Recovery of sperms bearing X chromosomes with different concentrations of magnetic nanoparticles in ram

Pre-conceptual sex selection is still a highly debatable process whereby X and Y chromosome bearing spermatozoa are isolated before oocyte fertilization. Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) have been used to determine X and Y chromosomes bearing spermatozoa as a result of searching for a cheap, highly efficient method using non-toxic materials. This study aimed to recover the sperm bearing X chromosomes in ram with different concentrations of MNP and then evaluate the success of this method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ram sperms were divided into four groups, treated with 0 (control), 50, 100 and 200 μg/ml MNP, respectively. MNP was used to restore sperm cells bearing X chromosomes. Upon recovery, the PCR was performed to identify the X and Y sperms, Methyl ThiazoleTetrazolium (MTT), to assess MNP toxicity and sperm viability and acridine orange (AO) to evaluate sperm DNA integrity. The results of PCR revealed that the treatment of spermatozoa- bearing X chromosomes with 50 μg/ml MNP had the highest effects on the recovery of X sperm rather than the other concentrations of MNP. However, the concentrations of MNP did not have any toxic effects on spermatozoa, sperm viability and, DNA integrity, but the high concentration of MNP (200 μg/ml) significantly reduced DNA integrity. According to MTT and AO results, the concentrations of MNP used in this study had no toxic effects on spermatozoa and did not reduce the sperm viability and DNA integrity, except that 200 μg/ml MNP significantly reduced DNA integrity.     

The pharmacokinetics of promethazine after intravenous administration in camels

The pharmacokinetics of promethazine were determined in seven camels (Camelus dromedarius) after an intravenous dose of 0.5 mg kg body weight.-1 The data obtained (median and range) were as follows: the elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) was 5.62 (2.84-6.51) h; the steady state volume of distribution (Vdss) was 8.90 (7.10-12.00) L kg-1, total body clearance (CT) was 24.5 (17.22-33.65) ml kg-1 min-1 and renal clearance (Clr) was 4.81 (1.97-5.48) ml kg-1 min-1.     

The pharmacokinetics, metabolism and urinary detection time of etamiphylline in camels after intramuscular administration

The pharmacokinetics of etamiphylline were determined after an intramuscular (i.m.) dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight in six healthy camels. Furthermore, the metabolites and drug detection time were evaluated. The data obtained median and (range) were as follows: the terminal elimination half-life (t(1/2 beta), h) was 3.04 (2.03-3.62); apparent total body clearance (Cl/F, L/h/kg) was 1.27 (0.74-2.99); the apparent volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)/F, L/kg) was 4.94 (3.57-12.54); and renal clearance (Cl(r), L/h/kg) determined in two camels was 0.005 and 0.004, respectively. The detection time of etamiphylline in urine after an i.m. dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight ranged between 12 and 13 days. Three etamiphylline metabolites were tentatively identified in camels urine: The first one desethyletamiphylline was the main metabolite and resulted from N-deethylation of etamiphylline had a molecular weight of 251, and was detected in urine for about 13-14 days. Theophylline (molecular weight 180) was the second metabolite and resulted from ring N-dealkylation of etamiphylline. It was present in small amounts and was detected for about 5 h after drug administration in urine. The third metabolite, possibly resulted from demethylation of etamiphylline, had a molecular weight of m/z 265, and was present in small amounts and was detected in urine for about 5 h after drug administration.     

Morphinandienone alkaloids from Dehaasia longipedicellata

Five morphinoid alkaloids have been isolated from Dehaasia longipedicellata, namely (-) pallidine, a new alkaloid (+) pallidinine (1), (+)-milonine, (-) 8,14-dehydrosalutaridine and (-) sinoacutine.     

Performance and yield of 14 eucalypt species on Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. grassland 3 years after planting

A species trial with 14 eucalypt species with randomized complete blocks design was planted on Imperata cylindrica dominated grassland in South Kalimantan, Indonesia in January 1987. The site was prepared mechanically. No fertilizers were used. At the age of three years E. camaldulensis had clearly the highest survival rate (95%) and mean annual increment (5.9 m³ha^–1a^–1) compared with the other species tried. It was followed by E. urophylla, E. deglupta, E. pellita, E. tereticornis, E. alba, E. torelliana, E. intermedia, E. grandis and E. pilularis. Four other species, E. phaeotricha, E. resinifera, E. cloeziana and E. microcorys died either in the nursery or immediately after planting. All the eucalypts tried had narrow crowns and open canopies. It is suggested that eucalypts are not recommendable for grassland reforestation under minimum plantation tending. Effects of intensive weeding, spacing, fertilizing and performance in second rotation or mixed stands should be tested to elaborate the suitability of eucalypts on grasslands.     

Assessment of morphological and functional changes in the mouse testis and epididymal sperms following busulfan treatment

BACKGROUND: Busulfan, a cytotoxic drug, which is currently used as a chemotherapeutic agent, has many side effects on different body organs. In this research, the effects of busulfan on sperm parameters and microstructure of mouse testis were investigated. METHODS: Busulfan was injected intrapretoneally at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg and testes were removed after 4, 6 and 8 weeks, weighed and processed for light microscopic examination. Transverse and cross section diameters of testes, seminiferous tubules diameters, percentage of different types of tubules, epithelium thickness, spermatogenic cell numbers and capsule thickness as well as the sperm parameters in epididymis were measured. RESULTS: There was a significant decline in sperm numbers and marked changes in testes structures. Almost 8 weeks after the injection of drug, some of the changes are reversed. Accordingly, the changes in percent of normal tubules without sperm, abnormal tubules and capsule thickness were increased until 6 weeks of drug administration, the changes declined thereafter. CONCLUSION: In general, busulfan caused a decrease in all analyzed parameters (except capsule thickness, normal tubules without sperm and abnormal tubules), probably due to the arrest of spermatogenesis. Our results also revealed that some of the changes are reversible and dose dependent.     

The inheritance and chromosomal location of morphological traits in wild wheat, Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccoides

The homoeologous groups of chromosomes carrying the genes for some morphological traits in wild wheat Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccoides (T. dicoccoides) were determined, but not the actual chromosomes carrying them. The objectives of this study were to investigate the modes of inheritance, and determine the chromosomes carrying some morphological traits in wild emmer (2n = 28; AABB), the progenitor of most cultivated wheats. To investigate the inheritance of morphological traits, crosses were made between T. turgidum L. ssp. durum (T. durum cultivar Chartokhmi (IR10) and T. dicoccoides accessions TA1150 and TA1131. F₂ seeds from each cross were grown in the field and six qualitative characters were investigated. Purple coleoptile, purple auricle, purple culm, hairy auricle, hairy rachilla, and fragility of spike were controlled by single dominant genes. To determine the chromosomal locations, accession TA1131 was crossed with the complete set of LDN D-genome disomic substitution lines. Assessments of F₂ populations showed that chromosomes 7A, 6A, 7B, 5B, 5A and 3B carried genes for purple coleoptile, purple auricle, purple culm, hairy auricle, hairy rachilla and brittle rachis, respectively.     

Effect of biuret on the transformation of urea in two egyptian soils

In model experiments (60 % water holding capacity and 30°C) with a loamy clay (pH 8.3) and a calcareous sand (pH 7.9) the effect of biuret upon the breakdown of urea was studied. Ammonification and nitrification occured very quickly, in case of the calcareous sand at the beginning more NH₄ was evolved. Biuret in concentration from 0.4 to 8 % maximum did not influence urea hydrolysis, however it resulted in higher NO₂-figures at the beginning of the experiments demonstrating an initial marked inhibition of the process NO₂ → NO₃ especially in the calcareous sand. The total nitrification seemed to be a little retarded but did not differ very much finally.     

Anti-inflammatory activities of cucurbitacin E isolated from Citrullus lanatus var. citroides: role of reactive nitrogen species and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibition

The in vivo and in vitro mechanistic anti-inflammatory actions of cucurbitacin E (CE) (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) were examined. The results showed that LPS/INF-γ increased NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, whereas L-NAME and CE curtailed it. CE did not reveal any cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 and WRL-68 cells. CE inhibited both COX enzymes with more selectivity toward COX-2. Intraperitoneal injection of CE significantly suppressed carrageenan-induced rat's paw edema. ORAC and FRAP assays showed that CE is not a potent ROS scavenger. It could be concluded that CE is potentially useful in treating inflammation through the inhibition of COX and RNS but not ROS.     

Investigation on pistachio distribution in the mountain regions of northeast Iran by ALOS

Iran supports five different vegetation zones. One of those is the Irano-Touranian zone that is located in the northeast of Iran. This vegetation zone includes arid and semi-arid lands, and its area is about 3.5 million hm². It supports growth of pistachio (Pistacia vera), a deciduous-broadleaved species, which is one of the ecologically and economically most important native species. In this study, we analyzed three images acquired by ALOS satellite, including 10m resolution multispectral band (AVNIR-2), 2.5 m resolution “Backward” PRISM image, and 2.5 m resolution “Nadir” PRISM image, based on a provided rational polynomial coefficient (RPC). Using the “Backward” and “Nadir” images, a 2.5 m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) was produced. Four methods with AVNIR-2 and PRISM data were used to produce pan-sharpening images and conduct an object-based feature extraction process. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to determine the maximum distribution of pistachio in related elevation. The accuracy of the DEM was tested on 28 ground control points in the pair image as tie points, with the value of parallax error of 0.9027 m. The created elevation map indicated that pistachio trees grow up at 650m above sea level (a.s.l.). The result from NDVI in the related elevation showed the maximum density of pistachio at 800m a.s.l. In addition, the result of feature extraction in the forest showed the area of each target element calculated. The results of this research will improve decision-making and lead to sustainable management in general.