Morphological Variability of Berberis integerrima from Iran

Barberry is a valuable medicinal plant that belongs to family Berberidaceae. In the current research, phenotypic variations of 34 individuals of wild barberry (Berberis integerrima) were evaluated. Significant phenotypic diversity was detected between the studied accessions based on morphological traits. Significant correlations were found for variables related to seed and berry, so that seed quantity, seed width, seed weight and seed length were positively correlated with berry quantity, berry weight, skin bloom and berry length, respectively. Leaf length was in significant positive correlation with berry shape, berry skin bloom, seed length, and seed weight and in negative correlation with seed quantity. Principal component analysis showed that 77.75?% of the phenotypic variability was explained by all components for the studied individuals. Variables such as seed length, width and weight, berry length and weight, spine length, leaf length, berry quantity, and seed quantity were predominant in the first three components and contributed most of the total variation. The present results have an important implication for characterization, improvement and conservation of barberry germplasm.     

Discula quercina as a possible causal agent of dieback on oak trees in Iran

During spring and summer of 2016, dieback symptoms including blights of leaves, twigs, and acorns were observed on current year shoots of Quercus infectoria in the Zagros oak forests of Iran. The fungus isolated from damaged tissues was identified as Discula quercina based on both morphological characteristics and ITS sequencing. To fulfil the Koch's postulates, a representative isolate was inoculated onto shoots of Q. infectoria and Quercus libani in both laboratory and forest conditions. Responses of the two oak species to inoculation with D. quercina were examined under laboratory and forest conditions in a completely randomized experiment. Discula quercina was clearly involved in oak dieback, and Q. infectoria was more susceptible than Q. libani to damage by the pathogen. This is the first record of the occurrence and pathogenicity of the fungus Discula quercina on Quercus infectoria. The fungus is considered as an emerging pathogen on oak trees in Zagros forests in Iran. Furthermore, the pathogenicity of the Discula quercina on Q. libani under laboratory and forest conditions increases the potential importance of this pathogen in Zagros forests.     

The Effects of Fibroblast Co-Culture and Activin A on in vitro Growth of Mouse Preantral Follicles

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate fibroblast co-culture and Activin A on in vitro maturation and fertilization of mouse preantral follicles. Methods: The ovaries from 12-14-day-old mice were dissected, and 120-150 μm preantral follicles were cultured individually in α-MEM as based medium for 12 days. A total number of 456 follicles were cultured in four conditions: (i) base medium as control group (n = 113), (ii) base medium supplemented with 30 ng/ml Activin A (n = 115), (iii) base medium co-cultured with mouse embryonic fibroblast (n = 113), and (iv) base medium supplemented with 30 ng/ml Activin A and co-cultured with fibroblast (n = 115). Rate of growth, survivability, antrum formation, ovulation, embryonic development and steroid production were evaluated. Analysis of Variance and Duncan test were applied for analyzing. Results: Both co-culture and co-culture + Activin A groups showed significant difference (P<0.05) in growth (on days 4, 6, and 8 of culture period) and survival rates. However, there was no significant difference in antrum formation, ovulation rate, and embryonic development of ovulated oocytes. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the estradiol production on days 8, 10, and 12 between co-culture + Activin A and the control group. Progesterone production also was significant (P<0.05) in co-culture + Activin A group on days 6, 8, 10, and 12 compared to control group. Conclusion: Fibroblast co-culture and Activin A promoted growth and survivability of preantral follicles. However, simultaneous use of them was more efficient. Key Words: Fibroblast, Activin A, Follicle     

Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins in Clinically Healthy Male Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 87 Iranian male dromedary camels of different age groups (<3, 3–5, 5–6 and 6–8 years). Variations in the serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipid, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) were investigated. The concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipid, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol in the different age groups were significantly different (p<0.05). With an increase in the age of the animals, there were highly significant increases in the cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations, whereas the concentration of LDL-cholesterol decreased (p<0.001).     

Follicular fluid and cumulus cells synergistically improve mouse early embryo development in vitro

The development of preimplantation mammalian embryos in vitro is less than optimal. Follicular fluid and cumulus cells have both been used independently, to improve preimplantation embryo quality in culture. This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of a cumulus cell monolayer in human follicular fluid on mouse early embryo development in vitro. One-cell embryos were obtained from NMRI mice after superovulation with eCG and hCG. Cumulus cells were prepared from mouse egg-cumulus mass. These cells were separated from red blood cells using a Percoll gradient. Follicular fluid was collected from patients undergoing an IVF program during oocyte pick-up. The cumulus cell monolayer was prepared in follicular fluid (FC) and Ham's F10 (HC). Mouse one-cell embryos were cultured in FC, HC, Ham's F10 (HF) and follicular fluid (FF) for 120 h. Only 10.5% of embryos passed the two-cell block in HF. However, the proportions of embryos passing the two-cell block were 23.1%, 21.4% and 68.5% in FF, HC, and FC treatments, respectively; which were significantly different from HF (p<0.05). The differences between FC and the two other treatments were also significant (p<0.001). In FC, 33.7% of one-cell embryos continued to grow to the blastocyst stage whereas only 2.1% and 1.9% of one-cell embryos in FF and HC reached this stage and no embryos developed to blastocyst in HF. The proportion of blastocysts in FC was significantly higher than all other treatments (p<0.001). It can be concluded that follicular fluid and cumulus cells in monolayer form synergistically improve the early embryo culture condition.