Lead concentration in Teheran's atmosphere

Aerosol Pb pollution in Teheran was repeatedly measured at nine crossroads in the city from April to November 1976. The mean value of atmospheric Pb in the city was 3.6 μg m^?3. The average values obtained for the Pb in the air of the crossroads were close to each other except in the southern parts of the city where it was higher. Stagnation of motor vehicles and higher dustfall may have a role in this increase. Since industrial Pb pollution is not significant in Teheran, it was concluded that the contamination by Pb in the city is mainly from gasoline consumption.     

Analysis of Relationship between Bovine Lymphocyte Antigen DRB3.2 Alleles, Somatic Cell Count and milk Traits in Iranian Holstein Population

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a gene complex closely linked to the vertebrate immune system due to its importance in antigen recognition and immune response to pathogens. To improve our understanding of the MHC and disease resistance in dairy cattle, we gathered 5119 test day records of somatic cell count (SCC) and performance traits of 262 Holstein dairy cows to determine whether the DRB region of the MHC contains alleles that are associated with elevated SCC, milk yield, protein and fat percent of milk. To this purpose, genotyping of animals for DRB3 gene was investigated by polymerase chain reaction‐based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) assay. A two‐step PCR was carried out so as to amplify a 284 base‐pair fragment of exon 2 of the target gene. Second PCR products were treated with three restriction endonuclease enzymes RsaI, BstYI and HaeIII. Twenty‐eight BoLA‐DRB3 alleles were identified including one novel allele (*40). The results in general are in good accordance with allele frequencies of Holstein cattle populations reported by previous studies. Analyses of associations were modeled based on repeated measurement anova and generalized logistic linear methods for production traits and SCC data, respectively. The results of this study showed a significant relationship between the elevated SCC reflecting an increased probability of occurrence to subclinical mastitis and DRB3.2 allele *8 (p < 0.03). The results also revealed significant positive relationships of alleles*22 (p < 0.01) and allele*11 (p < 0.05) with milk fat percent as well as of alleles*24 (p < 0.03) and *22 (p < 0.05) with protein percent. The present study failed to find any association between milk yield and tested alleles. Because of the lack of consistency among results of similar studies, we suggest further investigations to determine the precise nature of these associations with the high polymorphic bovine MHC region to be performed based on haplotypes.     

Early Pregnancy Detection of Iraqi Riverine Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Using the BioPRYN Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay for PSPB and the Progesterone Assay

This study was undertaken to detect pregnancy in Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using three different methods (rectal palpation, plasma progesterone concentration and detection of the presence of pregnancy‐specific protein B (PSPB) with the BioPRYN^® enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The aim of the study was to identify the most sensitive, early and accurate method for detecting pregnancy. Twenty‐two female riverine buffalo that were 6.0 ± 0.93 years old were used. Four blood samples per buffalo were taken via jugular venipuncture at days 22–24, 32–34, 42–44 and 58–61 post‐mating (PM) to measure the progesterone concentration (ng/ml) and to detect the presence of plasma PSPB. The rectal palpation method was employed to evaluate all buffalo on days 42–44 and 58–61 PM. The BioPRYN^® test differed (p < 0.01) from the other tests with earlier accuracy for detecting pregnant and non‐pregnant buffalo. Eighty‐eight percent of pregnant and 76.9% of non‐pregnant buffalo were distinguished early (days 22–24 PM) using BioPRYN^® and plasma PSPB‐ELISA level (2.09 ± 0.12 ng/ml) in relation to 66.7% and 53.9% detected using the progesterone assay at similar days (4.30 ± 0.40 ng/ml). In conclusion, these results described, for the first time, the early and accurate pregnancy detection of water riverine buffalo using BioPRYN^® technology and provided the plasma levels of PSPB using an ELISA test. These findings will improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of Iraqi riverine buffalo by adapting the recent management and reproductive strategies in Iraq and in the world.     

Production of monoclonal antibody against recombinant bovine sex-determining region Y (SRY) and their preferential binding to Y chromosome-bearing sperm

Separation of X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm is an appropriate method for the selection of desired sex of offspring to increase the profit in livestock industries. The purpose of this study was the production of a monoclonal antibody against recombinant bovine sex-determining region Y protein for separation Y sperm. The hybridoma cells from splenocytes of immunized female's balb/C mice and Sp2/0 cells were made. The binding affinity of our monoclonal antibody (mAbSRY2) was compared with mouse monoclonal SRY-15. The Western blot method indicated that mAbSRY2 successfully detected the rbSRY protein. The specificity and sensitivity of mAbSRY2 is comparable to SRY-15 commercially ones. The SRY gene in 100% of bull semen contains the Y chromosome that had the strongest binding affinity to mAbSRY2 was synthesized. In other words, the binding affinity of semen contains the X sperms near the negative control. In general, this immunological method can help to separate X from Y sperms. However, the mAbSRY2 is bind to Y-bearing sexed sperm, but in the future; the sexed sperms need to apply in farms.     

Evaluation of detomidine as a sedative in goats.

Intramuscular (i.m.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration of detomidine at doses of 10, 20 and 40 micrograms/kg body mass was evaluated for its sedative and analgesic properties in 15 goats (Capra hircus). The drug produced dose- and route-dependent sedation. The 10 micrograms/kg dose was effective only when administered i.v. There was no observable analgesia at this dose. Higher doses produced effective sedation and moderate analgesia of the body with either route of administration. Severe ataxia and sternal recumbency were seen in all the animals after the dose of 40 micrograms/kg. Other effects of detomidine in these goats included mild to moderate salivation, depressed respiratory rate, decreased rectal temperature, bradycardia and hyperglycaemia. Plasma concentrations of total protein, sodium, potassium and chloride were not affected.     

Sand colic in a mule: A case report

A 25-year-old mule was showing signs of colic. Clinical examination revealed acute pain, bilateral abdominal distention, stretching out and standing in this position. Rectal palpation revealed a hardened mass in the ventral region of the pelvic inlet. Surgical intervention was accomplished and faecaliths removed by colotomy. The mule died unexpectedly and postmortem examination revealed sand masses within the right ventral and right dorsal colon which caused obstruction of the intestinal tract in sternal and diaphragmatic flexures, respectively. This appears to be the first report of sand colic in a mule in Iran.     

Endocannabinoids as endometrial inflammatory markers in lactating Holstein cows

The objective of this study was to consider endocannabinoid system as inflammatory markers in bovine endometrium to better understand the role of this system in regulating many of the functions that are related to inflammatory condition. At day 26 post‐partum, fourteen cows were divided into two groups depending on the inflammatory condition: 1‐ subclinical endometritis (n = 7, with purulent or mucopurulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina) and 2‐ healthy (n = 7, No (muco)) purulent discharge. Blood samples were collected at 26 and 30 days relative to calving to determine plasma tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein (LBP) concentrations; moreover, uterine biopsy was carried out on day 26 post‐partum to measure mRNA abundance of TNF, interleukin‐1B (IL1B), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), endocannabinoid receptor (CNR2), N‐acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPEPLD), fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), N‐acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) and monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) by real‐time PCR. Results showed mean plasma concentrations of TNF and LBP were lower in healthy cows compared to subclinical endometritis cows (p < .05). Relative mRNA expression for NAAA and FAAH was decreased (p < .05), and relative mRNA expression for CNR2 and NAPEPLD increased in cows with subclinical endometritis compared to healthy cows. In conclusion, relative mRNA expression of TNF, IL1B and CXCL8 and plasma concentration of LBP increased during inflammatory condition along with decreased endocannabinoids hydrolyzing enzyme (NAAA and FAAH), increased enzymes that synthesize endocannabinoids (NAPEPLD) and relative gene expression of the endocannabinoid receptor; together, these contribute to increased endocannabinoids levels during inflammation. Overall, we provide evidence that endocannabinoid system is altered in endometrium tissue during inflammation through increased mRNA expression of CNR2 and synthesis enzyme and decreased mRNA expression of hydrolyzing enzymes interfere with pro‐cytokine production and signalling, which may interfere with the onset and progression of inflammation.     

Phenotypic plasticity induced using high ambient temperature during embryogenesis in domesticated zebrafish,Danio rerio

Ambient temperature during early stages of life has a substantial effect on physiological processes, eliciting phenotypic plasticity during zebrafish developmental stages. Zebrafish are known to possess a noteworthy ability to modify their phenotype in dependence of environmental factors. However, there is a poor understanding of the effects of temperature during embryogenesis, which influences the biological functions such as survival ability and masculinization in later developmental stages. Since the middle embryonic phase (pharyngula period) is genetically the most conserved stage in embryogenesis, it is very susceptible to embryonic lethality in developmental processes of vertebrates. Here, we tested the effect of transient perturbations (heat shock) during early development (5–24 hr post‐fertilization; hpf) at 35°C compared to control group at 28°C, on survival ability of zebrafish to study the embryonic and post‐embryonic mortality. We studied the variation of heat‐induced masculinization among and across the families in response to high temperature. Furthermore, morphometric traits of adult zebrafish at different developmental time points were measured in order to estimate the temperature × sex interaction effect. We found the highest embryonic mortality around the gastrula and segmentation periods in both experimental groups, with significantly lower survival ability in the temperature‐treated group (73.30% ± 0.58% vs. 70.19% ± 0.57%, respectively). A higher hatching success was observed in the control group (71.08% ± 0.61%) compared to the heat‐induced group (67.95% ± 0.60%). A distinct reduction in survival ability was also observed in both experimental groups during the first two weeks after hatching, followed by a reduced level of changes thereafter. We found sex ratio imbalances across all families, with 25.2% more males under temperature treatment. Our study on growth performance has shown a positive effect of increased temperature on growth plasticity, with a greater impact on female fish in response to high ambient temperature.     

STUDIES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOPULMONARY EMBARRASSMENT DUE TO THIOPENTONE ANAESTHESIA IN THE EQUINE

Cardio pulmonary embarrassment was induced with thiopentone sodium in 35 healthy adult donkeys divided in to seven groups of five animals. “To effect” anaesthetic dose was (12.72 ± 0.69 mg/kg) which caused transient hypotension, tachycardia and hypoxemia. A stable fall in MAP 1. 6.77 ± 0.287 Kpa (50.78 ± 2.15 mmHg) and a flat EEG were considered to indicate acute circulatory insufficiency due to thiopentone overdose.