Ghasemi M, Dehpour A.r.,
Volume 66, Issue 8 (11-2008)
Abstract
Background: It is well known that erectile dysfunction is most commonly associated with diabetes, affecting 35% to 75% of men with diabetes mellitus. Several studies have been carried out to find appropriate strategies for treatment of diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of acute administration of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide in vitro to alter the NANC-mediated relaxation of corpus cavernosum from diabetic rats and the possible role of nitric oxide in this manner.
Methods: Diabetes was induced by the administration of streptozotocin for eight weeks. Corpora cavernosa were isolated in organ baths for measurement of agonist-evoked or electrical field stimulation (EFS)-evoked smooth muscle tensions.
Results: The neurogenic relaxation of phenylephrine (7.5 µM) precontracted isolated corporal strips was impaired in diabetic animals. Anandamide (0.3, 1 and 3 µM) enhanced the relaxant responses to EFS in diabetic strips in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was antagonized by either the selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (1 µM) or the selective vanilloid receptor antagonist capsazepine (3 µM). Concurrent administration of partially effective doses of L-arginine (10 µM) and anandamide (0.3 µM) exerted a synergistic improvement in EFS-induced relaxation of diabetic strips (p<0.001). The relaxant responses to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside of the subjects in the diabetic and control groups were similar.
Conclusion: For the first time, we demonstrated that acute administration of an endogenous cannabinoid, alone or in combination with L-arginine could improve the NO-mediated relaxation of cavernosal smooth muscle in diabetic rats and this effect was mediated by cannabinoid CB1 and vanilloid VR1 receptors within the tissue.
Mina Ranjbaran , Hamid Reza Sadeghipour Roudsari , Sara Nikseresht , Sahabeh Etebary ,
Volume 72, Issue 11 (2-2015)
Abstract
Background: Approximately 50% to 80% of women experience varying degrees of postpartum depression. Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases, including depression. Common production of lipid peroxidation by oxidative stress is malondialdehyde (MDA). The endocannabinoid system is a nervous regulator and convoy the impression that the circulatory levels of endocannabinoid is significantly reduced in depressed women. The major purpose of this paper was to evaluate activity of the major antioxidant and endocannabinoid index in postpartum depression.
Methods: A total of 130 women were entered in a case-control study in 12 Bahman Health Center from April 2011 to August 2011. In 4th to 6th week after delivery, women were equally divided into 2 groups based on Edinburg questionnaire (normal and postpartum depressive women). Serum MDA, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and RBC catalase levels were determined to investigate the oxidative status. In addition, Mass spectrometry was applied for the analysis of serum anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
Results: Based on Edinburg questionnaire, however, women age, husband age, husband marital number, gravidity, children number, salary and house size have no significant effect on postpartum depression, marital period was significantly increased postpartum depression (P< 0.05). In addition, women education, husband education, wanted or unwanted pregnancy from women, neonatal sex, satisfaction of neonatal sex from women and husbands, breast feeding and delivery have no significant effect on postpartum depression, and women Job (P< 0.001), husband job (P< 0.001), wanted or unwanted pregnancy from husbands (P< 0.05) were significantly changed postpartum depression. Serum MDA and RBC catalase levels were not significantly higher in depress compared with the normal group. TAC was significantly decreased in patients having postpartum depression (P< 0.05). Serum AEA and 2-AG levels were significantly lower in depress compared with the normal group (P< 0.01).
Conclusion: Women’s Job, husband’s job, wanted or unwanted pregnancy from husbands and marital period are associated to postpartum depression. In postpartum depression, TAC, AEA and 2-AG are reduced. So it can be concluded that both antioxidant system and endocannabinoid concentration involved in the development of postpartum depression.
