مجله زیست شناسی جانوری
سال دوازدهم شماره 3 (بهار 1399)

This research was conducted to evaluate the diet of juvenile roach (Rutilus caspicus) stocked in earthen ponds and improve the pond conditions to increase the dominant organisms species. Four earthen ponds with the same hydrobiological properties were studied in the Syjwal bony fish farm. Sampling of the food organisms, measuring the weight and length of the juvenile roaches, and gut examination were carried out over a four-month period from March to June. The results indicated that the highest and the lowest condition factors (K) were 1.196 and 0.633, respectively; while the highest dominance index (Ip) was reported as 42.14 for Gastropoda and the lowest dominance index was reported as 2.4 for aquatic insects. The results of (Fp) analysis showed that the gastropoda and crayfish were mainly considered as the major preys, and organisms such as aquatic insects and bivalves were found as the minor foods in the Syjwal earthen ponds. Evaluation of the food preference (Fp)and the gut content of juvenile roaches in different stages indicate that the gastropoda show a higher food preference and feeding intensity than the other Foods.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have unique properteis such as immunomodulatory function, secretion of cell survival factors, and the potential of bone , cartilage, and fat differentiation. All of the cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, aging, and cell death are directly or indirectly regulated by epigenetic mechanisms such as histone methylation. G9a histone methyltransferase is one of the most important enzymes controlling cell behaviors. MSCs were isolated from rat bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and cultured in vitro. Bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) were treated with different doses of A366 (a specific G9a inhibtior) at the passages 1-3 of the primary culture. Then the proliferative capacity of BM-MSCs was analyzed using flowcytometry, assessment of the cell population doubling time, and studying the cell-cycle profile. The rate of adipogenic differentiation of A366-treated BM-MSCs was evaluated using oil red staining and fat gene expression analysis. Assessment of the PDT of BM-MSCs and cell-cycle profile showed that inhibition of G9a using low concentrations of A366 didn’t have any significant effect on BM-MSCs proliferative potential. However, the high doses of A366 increased the PDT and induced cell-cycle arrest. Moreover, A366 increased the adipogenic potential of BM-MSCs. Epigenetic regulators such as A366 that have been suggested for controlling cancers can affect BM-MSCs proliferative and differentiation behaviors. These regulators might also be used as a strategy for a more efficient proliferation and differentiation of MSCs to be used in cell therapy, tissue engineering, regeneration and tissue homeostasis.

This study aimed  to investigate the effect of endurance training before induction of Alzheimers on learning, Memory and changes in the hippocampal gamma-secretase in male Wistar rats. For this purpose, 32 8-week-old mature male rats with the avergae weight of 250±17g were randomly divided into two groups of rest (16) and exercise (16) beore Alzheimers induction. After 4 weeks (two 15-min intervals with the speed of 10 m/min in first and second weeks, three 15-min intervals with the speed of 15 m/min in the third week,and four 15-min intervals with the speed of 15 m/min in the fourth week, with 5-min stops), each group was divided into two subgroups: 1. Amyloid beta injection, and 2. no injection. After 72 hours, the animals were killed and their hippocampus was removed. The changes of gamma secretase were measured by Real Time PCR and the obtaiend data analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Morris learning and memory test revealed a significant difference between the time elapsed for finding the platform in different groups on the second (p = 0.001, F = 10.758), third (p ≥ 0.001, p = 0.0057) and the fourth days (p = 0.001, F = 4.846). The time elapsed for finding the platform in the rest-injection group Aβ1-42 was significantly longer than the other gorups on all days (p ≥ 0.001). The results of probe test for spatial memory showed that the time spent in the quadrant of the target circle was significantly different for different groups (p = 0.001, F = 9.25). Also, gamma secretase was significantly decreased in the exercise group compared to rest group after Alzheimers induction (p = 0.001). Aerobic exercise before Alzheimers induction leads to a decrease in gamma-secretase and increase in learning and Memory, and it may lead to hyppocampal plasticity that brings about cognitive and functional benefits.

Fatty liver is a common metabolic disorder affecting millions of people all over the world. Due to the side effects of most of the chemical drugs used to treat this disease, this study has been performed aiming to investigate the effect of flaxseed and N. sativa oils on serum levels of liver enzymes and some of the inflammatory factors in in male rats affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this experimental study, 40 mature male rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups (8 rats in each group) include the control group (receiving no treatment), fatty liver (treated by fat emulsion), and the experimenta groups under 6-weeks by fat emulsion, and 28-day treatments by 0.75 ml/kg of flaxseed oil, 5 ml/kg of N. sativa oil, and the combined treatmnet of 0.75+ 5 ml/kg of flaxseed and N. sativa oils, respectively. At the end, after blood sampling and separation of the surface serum of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, total protein, and interleukin 6 were measured. Data analysis was done by ANOVA and Tukey tests. The results showed that iduction of fatty liver caused significant increase of interleukin-6, total protein, blood urea nitrogen, ALP, ALT, AST enzymes, and creatinine compared to the control group (P˂0.01); while the use of flaxseed and N. Sativa oils alone and their combination caused a significant decrease in the level of the above mentioend (P˂0.01). factors The results showed that N. sativa and flaxseed oils and their combination can decrease the inflammatory serum factors and liver damage caused by fatty liver disorder.

Diabetic neuropathy is a peripheral nerve disorder in people with diabetes that affects the nerve fibers in these patients. This study has been perforemd aiming to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic and resistance training on serum concentrations of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin 4 in women with diabetic neuropathy. Forty-two diabetic women with the avergae age of 47.97 ±4.58 years were selecetd by convenience sampling. Then, they were randomly divided into three groups including the control, aerobic and resistance training groups (15 people in each group). NGF and NT4 levels were measured by sandwitch ELISA before and after training . The training program was done for eight weeks (three sessions a week) with 50-70% of heart rate reserve. Resistance training was also continued for eight weeks and three sessions a week with an intensity of 40-60% of a maximum repetition. Repeated measures ANOVA test was used for data analysis. The results of the significant increase in serum NGF levels were compared in aerobic (p=0.001) and resistance (p=0.001) groups after eight weeks; the changes were not significant compared to the control group (p≤0.05) and in comparison of the two mentioend groups (P=0.50).Also, significance of the increase in serum NT4 levels was comapred in aerobic (p=0.015) and resistance (p=0.153) groups after eight weeks; the changes in the groups were significant compared to control group, but not comaprd to each other (p=1.00). Aerobic resistance training seems to have a protective effect on progression of diabetic neuropathy, and it can even slow or improve the progression of the disease.

Nowadays, most of the championship coaches are looking for new methods of designing their athletes’ exercises; one of these methods is plyometric (explosive) exercise in which the stretch-shortening cycle is practiced. this exercise is done for mucle stretch (extravasation) and it is immediately followed by rapid shortening (Intra ventricular). Therefore, the effectivness of this type of exercise on muscle performance is evaluated using standard physical fitness tests. .The population of this study included 400 volleyball players from different clubs of Semnan city. Out of the mentioend population, 20 people were selected based on height, weight, age and volleyball talent tests, and they were randomly assigned to two groups incouding a cotnrol and an eperimetnal group (10 people in each group). The control group received no exercise, and the experimental group received standard plyometric training 3 sessions a week. In these sessions, the muscle performance (agility, endurance, leg flexor strength and explosive power) was evluated by digital devices at weeks 4, 8 and 12 (4 weeks of detrainig) as the pretest. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the effects of the plyometric exercise and detraining on endurance, leg muscle strength, and explosive power; however, there was no significant difference between plyometric training and detraining on the athletes’ agility. According to the results of the post-test compared to the pre-test, it can be stated that plyometric trainign and non-exercise training have respectively resuteld in the higehst increase of explosive power by 10.9%, endurance by 4%, and leg muscle strength by 3.8% with the mean of 3.8%. However, these exercises had not effect on agility.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with decreased dopamine release and increased secretion of GnRH, kisspeptin and neuropeptide Y (NPY).  In the present study, the effects of L-dopa and dopamine receptor antagonists were investigated on the expression of KiSS1 and NPY genes in PCOS rats hypothalamus. Following the induction of PCOS by Estradiol Valerate inejction, 25 PCOS rats assigend to 5 groups received saline, L-dopa (100mg/kg), simultaneous injection of SCH23390 (1 mg/kg) and L-dopa (100 mg/kg),  simultaneous injection of sulpride (10 mg/kg) and L-dopa (100 mg/kg), and simultaneous injection of SCH23390 (1 mg/kg), sulpride(10 mg/kg) and L-dopa (100 mg/kg) respectively. Five intact rats received saline. Hypothalamus samples were isolated and frozen. The relative expressions of KiSS1 and NPY were determined by real- time-PCR. Data analysis was done by one- way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test. The mean relative expression of KiSS1 and NPY significantly increased in PCOS group compared to the healthy rat group (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001, respectively). L-dopa injection caused a significant decrease in the mean relative expression of KiSS1 and NPY compared to the PCOS group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively). Simultaneous injections of SCH23390 and sulpride supressed the inhibitory effects of L-dopa on KiSS1 gene expression compared to L-dopa group exerting synergistic effects (p = 0.045).  Dopaminergic signaling pathway may play a role in the decrease of GnRH/LH secretion in PCOS rats by inhibiting the kisspeptin and NPY neuronal activity.

Different Babesia species originating from the Apicomplexa family are the parasites existing in red blood cells, and they can widely affect the domestic and wild animal and also human. Babesiosis is a serious disease in cattle breeding industry that has affected more than 0.5 billion of the cattles in the world. This study has been performed aiming to determine the Babesia species in the cattles of Mazandaran province. A total number of 210 blood samples were randomly collected from the jugular vein of the cattles. In the beginning, the DNA extracted from the blood sampleswas replicated with a primer pair  replicating a 400-bp fragment of the Babesia 18S rRNA gene. All the positive bovine samples were examined with the specific semi nested-PCR for checking Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis. The results showed that the overall prevalence rates of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis infection in the cattles were 33.33% and 28.6%, respectively. Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of the infetion in terms of seasons, the livestock age, and the type of livestock husbandry (traditional - semi-industrial). SPSS software was used for data analysis and the significance level was considered p < 0.05. The results of this study show that Babesiosis is one of the most important diseases in the cattles of Mazandaran province, especially in the seasons of the ticks activity.