International Journal of Medical Laboratory

93-99

Authors: Hamid Reza Jamshidi * , Elham Ebrahimi

Background and Aims: Diabetes is one of the most important endocrine disrupters and is associated with various hormones, including those that can lead to diabetes. Glucocorticoid use may lead to insulin resistance. Dexamethasone is one of these glucocorticoid compounds. Glutamate dehydrogenase plays a key role in the production of glutamate in the secretion of insulin. Based on these hormonal interactions, the aim of this study was to determine the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and insulin secretion in dexamethasone-exposed mice. Materials and Methods: Twenty eight mice were divided into 4 experimental groups. Group 1 received standard normal saline as a control. Group 2 received standard food and received 1 mg / kg dexamethasone per day. Group 3 received standard diet and dexamethasone 3 mg / kg / day and group 4 with standard diet 5 mg / kg dexamethasone per day. After 21 days, the animals were killed, the pancreas and glutamate dehydrogenase, insulin, and serum glucose levels were determined. Results: Dexamethasone increased serum glucose levels significantly (P <0.05). Dexamethasone increased the glutamate dehydrogenase activity and insulin levels in dexamethasone treated mice (p<0.05) Conclusions: These results suggestd that dexamethasone increases glucose which leads to elevating glutamate dehydrogenase activity, and then increasing insulin. However, insulin was not enough to normalize glucose levels and led to hyperglycemia. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce dexamethasone administration.

107-114

Authors: Darya Ghadimi , Mohammad Taghi Goodarzi * , Mahdi Bahmani , Zohre Khajeahmadi

Background and Aims: Small dense low-density lipoproteins (sd-LDL) particles are smaller and heavier than typical LDL ones. They can penetrate into the endothelium of coronary arteries more easily because of their small size. Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by dyslipidemia such as increasing concentration of plasma very low density lipoprotein and sd-LDL. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ ) can decrease the level of sd-LDL in plasma. Biochanin A (BCA), a natural compound, is a PPARγ agonist. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of BCA on sd-LDL-Clolesterol level in diabetic animals. Materials and Methods: Adult male rats (Wistar strain) were used as the animal models in this study. Animals were made diabetic by single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin- Nicotinamide and then treated by 1 and 5 mg/kg of BCA for 28 days. Body weight and fasting blood glucose were also tested before and at the end of treatment. Furthermore, the size of LDL particles were measured by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis assay. Results: Results of the present study indicated that BCA administration at dose of 5mg/kg decreased fasting blood glucose level and increased body weight and diameter of LDL particles in diabetic animals significantly. Conclusions: BCA seems to be an appropriate agent in diabetes mellitus, because it improves the diabetic dyslipidemia, which is the most important complication in diabetic patients.

124-130

Authors: Vahid Nasiri * , Farnoosh Jameie , Habibollah Paykari

Background and Aims: The protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are the causative agents of various clinical diseases. Different methods of cultivation of Leishmania parasites are available. In the present study, the efficacy of the LB broth with rabbit lyophilized anti-sheep red blood cell haemolysin was evaluated in the cultivation of promastigotes of Leishmania major. Materials and Methods: Conventional LB broth medium was prepared and autoclaved for 15 min at 121°C and then lyophilized rabbit anti-sheep cell haemolysin was added at 1-10% final concentrations. The efficacy of the medium was evaluated by assessing the growth ability and replication patterns of the promastigotes of Leishmania major. Results: Medium with 1-10% lyophilized rabbit haemolysin supported the growth of the parasites and can be used for cultivation of Leishmania parasites with acceptable In vivo infectivity for research purpose. Conclusions: The ability of the parasites to survive and proliferate in the presence of lyophilized rabbit haemolysin indicates that this material is a good nutritional source. This study opens a new way to make low-cost medium that can be used in cultivation of Leishmania parasites.

138-144

Authors: Saam Torkan * , Hassan Momtaz

Background and Aims: Leptospirosis is a spirochetal disease with public health importance globally. This disease affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Dogs are one of the species most sensitive to Leptospira canicola and Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. The present study was concluded to evaluate the prevalence rate of Leptospira species and L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars in Iranian stray dogs. Materials and Methods: One-hundred and twenty blood samples were first taken from stray dogs. Then the samples were transferred to the laboratory. Sera were extracted from blood samples and genomic DNA was extracted. DNA samples were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction. Positive samples for Leptospira spp. were analyzed for presence of L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Nine samples out of 120 serum samples (7.5%) were positive for the flagella gene of the Leptospira spp. Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in serum samples of male and female dogs were 5.4% and 10.86%, respectively. Prevalence of L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae serovars were 55.55% and 33.33%, respectively. We found that 11.11% of samples were positive for both serovars. Two to three and 3-4 year old dogs had the highest prevalence of Leptospira spp. Conclusions: The considerable prevalence of leptospirta spp. and also their zoonotic serovars among Iranian stray dogs represented an important public health issue regarding the contact of healthy human with these dogs. Identification of infected dogs and their vaccination can inhibit the distribution of Leptospira spp.