AQUATIC PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Year:2016 | Volume:4 | Issue:1|Papers Count:6

For optimization of artificial breeding of Sistan’s loach Schizothorax zarudnyi in culture condition, the relation between spermatological and biochemical parameters of seminal plasma was examined. The percentage of motile spermatozoa and sperm motility duration of 20 cultured male breeder fish were measured according to standard protocol. Sperm density was evaluated through standard hemocytometry. The levels of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, glucose and cholesterol of seminal plasma were also measured by standard methods. According to the results, the mean sperm motility duration, percentage of motile spermatozoa, mean sperm density, percentage of spermatocrit and milt pH were 51.21±5.51s, 73.32±8.01%, 0.78±0.11×109 sperm per mL, 36.39±6.22% and 7.83±0.2, respectively. Mean Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, glucose and cholesterol were recorded 76.84±11.75 (mmol/L), 63.83±11.73 (mmol/L), 2.58±0.76 (mmol/L), 6.88±0.83 (mmol/L), 0.027±0.01 (mg/dL) and 0.05±0.02 (mg/dL), respectively. The results showed that there was a significant relation between sperm density and the percentage of motile spermatozoa. Moreover, sperm motility duration was significantly related with milt volume, percentage of motile spermatozoa and pH. There was a significant relation between milt volume and pH, between sperm motility duration and milt biochemical parameters, between Na+and K+ions and between percentage of motile spermatozoa and Na+and K+ions. The results of this research in proving the significant relation between sperm motility and seminal plasma components specially Na+and K+ions in Sistan’s loach could be used in artificial breeding of this fish for preparation of appropriate preservative and diluent solutions.

Regarding increasing rate of drug resistance among microbial pathogens, a global search to find new antimicrobials from natural compounds with fewer side effects has been considered by researchers. The aim of the current study was to evaluate antimicrobial effects of different extracts of the microalga Chlorellasp. grown under autotrophic condition. Algal cultivation was performed in Zinder medium and the biomass was harvested at the end of log phase. Different extracts were prepared using acetone, chloroform, hexane, ethyl acetate and hexane-acetate as extraction solvents and antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated against two Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a fungal strain (Candida albicans). Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was determined by measuring the zone of inhibition (ZOI) using well-diffusion method. According to the results, the chloroform and ethyl acetate mediated extracts showed the highest antimicrobial activity compared to the other extracts. In conclusion, Chlorella sp. extracts show good antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial efficacy depends on extraction solvents.

To do this objective, the otolith morphology and the relationships between fishlength and weight with otolith dimension of Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) populationsin coastal habitats of the Caspian Sea southern basin were studied. The specimenswere sampled from four coastal populations including Nekah, Sorkhrud, Chalus and Bandar Anzali, then fixed in 75% alcohol and transferred to the laboratory for theotolith preparation. The left otoliths were extracted from adult specimens and photographed by camera connected to stereomicroscope. According to the results, otolith diameter ranges was 2.9 to 3.3% Standard Length (SL). Liner regressionbetween fish length and otolith length was TL=4.6042.OL - 3.5555, R2=0.8492 andregression model between fish length and otolith weight was Ow=19.389.TL0.0129, R2=0.755. The results indicated that there was positive relationship between fishbody length and otolith dimensions. The results showed that general shapes of the otoliths in studied populations were mostly rectangular to oblong with irregular and also margins have indentations in ventral and dorsal rims. The antirostrum was absent. The ostium was opened and funnel-like in anterior part of the sulcus, whileit was closed and tubular in the posterior end and positioned in posterior ventralcorner. Since the most important otolith characters that used to identify the Mugilidae species are the position of the sulcus, therefore it can be concluded that this character probably plays an important role in among population variations.

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of fish meal replacement with sunflower meal on growth, hematological indices and plasma biochemistry of common carp fingerlings. Fish with average weight of 3.03±0.36g were fed for 10weeks by five diets including replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of fishmeal with sunflower meal. Finally, blood samples were taken from caudal vein and hematological indices including red (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC), differential count of WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and some biochemical parameters of plasma including triglyceride, cholesterol and glucose were determined. Based on the results, 25 and 100% treatments had significant increase and decrease in final weight, respectively (P<0.05). Differences among treatments in all hematological indices were not significant (P>0.05). In plasma biochemical parameters, there was significant decline in triglyceride level in100% treatment (P<0.05) and cholesterol was significantly higher in control (P<0.05), but in glucose content, difference was not significant among treatments(P>0.05). According to the results of this study, replacement of fish meal with sunflower meal in common carp fingerlings diet up to 75% is suggested.

In order to treat cancer many drugs and natural products from different plants and animals are used. Laurencia caspica is one of the macroalgae of the Caspian Sea ecosystem. In the present study the toxicity effect and changes innm23 metastatic gene expression treated with L. caspica extract was evaluated.L. caspica alga was collected from the Ramsar beach and its hydroalcholic extracts were prepared via percolation method in 50% methanol. The breastcancer T47D cell line was treated with concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 400and 800mg/ml of extract. MTT assay was used to analyze extracts lethality.RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. The specific primers were designed for nm23 and B-actin genes. Level of nm23 gene expression was compared to B-actin reference gene in the presence of the estimated IC50concentration using Quantitative Real Time PCR. Evaluation of cell survivalusing MTT assay indicated that L. caspica extract reduced the T47D cell growth in a dose dependent manner and also the 175mg/mL concentration of extract hadinhibitory effect on 50% of cells. Real Time PCR showed that the level of nm23metastatic gene expression had a significant increase, while the B-actin gene expression had not changed.

One of the most effective technology to remove heavy metals is using of bioabsorbent.In the present study modeling, kinetics and isotherm of lead sorption by the unicellular green algae Chlorella vulgaris from aqueous solutions was assessed. After culturing algae in Z+medium and reaching the logarithmic phase, it was harvested and centrifuged, then dried by freeze dryer. Afterward, through the evaluation of parameters affecting the biological absorption, the isotherms and adsorption kinetics of the metal were calculated and determined.Results indicated that with increasing of adsorbent amount, adsorption was decreased. Also, after increasing of the initial concentration of metallic ion, metal removal rate was reduced. Furthermore, absorb kinetic studies showed that the biosorption of lead by C. vulgaris following second-order kinetics and adsorption isotherm is well fitted to the Langmuir model. Also, modeling heavy metal removal using multivariate linear regression indicated that the biosorption process and the effect of parameters on it can be described by a quadratic equation. This equation revealed that pH is the most effective parameter on metal removal by C. vulgaris.