Effects of indoleacetic acid and kinetin on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense in various tissues of rats

This study aims to investigate the effects of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and kinetin (Kn), which are plant growth regulators (PGRs), on antioxidant defense systems [reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT)], and lipid peroxidation level (malondialdehyde, MDA) various tissues of rats. Rats (Sprague-Dawley albino) were exposed to 100 ppm IAA and Kn. One hundred parts per million of PGRs was administered orally to rats ad libitum for 21 days continuously. The PGRs treatments caused different effects on the content of MDA and antioxidant defense system in comparison to those of control rats. According to the results, the subchronic treatments of IAA caused significant decrease in the GSH concentration and CAT activity in erythrocyte. Kn decreased GSH concentration in erythrocyte too. While the MDA concentration in brain was increased significantly by IAA and Kn, Kn decreased significantly brain CAT and GST activity. The liver GST activity was decreased by IAA and Kn. But, liver CAT activity was increased by IAA. On the other hand, while IAA treatment caused a significant decrease kidney GST activity, Kn caused a significant decrease both kidney GST and CAT activity. Also, while heart CAT activity was decreased by IAA, heart GST activity was decreased by both IAA and Kn. Moreover, MDA concentration in heart was increased by Kn treatment. It was concluded that IAA might effect MDA and antioxidant defense on the animals at subchronic treatment.     

Including 793/B type avian infectious bronchitis vaccine in 1-day-old chicken increased the protection against QX genotype

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a highly infectious pathogen, which affects the respiratory tract, reproductive system, and kidney of chickens. Many...     

Prevalence of avian influenza,Newcastle disease,and infectious bronchitis viruses in broiler flocks infected with multifactorial respiratory diseases in Iran, 2015–2016

In this study, the prevalence and spatial distribution of Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, and avian influenza have been evaluated in commercial broiler farms in 31 provinces in Iran. In this survey, a total of 233 affected broiler chicken farms were sampled. The infectious bronchitis virus (alone) was detected with highest frequency in 60 farms, and separately or combined with other agents, in 110 farms; Newcastle disease virus, separately, was detected in 28 farms, and in 63 farms separately or combined with other infectious agents; and avian influenza H9N2 was detected in 22 farms separately and in 51 farms separately or concomitant with other infectious agents. The sample tested negative for all H5 serotypes. The results of the present study show that the most prevalent avian viral infectious disease contributing to respiratory syndromes in broiler farms in Iran was infectious bronchitis due to infectious bronchitis virus serotypes variant 2 and 793/B. On the other hand, combined with the alternation of dominant viruses and circulating strains, flocks are exposed to unremitting anamorphic viral infections. Thus, the permanent monitoring of cases that have occurred and the review of vaccination plans of affected flocks every year are some of the necessary measures needed for strategic control of respiratory syndrome in broilers. It is noteworthy that execution of epidemiologic examinations on the cogent factors of prevalence of this syndrome and defeat of vaccination strategy in the flocks is urgent and has to be fulfilled on the definite causes of time.

     

Weed seed bank as affected by tillage,residue, and fertilization management under sweet corn-wheat cropping sequence in Iran

Soil weed seed bank is an important factor determining above-ground floristic composition and weed density in agricultural systems. The quantitative and qualitative measures of weed seed bank can help growers to predict the extent to which they are facing weed problems. Along with tillage, crop residues can affect the fate of weeds in the upcoming crops. To investigate such effects, we compared the effects of tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no tillage (NT)], wheat residue retention, and nitrogen (N) rates (0, 69, 138, and 207 kg N ha⁻¹) on depth-related characteristics of the weed seed bank under a sweet corn-wheat sequence during 2014–2015 growing seasons in Shiraz, Iran. Soil bank was not affected by tillage systems but tended to be slightly higher under RT. The highest (898 seeds m⁻²) and lowest (322 seeds m⁻²) weed population at 0–10 cm depth were found when 138 kg N ha⁻¹ in 2015 and 207 kg N ha⁻¹ in 2014 were applied. Species richness and diversity were higher under NT and RT practices at the top layer, but CT system was more diversified at deeper depths. They were higher when crop residues were retained as well. Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] Beauv), common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album L.), common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), flixweed (Descoreinia sofia [L.] Webb. & Berth.), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule L.), pigweeds (Amaranthus spp.), and stinking goosefoot (Chenopodium vulvaria L.) were the most common weeds found in all tillage systems and soil depths. Grasses were relatively lower than broadleaves regardless of treatments. Weed seed bank was mostly affected by weather conditions than treatments in this short-term experiment.     

Vitrification of mouse preantral follicles versus slow freezing: Morphological and apoptosis evaluation

The aim of this study was evaluation of survivability, maturation rate and apoptotic gene expression of preantral follicles after vitrification and slow freezing technique. Normal mouse preantral follicles were randomly divided into three experimental groups. In the control group, follicles were cultured immediately; in the vitrification and slow freezing groups, follicles were cultured after vitrification‐warming and slow freezing‐thawing procedures. Follicular viability was assessed by using 0.4% trypan blue, and molecular evaluation of messenger RNA levels of apoptosis‐related genes was performed by the semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR method after 3 h of culture. Oocyte maturation rates were also evaluated on day 14 of culture. Survival and maturation rate in the slow freezing group were significantly lower than those in control and vitrification groups (P ≤ 0.05). Although there was no difference in Survivin expression among the three experimental groups, Bcl‐2 expression was significantly lower in the slow freezing group compared to the other groups (P ≤ 0.05). The expression of Bax, P53, Fas and Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio in the slow freezing group was significantly higher than control and vitrification groups (P ≤ 0.05). Preantral follicle vitrification seems to be better than slow freezing as seen in the survival, maturation and expression rates of apoptotic gene variants.     

The morphological changes of adult mouse testes after 60Co gamma-Radiation

BACKGROUND: Cytotoxic therapy can lead to prolonged azoospermia or even sterility. In the present study, we investigated the morphological changes of mouse testes after gamma-Radiation. METHODS: After anaesthetizing of NMRI mice, testes and their surrounding tissues were irradiated using a cobalt therapy machine. Four experimental groups were irradiated with fractionated doses of: 1.5 + 8, 1.5 + 12 and 1.5 + 16 Gy (with an interval of 24 h) and single dose of 14 Gy. Non-irradiated mice were considered as control group. Testes were removed 4, 6 and 8 weeks following irradiation, weighed and processed for light microscopic study. Diameters of seminiferous tubules and their lumens, epithelium thickness, percentage of different types of tubules and number of spermatogenic cell were measured. Moreover, sperm count motility and viability rates were evaluated in epididymis. RESULTS: Number of normal tubules, epithelium thickness, tubules diameter and lumen diameter were significantly reduced with high dose irradiation in comparison with control testes. The recovery was observed after 8 weeks. Epididymal sperm count, motility and viability rates were significantly decreased in the irradiated mice comparing non-irradiated ones. These parameters were increased after 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: According to the results, irradiation can cause temporary azoospermia in mouse and this effect is reversible after 8 weeks.     

Microbial and sensory characteristics of camel meat during refrigerated storage as affected by gamma irradiation

The present study was undertaken to assess the microbiological profile of fresh camel meat and the possibility of improving microbial quality and extending the refrigerated storage life of meat by using low-dose gamma irradiation. Camel meat samples were subjected to 0 (control), 1.5 and 3 kGy doses and stored at 3 +/- 1 degrees C. the microbial and sensory attributes were evaluated. Exposure to 1.5 kGy dose significantly reduced the initial counts of Aerobic Plate Counts (APCs), psychrophilic bacteria, Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), molds and yeasts, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococci. Moreover, Pseudomonas, coliforms and Escherichia coli were below the detection levels. Irradiation at 3 kGy significantly reduced the initial counts of APCs LAB and Enterococci by 99.5, 93.5 and 93.9%, respectively. Pseudomonas, coliforms, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes and E. coli were not found at dose of 3 kGy during entire storage period, also psychrophilic bacteria and molds and yeasts were below the detection levels during 6 days of storage. This study shows that irradiation had no significant effects on the sensory attributes of camel meat. Refrigerated shelf-life of the meat irradiated at 1.5 and 3 kGy were 15 and 21 days, respectively, compared to 7 days for non-irradiated controls.     

Long term effects of one or two doses of hepatitis B vaccine in adults after five years

The aim of this study is to evaluate hepatitis B vaccine protection in those adults who have taken one or two does of vaccine before. It was a retrospective cross sectional study was conducted on fifty-six military personnel in Tehran, Iran in the spring 2007. Demographic data such as age, marital status, education level, number of vaccine doses injected and, type of vaccine and date of last vaccination was collected. Their serum was tested for HBs Ab, HBc Ab and HBs Ag and finally the results were analyzed by SPSS software. All individuals were male with the mean age of 33.9+/-8.9 years. Twelve individuals who had only received one dose of injected vaccine had no antibody against HBsAg and no protection against hepatitis B virus. Of forty-four individuals that had received two doses of injected vaccine, 27 persons (61.4%) were protected and had serum HBsAb more than 10 MIU mL(-1). In conclusion one dose of HBV vaccine cannot produce immunity for five years but two doses of HBV vaccine can produce immunity for five years. However, HBsAb should be tested to make sure of immunity.     

Effect of puddling intensity on physical properties of a silty clay soil under laboratory and field conditions

Conventional tillage and planting method for rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in northern Iran is wet tillage (puddling). Effect of different puddling intensities on physical properties of a silty clay soil (Typic Haplodalfs) was investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Changes in soil physical parameters and water requirement for puddling were measured. For laboratory experiments, undisturbed cylindrical soil samples (diameter and height of 50 cm), were used. A laboratory puddling apparatus was designed and constructed. The puddling intensity was measured by duration of puddling. Four levels of puddling intensity were used as: P ₀ (no puddling, control), P ₁ (low), P ₂ (medium) and P ₃ (high). For field tests, 12 plots of 8 × 4 m were selected. The first tillage was performed with a moldboard plow and then the plots were puddled with different intensity using a rotary tiller. The results showed that under laboratory conditions, water content of the puddled layers decreased with an increase in settling time. During drying period, P ₀ dried faster than P ₁, P ₂ and P ₃. Puddling with low intensity in laboratory and field conditions caused bulk density of 0–15 cm soil layer to decrease by 24.07 and 25.45%, respectively. Increasing puddling intensity increased the bulk density. Bulk density increased with time as particles settled after halting the puddling. Bulk density increased with depth as well. Under laboratory conditions, increasing puddling intensity from P ₁ to P ₂ reduced percolation rate significantly. For all puddling intensities, soil moisture characteristic curves of both field and laboratory samples showed that puddling increased the amount of water retained over the whole range of suctions. More water was needed for P ₃ as compared to P ₁ and P ₂. Under the laboratory and field conditions, the P ₃ required 27.72 and 28.58% more water as compared to P ₂, respectively. Although the mechanisms implemented for puddling were different under laboratory and field experiments, the results were similar. Bulk density, soil moisture content and water percolation rate decreased faster in the puddled soil under field and laboratory conditions. Therefore, to reduce the cost and time, the laboratory method could be used to study the effects of puddling intensity on physical properties of paddy soils. Medium intensity puddling was shown to be the proper tillage practice for paddy fields with silty clay soil.