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S Semnanian

Publications and source records attributed to S Semnanian.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Sambucus ebulus rhizome extract in rats.

In this study we used the chronic (formalin test) and acute (tail flick) pain models of rats for evaluation of probable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of Sambucus ebulus (Se) rhizome extract. Sodium salicylate (SS) was used as a positive control. A total of 300 mg/kg of SS (i.p.) had no effect on tail flick latency, while 100 and 200 mg/kg i.p. of extract increased this latency (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). In formalin test, SS (300 mg/kg i.p.) and extract (100 mg/kg i.p.) alleviated the animals' nociception in the second phases, while in the first phase, only the extract caused an anti nociceptive effect (P < 0.05). A total of 200 mg/kg of the extract showed a significant effect on both phases (P < 0.001), which was not reversed by naloxone (2 mg/kg i.p.). On the other hand in the acute anti-inflammatory test, the plant extract (200 mg/kg i.p.) showed a significant effect, (e.g. SS P < 0.01) and was not reversed by naloxone (2 mg kg i.p.). Therefore, it seems that the mechanism of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions of extract are not related to the opioid system, of course the comparison of chronic administration of SS and Se showed a rapid onset of action for Se rather than SS. and because of its effect on tail flick latency and both phases of formalin test. the site of its analgesic action is probably central. Our phytochemical studies indicate that methanol extract of plant rhizome contains flavonoids, steroids, glycosides and tannins. The LD50 of the extract was 600 mg/kg.

Analgesics↗

Augmentation of LTP induced by primed-bursts tetanic stimulation in hippocampal CA1 area of morphine dependent rats.

The effects of chronic morphine administration on the development of Long-term potentiation (LTP) were investigated at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapses of the rat hippocampal slices using primed-bursts tetanic stimulation. Significant enhancement of orthodromic population spike (OPS) was found for all stimulus intensities after tetanic stimulation. OPS enhancement was greatest when tested with low to mid-range stimulus intensities (25 and 50 microA). There was also significant decrease in OPS delay. These responses were similar in slices from both control and morphine dependent rats. At all delivered stimulus intensities, the amount of LTP of OPS in slices from dependent rats was larger than that of control slices. However, these differences in LTP of OPS were significant at low stimulus intensities. These findings suggest that chronic morphine administration had induced changes in CA1 neurocircuitry which modulated synaptic plasticity during high frequency stimulation and appeared as augmented LTP.

Animals↗

Examination of persistent effects of repeated administration of pentylenetetrazol on rat hippocampal CA1: evidence from in vitro study on hippocampal slices.

The early and long-lasting effects of pentylenetetrazol-kindling on hippocampal CA1 synaptic transmission were investigated. Experiments were carried out in the hippocampal slices from control and kindled rats at two post-kindling periods, i.e. 48-144 h (early phase) and 30-33 days (long-lasting phase). Field potentials, i.e. population excitatory postsynaptic potential (pEPSP) and population spike (PS) were recorded at the stratum pyramidale following stimulation of the stratum radiatum. Kindling-induced changes in synaptic transmission were assessed by stimulus-response functions and paired-pulse responses. The results showed that 48-144 h after kindling, the PS amplitude in the CA1 of kindled slices enhanced, and a second PS appeared compared to control slices. But at 30-33 days after kindling, the pEPSP slope in the CA1 of kindled slices enhanced without any change in the PS compared with those in the control slices. Evaluation of paired-pulse responses showed a significant reduction in paired-pulse inhibition for PS 48-144 h after kindling and a significant increase in paired-pulse inhibition for pEPSP 30-33 days after kindling. Our results suggest that pentylenetetrazol-kindling is accompanied by enhanced excitability and a reduction of paired-pulse inhibition in hippocampal CA1. The increased paired-pulse inhibition one month after kindling, may be interpreted as an adaptive process to cope with subsequent seizures.

Analysis of Variance↗

Involvement of GABAB receptors in the antinociception induced by baclofen in the formalin test.

1. The effect of GABA receptor antagonists on baclofen-induced antinociception was examined in rats using the formalin test. Intraperitoneal (IP) administration of different doses of baclofen (2.5-10 mg kg-1) to rats induced antinociception in both phases of the test. 2. The response was dose-dependent and the maximum response was observed with 10 mg kg-1 of the drug. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of baclofen (0.5-20 micrograms/rat) also induced dose-dependent antinociception in the second phase of the formalin test. 3. The GABAB antagonist, phaclofen (1 mg kg-1, IP) but not the GABAA antagonists picrotoxin (1 mg kg-1, IP) and bicuculline (1.5 mg kg-1, IP), decreased the antinociception induced by both ICV and IP administration of baclofen. 4. It is concluded that baclofen antinociception in the formalin test is mediated through GABAB receptor activation.

Animals↗

Antinociceptive effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves extract.

There are some reports concerning the antinociceptive effects of the plant Trigonella foenum-graecum (TFG) in Iranian traditional medicine. Because of the side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive drugs, and in search for more potent and less harmful compounds, we tried to study the antinociceptive effects of TFG leaves by using tail-flick and formalin tests. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 500 mg/kg of TFG extract and 100 and 300 mg/kg of sodium salicylate (SS), as a positive control, did not show any effect in the tail-flick test, but the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of the extract produced significant increase in the tail-flick latency. SS (300 mg/kg, i.p.) induced antinociception in the second phase of the formalin test. TFG (500 mg/kg, i.p.) demonstrated antinociception only in the first phase, but 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, i.p. doses alleviated the pain in both phases. Preliminary LD50 of the extract was very close to 4000 mg/kg, i.p. We conclude that: (1) the extract of TFG leaves produces antinociceptive effects through central and peripheral mechanisms; (2) the antinociceptive effects of 2000 mg/kg of the extract was more potent than 300 mg/kg of SS.

Analgesics↗

Repeated administration of pentylenetetrazol alters susceptibility of rat hippocampus to primed-burst stimulation: evidence from in vitro study on CA1 of hippocampal slices.

The effectiveness of theta pattern primed-bursts (PBs) on development of primed-burst (PB) potentiation was investigated in hippocampal CA1 of pentylenetetrazol-kindled rats. Experiments were carried out in the hippocampal slices from control and kindled rats at two post-kindling periods, i.e., 48-144 h (early phase) and 30-33 days (long-lasting phase). Field potentials (population excitatory post-synaptic potential, pEPSP) were recorded at stratum radiatum following stimulation of the stratum fibers. theta pattern primed-bursts were delivered to stratum radiatum and PB potentiation was assessed. The results showed that 48-144 h after kindling, PB potentiation in CA1 of kindled slices is significantly greater than control slices. In contrast, 30, 33 days after kindling PB potentiation was not observed and the pEPSP slope was depressed after PBs delivery, which lasted at least 60 min. Our results suggest that shortly after kindling, PB potentiation can be more readily induced while one month later, it is more difficult ot elicit. These findings may help to explain the behavioral deficits seen with the kindling model of epilepsy.

Animals↗

Effects of reversible inactivation of the medial septal area on long-term potentiation and recurrent inhibition of hippocampal population spikes in rats.

We assessed the effects of reversible inactivation of the medial septal area (MSA) on long-term potentiation (LTP) and recurrent inhibition in the dentate gyrus of urethane-anesthetized rats, in vivo. The septal input to the hippocampus was temporarily eliminated by injection of tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10 ng/l microliter) into the MSA. In Experiment 1, LTP inducibility was examined in the perforant-dentate gyrus synapses in the MSA inactivated and control rats by 2 high-frequency stimulation (HFS), 5 min apart, applied to the perforant pathway (PP). The magnitude of potentiation was evaluated as the percentage change in the population spike (PS) amplitude at 5, 30, 60 or 120 min after the second HFS. The PS amplitude in the MSA inactivated rats was significantly lower than those of control group at 120 but not 5, 30 or 60 min after the second HFS. The MSA inactivation itself had no effect on the basal responses evoked by test stimuli. In Experiment 2, the MSA inactivation did not affect the efficacy of recurrent inhibition in the perforant-dentate gyrus synapses produced by paired pulses applied to the PP at 10- and 20-ms interpulse intervals. These results indicate that: (1) although hippocampal synapses can be still potentiated after the HFS in the MSA inactivated animals, a faster decay of LTP may be due to elimination of the MSA output amplification on synaptic responses mediated by excitatory amino acids; and (2) the recurrent inhibition mechanism in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is not probably affected by the MSA inactivation.

Action Potentials↗

An accurate and simple method for measurement of paw edema.

Several methods for measuring inflammation are available that rely on the parameters changing during inflammation. The most commonly used methods estimate the volume of edema formed. In this study, we present a novel method for measuring the volume of pathologically or artificially induced edema. In this model, a liquid column is placed on a balance. When an object is immersed, the liquid applies a force F to attempt its expulsion. Physically, F is the weight (W) of the volume of liquid displaced by that part of the object inserted into the liquid. A balance is used to measure this force (F=W).Therefore, the partial or entire volume of any object, for example, the inflamed hind paw of a rat, can be calculated thus, using the specific gravity of the immersion liquid, at equilibrium mass/specific gravity=volume (V). The extent of edema at time t (measured as V) will be V(t)-V(o). This method is easy to use, materials are of low cost and readily available. It is important that the rat paw (or any object whose volume is being measured) is kept from contacting the wall of the column containing the fluid whilst the value on the balance is read.

Animals↗