Ethanol has been reported to disrupt spatial learning and memory in adolescent male rats. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of ethanol on the acquisition of spatial memory in adolescent female rats. Adolescent female rats were subjected to repeated ethanol or saline treatments, and spatial learning was tested in the Morris water maze. For comparison, adult female rats were subjected to similar ethanol treatment and behavioral assessments as for adolescent rats. Ethanol-treated adolescent rats took longer and swam greater distances to find the hidden platform than saline controls. In the probe trial, ethanol-treated adolescent rats showed a trend towards reduced time spent in the target quadrant, and made significantly fewer target location crossings than salinetreated controls. Adult saline-treated control rats did not learn the spatial memory task as well as the adolescent saline-treated rats. Although ethanol in adult rats increased both latency and swim distance to find the platform, in the probe trial there was no difference between ethanol-treated adult rats and age-matched saline controls. Ethanol did not alter swim speed or performance in the cued visual task at either age. Together, these data suggest that ethanol specifically impairs the acquisition of spatial memory in adolescent female rats. Since adult females did not learn the task, ethanol-induced alterations in water maze performance may not reflect true learning and memory dysfunction.

Background: Genital tuberculosis (GTB) is an important cause of female infertility, especially in developing countries. The positive results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in endometrial GTB in the absence of tubal damage raise the possibility of the detection of sub-clinical or latent disease, with doubtful benefits of treatment. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and Non-tubercular Mycobacterium (NTM) infection by using Real-PCR technique in the menstrual blood samples of 120 unexplained infertile women. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 120 infertile women with unexplained infertility aged 20-35 yr old and normal hysterosalpingography findings were taken. Menstrual blood in the first 12 hr of menstruation containing the endometrial tissues from each participant was tested for MTB and NTM by Real-Time PCR. Results: Among the selected 120 patients, only two were found to be positive for MTB infection. All remaining participants were negative for MTB infection. All participants were negative for NTM infection at the endometrium. Conclusion: Although, studies have indicated that PCR is a useful method in diagnosing early GTB disease in infertile women with no demonstrable evidence of tubal or endometrial involvement, our study showed that GTB is not the major problem in women with unexplained infertility.

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gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a "club drug," is abused for its euphoric, sedative, and anabolic effects. GHB use and abuse is most prevalent among adolescents and young adults. Most GHB users report amnesia. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that GHB treatment in female adolescent rats causes deficits in spatial learning and memory. Adolescent female rats were treated daily with GHB (100 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days. Control rats received isovolumetric saline. Experimental and control rats were tested in the hidden platform task (reference memory) of the Morris water maze. GHB-treated adolescent female rats had significantly longer latencies than saline-treated controls, and in the probe trial drug-treated rats spent less time in the quadrant where the platform was present prior to its removal than did control adolescent rats. Together, these data indicate that GHB exposure in adolescent female rats has a negative impact on spatial learning and memory.