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Introduction: Investigations have shown that ovarian steroids are involved in reduction of movement disorders during neurodegenerative diseases especially Parkinson's disease. These steroids have many side effects, thus, other estrogenic agents with fewer side effects are needed to develop alternative treatment strategies. The main objection of this study was to evaluate the effects of soy meal on movement disorders in ovariectomized animal model of Parkinson's disease. Materials & Methods: Animals were divided into 3 groups: intact, treated by normal diet and treated by soy meal diet. Female Wistar rats with the exception of intact group were ovariectomized at the first line of study. Then Stride length test was done and animals received special diet for 4 weeks post substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) electrical lesion. At the end, Stride length and Morpurgo's test was performed. Results: Soy meal diet in ovariectomized rats with SNc Lesion improved muscle stiffness without any effect on stride length. Conclusion: Our results suggest that soy meal is a potential alternative to estrogen in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

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Introduction: Brain development requires a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Disruption of these elements can affect neuronal structure, function, or connectivity and can alter developmental trajectory. Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, such as dopamine, participate in a wide range of behavioral and cognitive functions in the adult brain. Dopamine-mediated signaling plays a fundamental neurodevelopmental role in forebrain differentiation and circuit formation. In addition, D1 and D2 dopaminergic receptors activation influences neuronal proliferation, migration and differentiation. Conclusion: As dopamine receptors affect the developing brain and play an essential role in adult brain, better understanding of the role of these receptors in different regions of the developing brain can be helpful for treatment of brain developmental disorders.

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to tissue damage by primary and secondary mechanisms. Several factors such as location, nature and severity of the primary injury, age, health, sex, medication, alco‌hol and drug use, and genetics influence the pathophysiology of TBI in clinic, so TBI is a heterogeneous event and consequently, TBI modeling faces some difficulties. In the fluid percussion injury model, a fluid pressure pulse is generated to the intact dura through a craniotomy and produces a combination of focal and diffuse neu‌ronal injury. The controlled cortical impact injury model uses a pneumatic or electromagnetic impact device to drive a rigid impactor onto the intact dura and creates tissue loss, haematoma, axonal injury and concussion. In the penetrating ballistic-like brain injury, projectiles are transmitted with high energy to produce a cavity in a defined area of the brain. In the weight-drop model, a weight falls from specified height. In the blast brain injury model, trauma can be caused by the primary injury related to the blast. By choosing a proper animal model, we can address the biomechanical aspects of brain injury and assess the potential treatments.

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Brain injury is a complex event leading to tissue damage and functional deficits by primary and secondary mechanisms. Since the application of tissue engineering approaches is a new topic in the treatment of brain injury, producing a proper experimental model to evaluate the effects of tissue engineering products on damaged brain tissue is required. In the present study, a simple and reproducible model of brain injury was introduced. Adult Wistar rats were anesthetized by ketamine and xylazine and their heads were fixed in stereotaxic device. Then, after prep and drape, a midline incision was made in the skull skin by surgical knife. Using a dental drill, a rectangle window was made in the left side of the skull bone. After removing the dura mater by a micro scissors, a defined cavity was created in the cortex of the left hemisphere by slowly inserting a rotary biopsy punch with 2 mm diameter into the cortex. Following performing treatments (neural stem cells + a hydrogel scaffold), to repair of the dura and consequently prevent leakage of materials, we used a piece of the loose connective tissue located between skull bone and skin as well as a piece of dural path. Finally, the skin was closed by 2-0 surgical suture. Neurological evaluations were performed using modified neurological severity score for 28 days. Histological analysis was done after one month. This method produced a mild brain injury model and created a defined cavity in the brain cortex. The cells transplanted in the cavity survived after 28 days. We introduced an applied animal model of brain injury for evaluation of tissue engineering treatment strategies.

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Brain injury has a multiple pathophysiology for which there is no definite treatment. In this regard, tissue engineering is one of the probable strategies for repair of damaged tissue. But creating a proper model for testing the engineered products faced some difficulties, specially, when we want to evaluate the effects of a product on the volume of injury. The current brain injury methods couldn’t provide defined brain tissue damage. We propose a new method to solve the problem. Previously, we introduced a new method for harvesting subventricular tissue from adult rat brain using a modified semi-automatic biopsy needle. We showed that a defined volume of tissue harvested from a specific area of brain without any adverse effect on other regions. We suggest using this biopsy procedure for creating a brain injury model with a defined size. Using this controllable biopsy method, we can test engineered products in a rat model of brain injury and assessed the volume of cavity after performing treatments in different groups.

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Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to a significant health problem associated with a broad range of secondary complications and disabilities. In this regard, animal models can help us to understand the pathobiology of SCI and evaluate the effects of potential treatments for SCI. In contusion models of SCI, different devices including surgical spring-loaded clips, balloons, forceps, weights and the computer-controlled reproducible impact contusion devices were used to create a defined lesion in the spinal cord. To evaluate treatments that target axon regeneration or in case of implantations, transection models may be utilized in which an incision is created into spinal cord. The transection may be complete or incomplete. The unilateral hemisection injury can be a good alternative to complete transection in which structural integrity, function of one side of the spinal cord and bladder and bowel function were preserved. By choosing an appropriate SCI method, we can test numerous possibilities for novel therapeutic strategies before clinical investigations.

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Introduction: Brain injury is one of the main concerns in societies and a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Following a brain injury, primary and secondary injuries occur and cause a complicated pathological process. Experimental brain injury models can be divided into focal brain injury models, diffused brain injury models, models used in tissue engineering strategies, and in vitro models of brain injury. Conclusion: By choosing a proper experimental model, we can address the pathology of brain injury and assess the potential treatments.