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Abstract Objective: One of the most impact of rodent`s study is the capability of disease transmitting to human. Rodents are the reservoirs for the assortment of zoonotic infections. Material and method: In this study 108 rats were collected, using wire traps, between autumn 2010 till summer 2011 from Dezfoul and Andimeshk Khuzestan province, Iran. Worms were identified following the precise dissection which has been performed in laboratory of Parasitology, school of public health, Tehran University of medical sciences, Iran. Result: Amongst 108 captured rats, 38 rats were found infected with parasitic worms . In the midst of 38 infected rats 6 mix infections were seen, According to the above results, the prevalence of parasitic infection in collected rats were 35.1%. Seven recognized species were Trichosomoides crassicauda (13.8%), Hymenolepis diminuta (10.1%), Cystycercus fasciolaris(7.4%),Richtolaria ratti(2.7%), Moniliformis moniliformis (2.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (1.8%) and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (1.8%) Discussion& Conclusion: According to this study`s outcome 5 species ,H.nana ,H.diminuta, M.moniliformis, Richtolaria ratti and C.fasciolaris , have been reported as parasitic zoonoses worms which possess the ability of human infecting due to literature review. M.moniliformis and H,diminuta that exist in the list above require an arthropod intermediate hosts in favour of infecting definitive hosts including human. Flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) as a grains pests is a well-known exemplary which can illustrate the importance of food sanitation.

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Introduction: Melatonin is the main prod-uct of pineal gland that has been associated with body's physiologic rhythms. New evidence suggests that melatonin plays a role in pain system. For example, the per-ipheral co-administration of melatonin and morphine produce additive analgesic effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of central injection of melatonin on the formalin-induced pain in white male rats. Materials & Methods: In this study, 40 NMRI white rats were divided into four equal groups (each group=10 rats) inclu-ding: control, sham (having canola without melatonin injection) and 2 melatonin group that received melatonin 0.5 and 0.1µg /kg, respectively. The canola was implemented in the right brain ventricle of the rats via sterotaxic method. After 7 days of resting and then returning to normal condition, first dose of melatonin was injected and a half hour after it 50 microliter formalin (2.5 %) was injected at the floor of right foot to evaluate the acute and chronic pain. Data acquisitions were done through counting the number of licking the injected foot and accumulation of dorsal area skin (flinching) for 1 hour. Then, the acquired data were statistically analyzed. Findings: Administration of melatonin at the acute phase, reduced licking of the inje-cted site in both treatment groups compared to the control group (P<0.05, 0.01). In the chronic phase, the administration of 0.5 µg melatonin, significantly decreased the num-ber of the foot licking compared to the co-ntrol group, especially at 15-40 and 60 minutes of test (P<0.01). The sign of behind skin flinching significantly decreased with using of 0.5µg of melatonin compared to the control group, particularly at the acute phase and beginning time of the chronic phase (P<0.05). This behavior was increa-sed in both groups receiving melatonin at the end of chronic phase, mainly at 55 and 60 minutes of formalin test (P<0.01, 0.001). Discussion & Conclusion: Our study sho-wed that the central injection of melato-nin has a significant analgesic effect how-ever, the analgesic pattern may vary depen-ding on time.

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Introduction: Almond as a traditional medicinal plant has been used as antidiabetic and hypoglycemic in some area of Iran. This study aimed to determine the effect of almond root extract and its effective compound 'amygdalin' on blood glucose level of diabetic rats. Materials & Methods: 48 NMRI male rats (180-250gr) divided to 2 groups normal and diabetic, which included three saline, amygdalin (received i.p. injections of 100 mg/kg per day, for a weak) and extract (received oral gavages of 100 mg/kg almond root extract per day, for a weak) subgroups. Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocine (60mg/kg, i.p.). Blood glucose of each sample was measured in 4, 8, 24 hour and one week after the last treatment, by using spectrophotometer, related kits and glucose oxidase method (absorption at a wavelength of 520 nm). Data were analyzed by using ANOVA, t-test and Dunnett. Results: Treatment of diabetic rats with amygdalin or almond extract were decreased significantly blood glucose at 4 and 8 hours after prescription periods compare to saline group(P<0.0001). But there was no significant difference among these groups at 24 hour and one week timescales. Conclusion: Amygdalin and bitter almond extract can reduce blood glucose in diabetic rats.

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Introduction: Medicinal plants have gained more attention due to memory disorders such as Alzheimer and the side effects of synthetic drugs. With regard to the usage of this plant in traditional medicine to enhance memory and as there has not been any research on the effect of Cyperus rotundus (C. rotundus) rhizome extract on learning and memory, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of C. rotundus rhizome extract on learning and memory in male rats.
 Materials & Methods: For this purpose, male rats were randomly divided into a control group (which received solvent) and treatment group. The rhizome extract was administered at doses of 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg for 10 days in the treated group intraperitoneal ly. For evaluating learning and memory, initial (IL) and step-through latencies (STL) were determined at the end of the study using passive avoidance test and alternation behavior percentage was obtained using Y maze.
 Findings: There was no significant diff-erence in IL, between treated and control groups which mean no change in the ability to learn new information in treated rats. On the other hand, there was a significant difference in STL at dose of 100mg/kg gr-oup compared to the control group (p<0.01). On the Y maze test, alternation percentage showed a significant difference in 10mg/kg group compared to the control (p< 0.001).
 Discussion: Intraperitoneal injection of C. rotundus extract enhances information rec-all. However, its positive effect is more in long-term memory than in short-term memory.

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Introduction: Ulcer and its complications can cause many problems for patients. Therefore, understanding the factors that can influence wound healing and prevent the spread of damage is important. The study aimed to identify factors affecting wound healing yellow Aloevera plant and propolis extracts.

Materials & methods: In this study, 50 male wistar rats (180-130Grm) were randomly selected and divided into five groups: control, diabetic rats, diabetic rats treated with Aloevera plant, diabetic rats treated with propolis extract and diabetic rats treated with their combination. Then each of five groups after being injured 2 cm in length, were made on the skin and the wound healing process was followed daily. Wound area was measured at the next days and MATLAB software was used for calculating the percentage of wound healing. In order to study pathology on days 4, 7, 14 and 21 of the wounds were sampled and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the differences between the groups and Tukey post hoc test was used to specify where the difference occurred.

Findings: The mean healing time in the experimental group treated with a combination of Aloevera plant and propolis extract was less than the other groups (P≤0.01). Also, the histological study Confirmed improvement in skin texture treatment with Aloevera plant and propolis extract significant difference compared to the other groups (P≤0.01).

Diacussion & Conclusions: The study showed that topical administration of Aloevera plant and propolis extract accelerate healing of diabetic ulcers.

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Introduction: Agouti-Related Protein (AGRP) and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) are neuropeptidesthat involved in appetite control. Few studies have been done on the long-term effects of endurance training on these neuropeptides.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 16 weeks of endurance training on plasma AGRP and NPY levels in Wistar rats.

Materials & methods: 20 male young Wistar rats, with mean ages of 50 to 60 days and the average weight of 158 ± 10 g were randomly divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and training (n = 10). Training program was Endurance training on treadmill for 50-60 min/d, 5d/wk at 25-30 m/min, which is equal to 65-85% VO_2max, for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, fasting blood sampling was conducted 24 hours after the last training session. t test was used for data analyses. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Findings: The results of the study indicated that endurance training with 65-85% of vo_{2 max} causes a significant increase in plasma AGRP (p=0.001) and non-significant increase in plasma NPY levels in training group compared to control group.

Discussion & conclusions: It seems that endurance training causes a negative energy balance in rats, and to compensate this negative energy balance, plasma AGRP increases significantly and plasma NPY increases insignificantly (increase by more than 23%).

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Introduction: In this study, we investigated the hypothesis of whether short term and moderate intense treadmill exercise could lead to a sustained reversal of peripheral neuropathy induced cold aversion by activation of endogenous opioidergic systems.
 
Materials & Methods: The tibial nerve transection (TNT) was performed in the anesthetized rats. 28 days after TNT surgery, the animals were randomized to three sedentary and four treadmill exercise (14 days, 30 min/day with max speed of 1.2 Km/h) groups. Animal activity and thermal preference behavior were determined by double plate technique (thermo-neutral plate: 24 ºC and cold plate: 14 ºC), equipped with a video tracking software. For determination of opioidergic system involvement, intraperitoneal injection of naltroxone (2 mg/kg) was done before exercise. Morphine (2.5 mg/kg) and naloxone (1 mg/kg) were also used exactly after the end of the last session of exercise.
 
Findings: Tibial nerve transection significantly decreased the animals’ activities (P<0.001), the time spent in cold plate (P<0.002) and increased escape index from the cold plate (E.I), (P<0.0001), in comparison with intact animals. Treadmill exercise significantly prevented cold allodynia (P<0.002), increased animal activity (P<0.01) and decreased E.I (P<0.0001) 42 days after TNT surgery. Administration of morphine in the both exercised and none-exercised groups significantly reduced E.I., (P<0.0001). Injection of naltrexone before exercise training or naloxone immediately after exercise prevented anti-allodynia effect of exercise on the exercise trained animals.
 
Discussion & Conclusion: Our investigation came to the conclusion that a short period of moderate aerobic exercise could reduce cold aversion and improve animal locomotor activity after peripheral neuropathy via activation of opioidergic system.

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Introduction: Diabetes is one of the most common and complex problems of today's society. A long-term increase of glucose in diabetes is a major cause of impaired lipid metabolism and indices. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of eggplant extract on blood lipid indices in diabetic male rats.
 
Materials & Methods: In this investigation, male Wistar rats of 200-250g  were divided into five groups (n=6):1- control 2- diabetes (sham), 3, 4 and 5- diabetic group treated with eggplant extract (25, 50 and 100mg/kg). The rats of 60mg/kg were intraperitoneally diabetic with STZ. On the fifth day after receiving Streptozotocin (STZ), the animals with high blood sugar200 mg/dL were regarded as diabetic. The control group received saline and the treated diabetic group received eggplant extract orally for two weeks. The control group did not receive any medication or extract. In the end, after deep anesthesia with ether and splitting the chest, blood samples were taken from the heart to assess the lipid indices, then their serums were separated.
Findings: Our results demonstrated that higher doses (50 and 100mg/kg) of eggplant extract would significantly (P<0.001) reduce blood sugar in diabetic rats. In treated diabetic rats with high levels of triglycerides, a significant decrease was not observed. Eggplant extract at a dose of 50mg/kg in treated diabetic rats significantly reduced the total cholesterol (P<0.05), while a dose of 100mg/kg caused a more decrease (P<0.001). The eggplant extract in doses of 50 and 100mg/kg significantly increased High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels (P<0.001).
 
Discussion & Conclusion: As shown by our conclusion, eggplants, due to reducing the blood glucose, appear to have compounds with antioxidant properties that reduce free radical improvement of some indicators of lipid disorders caused by diabetes.

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Introduction: Acute alcohol consumption leads to induction of lipid peroxidation in renal tissues, but its chronic consumption has moderate effects on biochemical and histological characteristics of this organ. Antioxidants have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and tissue injury. The aim of this study was to assess antioxidant activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra leaf and stem extracts and the protective effect of its leaf extract on ethanol-induced nephrotoxicity.
 
Materials & methods: Total phenol and flavonoid contents of leaf and stem extracts of G. glabra were measured by Folin Ciocalteu and AlCl₃ assays, respectively. Antioxidant activity of both extracts was assessed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging. In addition, protective effect of the leaf extract was assessed using biochemical and histological analyses of renal tissues of male Wistar rats, which were divided into four groups including group 1 or control (received 1 ml distilled water daily), group 2 or ethanol group (received 1 ml of 50% ethanol daily), group 3 or ethanol + leaf extract group (received 1 ml of 50% ethanol + 500 mg/kg leaf extract daily), and group 4 (received 500 mg/kg of leaf extract daily). All treatments are performed through intragastric administration. Biochemical and histological analyses were used for the evaluation of nephrotoxicity. For histological study, the samples were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and examined by light microscopy. Finally, all the data were analyzed by SPSS (Ver. 20) and grouped by Duncan's Multiple Range Test at P <0.05 level.
 
Findings: There was no significant difference between total phenol contents of the stem and leaf extracts. However, the stem extract showed a higher total flavonoid content than the leaf extract. Also, both the extracts showed higher antioxidant activities (86-93%) than that of ascorbic acid (71%). Results from biochemical analysis indicated a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and H₂O₂ content in the renal tissues of ethanol-treated rats in comparison with other groups; however, there were no significant changes in total protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Results from histological examination showed that alcohol consumption intensity injured kidney tissues, which was effectively moderated by the studied extract.
 
Discussion & Conclusions: Results from the present study showed that G. glabra extract has biological activity and can be used in future as a new natural antioxidant in food and drug industries.

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Introduction: One of the most important glucose transporters is glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), which can be expressed in insulin-sensitive tissues such as skeletal muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training on GLUT4 gene expression and glycemic index in rats with type 2 diabetes.

Materials & Methods: Twenty-seven Wistar rats were selected; the rats were fed a high-fat diet for 6 weeks and then randomly divided into three groups: diabetic with resistance training (n=10), diabetic control (n=10), and obesity control (n=7). 

Type 2 diabetes was induced by injection of a low dose of Streptozotocin (STZ) (30 mg/kg).

The resistance training program was performed for 6 weeks, five days per week. The glucose concentration was measured by glucose oxidase enzyme technology, serum insulin by the ELISA method, and real-time PCR was used to test the GLUT4 gene expression. For data analysis, independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used (α=0/ 05).

Findings: The results indicated that induction of diabetes reduced the GLUT4 gene expression in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue of diabetic rats (P=0.001). Also, GLUT4 gene expression increased in the diabetic training group compared with the diabetic control group (P=0.038). In addition, blood glucose and insulin resistance decreased significantly. 

The content of GLUT4 gene expression was increased in the training group compared with the diabetic control group (p=0.001). 

Discussion & Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, it can be stated that the GLUT4 gene expression in rat gastrocnemius muscle tissue is reduced in diabetic rats. Also, resistance training could increase the GLUT4 gene expression and improve glucose transport and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats. This could be due to improvement in the performance of glucose transporters by resistance training.

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