Physiological,ionoregulatory, metabolic and immune responses of Persian sturgeon,Acipenser persicus (Borodin, 1897) to stress

The physiological ionoregulatory, metabolic and immune responses of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, to acute stress were investigated. Water levels were lowered to the fish dorsal scutes, and fish were blood‐sampled before stress (pre‐stress), and 0, 6, 24 and 72 h after stress. Results showed that serum cortisol rapidly increased after stress, returning to initial levels at 24 h. Serum glucose significantly increased at 6 h, declining to the pre‐stress levels at 72 h. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol showed significant decreases at 0 h, then increasing to higher than the initial levels at 72 h. Serum T₃ and T₄ significantly decreased at 0 h and recovered at 72 h. Serum chloride levels showed no significant changes while serum calcium showed a significant increase at 0 h and a further increase until 72 h poststress. Serum total protein and alternative complement activity showed a significant initial decrease and recovery at 24 h with further increase at 72 h. Serum lysozyme activity increased significantly at 24 and 72 h after stress. Serum total immunoglobulin significantly increased at 0 h and peaked at 24 h. This is the first work showing thyroid hormone and immunological responses in Persian sturgeon subjected to stress, and the results show that this species follows a classical hormonal and energetic stress response, although, in the low range among the sturgeons. Although transient and moderate, confinement stress can induce significant changes in the innate immune response.     

Growth response and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry fed diets containing different levels of soybean and egg lecithin

We investigated the effect of soybean and chicken egg lecithin on the growth performance, fatty acid profile and body composition of rainbow trout fry. Seven isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were prepared by replacing 0, 2, 4 and 6 % soybean and egg lecithin instead of soybean oil in diets. Trout fry with initial average weight 120 ± 4.08 mg were randomly distributed in twenty-one 90-L tanks. Triplicate groups (165 fish per tank) of fry were fed to visual satiation at six meals per day for 40 days. Incorporation of 2 and 4 % egg lecithin led to increase in final weight, specific growth rate and weight gain compared with control group. Also, 4 % soybean lecithin had moderate effects on growth performance of fry. The fatty acid compositions of fry were influenced by dietary fatty acid. Fish fed egg lecithin showed higher amount of monounsaturated fatty acid than soybean lecithin and control groups. Fry fed soybean lecithin had significantly higher levels of polyunsaturated and n-6 fatty acid than egg lecithin and control groups. Soybean and egg lecithin induced higher amount of highly unsaturated fatty acid in lecithin groups compared with control group. The lipid and ash content of whole-body tissues were positively affected by percentages of soybean and egg lecithin in the diets. So 6 % soybean and egg lecithin induced higher amounts of lipid and ash body content. The results of our study indicated that dietary egg lecithin had growth-promoting effect, and rainbow trout fry had moderate lecithin requirement (at least 2 % as fed).     

Ambivalent effects of atorvastatin on angiogenesis, epidermal cell proliferation and tumorgenesis in animal models

Background: A growing body of preclinical data indicates that statins may possess antineoplastic properties; however, some studies have raised the possibility that statins may also have carcinogenic potential. Methods: An air pouch model was used for angiogenesis. Single or multiple applications of croton oil on the back of Swiss albino mice with or without initiation by dimethylbenz(a)antheracene (DMBA) were used to evaluate the skin tumorgenesis, ultrastructural and histological alterations. Results: Atorvastatin (orally, 10 mg/kg/day) produced a significant (P<0.05) reduction in angiogenesis. Concurrent administration of mevalonate reversed the anti-angiogenic effect of atorvastatin. However, local injection of atorvastatin (200 µg) into the pouches induced a significant (P<0.5) increase in angiogenesis that was not reversed by co-administration of mevalonate. The disturbance of cell polarity, inflammatory response, thickness of epidermal layer, and mitotic index induced by croton oil were inhibited markedly and dose-dependently (P<0.001) by pre-treatment with atorvastatin. In spite of the strong anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of atorvastatin on epidermal cell proliferation, it was identified that the same doses of atorvastatin in DMBA-initiated and croton oil-promoted skin tumorgenesis in mice increased the incidence of tumors and their conversion into malignant carcinoma. Conclusion: The reasons for these discrepancies remain unclear, and could be related to ambivalent effects of atorvastatin on angiogenesis or to specific differences in the experimental conditions. It is suggested that the pro-angiogenic effect of the drug, which could be responsible for promotion of skin tumors, is independent of the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibition that can be mediated directly by atorvastatin.Key Words: Atorvastatin, Angiogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Cancer     

The effects of altered ultrasound parameters on the recovery of sciatic nerve injury

Background: Initial studies have shown that low-energy ultrasound stimulates living tissue cells to reduce regeneration or speed up their recovery. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of various ultrasound parameters on the speed of recovery in injured sciatic nerves NMRI.Methods: NMRI mice (n = 200) with injured left paw, caused by crushing their sciatic nerves, were randomly selected. The animals were exposed to ultrasound radiation with various frequencies, intensities, and exposure time. They were allocated into 20 groups (19 treatment and 1 control groups). Sciatic functional index (SFI) test was used to evaluate the difference between the groups with respect to functional efficiency of the sciatic nerve and its recovery. SFI ، (P=0.000).Results: The results of SFI test obtained from the 14^th day showed a significant difference among the groups (P<0.05). On the 14^th day after treatment, one of the groups (US11) recovered up to 90%..Conclusion: Altered ultrasound exposure parameters had more favorable outcomes compared with our previous work.Key Words: Sciatic nerve, Ultrasonic therapy, Regeneration     

Effect of vitamin C dietary supplementation in reducing the alterations induced by fenitrothion in Oreochromis niloticus

The objective of this study was to investigate the dietary effect of vitamin C in amelioration some of studied alterations induced by fenitrothion in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Nile tilapia was exposed to sub-lethal concentration of fenitrothion 0.04 mg/l (96 h LC₅₀ value was 0.8 mg/l), and basal diet was supplemented with two different dose of vitamin C (500 and 1200 mg/kg B wt/day) for 30 days. Vitamin C supplemented groups showed significant decrease in plasma cortisol and glucose level, enzymes activity of liver and gills (catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismutase) and % of tail DNA damage compared to exposed group. Moreover, fish revealed significant increase in total plasma protein, albumin, globulin and A/G ratio. High dose of vitamin C dietary supplementation (1200 mg/kg B wt/day) returns these parameters to its normal levels with no significant difference compared to non exposed control group. These results indicated that incorporation of high dose of vitamin C (1200 mg) in aqua feed for 30 days could be potentially less expensive and effective in reducing the alterations induced by fenitrothion in Nile tilapia.     

基于小波分析的开都河径流变化周期研究

基于开都河1956—2010年径流量资料,采用小波分析法对开都河径流变化特征进行研究,讨论开都河年径流在不同时间尺度下的小波变换时频分布特征及其丰、枯交替变化的周期规律。研究结果表明,开都河年径流变化具有同步性,现正处于偏丰期;年内径流分配主要集中于6—8月,各站点最大月径流量均出现在7月。55 a来开都河流域大山口站年径流量呈现递增趋势,变化率为1.382 m³/s,、焉耆站年径流量呈现下降趋势,变化率为-0.113 m³/s。开都河大山口和焉耆两站20~30 a左右时间尺度的周期震荡最显著,其次,11~17 a左右时间尺度的周期震荡也较为显著;开都河流域径流量变化的主周期为27 a,次周期为16 a。     

Evaluation of the optimum dietary protein level for the maximum growth of juvenile beluga (Huso huso L.1758)

A 10‐week feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the optimum dietary protein level for the maximum growth of juvenile beluga, Huso huso. Fish averaging 1.34 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) was randomly distributed into 18 circular fibreglass tanks of 500 L capacity (20 fish per tank). Six iso‐caloric diets were formulated to contain 30 (CP₃₀), 35 (CP₃₅), 40 (CP₄₀), 45 (CP₄₅), 50 (CP₅₀) and 55% (CP₅₅) crude protein (CP). Fish were fed each of the six experimental diets in triplicate groups. At the end of feeding trial, weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) in fish fed CP₄₀ and CP₄₅ diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed CP₃₀, CP₃₅, CP₅₀ and CP₅₅ diets (P < 0.05). Lipid retention increased significantly from 24.7% to 31.6%, but protein retention decreased from 54.6% to 35.6% with increasing protein levels from 30% to 50%. Muscle total essential and non‐essential amino acid (EAA & NEAA) concentrations increased with the dietary protein level up to CP₄₅ diets. Muscle total EAA concentrations (%) of fish fed CP₄₅ were significantly higher than those of fish fed CP₃₀, CP₃₅, CP₅₀ and CP₅₅, but there was no significantly different between those of fish fed CP₄₀ and CP₄₅. Muscle total NEAA concentration (%) of fish fed CP₄₅ were significantly higher than those of fish fed CP₃₀ and CP₃₅ diets. Broken‐line analysis of WG suggested that the optimum dietary protein level could be 38.9% for maximum growth performance in juvenile beluga (1.3–77 g).     

Genetic diversity status of Pacific white shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis>) using SSR markers in Iran

Genetic diversity is vital for the maintenance of genetic pool in cultured shrimps. In order to estimate the current status of genetic diversity in Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp in Iran, as an exotic species, a total of 45 individuals from Amiri and Gorgeaj farms in Jask port of Hormozgan province and one hatchery in Gomishan city of Golestan province, were detected using four microsatellite loci. The number of alleles per locus was 5–10, and the mean effective number of alleles (N _e) across populations and loci ranged from 4.834 to 5.148. The overall mean observed heterozygosity (H _o) ranged from 0.450 to 0.479, which was lower than the expected one (0.789–0.794). There was nothing remarkable about any of the allele frequencies across populations or loci. The mean inbreeding coefficient (F _IS) and pairwise genetic differentiation (F _ST) among populations were 41.6 % and 0.133, respectively. The three studied populations departed from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Analysis of molecular variance revealed 14 % variability among and 86 % within populations. However, considering departing from HWE and the high F _IS and F, the moderate pairwise F _ST values, importance of introducing genetically diverse broodstock and monitoring to control inbreeding is discussed.     

Comparative Studies on the Use of Binary and Ternary Combinations of Various Acidifying Agents for the Reduction of Soil pH

The present study deals with the effects of addition of sulfur along with other acidifying agents for their ability to lower and maintain the pH in a given range for a longer period of time. The chemicals were subjected to batch test individually and in combinations. Treatments were applied to three soils of different textures: sandy clay loam, clay loam, and silt loam. A 1:1 soil/water paste along with the added amendment was maintained at room temperature for 2 months. Most of the chemical treatments lowered the pH significantly. Combinations containing S/Al₂(SO₄)₃/H₂SO₄, S/Al₂(SO₄)₃/H₂O₂, and S/H₂O₂/H₂SO₄ were found to be very effective in lowering the pH. The soil pH remained acidic for 2 months, indicating the suitability of chemically amended soil for the plantations requiring acidic soil pH.     

Growth and enzymatic activity of maize (Zea mays L.) plant: Solution culture test for copper dioxide nano particles

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plants, which acts either as the metal component of enzymes or as a functional structural or a regulatory co-factor of a large number of enzymes. To understand the possible benefits of applying nanotechnology to agriculture, the first step should be to analyze penetration and transport of nano-particles in plants. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that copper nanoparticle would enter into the plant cell and govern the growth of maize plant.A solution culture experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Cu nano-particles (<50nm) on the growth and enzymatic activity of maize (Zea mays L.) plant. Bioaccumulation of Cu nano-particles in plant was also investigated. Results showed that Cu nano-particles can enter into the plant cell through roots and leaves. Bioaccumulation increased with increasing concentration of Cu nano-particles (NPs), and agglomeration of particles was observed in the cells using transmission-electron microscopy. Application of Cu nano-particles through solution culture as well as spray enhanced the growth (51%) of maize plant in comparison to control. The different enzymatic activities like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, andguaiacol peroxidase were studied to find a possible pathway through which NPs may affect the enzymatic activity of plant. Amongst the enzymes, the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was highly influenced by copper oxide (CuO)nano-particles application by spray as well as in solution. Experimental results revealed that CuOnano-particles affected the pentose phosphate pathway of maize plant. The obtained experimental results provided conclusive evidence to indicate that the nano-particles considered under this study could enter into the plant cell, easily be assimilated by plants and also enhanced its growth by regulating the different enzyme activities.