| 1. |
- Bagheri, Maryam, et al.
(författare)
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Genistein ameliorates learning and memory deficits in amyloid beta((1-40)) rat model of Alzheimers disease
- 2011
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. - : Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. - 1074-7427 .- 1095-9564. ; 95:3, s. 270-276
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimers disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by increased beta-amyloid (A beta) deposition and neuronal dysfunction leading to impaired learning and recall. Ageing, heredity, and induced oxidative stress are among proposed risk factors. The increased frequency of the disease in women also suggests a role for estrogen in development of AD. In the present study, effects of the phytoestrogen genistein (10 mg/kg) on learning and memory impairments was assessed in intrahippocampal A beta((1-40))-injected rats. The estrogen receptor antagonist fulvestrant was injected intracerebroventricularly in a group of A beta-lesioned rats. The A beta-injected animals exhibited the following: lower spontaneous alternation score in Y-maze tasks, impaired retention and recall capability in the passive avoidance test, and fewer correct choices and more errors in the RAM task. Genistein, but not genistein and fulvestrant, significantly improved most of these parameters. Measurements of oxidative stress markers in hippocampal tissue of A beta-injected rats showed an elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite content, and a reduction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Genistein significantly attenuated the increased MDA content but did not affect the nitrite content or SOD activity. These results indicate that genistein pretreatment ameliorates A beta-induced impairment of short-term spatial memory in rats through an estrogenic pathway and by inducing attenuation of oxidative stress.
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| 2. |
- Bagheri, Maryam, et al.
(författare)
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Genistein inhibits aggregation of exogenous amyloid-beta(1-40) and alleviates astrogliosis in the hippocampus of rats
- 2012
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Ingår i: Brain Research. - : Elsevier. - 0006-8993 .- 1872-6240. ; 1429, s. 145-154
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We addressed the question of whether injection of Amyloid beta (Aβ)(1-40) in the rat brain is associated with pathology in the hippocampus, and if genistein has any protective effect against the neuronal damage caused by Aβ(1-40). Genistein is a plant-derived compound with a structure similar to that of the female sex hormone estrogen and it was recently shown that pretreatment with a single dose of genistein ameliorated learning and memory deficits in an (Aβ)(1-40) rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we report that injection of the amyloid peptide into the hippocampus of rats led to formation of Aβ(1-40) positive aggregates close to the lateral blade of the dentate gyrus (DGlb). We also observed the following in the hippocampus: extensive cell death in the DGlb (P<0.0001), CA1 (P=0.03), and CA3 (P=0.002); an increased number of iNOS-expressing cells (P=0.01) and gliosis. Genistein given to rats by gavage 1h before injection of Aβ(1-40) inhibited the formation of Aβ(1-40) positive aggregates in the brain tissue and led to increased number of nNOS(+) (P=0.0001) cells in the hippocampus compared to sham-operated genistein-treated controls. Treatment with genistein also alleviated the extensive astrogliosis that occurred in Aβ(1-40)-injected hippocampus to a level similar to that observed in sham-operated rats. We conclude that the neurons in the DGlb are most sensitive to Aβ(1-40), and a single dose of genistein can ameliorate Aβ(1-40) induced pathology.
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| 3. |
- Bagheri, Maryam, et al.
(författare)
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Genistein inhibits Aβ1-40-induced astrogliosis : A three-dimensional confocal morphometric analysis
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Astrocytes are highly involved in regulation and homeostasis of the extracellular environment in the healthy brain. In pathological conditions, these cells play a major role in the inflammatory response seen in CNS tissues, which is called reactive astrogliosis and includes hypertrophy, proliferation, and remodeling. Here, we performed 3D confocal microscopy to evaluate the morphology of reactive glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP-positive) astrocytes in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease, and we also assessed the effect of the antiinflammatory agent genistein on amyloid-beta-induced astrogliosis. In 50 astrocytes/animal, we measured the area and volume of the nucleus, cell body, astrocyte (soma and branches) and territory (tissue covered by each astrocyte), and total length of the branches. Moreover, we quantified the intensity of GFAP immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. Injecting amyloid beta (Aβ)1–40 into the brain caused astrogliosis, observed as significantly higher GFAP intensity in the hippocampus, and also led to significant enlargement of astrocytes in this area, indicated by increased values for all the above-mentioned parameters. In Aβ1–40-injected rats pretreated with genistein, GFAP intensity was decreased to the level seen in the shamoperated group, and Aβ1–40-induced enlargement of astrocytes was significantly inhibited. Interestingly, genistein also ameliorated the astrogliosis that was initiated by mechanical injury caused by insertion of the injection needle into the brain tissue. This was indicated by the observation that the mean cell body volume and area of astrocytes were significantly smaller in the genistein-treated rats, even in comparison with the sham-operated animals.
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| 4. |
- Bagheri, Maryam, et al.
(författare)
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Protocol for Three-dimensional Confocal Morphometric Analysis of Astrocytes
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Visualized Experiments. - : JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS. - 1940-087X. ; :106, s. e53113-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As glial cells in the brain, astrocytes have diverse functional roles in the central nervous system. In the presence of harmful stimuli, astrocytes modify their functional and structural properties, a condition called reactive astrogliosis. Here, a protocol for assessment of the morphological properties of astrocytes is presented. This protocol includes quantification of 12 different parameters i.e. the surface area and volume of the tissue covered by an astrocyte (astrocyte territory), the entire astrocyte including branches, cell body, and nucleus, as well as total length and number of branches, the intensity of fluorescence immunoreactivity of antibodies used for astrocyte detection, and astrocyte density (number/1,000 mu m(2)). For this purpose three-dimensional (3D) confocal microscopic images were created, and 3D image analysis software such as Volocity 6.3 was used for measurements. Rat brain tissue exposed to amyloid beta(1-40) (A beta(1-40)) with or without a therapeutic intervention was used to present the method. This protocol can also be used for 3D morphometric analysis of other cells from either in vivo or in vitro conditions.
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| 5. |
- Ghofrani, Saeed, et al.
(författare)
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Naringenin improves learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease rat model : Insights into the underlying mechanisms
- 2015
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Ingår i: European Journal of Pharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0014-2999 .- 1879-0712. ; 764, s. 195-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the prevalent neurological disorders of the central nervous system hallmarked by increased beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and ensuing learning and memory deficit. In the present study, the beneficial effect of naringenin on improvement of learning and memory was evaluated in an Alzheimer's disease rat model. The Aβ-injected rats showed a lower alternation score in Y-maze task, impairment of retention and recall capability in passive avoidance test, and lower correct choices and higher errors in radial arm maze (RAM) task as compared to sham group in addition to enhanced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Naringenin, but not a combination of naringenin and fulvestrant (an estrogenic receptor antagonist) significantly improved the performance of Aβ-injected rats in passive avoidance and RAM tasks. Naringenin pretreatment of Aβ-injected rats also lowered hippocampal malondialdehyde (MDA) with no significant effect on nitrite and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in addition to lowering apoptosis. These results suggest naringenin pretreatment attenuates Aβ-induced impairment of learning and memory through mitigation of lipid peroxidation and apoptosis and its beneficial effect is somewhat mediated via estrogenic pathway.
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| 6. |
- Momeni, Naghi, et al.
(författare)
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A novel blood-based biomarker for detection of autism spectrum disorders
- 2012
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Ingår i: Translational Psychiatry. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2158-3188. ; 2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are classified as neurological developmental disorders. Several studies have been carried out to find a candidate biomarker linked to development of these disorders, but up to date no reliable biomarker is available. Mass spectrometry techniques have been used for protein profiling of blood plasma of children with such disorders in order to identify proteins/peptides which may be used as biomarkers for detection of the disorders. Three differentially expressed peptides with mass charged (m/z) values of 2,020 ± 1, 1,864 ± 1, and 1,978 ± 1 Da in heparin plasma of children with ASD which were significantly changed as compared to the peptide pattern of the non-ASD control group are reported here. This novel set of biomarkers allows for a reliable blood based diagnostic tool that may be used in diagnosis and potentially, in prognosis of ASD.
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| 7. |
- Momeni, Naghi, et al.
(författare)
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High complement factor I activity in the plasma of children with autism spectrum disorders
- 2012
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Ingår i: Autism Research and Treatment. - : Hindawi Publishing Corporation. - 2090-1925 .- 2090-1933.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental and behavioural syndromes affecting social orientation, behaviour, and communication that can be classified as developmental disorders. ASD is also associated with immune system abnormality. Immune system abnormalities may be caused partly by complement system factor I deficiency. Complement factor I is a serine protease present in human plasma that is involved in the degradation of complement protein C3b, which is a major opsonin of the complement system. Deficiency in factor I activity is associated with an increased incidence of infections in humans. In this paper, we show that the mean level of factor I activity in the ASD group is significantly higher than in the control group of typically developed and healthy children, suggesting that high activity of complement factor I might have an impact on the development of ASD.
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