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Introduction: In this study, the effect of memantine administration into the nucleus accumbens on the metabolic changes induced by acute stress in female mice was evaluated. Methods: Intra-accumbens unilateral or bilateral canulation was performed. One week after recovery, a group of animals were given memantine (1, 0.5, and 0.1 μg/mouse) five min before stress induction intra-accumbally, and the other group received it (1, 0.5 and 0.1 mg/kg) 30 min before stress intraperitoneally. Food and water intake, weight of fecal material, and the delay time before eating were measured as metabolic parameters after stress induction. Results: Acute stress reduced water and food intake, fecal matter, and the delay time before eating. Intraperitoneal memantine injections augmented the stress effect on water intake, but inhibited its effect on food intake at dose of 0.1 mg/kg and had no impact on defecation. The drug induced anorexia especially at dose of 1 mg/kg. On the other hand, intra-accumbens memantine injections reduced water intake when the drug was injected in the left side. Moreover, memantine injections inhibited or enhanced the effects of stress on water intake, food intake and defecation in a doseand location-dependent manner, and also increased the delay time before eating. Conclusion: Memantine inhibits or enhances the effects of acute stress dose-dependently. In addition, it seems that there is asymmetry in nucleus accumbens response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Properties of biocompatibility and biodegradation are important factors in choosing a polymer to prepare nano-fiber for medical and biological purposes. PLGA high attention in tissue engineering for the above properties, the aim of present study is the evaluation of rat bone marrow stromal cells cultured on PLGA nanofibers. Material and methods: In this study, the PLGA nanofibers were prepared using electrospinning technique in hexa fluoro propanol solvent. To study the nanofiber properties scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and invert microscope were used. After bone marrow stromal cells culture (BMSCs) and achieving passage two, the cells were grown in two groups of PLGA nanofibers and without nanofibers. Life and death of cells were examined in second, fourth, and sixth days by Acridine Orange. Also, the morphology of cells was investigated via light microscopy. Results: The results showed no significant reduction in cell growth in PLGA nanofibers compared with that of the control group. Conclusion: According to the results obtained from BMSCc culture, PLGA nanofibers could be used as biodegradable and biocompatible scaffold alongside bone marrow cells in tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]