Biochemical Changes in Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii During Larval Development

Abstract.— Quantitative changes in the protein, lipid and carbohydrate were studied in the early larval stages of developing freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii reared under fed and starved conditions to understand the relative importance of these nutrients in energy metabolism of the growing larvae. Larvae obtained from several females were stocked into three 250-L tanks at a density of 30 larvae/L. The feeding regime consisted of newly hatched Artemia nauplii. Protein was always the major organic constituent followed by lipids and then carbohydrates of both fed and starved larvae. Protein levels of both fed and starved larvae increased during development, suggesting an important role in morphogenesis. The decline of lipid during the larval growth that was more rapid for starved larvae, suggests a probable utilization of lipid as the major metabolic source of energy. Carbohydrates formed less than 5 and 2.4% of the larval dry weight of fed and starved larvae, respectively, suggesting their limited role in larval metabolism.     

Chitosan nanoparticles enhance developmental competence of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes

Oxidative stress is inevitable as it is derived from the handling, culturing, inherent metabolic activities and medium supplementation of embryos. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) on oxidative damage in porcine oocytes. For this purpose, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from porcine slaughterhouse ovaries were exposed to different concentrations of CNPs (0, 10, 25 and 50 µg/ml) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocytes treated with 25 µg/ml CNPs showed significantly higher levels of GSH, along with a significant reduction in ROS levels compared to control, CNPs10 and CNPs50 groups. In parthenogenetic embryo production, the maturation rate was significantly higher in the CNPs25 group than that in the control and all other treated groups. In addition, when compared to the CNPs50 and control groups, CNPs25-treated oocytes showed significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst development rates. The highest concentration of CNPs reduced the total cell number and ratio of ICM: TE cells in parthenogenetic embryos, suggesting that there is a threshold where benefits are lost if exceeded. In cloned embryos, the CNPs25 group, as compared to all other treated groups, showed significantly higher maturation and cleavage rates. Furthermore, the blastocyst development rate in the CNPs25-treated group was significantly higher than that in the CNPs50-treated group, as was the total cell number. Moreover, we found that cloned embryos derived from the CNPs25-treated group showed significantly higher expression levels of Pou5f1, Dppa2, and Ndp52il genes, compared with those of the control and other treated groups. Our results demonstrated that 25 µg/ml CNPs treatment during IVM improves the developmental competence of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress.     

Gross anatomy,computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging and bone mineral densitometry of the ovine metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint

This study was aimed to provide anatomical atlas of the ovine metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints using computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as to investigate bone mineral density (BMD) and morphometric features of this joint. The limbs of twenty adult Sanjabi sheep were examined. Imaging was performed using a 16-slice multi-detector CT scanner and a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. The obtained images were correlated with corresponding anatomical sections. BMD was measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) method. Also morphometric features included distance between metacarpal and metatarsal heads, width of metacarpal and metatarsal head, length, width and the height of the proximal sesamoid bones were measured. In MRI images, compact bones, ligaments and tendons showed less signal intensity (hypointense). The fatty tissue and bone marrow had more signal intensity (hyperintense), but articular cartilage and synovial fluid showed moderate signal intensity. BMD in the left hind limb was significantly higher than other three limbs (p ≤ 0.05). The length of proximal sesamoid bones in left forelimb was higher than right forelimb (p ≤ 0.05). The thickness of proximal sesamoid bones in left limbs was higher than those in their counterparts (p ≤ 0.05). The width of the medial head in the forelimbs was significantly greater than the hind limbs (p ≤ 0.05). The present results might be useful in managing the clinical techniques on this joint. Larger volume of the proximal sesamoid bones and wider medial head in the forelimbs compared to the hindlimbs impel this speculation that the centre of gravity is closer to the forelimbs.     

Assessment of Bacterial and Fungal Aerosol in Different Residential Settings

The concentration and size distribution of bacterial and fungal aerosol was studied in 15 houses. The houses were categorized into three types, based on occupant density and number of rooms: single room in shared accommodation (type I), single bedroom flat in three storey buildings (type II) and two or three bedroomed houses (type III). Sampling was undertaken with an Anderson six-stage impactor during the summer of 2007 in the living rooms of all the residential settings. The maximum mean geometric concentration of bacterial (5,036 CFU/m³, ± 2.5, n?=?5) and fungal (2,124 CFU/m³, ± 1.38, n?=?5) aerosol were in housing type III. The minimum levels of indoor culturable bacteria (1,557 CFU/m³, ±1.5, n?=?5) and fungal (925 CFU/m³, ±2.9, n?=?5) spores were observed in housing type I. The differences in terms of total bacterial and fungal concentration were less obvious between housing types I and II as compared to type III. With reference to size distribution, the dominant stages for culturable bacteria in housing types I, II and III were stage 3 (3.3–4.7 μm), stage 1 (7 μm and above) and stage 5 (1.1–2.1 μm), respectively. Whereas the maximum numbers of culturable fungal spores were recovered from stage 2 (4.7–7 µm), in housing type I, and from stage 4 (2.1–3.3 μm) in both type II and III houses. The average geometric mean diameter of bacterial aerosol was largest in type I (4.7 μm), followed by type II (3.89 μm) and III (1.96 μm). Similarly, for fungal spores, type I houses had the highest average mean geometric diameter (4.5 μm), while in types II and III the mean geometric diameter was 3.57 and 3.92 μm, respectively. The results indicate a wide variation in total concentration and size of bioaerosols among different residential settings. The observed differences in the size distributions and concentrations reflect their variable airborne behaviour and, as a result, different risks of respiratory exposure of the occupants to bioaerosols in various residential settings.