Background & Objectives: Zinc as a heavy metal is known to be an environment pollutant. Research shows that high amount of this metal might pose health hazards by affecting the normal function of endocrine glands and metabolic activities. Thus, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of various amounts of zinc on thyroid gland and liver enzymes in adult male rats in Kazeroon in 2005.
Materials & Methods: In this experimental study 40 adult male wistar rats were classified in to experimental, control and sham groups. Experimental groups received zinc in from of oral zinc sulfate 20 , 40 and 80 mg/kg for 15 days in three subgroups . Sham group received 1 ml distilled water while control group received no substance. At the end of 15th day blood sample was taken from ventricular part of the heart and concentrations of T3, T4 and TSH hormones and AST, ALT and ALP enzymes were measured through ELISA and trade kits and the data were analysed using Tukey test. 
Results: The results showed no significant difference in T3 hormone concentration and ALP enzyme between experimental groups and control group, while T4 hormone concentration in the first experimental group (20mg/kg zinc sulfate) increased significantly compared with control group (P<0.05). The concentration of TSH hormone showed a significant decrease between experimental and control groups (P<0.05). Serum concentration of AST and ALT in the first experimental group increased significantly compared to control group while it showed a significant decrease in the second and third experimental groups (40 and 80 mg/kg zinc sulfate) (P=0.05).
Conclusion: The study results indicate that zinc affects thyroid gland and blocks the activity of 5'- diodinase through binding to sulfhydryl groups and decreases the conversion of T4 to T3. Zinc also decreases TSH amount and can damage plasma membrane and increase the amount of AST and ALT enzyme.

Background and Objectives: Dorema aucheri belonging to the umbrella family plants, is used as food by the local residents of the Southern Iran. It is believed that this plant contains medication properties. In this research, the effect of different qnuantities of Dorema aucheri extract on homogram in adult male rats were investigated.
Materials and Methods: Forty adult male rats from wistar inbred were randomly divided into the following groups: control, sham operated and experimental groups. Experimental groups subdivided into three groups and received different doses of the plant alcoholic extract, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for 30 days. The sham group recieved normal saline and the control group received nothing. At the end of 30^th day, blood was taken from ventricle of the heart of the rats from all groups followed by routine hematology tests. The whole numbers of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocyte percentage and monocytes and platelets were measured and the results were analysed.
Results: The results showed that using Dorema aucheri alcoholic extract at the end of 30^th day, caused a significant increase in monocytes number in the experiment group comparing to the control group. The rate of platelet at the end of 30^th day showed a significant decrease in the test group.
Conclusion: The results indicated that Dorema aucheri probably contains flovonoidic component with antioxidant effect leading to the increase of monocytes and with inhibitory effect on thromboxane A2 production, causing a dicrease in platelet production.

Background and Objective: Transcription factors (TF) and microRNAs, are the largest families of transacting gene regulatory molecules in multicellular organisms. Our goal was to examine the effect of aerobic running on the expression of miR-124 and RE1-silencing TF in the hippocampus of adult male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: A total of twelve 8-week-old adult male Wistar rats with a mean body weight of 200-225 g were selected as subjects. Following 1 week of familiarization, the animals were randomly divided into two groups of test (n=6) and control (n=6). In the test group, animals were forced to run on a treadmill, at a speed of 25 m/min for 30 minutes per day, for 14 consecutive days. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last exercise session, and the hippocampi were removed from both sides of the brain hemispheres. Changes in the expression of miR-124 and RE1-silencing TF were analyzed using the quantitative RT-PCR technique. Results: Statistical analysis by independent sample t-test, showed that there was a significant difference between the exercise and control groups (P≤0.05), and while exercise significantly elevated the expression of miR-124, it reduced the expression of RE1-silencing TF. Conclusion: Our findings show that forced aerobic running at a speed of 25 m/min could lead to positive changes in mechanisms involved in exercise-induced neurogenesis.