The evaluation of lycopene and cysteamine supplementation effects on sperm and oxidative stress parameters during chilled storage of canine semen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of lycopene and cysteamine on characteristics of sperm, liquid peroxidation and enzymatic activities in seminal plasma of canine semen preserved at 5°C for 72 hr. The semen samples were divided into eight aliquots: control, control sham (dimethyl sulfoxide 5%), lycopene groups (250, 500 and 750 µg/ml) and cysteamine groups (2.5, 5 and 10 mM). Motility, viability, membrane integrity, DNA integrity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated. Progressive motility and total motility were higher with the 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, compared to the control group and the cysteamine groups following 72 hr of storage in the liquid storage. Motility characteristics, viability and hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) percentages were significantly improved in 500 µg/ml lycopene compared to other groups. The 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, showed significantly reduced percentages of spermatozoa with DNA integrity compared to the control group. The 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, led to the significant decrease of MDA levels. The 500 µg/ml lycopene enhanced TAC levels after 48 and 72 hr that was not observed in other groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that lycopene supplementation in canine semen extenders improved canine semen parameters and TAC levels and decreased MDA levels in the chilling process.     

Leaf and seed micronutrient accumulation in soybean cultivars in response to integrated organic and chemical fertilizers application

Plant nutrients can be influenced by organic materials of soils. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic amendments on elements uptake by soybean cultivars in a silty loam soil in Mazandaran province, Iran. The experiment was carried out in split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2006. Main plots were included 8 fertilizer treatments consisted of 20 and 40 Mg ha(-1) Municipal Solid Waste Compost (MSW), Vermicompost (VC) and Sewage Sludge (SS) which enriched with 50% chemical fertilizers needed by soil, only chemical fertilizer treatment and control. Sub plots consisted of three genotypes of soybean (032, 033 and JK). Grain yield was determined and soybean leaves and seeds were digested and analyzed for Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe. Results showed that yield and elements content in soybean leaves and seeds (Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) were influenced by all treatments. The 40 Mg ha(-1) of sewage sludge enriched with chemical fertilizers produced maximum grain yield. Different soybean cultivars had also significant differences in terms of leaf and seed micronutrients accumulation. Maximum grain yield was observed in JK and 033. Mean comparisons showed that interaction effects of fertilizer and cultivar had significant differences on Mn, Cu and Fe content in soybean leaves, so that the maximum Cu content was observed in 032 cultivars with 40 Mg ha(-1) enriched sewage sludge and municipal waste compost. Also the highest amount of Fe was obtained for JK cultivar when the 40 Mg ha(-1) of municipal compost was used. Among different mentioned traits, Fe and Cu content in leaf and seed and Zn content in leaf had a positive and significant correlation with grain yield.     

Antioxidant effects of supplementation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl glycol on sperm parameters and oxidative markers following cryopreservation in canine semen

Supplementing the extender with antioxidants with low molecular weight can enhance the quality of the post-thaw sperm during the freezing process. This study was aimed at determining the impacts of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl glycol (DHPG) on the spermatozoa of the canine undergoing freeze-thawing process. In this study, 24 ejaculates were obtained from three mixed-breed dogs and were diluted in a Tris-based extender. The diluted semen was divided into aliquots for supplementation of 10, 30, 50 and 70 µg/ml of DHPG, control (without antioxidant) and control sham (DMSO). After being extended, the semen was equilibrated at a temperature of 4°C and then transferred to the straws and kept 4 cm above the liquid nitrogen for 20 min and was finally immersed in the liquid nitrogen. They were cryopreserved for seven days; then, sperm parameters including sperm motility evaluation, motility characteristics, viability, DNA and plasma membrane integrity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione content (GSH), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT] and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]) activity malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated. This study showed that spermatozoa cryopreservation with 50, 30 and 70 µg/ml of DHPG concentrations had better progressive motility, Curvilinear Velocity, Linearity, viability, intact plasma membrane and the levels of TAC, GPx and GSH were higher than the control group. The 50, 30 and 70 µg/ml of DHPG concentrations led to the significant decrease of DNA damage compared to the control group. Total motility, average path velocity, straight-line velocity and CAT activity were significantly improved in 30 and 50 µg/ml of DHPG concentrations, compared to the control group. Also, the 50 and 30 µg/ml of DHPG concentrations, decreased MDA levels compared to the other groups, significantly. In conclusion, our study showed that the addition 50 µg/ml of DHPG to the canine semen extender improved the semen characteristics and oxidative markers in the cryopreservation process.     

LRP6 mutation in a family with early coronary disease and metabolic risk factors

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is commonly caused by a constellation of risk factors called the metabolic syndrome. We characterized a family with autosomal dominant early CAD, features of the metabolic syndrome (hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes), and osteoporosis. These traits showed genetic linkage to a short segment of chromosome 12p, in which we identified a missense mutation in LRP6, which encodes a co-receptor in the Wnt signaling pathway. The mutation, which substitutes cysteine for arginine at a highly conserved residue of an epidermal growth factor-like domain, impairs Wnt signaling in vitro. These results link a single gene defect in Wnt signaling to CAD and multiple cardiovascular risk factors.     

EFFECTS OF ORGANIC AMENDMENTS APPLICATION ON GRAIN YIELD,LEAF CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT AND SOME MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN SOYBEAN CULTIVARS

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic amendments on grain yield, leaf chlorophyll content, and some morphological characteristics of three soybean cultivars in Mazandaran province located at north of Iran in 2006. Chemical fertilizer (75 kg ha^?1 potassium sulfate and triple superphosphate), two levels of municipal solid waste, vermicompost and sewage sludge biosolid (20 and 40 Mg ha^?1) enriched with%50 chemical fertilizers needed by soil were applied to soybean cultivars (‘032’ and ‘033’ promising lines and ‘JK’ cultivar). The experiment was carried out in split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Some important plant characters such as grain yield, leaf chlorophyll content, number of branches, number of nodes on the main stem, length of internodes, stem diameter, first pod height and plant height were determined. Results showed that application of 40 Mg ha^?1 sewage sludge enriched with chemical fertilizers increased plant grain yield and stem diameter and application of 40 Mg ha^?1 vermicompost enriched with half chemical fertilizer increased the number of nodes on the main stem, significantly. The maximum length of internodes, first pod height and plant height were obtained when the 40 Mg ha^?1 sewage sludge and vermicompost enriched with half chemical fertilizer in ‘032’ line was used. Biomass, number of branches, stem diameter, number of nodes on the main stem of soybean cultivars had a positive and significant correlation with grain yield.