Effects of Acid Deposition on Forest Soils in Northernmost Russia: Modelled and Field Data

In addition to strong natural stresses forest ecosystems in the Kola Subarctic, Russia, receive high loads of sulphur and heavy metals from the nickel smelter. To estimate soil response to acid deposition we compared the soil field data along a pollution gradient and simulated time effects. Multivariate technique was applied to investigate spatial distribution of soil field data. Time response of soils to acid deposition was evaluated with the SMART model. According to field observations there is no evidence for strong soil acidification effects close to the smelter. Concentrations of exchangeable Ca and base saturation increase, while acidity decrease in lower soil mineral horizons towards the pollution source. However, some features seem to reflect the early stages of the started acidification. Most soil profiles have low pH values. Despite increasing of exchangeable Ca and Mg towards the smelter in lower mineral horizons due to geological inheritance, they do not reveal the same trends in the upper ones. Concentration of exchangeable K in organic horizons decreases towards the smelter, thus confirming the starting acidification. As result, exchangeable base cations are depleted in the considerable part of shallow soil profiles. According to model simulation the present acid load does not effect considerably on forest soils in background areas, however, dramatic shift in soil chemistry near the smelter is expected within several decades. Due to low pool of exchangeable base cations and low weathering rate continued acid deposition can lead to increased soil acidification and nutrient imbalance.     

Laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy with barbed suture in a ram

A 7-month-old Hampshire ram, with no history of trauma or breeding, was referred for treatment of acute, unilateral scrotal swelling. Physical examination revealed a moderately sized, soft, left-sided, non-reducible swelling of the proximal scrotum and mild swelling of the scrotal neck. Ultrasound evaluation of the scrotum revealed morphologically normal testicles and a mild accumulation of free fluid in the left vaginal tunic. Unilateral, laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy under general anesthesia was performed. The herniated omentum was reduced and barbed suture was used to imbricate the internal inguinal ring and the vaginal ring. No recurrence of herniation was reported 5 months after surgery.Key clinical message:Laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy with barbed suture can be a safe and effective means of scrotal hernia resolution in a ram. When performed by a competent surgeon experienced in laparoscopy, this treatment for inguinal and scrotal herniation may minimize post-operative pain, provide a rapid return to function, and preserve normal testicular and scrotal anatomy.     

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatocyte damage in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The present study is aiming at evaluating the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract (2.5, 5 and 10 μg/ml) on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced carp hepatocyte damage in vitro. Glycyrrhiza glabra extract was added to the carp primary hepatocytes before (pre-treatment), after (post-treatment) and both before and after (pre- and post-treatment) the incubation of the hepatocytes with CCl₄. CCl₄ at 8 mM in the culture medium produced significantly elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate oxalate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly reduced levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Pre-treatment (5 μg/ml) and pre- and post-treatment (5 and 10 μg/ml) of the hepatocytes with Glycyrrhiza glabra extract significantly reduced the elevated levels of LDH, GOT, GPT and MDA and increased the reduced levels of SOD and GSH-Px by CCl₄; post-treatment of the hepatocytes with Glycyrrhiza glabra extract at 5 μg/ml reduced the GPT and GOT levels and increased the GSH-Px level, but had no effect on the other parameters at all the studied concentrations. The results support the use of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract as a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent in fish.     

Protective effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganoderma lucidum</Emphasis> polysaccharide against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in precision-cut carp liver slices

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLPS) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro in common carp. Precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs), which closely resemble the organ from which they are derived, were employed as an in vitro model system. GLPS (0.1, 0.3, and 0.6 mg/ml) was added to PCLS culture system before the exposure to 12 mM CCl₄. The supernatants and slices were collected to detect molecular and biochemical responses to CCl₄ and PCLS treatments. The levels of CYP1A, CYP3A, and CYP2E1 were measured by ELISA; the mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS were determined by RT-PCR; and the relative protein expressions of c-Rel and p65 were analyzed by western blotting. Results showed that GLPS inhibited the elevations of the marker enzymes (GOT, GPT, LDH) and MDA induced by CCl₄; it also enhanced the suppressed activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, T-AOC). The treatment with GLPS resulted in significant downregulation of NF-κB and inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels and significant decreases in the hepatic protein levels of CYP1A, CYP3A, and CYP2E1. These results suggest that GLPS can protect CCl₄-induced PCLS injury through inhibiting lipid peroxidation, elevating antioxidant enzyme activity, and suppressing immune inflammatory response.     

白芍提取物对罗非鱼氧化损伤的保护作用

为了解白芍提取物对罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)肝损伤和炎症反应的保护作用,将罗非鱼随机分为5组,空白对照组(Ctrl组)、H2 O2组、白芍提取物组(0.5、1.0、5 g/kg),饲喂60 d后,用H2 O2处理24 h,在H2 O2处理前后,分别采集血液、肝、鳃和肌组织,并测定肝损伤指标、氧化应激参数和基因表达。结果显示:白芍提取物显著提高了血清、肝和鳃的抗氧化能力。氧化损伤实验中,白芍提取物不同程度地降低了谷丙转氨酶(GPT)、谷草转氨酶(GOT)和丙二醛(MDA)水平;提高了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)水平;上调了肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素IL-1β和IL-8基因表达;下调了IL-10基因表达。以上结果表明,白芍提取物可提高罗非鱼抗氧化能力,抑制氧化应激引起的肝损伤和炎症反应。     

Pan‐continental invasion of Pseudorasbora parva: towards a better understanding of freshwater fish invasions

In recent years, policy‐makers have sought the development of appropriate tools to prevent and manage introductions of invasive species. However, these tools are not well suited for introductions of non‐target species that are unknowingly released alongside intentionally‐introduced species. The most compelling example of such invasion is arguably the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, a small cyprinid species originating from East Asia. A combination of sociological, economical and biological factors has fuelled their rapid invasion since the 1960s; 32 countries (from Central Asia to North Africa) have been invaded in less than 50 years. Based on a combination of monitoring surveys (2535 populations sampled) and literature reviews, this paper aims to quantify and characterise important invasion parameters, such as pathways of introduction, time between introduction and detection, lag phase and plasticity of life history traits. Every decade, five new countries have reported P. parva introduction, mainly resulting from the movement of Chinese carps for fish farming. The mean detection period after first introduction was 4 years, a duration insufficient to prevent their pan‐continental invasion. High phenotypic plasticity in fitness related traits such as growth, early maturity, fecundity, reproductive behaviour and the ability to cope with novel pathogens has predisposed P. parva to being a strong invader. The Pseudorasbora parva invasion has provided quantitative data for the development of 1) early warning systems across different spatial scales; 2) rapid eradication programmes prior to natural spread in open systems and 3) sound risk assessments with emphasis on plasticity of life history traits.     

Differences in the antibody response and survival of genetically different varieties of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) vaccinated with a commercial Aeromonas salmonicida/A. hydrophila vaccine and challenged with A. hydrophila

Males of two strains of carp, wild Duna (D), and inbred Szarvas 22 (22), were selected for high and low stress response. Two purebreds of D and 22, from randomly chosen parents and four crosses, 22 × 22-L (low stress response), 22 × 22-H (high stress response), 22 × D-L (low stress response) and 22 × D-H (high stress response) from selected stress response parents were produced and vaccinated with a commercial Aeromonas salmonicida/Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine and their circulating antibody response evaluated 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks post-vaccination by ELISA. Significantly higher titres of circulatory antibodies against A. hydrophila were found in the families 22 and cross 22 × 22-L compared to other groups. The development of circulatory antibodies against A. hydrophila in all crosses having at least one D parent was low and remained low throughout the experiment. The level of circulatory antibodies against atypical A. salmonicida in the inbred strain increased following a booster vaccination with the highest values measured in inbred strain 22 and cross 22 × 22 L. The different varieties of carp had different levels of survival against experimental challenge with A. hydrophila. The greatest survival was obtained in strain 22 and cross 22 × 22-L, while ~90% of D wild carp and cross 22 × D (independent of their stress response) died. Survival results correlated well with the antibody response of the different groups: 22 and 22 × 22-L had the highest antibody titres against A. hydrophila and the greatest level of survival.     

环磷酰胺诱导的尼罗罗非鱼体内外肝损伤模型的构建

以环磷酰胺(CTX)为诱导物，建立罗非鱼体内外急性肝损伤模型。体外，0、5、10、15、20和25 mmol·L^-1 CTX 分别作用于离体培养的罗非鱼精密肝切片（PCLS）6 h 后，测定切片培养上清中谷丙转氨酶（GPT）、谷草转氨酶（GOT）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）水平，同时收集肝切片，用噻唑蓝（MTT）法检测肝切片增殖活性，测定切片内总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）、丙二醛（MDA）、过氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽（GSH）水平。体内，采用胸腔注射法造模，每千克鱼体重分别注射0、10、25、75和100 mg环磷酰胺（下文以mg·kg^-1表示），每隔3 d给药1次，连续3次。末次给药后第4天取血，测定罗非鱼血清中GPT、 GOT 和LDH及肝组织匀浆中T-AOC 、MDA、SOD和GSH水平。结果显示： 20～25 mmol·L^-1 CTX作用体外培养精密肝切片6 h及75～100 mg·kg^-1 CTX胸腔注射罗非鱼后，均可以导致GPT、GOT和 LDH 活力显著升高；T-AOC、SOD活力及GSH含量显著下降，MDA含量显著提高。同时，20 和25 mmol·L^-1 CTX能导致肝切片增殖活性显著下降，分别为空白对照组的67.29%和55.41%，且有剂量依赖性。结果表明：CTX可引起罗非鱼肝损伤；分别采用20 mmol·L^-1 CTX 作用体外培养PCLS 6 h或者采用75～100 mg·kg^-1 CTX胸腔注射罗非鱼，每隔3 d给药1次，连续3次，均可以构建体内外急性肝损伤模型。