Journal of Animal Research
Year:2018 | Volume:30 | Issue:4|Papers Count:15

Among the many biochemical biomarkers used to assess contamination of the marine environment, metallothionein protein is considered as one of the very important and useful tool inrelated to biochemical markers metals. The aim of this study was to evaluate Metallothionein changes in natural condition in polychaete Glycinde bonhourei of 9 stations Chabahar Bay sub-tidal area from 2014 to 2015 with consideration before the monsoon season, monsoon, post-monsoon and concentrations of copper, zinc, cadmium in the polychaete tissue. Total average concentrations of copper and zinc and cadmium respectively recorded in the monsoon 6. 39± 2. 04, 20. 95± 4. 51, 0. 136± 0. 04 micrograms per gram dry weight of the monsoon season 3. 51± 1. 46, 11. 84± 2. 65, 0. 059 ± 0. 01 and in the post-Monsoon 4. 98 ± 1. 44, 16. 51± 3. 58, 0. 152± 0. 01 microgram per gram of dry weight that one-way analysis of variance showed significant difference between the station and seasons (P<0. 05). The total average of protein Metallothionein was calculated in pre-monsoon 28. 33 ± 5. 2, Monsoon 15. 50 ± 4. 9 and after Monsoon 21. 39± 4. 37 mcg/g that one-way analysis of variance showed significant difference between the station and seasons (P<0. 05). Pearson correlation test showed no significant differences between metals and biomarker changes that observed in any of the seasons and stations. This study showed that changes in biomarker metallothionein more than being under the influence of the concentration of heavy metals, can be caused due to environmental conditions of the sampling area and changes in the Gulf by Monsoon.

Previous studies have shown that the anxiolytic effects of different zinc chloride in male and female rats is Castration post-pubertaly. This study, the effect of zinc chloride on anxiety and deppresive behaviors of rats, in ovarectomized peri-pubertaly was investigated. In this experiment, fifty female rats were ovariectomized at postnatal day 21-22 and then on postnatal day 75, different doses of zinc chloride (0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg; IP) were administered 30 min before the elevated plus maze and forced swimming test. Ovarectomized significantly decreased the time spent in the open arms in ovarectomized rats compared to the sham group (P<0. 05). Zinc chloride (5 mg/kg) Significantly increase the number of entries in the open arms in ovarectomized (5 mg/kg) group compared to the ovarectomized (0 mg/kg) group (P<0. 05). Ovarectomized not Significantly the latency to immobility and total immobility time compared to the sham group. Zinc chloride (10, 20 mg/kg) Significantly reduced the latency to immobility in ovarectomized (10, 20 mg/kg) group compared to the ovarectomized (0 mg/kg) group (P<0. 05). Also the total immobility time Significantly increase compared to the ovarectomized (0 mg/kg) group showed (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). Our findings showed that ovarectomized significantly increase anxiety but this increase anxiety not associated with depression. The administration of zinc chloride demonstrated effect of anxiolytic and depression. Thus, it seems that zinc chloride has different effects on the behavior of depression ovariectomized peri-pubertaly and postpubertaly.

Nowadays, application of modern techniques is necessary for accurate diagnosis of kidney abnormalities. This study was done to determine function of the kidneys after saffron administration by using dynamic scintigraphy. This study was performed on 6 adult female Wistar rats. Peak activity percentage, time to peak activity (Tmax), emptying half time (T 1 /2), 3 min activity, total and individual GFR were determined before and after saffron administration separately. In this study, gamma camera and 99mTc-DTPA were used as radio pharmaceutical. Some obtained results showed below: Peak activity percentage: Left: 48. 5± 1. 17, Right: 51. 83± 0. 95, T 1/2: Left: 3. 43± 2. 26, Right: 2. 61± 1. 15, T max: Left: 2. 68± 0. 29, Right: 1. 95± 0. 07, Total GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate): 173. 46± 18. 09. Obtained results showed that administration of saffron increased the GFR and shortened the emptying half-time of radiopharmaceutical.

The life cycle of many marine invertebrates has a larval period, during which the animals usually most susceptible to environmental stress. As sensitivity is of prime concern when conducting toxicity tests, many studies have compared the sensitivity of different larval stages of the same species. Barnacles are crustacean arthropods. Barnacles are found on hard substrates in virtually all marine habitats and on all levels of the shore, often in vast numbers. This, coupled with the fact that they have a typical marine life cycle with an easily identifiable, planktonic larval stage, has made them a model study organism. The life cycle of a typical barnacle includes two stages a freeswimming larval stage and a sessile adult stage. Stage In this study the toxicity effect of S. rechingeri on the larval stages of barnacles was investigated. Barnacles are a good model for toxicity studies, because have many reproduction and their larvae always are available. This test was done based on the determined LC50 in a 24 hours period on larvae of barnacles stages. The results showed the essential oil from plan (S. rechingeri) in hight concentration have the toxicity effect on larvae of barnacles. (LC50-6/20 μ g/ml stage VI and LC50-28/66 μ g/ml stage II). among the naupliar stages of Balanus amphitrite, stage VI is the most sensitive stage(P<0. 05). use of this species in toxicity tests.

Primary cell lines were established from the culture of explants of caudal fin of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus. The margin of the caudal fin from a two year old specimen (23 cm in length, and 133 g in weight) was aseptically cut (2 cm), washed three times with PBS containing antibiotics and then minced into 1mm explants and cultured in L-15 medium complemented with antibiotics and FBS (20%) at 22° C. After confluent monolayer formation on the bottom of the flask, the cells were washed with PBS containing antibiotics and dislodged by trypsin-EDTA solution (0. 25%) and shaking the flask. After washing the cells with PBS containing the antibiotics, they were cultured in 5 ml of L-15 medium, FBS (20%), antibiotics at 22 ° C (first subculture). After a confluent monolayer formation, a similar procedure was followed for the second subculture. The emerging cells from explants exhibited fibroblast-like and epitheliallike cells in primary culture but the fibroblast-like cells were seen to predominate after the first subculture. In the present study the establishment of cell lines from the original culture at two passages was investigated.

The Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) is one of the most important and an umbrella species in Golestan National Park. In this study, habitat suitability of the Green Woodpecker was studied in reproductive and non-reproductive seasons in Golestan National Park. Habitat characteristics, including forest vegetation type and structural characteristics of vegetation as well as the presence/absence of woodpeckers were recorded within a 25-m radius of each of 112 sampling plots. The Classification tree model was used to identify the relationship between the presence of Green Woodpecker and habitat variables in reproductive and non-reproductive seasons. Results of statistical analysis showed that during the reproductive season, the accessibility to areas with a dense canopy cover and tall snags, determined the reproductive territory. In the nonbreeding season, the site selection by the Green Woodpecker was based on the presence of live trees with DBH between 50-100 cm and tall snags. Totally, areas with dense canopy cover (>62%) supported more density of woodpeckers. In open areas (canopy cover <62%), fallen dead trees with DBH between 50-100 cm was the second most important predictive of the presence of the Green Woodpecker. Based on the results, in Golestan National Park, the Green Woodpecker prefers old forest habitats composed with tall and thick trees especially Oak trees. Thus, due to high dependency of Green Woodpeckers on the old and undisturbed forest habitats, removal of logs, snags, and large trees should be reduced to a minimum scale.

Heart diseases are the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Cell therapy has been proposed as a promising approach to treat the cardiac diseases. To this end, different types of stem cells such as pluripotent stem cell (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) and multipotent stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac progenitor cells) have been used for producing cardiac cells (cardiac progenitor cells/cardiomyocytes) in vitro. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to cardiac cells is the newest strategy for de novo generation of cardiac lineage cells. This approach is a shortcut for easy and safe production of cardiac lineage cells in vitro and in vivo. In the current study, mouse embryonic fibroblasts were directly reprogrammed to the cells expressing cardiac progenitor markers. To reprogram fibroblasts to cardiac lineage cells, pluripotency key transcription factor Oct4 and cardiac specific transcription factor Mef2C were overexpressed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. After three weeks, the transduced cell formed some cardiac progenitor like colonies. Gene expression analysis and immunostaining for cardiac lineage and pluripotency markers demonstrated that the emerged colonies were cardiac progenitor colonies derived through direct reprogramming process. The results of this study indicate that direct reprogramming can open a new avenue for producing cardiac cells required in cell therapy including cardiomyocytes and cardiac progenitor cells.

Heavy metals are frequently released into the aquatic ecosystems from various sources and can cause adverse effects on consumers due to their toxicity. The present research was carried out in order to evaluate the contamination level of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cr and Co) in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea at Guilan Province. The metals concentrations in Gammarus (Pontogammarus maeoticu) tissues as well as their surrounding sediment were investigated at five sampling sites including Rezvanshahr, Anzali, Kiashahr, Chamkhaleh and Chaboksar. Three surficial sediment samples and about 50-70 g Gamamarus Sp specimens were collected with three replicates at each site. All biota and sediment samples were analyzed by using ICP-OES spectrophometry. The average level of Zn, Cr, Co, and Pb in sediment samples were obtained 22. 87, 16. 72, 6. 55 and 6. 02 μ g/g, respectively. In Gammarus tissues, metals bioaccumulation pattern was observed in the order of Zn > Cr > Pb > Co with the average amount of 8. 86, 2. 63, 1. 13 and 0. 94 μ g/g, respectively. The results revealed that all metals levels were lower than NOAA sediment standard criteria. The quality assessment of sediment by Muller geochemical index (Igeo) illustrated that the sediment of the study area is categorized as an unpolluted class. Toxicity of lead and its high accumulation in Gammarus body can be regarded as a threat for food chain of the ecosystem.

Alpha-glucose oxidase, amylase and glucose oxidase, as part of digestive enzymes are the most important proteins in the milk glands of forager bees and expressed with three other proteins as the main protein for the production of royal jelly in worker bees. According to expression of proteins in different ages, effect on production of honey and royal jelly, the aim of this study was to investigate these changes. The proteins extracted from milk glands with four methods of tris, phosphate, tri-chloro acetic acid and phenol and stained with three methods included Cumasi Brilliant Blue R-250, Brilliant Blue G-50 and Silver nitrate. After determining the best method of extraction and staining, protein concentrations were be equal by Bradford method and their expressions were evaluated at five age period of birth, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days. The results showed that the highest protein expression involved in royal jelly of milk glands, corresponding to 10 days of age and the lowest protein expression was in 20 days. The highest expression level of proteins involved in honey production was in glucose oxidase, at 20 days and the lowest expression in amylase protein and glucose oxidase at the ages of birth, 5 and 10 days. Most of the major royal jelly protein expression was related to the ages of 5 and 10 days. The results show that there were large differences in the expression of these proteins in different ages that can affect the quality and quantity of honey and royal jelly.

During the semen storage, oxidative damages are the major causes of decrease in sperm quality and its fertility potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as an antioxidant on semen characteristics of Arabi ram in various times of semen storage in liquid condition under 5° C. Semen samples were collected weekly from 8 Arabi rams for 8 weeks and pooled. After dilution, the semen sample was divided into 5 parts which received the different levels of BSA (0, 0. 5, 1, 1. 5 or 2 percent). In each part, semen quality characteristics were evaluated at different storage times (1, 24, 48, 72 or 96 h). In 1h of storage, BSA levels only decreased the morphological defects of spermatozoa than control (P<0. 05). After 24h storage, all levels of BSA, improved the most of sperm quality parameters (P<0. 05). During 48 and 72h of semen storage, 0. 5 and 1percent of BSA had the better performance (P<0. 05). At the final storage time or 96h, 0. 5 and 1 percent of BSA had the best performance in maintenance of motility and viability and decrease the morphological defect rates of spermatozoa (P<0. 05). The pH of semen in all storage times was not affected by treatments (P>0. 05). Overall, with increasing the storage times of Arabi ram semen, lower levels of BSA (below than 2 percent and preferably 0. 5 and 1 percent) significantly improved the sperm quality parameters without effect on pH of semen.

This study has been carried to determine the optimum level of dietary supplementation of synbiotic of Benni (Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi). A total of 600 fish with initial average weight of 3. 83± 0. 2 g were kept in 15 tanks with 300 l capacity (40 fish/tank). Five dietary treatments included treatment 1 (control) which were fed with basal commercial diet without synbiotic and the other treatments 2 to 5 containing 0. 5, 1, 1. 5 and 2 g synbiotic per kg of diets, respectively. The experimental trail was carried out in triplicate for a period of 60 days. The results showed that different dietary synbiotic supplementation levels can improved growth and feeding performances. Also, the body biochemical composition was improved by increase in protein contents. High concentration of symbiotic increased the final average weight among the treatments up to 1. 5 g per kg of diet. Also, other factors like food conversion ratio, food efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher in the treatment 4. The optimum results for M. sharpeyi were achieved at 1. 5 g per kg dietary synbiotic supplementation that affected on weight gain, feed conversion ratio and body biochemical composition.

In this research, the habitat preferences of Artemia parthenogenetica were monthly studied in 10 different sampling sites in the Meighan wetland from October 1394 to September 1395. In ten stations, the abundance of this species and 15 physical and chemical variables as well as the abundance of a microscopic algae, Dunaliella salina, were simultaneously measured in two different depths: in the surface layer and the depth of 50 cm (120 samples for each depth). Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA), sodium, conductivity and sulphate had more impact than other variables regarding the habitat preferences of Artemia parthenogenetica in Meighan wetland. Also based on the outcomes of linear discriminant analysis (LDA), the occurrence of the given species in cold seasons (autumn and winter) is less than warm seasons (spring and summer). The results of Mann-Whitney U test showed that there is a significance difference between the most variables (except sodium, water temperature and sulfate) taken in two different depths. According to ANOVA (post-hoc test), there are also significant differences between the occurrence of Artemia parthenogenetica and different seasons as well as between the occurrence of species and some sampling sites.