Housing in Pyramid Counteracts Neuroendocrine and Oxidative Stress Caused by Chronic Restraint in Rats

Abstract

The space within the great pyramid and its smaller replicas is believed to have an antistress effect. Research has shown that the energy field within the pyramid can protect the hippocampal neurons of mice from stress-induced atrophy and also reduce neuroendocrine stress, oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defence in rats. In this study, we have, for the first time, attempted to study the antistress effects of pyramid exposure on the status of cortisol level, oxidative damage and antioxidant status in rats during chronic restraint stress. Adult female Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: normal controls (NC) housed in home cage and left in the laboratory; restrained rats (with three subgroups) subject to chronic restraint stress by placing in a wire mesh restrainer for 6 h per day for 14 days, the restrained controls (RC) having their restrainers kept in the laboratory; restrained pyramid rats (RP) being kept in the pyramid; and restrained square box rats (RS) in the square box during the period of restraint stress everyday. Erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma cortisol levels were significantly increased and erythrocyte-reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly decreased in RC and RS rats as compared to NC. However, these parameters were maintained to near normal levels in RP rats which showed significantly decreased erythrocyte MDA and plasma cortisol and significantly increased erythrocyte GSH levels, erythrocyte GSH-Px and SOD activities when compared with RS rats. The results showed that housing in pyramid counteracts neuroendocrine and oxidative stress caused by chronic restraint in rats.

Effect of varying durations of pyramid exposure — an indication towards a possibility of overexposure

“…There was no significant difference in the results for these parameters between the PE-2 and PE-4 rats except for erythrocyte GSH-Px activity which was significantly more in the PE-2 rats than in the PE-4 rats. The possible explanations for the beneficial effects of pyramid on the above parameters are discussed in detail in our earlier studies (1,2,13,14,15). Although many beneficial changes have been reported and repeatedly observed in the pyramids (16), some mystics have complained that when they spend a great deal of time in the pyramid for meditational purposes, they felt they received 'too much energy'.…”

“…Our scientific studies with mini wooden replica models of the Great pyramid of Giza have shown that exposure of adult female Wistar rats to pyramid environment reduces stress, oxidative stress and increases antioxidant defence in them (1,2). Beneficial effects of pyramid exposure on other parameters namely improved wound healing in rats (3,4,5) have also been reported.…”

Involvement of blood mononuclear cells in the infertility, age-associated diseases and cancer treatment

“…Housing of rats within a small pyramid aligned to the north-south axis reduced the oxydative damage and neuroendocrine stress of rats chronically restrained 14 d (6 h daily) within a wire mesh[127,128]. Beneficial effect of the pyramid was dependent on its north-south alignment[129].…”

Egyptian Pyramid Model Housing Enhancing the Compensatory Renal Growth in Nephrectomized Rats

“…Both groups maintained in their home cages for 7 and 14 days. The third group (Pyramid housed group) in which Nx rats housed within the wooden pyramid (6 hr/day) for 7 and 14 days [24].…”