Comparative study on hormones and biochemistry indices in plasma,ovarian fluid and oocytes of LHRHa2‐induced female Stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)

Reproduction efficacy of sturgeon as donors of oocytes is regulated by hormones effects. It can influence the egg quality or larvae functions as rearing mediators for successful production. This study is conducted to evaluate the concentration of sex steroids, cortisol and thyroid hormones and distinguish the relationship of maternal hormones' correlation in Stellate sturgeon. The study followed the hormones fluctuations that could impress some egg quality information such as fertilization rate. Female breeders were injected with LHRH_a2 for controlled propagation. Samples from blood, ovarian fluid and oocytes were obtained for hormonal and biochemical analysis. Our results showed that the concentrations of estradiol 17‐β and testosterone were significantly higher and lower in oocyte and the plasma, respectively. The level of plasma cortisol was significantly higher than in ovarian fluid and oocytes. The results showed elevation of triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations in oocytes, which were significantly different with plasma and ovarian fluid. Thyroxine concentration of plasma and ovarian fluid revealed a significant negative correlation. The mentioned parameters showed negative correlation with fertilization rate. The biochemical parameters (calcium, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride) revealed significant differences in blood, ovarian fluid and oocytes. These results showed direct relations of fertilization rate with hormones level. Therefore, fertilization rate as egg quality index could be recommended as a relevant indicator of maternal transferring of hormones from blood and ovarian fluid to oocyte.     

Effects of Different Dietary Lipid Sources on Growth Performance,Fatty Acid Composition,and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity of Juvenile Rockfish,Sebastes schlegeli

This study was carried out to investigate and compare the effects of various dietary lipid sources on growth performance, body composition, fatty acid profiles, and hepatic and plasma antioxidant enzyme activities of juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. Three replicate groups of fish (initial mean weight, 1.7 ± 0.04 g) were fed four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing either fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), linseed oil (LO), or a mixture of SO and LO (SO + LO) for 8 wk. There were no significant differences in survival, weight gain, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratios of fish fed the diets containing different lipid sources (P > 0.05). The fatty acids compositions of the liver and muscle tissues reflected the dietary fatty acid compositions. Liver and muscle of fish fed the SO diet had high concentration of linoleic acid, whereas those of fish fed the LO diet were rich in linolenic acid. Liver and muscle of fish fed the FO diet had significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid than those of fish fed the SO and LO diets. Dietary lipid source had no significant effect on the hepatic and plasma enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. The results of this study suggest that SO and LO can be used as a replacement for FO in the diets of juvenile rockfish without incurring any negative effects on growth, feed utilization, and antioxidant enzyme activity, when the dietary essential fatty acid requirements are satisfied for rockfish.     

Full-genome characterization and genetic analysis of a H9N2 virus in commercial broilers in Iran, 2017

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Since 1998, Iran’s poultry industry has faced several outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2. Tissue samples were collected from a broiler...     

Plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered flunixin in greyhound dogs

Medication control in greyhound racing requires information from administration studies that measure drug levels in the urine as well as plasma, with time points that extend into the terminal phase of excretion. To characterize the plasma and the urinary pharmacokinetics of flunixin and enable regulatory advice for greyhound racing in respect of both medication and residue control limits, flunixin meglumine was administered intravenously on one occasion to six different greyhounds at the label dose of 1 mg/kg and the levels of flunixin were measured in plasma for up to 96 hr and in urine for up to 120 hr. Using the standard methodology for medication control, the irrelevant plasma concentration was determined as 1 ng/ml and the irrelevant urine concentration was determined as 30 ng/ml. This information can be used by regulators to determine a screening limit, detection time and a residue limit. The greyhounds with the highest average urine pH had far greater flunixin exposure compared with the greyhounds that had the lowest. This is entirely consistent with the extent of ionization predicted by the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation. This variability in the urine pharmacokinetics reduces with time, and at 72 hr postadministration, in the terminal phase, the variability in urine and plasma flunixin concentrations are similar and should not affect medication control.     

Evaluation of kernel yield and agronomic traits of European maize hybrids in the temperate region of Iran

The production of locally adapted maize hybrids requires parental material with adequate genetic variation in the relevant traits. The objective of the present study was to evaluate 20 European maize hybrids under temperate region for their potential use in direct cultivation or as parent material in local breeding programs. Results showed that European hybrids except BC 566 had higher kernel yield (11.4–14.3 t ha^?1) than local cultivars (KSC705 and KSC704). Korimbos, Krebs, BC 566, and BC 532 had lower kernel moisture (14–15%) compared to KSC705 (21.7%) and KSC704 (22.7%). Cluster analysis categorized these hybrids in three groups. Cluster 2 comprised of Korimbos, BC 612, DKC 6589, and 89May70. These hybrids had high plant height, thousand kernel weight, and kernel yield. Due to high kernel moisture, the hybrid 89May70 could not be proposed for direct cultivation but it can be involved in transferring high grain yield to local hybrids. Genotype × environment analysis showed that Korimbos and Krebs had low S²_i and low genotypic coefficient of variation, high and stable performance and low kernel moisture. Therefore, Korimbos and Krebs can possibly be used for direct cultivation in temperate regions of the Fars Province.     

Investigating the effects of temperature on seed germination of cutleaf geranium (Geranium dissectum L.) and determination of its cardinal temperatures

Phytoparasitica - Cutleaf geranium is a weed infesting crop fields in various parts of the world. The present study was conducted to determine the cardinal temperatures of germination for its seeds...     

Calcium and L-histidine interaction on nutrients accumulation in three tomato cultivars under nickel stress

This study was carried out to evaluation of some nutrients accumulation including Ni (nickel), Fe (iron), Mg (magnesium), Cu (copper), Ca (calcium) as well as Ni translocation factor (TF) in three tomato cultivars grown hydroponically under treatments including L-histidine (His) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (300 µM) exposed to nickel (II) sulfate (NiSO₄) (150 and 300 µM) by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) analysis. Tomato cultivars included Cal-J N3, Early Urbana Y and. Results indicated that shoot Ni accumulation increased under Ni stress. Ca and His reduced root, shoot Ni content and Ni TF (translocation factor) under Ni stress in Petoearly CH cultivar. Ni stress also decreased root and shoot Ca, Fe, Mg and Cu while Ca and His improved the nutrients uptake, and inhibited Ni accumulation. Therefore, Ca and His alleviated adverse effects of Ni stress on nutrients in Petoearly CH cultivar. Beside, Ca and His interaction alleviate Ni stress by inhibition of Ni uptake and translocation as well as plant nutrition improvement in the tomato plants.     

Generation means analysis of traits related to lodging using two crosses of durum × emmer wheat

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Lodging is one of the most important factors that affect wheat final yield. Emmer [Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccum (Schrank ex Schübl.) Thell.] is a...     

In vitro selection and characterization of putative probiotics isolated from the gut of Acipenser baerii (Brandt, 1869)

To select and characterize potential probiotic bacteria from the gut microbiota of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), 129 strains isolated from the hindgut were screened for antagonistic activity against five fish pathogens. Ten isolates showed antagonism towards three or more pathogens. Nine of these isolates were Gram‐positive, belonging to Lactococcus (seven) and Bacillus (two), and a single strain belonging to the Gram‐negative Citrobacter. These inhibitory isolates were identified using genetic, phentotypic and biochemical traits, and further characterized by in vitro tests assessing the adhesion and growth in mucus and resistance to gastric and intestinal fluids. The candidate probiotics were determined to be non‐pathogenic through an in vivo study. Based on these assays, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis STG45 and STG81 showed the broadest inhibitory potential, a high viability in simulated gastrointestinal juice and the highest adhesion capacity to mucus. They were therefore selected as the most promising candidate probiotics. This is the first study screening probiotics among the gut microflora of Siberian sturgeon.