Master’s Thesis Defense

A Master’s thesis defense was held at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, entitled “Effect of Piracetam on the Toxicity of Organophosphorus Compounds in Mice”, presented by Mohammed Abdulkarim Rashid, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mona Hazim Ibrahim, on Monday, August 31, 2026.

The defense committee consisted of the following distinguished faculty members:

Prof. Dr. Mohammed Khalid Taha – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul – Chairperson

Prof. Dr. Yaarub Jaafar Musa – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul – Member

Asst. Prof. Dr. Hadeel Basim Thanoon – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul – Member

Prof. Dr. Mona Hazim Ibrahim – College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul – Member and Supervisor

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of piracetam in reducing the toxicity induced by exposure to diazinon and malathion, two organophosphorus pesticides, in laboratory mice. This was achieved by investigating the clinical signs resulting from acute and chronic poisoning with both pesticides and assessing the ability of piracetam to alleviate these signs when administered alone or in combination with the pesticides.

The study also aimed to evaluate the protective and antioxidant effects of piracetam on the nervous system by investigating its effects on locomotor activity, memory, and general behavior, in addition to examining its effects on selected biochemical and histopathological parameters associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory changes in the brain induced by exposure to these two pesticides.

The study sought to determine the potential of piracetam as a protective and adjunctive agent in cases of organophosphorus pesticide exposure, potentially paving the way for its future use as a supportive therapeutic option in such cases.

Following the researcher’s confident and scientifically rigorous defense of his thesis, and after extensive discussion and evaluation by the committee, the thesis was approved.

Congratulations to the researcher and his supervisor, as well as to the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, on this valuable scientific achievement. We wish the distinguished defense committee every success. This thesis defense contributes to the achievement of the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4): Quality Education.