No abstract

Oxidative stress is a hypothesis for the association of reactive oxygen species with cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, we examined whether oral betaine can act as a preventive agent in ethanol-induced oxidative stress on the cerebellum of rats. Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups (control, ethanol, betaine, and betaine plus ethanol) with different dietary regimens and were followed up for 1 month. Total homocysteine (tHcy) of plasma and cerebellum homogenate was determined by an Axis(®) homocysteine EIA kit, and antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), SOD, and CAT) activities of cerebellum homogenate were measured chemically by a spectrophotometer. Lipid peroxidation of cerebellum was shown by the measurement of thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) via a spectrophotometer. Ethanol-induced hyperhomocysteinemia was manifested by an increase in the concentrations of tHcy in the plasma and cerebellum homogenates of the ethanol group, while ethanol-induced oxidative stress was indicated via an increase in lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS) in cerebellum homogenates of ethanol-treated rats. In contrast, betaine prevented hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress in the betaine plus ethanol group as well as the betaine group. The results of the present investigation indicated that the protective effect of betaine is probably related to its ability to strengthen the cerebellum membrane cells by enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activity principally GPx, while the methyl donor effect of betaine to reduce hyperhomocysteinemia has been explained previously and confirmed in the present study.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid or ascorbate) is a biomolecule that participates in many biochemical processes. It is an essential nutrient for humans, however, in some species such as rodents and guinea pigs is synthesized. It has a variety of functions in the body that we might venture to say make it a very important antioxidant nature and pro-oxidant. L-ascorbic acidic a reduced form of vitamin C and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) is the oxidized form of ascorbate, both L-ascorbic acid and dihydroascorbic acid retain the vitamin C activity. Dehydro-ascorbate is reconverted to ascorbate in the cytosol by cytochrome b reductase and thioredoxin reductase in reactions involving NADH and NADPH, respectively. Ascorbate is transported into the cell via the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCTs), which causes accumulation of ascorbate within cells against a concentration gradient. Dehydroascorbic acid, the oxidized form of ascorbate, is transported via glucose transporters family (GLUTs). The highest concentrations of ascorbate in the body are found in brain and adrenal gland. Vitamin C also acts as a co-factor in several enzyme reactions. This vitamin is an essential biochemical factor in the reproductive process. The pharmacophore of vitamin C is the ascorbate, ascorbate is an antioxidant.Ascorbate is a neuromodulator of glutamatergic and dopaminergic system and related behaviors. It also improves components of the immune system. Given the wide role of ascorbate, further investigation is necessary to evaluate the exact mechanism(s) underlying these effects. In this review we will consider a short overview of the characteristics and function of vitamin C (relying on antioxidant function) in various tissues.

No abstract

Coenurus gaigeri is the larval stage of Taenia multiceps gaigeri, which infects the muscles of goats and, to a lesser extent, sheep. Metacestodes of the goat such as Coenurus cerebralis, Cysticercus tenuicollis, Cysticercus ovis, and hydatid cysts have been extensively studied. However, because of the uncommon occurrence of C. gaigeri, very few records exist of its biology, pathogenesis, and pathology. Therefore, an investigation was conducted in the summer of 2008 at Shiraz Slaughterhouse, where 2.6% of the goats were infected with intramuscular cysts. Scolices from coenuri were collected for morphologic analysis, and the cysts were identified as C. gaigeri, the intermediate stage of T. multiceps gaigeri. In addition, molecular genetic markers of mitochondrial DNA were applied phylogenetically to resolve the questionable relationship between C. gaigeri and C. cerebralis. All coenuri fluids were aspirated and centrifuged separately; the supernatants were analyzed for biochemical features that included glucose, total protein, urea nitrogen, uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, calcium, sodium, potassium, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. The pathologic changes around the coenuri included mechanical destruction of the affected tissues, associated with degenerative and necrotic changes, infiltration by polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells, proliferation of fibroblasts, and development of adventitious tissue. Results based on phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (CO1 and ND1) suggest that the larval stages of T. multiceps gaigeri and C. cerebralis, which showed similar morphological criteria, are monophyletic species. However, C. gaigeri interestingly were situated in the biceps femoris, triceps, and abdominal muscles without localization in the nervous system.