Effects of water-soluble and fat-soluble choline sources on the performances of juvenile kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus Bate

The present study was undertaken to clarify the effect and interaction of choline chloride (CC) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), the water‐ and fat‐soluble sources of choline, on the performances of kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus juveniles using as response variables such as percent weight gain (%WG), specific growth rate (SGR), survival (SR%), feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER), proximate composition, fatty acids profile and free choline and PC contents in the whole body of kuruma shrimp. A 40‐day feeding trial was conducted as a 2 × 3 factorial experiment with six test diets containing three levels of CC (0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 g kg^?1) and two levels of soybean PC (SPC; 2 and 4 g kg^?1). Both of the choline sources (CC and SPC) showed a significant interaction (P<0.05) regarding all the evaluated response variables except for the proximate and fatty acid contents. Interestingly, there was a positive effect (P<0.05) of CC observed with increasing its level at the low level of SPC and vice versa. However, the magnitudes of the beneficial effect of CC in terms of the evaluated parameters were changed with the different dietary levels of SPC. Also, the inclusion of higher levels of SPC (4 g kg^?1) or CC (0.6 and 1.2 g kg^?1) diminished the effect of the other source.     

In vitro and in vivo effects of some pesticides on carbonic anhydrase enzyme from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gills

Here we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of the pesticides, deltamethrin, diazinon, propoxur and cypermethrin, on the activity of rainbow trout (rt) gill carbonic anhydrase (CA). The enzyme was purified from rainbow trout gills using Sepharose 4B-aniline-sulfanilamide affinity chromatography method. The overall purification was approx. 214-fold. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band corresponding to a molecular weight of approx. 29 kDa. The four pesticides dose-dependently inhibited in vitro CA activity. IC₅₀ values for deltamethrin, diazinon, propoxur and cypermethrin were 0.137, 0.267, 0.420 and 0.460 μM, respectively. In vitro results showed that pesticides inhibit rtCA activity with rank order of deltamethrin > diazinon > propoxur > cypermethrin. Besides, in vivo studies of deltamethrin were performed on CA activity of rainbow trout gill. rtCA was significantly inhibited at three concentrations (0.25, 1.0 and 2.5 μg/L) at 24 and 48 h.     

The genotypic effects on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) berries grown in Turkey

In this study, chemical composition of berries of 10 sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) genotypes in Turkey was investigated. The total phenolic content of the berries ranged from 21.31 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per g dry weight basis to 55.38 mg GAE per g. The highest antioxidant activity was 93.54% (similar to the standard BHT at 200 mg/L) and the lowest was 80.38%. There was no correlation (R = 0.688) between the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity. The major fatty acids in berries were palmitoleic acid (35.48%), followed by palmitic acid (28.13%), oleic acid (22.89%) and linoleic acid (3.96%). Total soluble solid content of sea buckthorn genotypes varied from 10.15 to 14.80%, titratable acidity varied from 2.64 to 4.54%, the pH varied from 2.63 to 2.98 and Vitamin C varied from 19 to 121 mg/100 mL. The average content of minerals in the sea buckthorn berries of different genotypes was 20,800 ppm N, 7100 ppm P, 7260 ppm K, 1960 ppm Ca, 1465 ppm Mg, 32 ppm Zn, 24 ppm Cu, 22 ppm Mn and 7 ppm Fe.     

Macro anatomical investigations of the cranial cervical ganglion in domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

In this study, the left and right cranial cervical ganglia (ganglion cervicale craniale) of eight young (four male, four female) domestic pigs weighing around 70-80 kg were inspected macro anatomically. The cranial cervical ganglion (CCG) was found cranio-ventrally of the distal ganglion of the vagus nerve, medial of the jugular process extremity, ventral of the atlas, dorsal of the epiglottis base and medial of the common root (CR) established by the internal carotid and occipital arteries. The internal carotid nerve and jugular nerve ramified from the cranial part of CCG. The jugular nerve gave branches that merged with the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves. Other nerve branches originating from the cranial part of the ganglion reached to the external carotid artery and CR. The internal carotid nerve varied among cadavers in number of branches (two to four). These branches did not travel along the side of the internal carotid artery. The central part of CCG gave thin nerve branches that reached to various anatomical structures including the first and second cervical nerves, wall of the pharynx, accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve, vagus nerve, external carotid artery and CR. The caudal part of CCG gave nerve branches that merged with the vagus, cranial laryngeal nerves, and common carotid artery. The external carotid nerves, which were two or three in number, also originated from the caudal part of CCG. In conclusion, the nerves ramifying from CCG of the pig varied in number among cadavers. Compared with literature raised in other species, there are also differences in number of nerve branches and course pattern of these nerves.     

Some physico-chemical characteristics of black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) genotypes from Northeast Anatolia region of Turkey

In this study, some selected physico-chemical properties (antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, fatty acids, fruit colour, fruit juice yield, fruit weight, organic acids, pH, total phenolic and total soluble solid contents) of five black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) genotypes grown in the Northeast Anatolia region of Turkey was investigated. The total phenolic and antioxidant activity of methanol extract of black mulberry fruits were determined according to Folin-Ciocalteu and β-carotene bleaching method assays, respectively. Fatty acids of mulberry fruits were determined by using gas chromatography. Total phenolic content was observed in black mulberry fruits between 1943 and 2237 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh mass. The vitamin C content of genotypes varied between 14.9 and 18.7 mg/100 ml. The major fatty acids in all mulberry fruits were linoleic acid (53.57–64.41%) and palmitic acid (11.36–16.41%). Antioxidant activity of black mulberry genotypes was found between 63% and 76%, which lower than standard BHA and BHT. Regarding organic acid content, malic acid was the most predominant with a range of 123–218 mg/g followed by citric acid (21–41 mg/g). The results of the study are helpful for attempting crop improvement in black mulberry for bringing to cultivation.     

Effects of supplementation of chromium histidinate on glucose,lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in cats

In recent years, two meta‐analyses of chromium (Cr) supplementation have shown beneficial effects on glucose metabolism. Chromium histidinate (CrHis) reduces serum glucose levels in rats fed a high‐fat diet but no study has been conducted on cats until now. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of CrHis on glucose and lipid metabolism in cats. To challenge the glucose metabolism, 16 cats were fed a high‐carbohydrate high‐fat diet for three months. One group (n = 8) received 800 ug CrHis per day for two months, while the other group (n = 8) served as control group. An oral glucose tolerance test was conducted, blood samples were taken, and biochemical parameters and oxidative stress were measured. CrHis serum levels were significantly increased (p = 0.027) in the treatment group, while fructosamine levels were significantly lower (p = 0.029) in the control group. In both groups, glucose (p < 0.01), b‐hydroxy‐butyrate (p = 0.024) and 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine (p = 0.028) levels decreased significantly and cholesterol levels increased significantly (p < 0.01). In conclusion, CrHis did not improve glucose or lipid metabolism and did not affect oxidative stress in healthy cats.     

Site suitability assessment and mapping for rice cultivation using multi-criteria decision analysis based on fuzzy-AHP and TOPSIS approaches under semihumid ecological condition in delta plain

Paddy and Water Environment - Many areas in Turkey are ecologically suitable for paddy cultivation, and their yield per hectare is above the world average. Despite this fact, the amount of...     

Morphometric Study of the Intraorbital Muscles (Musculi bulbi) in New Zealand Rabbit

Eight female New Zealand rabbits were used. The bulbus oculi was removed bilaterally from orbita then intraorbital muscles were revealed by dissection and their length and breadth and the distance of the muscle insertion to the corneal limbus were measured. Junction formations of the insertion tendon of intraorbital muscle to the sclera were identified.