Species-specific sensitivity of earthworm coelomocytes to dermal metal (Cd,Cu, Ni,Pb, Zn) exposures: Methodological approach

Earthworm immune-competent cells (coelomocytes) can be adversely affected by soil metal contamination. The aim of the present paper was to perform comparative studies on the coelomocytes of four lumbricid species dermally exposed for 2 days to filter paper soaked with Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, or Pb chlorides (1 mM). Coelomocytes were expelled by electro-stimulation, counted, and assayed ex vivo by flow cytometry and spectrofluorometry. The coelomocytes of Allolobophora chlorotica and Dendrobaena veneta contain both amoebocytes and riboflavin-storing eleocytes; consequently, they were subjected to assays based on flow cytometric quantification of autofluorescent eleocytes and spectrofluorometric measurement of riboflavin content in coelomocyte lysates. In Al. chlorotica, the number of coelomocytes, the percentage of eleocytes, and the amount of riboflavin were significantly lower in Cu-exposed worms although these cytometric parameters were less affected by Ni, Zn, Cd exposure, and entirely unaffected by Pb exposure. In D. veneta, such cellular effects were also only observed in Cu-exposed worms. The coelomic fluids of Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus are constitutionally impoverished of eleocytes; therefore, these species could not be subjected to assays measuring the riboflavin content of these granular cells. Rather, the amoebocytes of Ap. caliginosa and L. rubellus were subjected to flow cytometric measurements of in vitro neutral red uptake (NR). However, the NR uptake assay was technically demanding, requiring a strictly normalized incubation period over all samples to yield useful comparative data. In contrast, the riboflavin content in the coelomocyte lysates of eleocyte-rich species appears to be a robust and convenient immune-function biomarker of environmental stress.     

Expression of inflammation-mediated cluster of genes as a new marker of canine mammary malignancy

Because canine mammary tumours constitute a serious clinical problem and there are no good prognostic markers (only histopathological variables are used), the aim of the presented study was to find new malignancy markers as well as to identify intracellular pathways and biological processes characteristic for canine mammary malignancy. We compared gene expression of the most malignant mammary tumours (poorly differentiated cancers of the 3rd grade of malignancy) with less malignant tumours (well differentiated cancers of the 1st grade of malignancy). The results of our study indicated that in dogs the number of tumour-infiltrating myeloid cells or expression of myeloid-specific antigens by cancer cells is related to the cancer progression and may constitute a new marker of malignancy, however further studies in this field are required.     

Epidemiological aspects of canine visceral leishmaniosis in the Islamic Republic of Iran

An epidemiological study to examine the sero-prevalence of zoonotic visceral leishmaniosis (ZVL) among domestic and wild canines in endemic foci of Iran was carried out during 1999-2003 to assess the distribution of the disease and the possible association between infection in dogs, wild canines and people. Anti-leishmanial antibodies were detected by the direct agglutination test (DAT). Parasitological study was performed for all captured wild canines and were detected in some of the seropositive dogs with specific clinical signs (n=107). Serum samples (n=1568) were collected from domestic dogs in villages that are known endemic foci of human visceral leishmaniosis (HVL). Wild canine sera were collected from jackals (Canis aureus, n=10), foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n=10) and wolves (Canis lupus, n=10). Of the 1568 serum sampled collected from domestic dogs, 222 (14.2%) were positive by DAT (1:320 and above). No statistically significant difference was found between male (15.2%) and female (11.8%) sero-prevalence (P=0.083). Dogs of 8 years and above showed the highest sero-prevalence (40.6%). Only 23.9% of the seropositive domestic dogs had clinical signs. Parasitology and serology tests that were performed in 30 wild canines showed 10% these animals were infected by Leishmania infantum. Ten out of 11 Leishmania spp. isolated from the dogs and wild canines were identified as L. infantum and one other as L. tropica by molecular and biochemical techniques. For the first time in Iran, L. infantum and L. tropica were isolated from viscera of both a wolf and a domestic dog.     

Herbal plants and their derivatives as growth and health promoters in animal nutrition

The purpose of this review is to summarize the effectiveness, modes of action and commercial application of herbal plants and their derivatives as growth promoters for animal. Feed supplements are a group of feed ingredients that can cause a desired animal response in a non-nutrient role such as pH shift, growth, or metabolic modifier (Hutjens, 1991). Common feed additives used in animal diets include immunostimulators, antimicrobials, antioxidants, pH control agents and enzymes. Herbal plants, are a new class of growth promoters and in recent years this feed additives have gained extensive attention in the feed industry. They are a wide variety of herbs, spices, and products derived thereof, and are mainly essential oils. Although numerous reports have demonstrated antioxidative and antimicrobial and immune stimulation efficacy in vitro, respective experimental in vivo evidence is still quite limited. A limited number of experimental comparisons of herbal plants feed additives with antibiotics or organic acid have suggested similar effects on the animal gut microflora. Gut microflora has significant effects on host nutrition, health, and growth performance by interacting with nutrient utilization and the development of gut system of the host. In addition, some phytogenic compounds seem to promote intestinal mucus production. However, the future of using herbs in animal feeding will in great measure depend on the knowledge of chemical structure, their value and characteristics of practical herbs or their extract physiological needs and well-being of animal, and, above all on consumer’s preferences and expectations.     

The beneficial effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate in an experimental model of Alzheimer's disease in rat: a behavioral analysis

BACKGROUND: Progressive cognitive decline is one of the hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) which can be modeled by beta-amyloid injection into specific regions of brain. Since epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant agent which its role against oxidative stress and inflammation has been shown in prior studies, we tried to determine whether EGCG administration protects against beta-amyloid-induced memory and coordination impairment in rats. METHODS: Animals (male Wistar rats) were divided into four groups: sham operated, EGCG-pretreated sham operated (sham+EGCG), untreated lesion (lesion), and EGCG-pretreated lesion (lesion+EGCG). Animals in lesion, lesion+EGCG, and sham+EGCG groups received sterile saline or saline plus EGCG (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally one day pre-surgery and every other day for three weeks. The lesion was induced one day after EGCG pretreatment by injection of 4 microl of sterile saline or water containing 2 nmol/microl beta-amyloid (1-40) into the hippocampal fissure. For behavioral analysis, psychomotor coordination (PMC) index and spontaneous alternation behavior were assessed using Rota-rod Treadmill and Y-maze, respectively at the third week post-lesion. RESULTS: We found that beta-amyloid (1-40) injection into hippocampus can decrease these behavioral indexes in lesion group in comparison with sham group which is similar to behavioral changes in AD. On the other hand, pretreatment with EGCG can improve the PMC index and spatial Y-maze alternation in the lesion+EGCG group in comparison with lesion group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that EGCG can be effective in restoring beta-amyloid-induced behavioral derangements in rats regarding coordination and memory abilities.     

The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of sea anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni) against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and characterization of bioactive metabolites

International Aquatic Research - Sea anemones produce many biologically active compounds including neurotoxins, pore-forming toxins, phospholipases and proteinase inhibitors. The Persian Gulf is an...     

Changes in total protein profiles of barley cultivars in response to toxic boron concentration

In this study, ten‐day‐old seedlings of barley {Hordeum vulgare L. cultivar Anadolu [boron (B)‐tolerant] and Hamidiye (B‐sensitive)} were used. Boron‐treated plants were grown on H₃BO₃ solution (final concentration of 10 mM) for five days. Control plants received no B treatment during this period. Total protein patterns were obtained by analysis of total protein extract from root and leaf tissues of control and B‐treated plants using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. The protein profile of B‐treated seedlings of each cultivar was compared to the profile of control (no stress treatment) plants of the same cultivar. Silver‐stained gels showed that B stress caused increases or decreases in a number of proteins in root and leaf tissues. Moreover, as a result of B treatment, one newly synthesized protein with relative molecular weight (M_r) of 35.0 kDa was detected in root profile of the tolerant cultivar. This protein failed to show up in root profile of the B‐treated sensitive cultivar. Three proteins were quantitatively increased in B‐treated root profile of both cultivars. Following B treatment, three proteins were increased in root profile of the tolerant cultivar, but were not changed in the sensitive one. In leaf tissues, however, there were remarkable changes in total protein profiles after B treatment, relative to the control. Following B treatment, in leaf tissues, at least seven proteins were increased in amount in tolerant cultivar but were unchanged in the susceptible one. In tolerant and sensitive cultivars, amounts of two proteins were increased in B‐treated plants, relative to control seedlings. In addition, four proteins (M_r:29, 58, 58, and 22 kDa) were unchanged in control and B‐treated seedlings of the tolerant cultivar. In the susceptible cultivar however, among these four proteins, the first one (M_r:29) was very much reduced and the others (M_r: 58, 58, and 22 kDa) were completely lost in B‐treated seedlings. Moreover, following B treatment, a set of high‐molecular‐weight proteins was quantitatively decreased in the susceptible cultivar but was unchanged in the tolerant cultivar. These results indicate that in barley, certain proteins may be involved in tolerance to B toxicity. In this study, changes in polypeptide composition as a result of B toxic concentration in leaf tissues were more abundant than in roots. Therefore, it is suggested that these changes, especially at shoot level may form the basis of the tolerance mechanism to B toxicity.