enzymes activity.

  Conclusion: This study showed that, heart efficiency had a significant improvement under effect of regular resistive exercise. Meanwhile, regular resistive exercise didn’t have any significant effect on oxidative stress and heart antioxidant defense capacity.

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  Background: Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron is used for different purposes such as an antispasmodic and expectorant. Recent studies have demonstrated that saffron extracts have antitumor, radical scavenger, hypolipidemic, anticonvulsant effects and it improves activity on learning and memory. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of�aqueous saffron extract�on weight, length, macroscopic and microscopic skeletal malformation in fetuses of rats.

  Methods: Study was carried on 3 groups of female Wistar rats. Group1 was kept as control and received normal saline with equal volume of extract Group 2 received saffron extract with 80mg/kg-IP on 10^th and 11^th day of gestation Group 3 received saffron extract with 200mg/kg-IP on 10^th and 11^th day of gestation. Rats were dissected on day 20 of gestation, embryos harvested by cesarean section. The living status and weight and length of fetuses were detected. After examination for determination of gross malformations, fetuses were placed in alcohol and stained by Alizarin red-Alcian blue method then evaluation was carried by stereomicroscope.

  Results: Saffron extract at dose of 80 mg/kg significantly increased the weights and body-lengths of fetuses in compare with saline and extract at dose 200 mg/kg. Macroscopic and Microscopic studies did not show any skeletal abnormalities by two above doses of saffron.

  Conclusion: The results show short time administration of saffron aqueous extract does not cause malformation on skeletal system.

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  Background & Objectives : Pain is one of the preceding claims of Parkinson's disease (PD), that its mechanisms have not been fully identified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical pain responses induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin in male parkinsonized rats.

  Method : In this experimental study, 40 Wistar male rats were used and PD was established by stereotaxic injection of 6-OHDA toxin into the striatum. Parkinson's disease severity determined by apomorphine-induced rotation test and then the pain response of 4 groups, the control, sham and 2 weak or full Parkinson groups, were evaluated using formalin test. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test.

  Results : In both acute and chronic phases of the formalin test, the symptoms of pain in different groups were same, but at the interphase stage, pain intensity increased more in Parkinson 's rats, especially in full PD group compared to control (p<0.01).

  Conclusion: These results suggest that the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway have important modulating role on chronic pain.

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� Background & objectives: Obesity and visceral fat accumulation after menopause are associated with lipid profile changes, metabolic syndrome and c ardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-week aerobic - resistance training and estrogen replacement therapy on visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors in ov ariectomized rats.

� Methods: Fifty female Wistar rats were ov ariectomized and divided into 5 OVX groups (n=10 rats per group): Ovx+sedentary (Sedentary), aerobic - resistance training (Ovx+Exe), aerobic - resistance training+estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Exe+Est), estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Est) and vehicle group or sesame oil (Ovx+Oil). The exercise consisted of aerobic-resistance training (20 m/min, 3 days/week, 60 min/day, 10% slope, Load 3% body weight) 17b-estradiol valerate (30 �g/kg bw in 0.2 ml sesame oil) were injected subcutaneously three days a week during 8 week. The co-treatment group received both exercise and estradiol protocol as same as previous groups.

� Results: After 8-week of interventions, visceral fat significantly reduced by Ovx+Exe and Ovx+Exe+Est compared to Sedentary rats (p<0.05), however no significant difference in body weight was observed. BMI significantly reduced in Ovx+Exe and Ovx+Exe+Est groups compared to Sedentary group. Also, BMI significantly reduced in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oilgroup (p<0.05). Although this intervention changed lipid profiles, they were not statistically significant in neither of groups. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed usingone-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey&rsquos post-hoc test. The differences were considered significant at p<0.05.

� Conclusion: Eight weeks aerobic-resistance training successfully decreases visceral fat and BMI.

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Background & objectives: Type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder accompanied with insulin resistance of the whole body cells and is considered be the fifth cause of death in the world. Adaptation to altitude can lead to tolerance to many diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of simulated intermittent altitude on the metabolic and hematologic parameters and liver function in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Methods: In the current experimental study, twenty four male Wistar rats weighing 220±20 gr were randomly divided into three groups; normal control group (NC, n=8), diabetic control group (D, n=8) received fat diet for 2 weeks then were injected with streptozotocin (37 mg/kg) and diabetic+hypoxia group (D+H, n=8) including diabetic rat exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (PiO2≈106 mm Hg, simulated altitude≈3400 m, 14% oxygen for 8 weeks). Diabetic, hematologic and lipid parameters as well as ALT and AST activities were measured in peripheral blood.

Results: Our findings showed that intermittent hypoxia significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, LDL ,VLDL and triglyceride in D+H group compared to D group (p<0.05). Serum levels of fasting blood glucose and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance )HOMA-IR( index and ALT were decreased in D+H group vs. D group )p<0.05). Also, hemoglubin and hematocrite level increased in D+H group in comparison to D group )p<0.05). No significant difference was detected in red blood cell count in D+H vs. D group.

Conclusion: Based on resultant data, it seems that intermittent exposure to hypoxia (simulated to chronic and intermittent lodgement in altitude) can be used to control of type 2 diabetes by increasing hemoglobin, decreasing insulin resistance and improving liver function as well as lipid parameters.

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Background & objectives: Estrogen reduction after the menopause is associated with visceral adipose tissue accumulation and insulin resistance. Serum omentin-1 level is also decreased by abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. This study investigated the effect of estrogen on visceral fat, omentin-1 and insulin resistance in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Methods: Thirty 13-week-old female Wistar rats weighing180±5 gr were randomly matched on their body weight and divided into OVX (n=20) and sham-operated (SHAM; n=10) groups. OVX rats were subdivided into estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Est; n=10), and control (Ovx+sesame Oil; n=10) groups. The estrogen replacement therapy received 17b-estradiol (30µg/kg bw; in 0.2 ml sesame oil) three days a week, for eight weeks. Ovx+Oil received the same sesame oil subcutaneously as vehicle. All intra-abdominal fat depots were dissected out and weighed immediately. Omentin-1 concentration was measured by rat omentin ELISA kit and HOMA-IR was used to estimate the insulin resistance. Obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test.

Results: Visceral fat was decreased by 12.84% in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oil group; but it wasn ́t significant. Whereas, body weight was significantly decreased by 7.87 % in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oil; and it was significantly increased by 12.5% in Ovx+Oil compared to SHAM group. Omentin-1 level was significantly increased by 41% in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oil group; whereas it was significantly decreased by 13.9% in Ovx+Oil compared to SHAM group. The levels of glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased to 51.16%, 24.23% and 61.52%, respectively, in Ovx+Est group compared to the rats in Ovx+Oil group (p=0.0001).

Conclusion: 8-week estrogen reduces body weight and improves insulin resistance probably via increase in omentin-1.

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Background & objectives: Epidemiological Studies have shown that diabetes increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD).also several studies have confirmed that long term use of Metformin (Met) improves cognitive function in diabetic patients.  The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Met on learning and memory in diabetic and non-diabetic rats.
Methods: Animals were divided into 2 groups including healthy and diabetic group. In healthy group, normal rats subdivided into control, saline and Met groups which received saline or Met (500mg/kg) and in diabetic group including DM, DM+saline and DM+Met subgroups, diabetic rats  received saline or Met (100, and 200mg/kg) for 20 days. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection (ip) of streptozotocin (STZ).
Results: Our results showed that Met (500mg/kg, ip) impaired spatial learning but improved spatial memory in normal rats. The results also showed that Met improved learning and memory in diabetic rats in a dose dependent manner, so that the rats of DM+Met group compared to DM+saline group found platform in less time and with less distance traveled. Met also increased the percentage of time elapsed and the distance swum in the target quadrant in diabetic rats during the probe trial.
Conclusion: An intraperitoneal injection of STZ resulted in a significant decline in learning and memory and treatment with Met can enhance learning and memory in a dose dependent manner, therefore, it is useful for treatment of cognitive impairment in diabetic patients.
 

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Background & objectives: Depression is a common and debilitating brain disorder and a type of psychiatric syndromes. The most common symptoms of this disease are irritability, worthlessness, sleep problems and anxiety disorders. Reserpine is a drug that can cause depression in animals if used at a very low dose. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments for depression. In this study, the effect of electroconvulsive therapy on male rats depressed by reserpine in behavioral tests and neural counting in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex areas was investigated.
Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were used and they were divided into four groups of ten: 1-control group, 2- ECT group, 3- Depressed group induced by reserpine (0.2 mg/kg i.p.), 4- Depressed + ECT group. Open field, sucrose preference, forced swimming and elevated plus maze tests were used to evaluate anxiety and depression-related behavioral function. At the end of the tests, histochemical studies were performed with neuronal counting in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Results: The results of anxiety and depression behavioral tests showed a significant difference between depressed group and depressed+ECT group (p<0.05). Similarly, studies of the tissue degeneration from hippocampal and prefrontal incisions, showed that ECT could significantly decrease cell death in the depressed+ECT group compared to the depressed group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results, ECT can reduce the anxiety and depression behaviors induced by reserpine injections in depressed animals and can cause neurogenesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.