فصلنامه زیست شناسی جانوری تجربی
پیاپی 3 (زمستان 1391)

Achillea wilhelmsii C.Koch, was used in traditional medicine such as anti-inflammation, antispasmodic and gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to survey the cytotoxic effects of methanol and essential oil of leaf aerial parts of Achillea wilhelmsii on HT-29 cell line. Achillea wilhelmsii was collected from around sharekord. Dried aerial parts of the plant for 3 days at room temperature. Dried herb powder was extracted by methanol. After preparing extract and essential oil 12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml concentration for extract and 2, 3.2, 4, 4.8, 5.6, 7.2, 16, 24, 32, 40 μg/ml concentration for essential oil on the cells were evaluated for 48 hours. Cytotoxic effects of Achillea wilhelmsii extract essential oil against cancer cells was measured by MTT method. The results by using SPSS. The results show that, the extracts methanolic and essential oils has cytotoxic effects on HT-29 cell line. The findings suggest that the essential oil has a more powerful effect than the methanolic extract of leaf due to existence phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids has an inhibitory effect on the HT29 cell line but essential oil of leaf due to existence monoterpene compound such as -Pinene and 1,8 Cineole, has a potent inhibitory on HT29 cell line.

In this study acute toxicity (96h LC50) of EDTA has been carried out in laboratory conditions in 2011 fall for rainbow trout. The experiments were conducted for 96h with standard method (O.E.C.D). LC50 values of EDTA at 96 h were 2231 mgl-1, to the rainbow trout. Then, individuals with a body weight of 51 ± 12 g and length 18.5 ± 2.1 cm were selected for six groups (five test group and control group). Onchorhynchus mykiss were exposed to 800, 1100, 1400, 1700 and 2100 mgl-1 of EDTA. Fish were exposed for 96 h. The experiments periods were controlled water physicochemical factors such as: pH, total hardness, dissolved oxygen and temperature. For analysis of all data SPSS software program was used. Haematology results show that exposure to EDTA causes an increase in leukocyte count (WBC), neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte and a decrease in haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (HCT) and lymphocyte (P<0.05). Also, there are no significant effects in erythrocyte count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (P>0.05). The results showed that exposure to low concentrations of EDTA causes changes in some haematological parameters of rainbow trout and may weaken the fish immune system. The results of this research showed that toxic EDTA endangers health of Onchorhynchus mykiss.

The scientific name of the dark mountain celery is Apium graveolens. This plant contains phytoestrogens and has many effects on the reproductive system. In this study, hydroalcoholic leaf extract on the testicular tissue and spermatogenesis in male mice was investigated. The samples were randomly divided into 5 groups (three treatment groups, placebo and control groups), and all samples were stored in the same condition. Apium leaves hydroalcoholic extract in different doses (mg/kg/2day150, 100, 50) was injected (IP) into the treated groups for 20 days (one day in between). The Placebo groups were used for injection of saline. The parameters that were evaluated changes, testicular weight and histology of spermatogenesis was compared with control groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and statistical tests one way ANOVA and Duncan test. This study showed dose-dependent negative effect of Apium extract on spermatogenesis and reproductive potential in male rats.

Obesity is often associated with micronutrient deficiency, the result of poor diet, lack of antioxidants and polyunsaturated fat on one side and saturated fats, on the other side. Oxidative stress has a role in the onset of chronic diseases associated with obesity.Plant-derived secondary metabolites such as phenolics and total flavonoids may have potential for free radical scavenging. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of natural compounds such as thymol, acarbose,thioflavin T and Chalcone on serum total antioxidant levels in mice obese. This study was performed in NMRI male mice. Animals were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (receiving standard rodent diet) and experimental group for 8 weeks (receiving high-calorie diet group).The obese animals into three groups: sham,obese and experimental groups. In the experimental group of mice with compounds thymol, acarbose, thioflavin T and Chalcone (12mg/kg/day) were gavage for 8 weeks. The end of treatment, blood samples, to investigate serum total antioxidant capacity (Total Antioxidant Capacity, TAC) was performed. Antioxidant capacity decreased in the obese group, the sham TAC levels than obese and control increased. In all treatment groups, TAC levels increased, but this increase in the thioflavin and chalcone group compared with the other groups was not significant; but in acarbose group (P<0.01) and thymol group (P<0.05) TAC levels were significantly increased. This study showed that natural compounds derived from plants such as thymol and acarbose can increase TAC levels in obese animals. Since that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the onset of chronic diseases associated with obesity, so we can used of these compounds for the treatment of obesity and increase of levels of antioxidants.

This research aimed at comparison of chromium bioaccumulation patterns in skin, gills, scales, liver and muscle of two widely-consumed fishes: scaled common carp Cyprinus carpio and scaleless catfish Pangasius hypophthalmus. First, lethal concentration (96 h LC50) of chromium as well as its toxicity factor (TF) was determined for each species. For bioaccumulation trial, the two species exposed to sublethal concentrations (10% of LC50 values) of Cr at separate triplicate treatments for 15 days. The examined tissues from each species were sampled at days 7 and 15 of the experiment. Following chemical digestion, each tissue was analyzed by atomic absorption unit (Model Thermo) to measure chromium concentration. According to the results, Almost all differences in bioaccumulations between the two species and the controls were significant (p<0.05). Concentration of chromium in common carp was in the form of gills> liver> skin> scales> muscle, and accumulation in catfish was in the form of liver> muscle> skin> gills. Final entire contents of Cr in the catfish's tissues were 3.65 times, than in the carp’s (excluding the scales). In addition, the catfish's muscle amassed 16.15 times greater amounts of Cr.The results of this investigation indicate that the carp's scaled armature, compared to the scaleless skin of the catfish, adsorbs metal toxicants leading to much lesser metals content in the muscle rendering this tissue rather safer for comestible consumption.

Order Lepidoptera consists of two suborders, butterflies and moths. This order with about 165000 species is considered as one of the major orders of insects. Butterflies with about 20000 species, is very high economic importance. The specimens of this suborder especially in larval stage are important pests of crops, on the other side they act as pollinators in the mature stage. Many of mature butterflies are collected by collectors because of their beauty and many of them are used as models in art and design. The present study was done to complete the butterflies fauna in the Alburz. In researches that performed during spring and summer 2010 on the butterflies fauna in parts of central Alburz (Dizin, Galandrud, Kamarbon, Nesen, Kodir and Baladeh), about 170 specimens of family Nymphalidae were collected by insect net and they were identified. Among the identified specimens, 6 species belong to 2 genera and 1tribes belonged to family Heliconiinae. Among the study stations, Kamarbon station had the most abundance because of its special climate and vegetation. The species Argynnisalexandra with 6 specimens had the highest abundance and species Argynnispaphia and A.adippe with 1 specimen had the less abundance in the study area.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various amounts of fresh whey on immune system and milk production performance in Holstein fresh cows. 36 Holstein cows after parturition based on their lactation and body condition score (BCS) was assigned into four groups and named subsequently control treatment (basic ration), A treatment (basic ration + 5 kg fresh whey), B treatment (basic ration + 7.5kg fresh whey) and C treatment (basic ration + 10 kg fresh whey).There were no significant differences in the amount of dry matter intake (DMI) on the 0, +7, +14 days after parturition between treatments but the amount of DMI on the +21 day after parturition was significant in the control treatment and A treatment than B and C treatment and was (19.14 and 19.26 versus 18.12 and 18.01 kg/day) (P≤0.05). It was shown that consumption fresh whey more than 5 kg per day can reduce DMI. There were no significant differences among treatments regarding blood cells at 21 day after parturition unless nutrophills that was more in B and C treatments than A and control treatments (p<0.05). It was demonstrated that consumption of more than 5 kg fresh whey per day could enhance the immune system after parturition. There were no significant differences on the milk production performance and body condition score (BCS) between treatments after parturition.