Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)
Volume:9 Issue: 31, Spring 2018

In this research, 3-aminopropanesulfonic acid, homotaurine, was determined in some Iranian species of green, red and brown macro algae for the first time. Ethanolic extractions of 10 marine green, red and brown algae species were investigated for the presence of homotaurine by high performance liquid chromatography- fluorescence detection. The analyte was derivatized with fluorescamine during a fast reaction at an ambient temperature and alkaline medium. The amounts of homotaurine detected in the marine algae species varied from 0.023 to 14.62 µg g-1 dry weight. Dictyota dichotoma, a brown macro alga, showed the highest amount of the studied bioactive compound. Good recovery (>83%) was also acquired by the used method for extraction of homotaurine from algae matrices.

Biostratigraphic analysis based on calcareous nannofossils was undertaken in Kuh-e Asmari section, located in the southeastern Masjed Soleyman in Zagros Basin. In this regard, for the first time the calcareous nannofossils of upper part of  the Pabdeh Formation and lower part of the Asmari Formation have been studied. The stratigraphic interval studied includes shale, marl, tufa and stromatolite facies in upper part of the Pabdeh Formation, these deposits are covered by transitional zone (shale and marl) of the lower part of the Asmari Formation. In this study, for the first time, Paleogene calcareous nannofossil assemblages comprising 47 species belonging to 16 genera were identified. This confirms the existence of bio zones NP22, NP23 (upper part of the Pabdeh Formation) and NP25, NN1, NN2 (lower part of the Asmari Formation), which suggests the age of early Oligocene (Rupelian) for the top of the Pabdeh Formation and late Oligocene (Chatian)-early Miocene (Aquitanian) for the lower part of the Asmari Formation. Therefore, a biostratigraphic hiatus has been determined between Pabdeh and Asmari formations.

The aim of this study was to investigate the heavy metals accumulation (copper and zinc) in the sediment and liver tissue of Otolithes ruber of the Pozm Bay and assessment of liver histopathological changes. Fish were collected from five stations by gillnet. Also, sediment samples were taken by using a Van Veen Grab. The concentration of heavy metals was measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer after digestion. Liver tissue was prepared for histological study using routine histology methods. The highest and lowest concentration of copper was in sediments of C station (252.5 ± 3.31) and B station (107.3 ± 40.85), μg/g dry weight, respectively. Also, the highest and lowest concentration of zinc were in sediments of B station (328.3 ± 20.38) and in C station (106.5 ± 9.9), μg/g dry weight, respectively. Accumulation of copper and zinc in the liver tissue of Otolithes ruber was recorded more than muscle tissue at all stations. The most frequent lesions in the liver were: leukocytes infiltration, vacuolation, hemorrhage, melanomacrophage centers aggregation, necrosis and nucleus hypertrophy. It was concluded histological lesions in the liver tissue of Otolithes ruber in Pozm Bay could indicate a longer time of exposed fish to contaminants.

Sea cucumbers possess a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of the Persian Gulf sea cucumber (Holothuria leucospilota) through inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colorectal cancer cell line SW742.

The methanolic extracts of the body wall, body fluid, and internal viscera of H. leucospilota were prepared, and their cytotoxicity was assessed. Moreover, the cell line was further cultured to extract their mRNA in order to, measure the expression of COX-2 and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by Real-Time PCR, and to determine the production of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and VEGF by ELISA.

The body-wall extract significantly downregulated the expression of COX-2 and VEGF and reduced the level of PGE2 and VEGF production, whereas body fluid and the viscera extract revealed no effect.

the outcomes suggest that the body-wall could be useful in food and pharmaceutical industries to prevent inflammation and the colorectal cancer as well.

This research aimed to study the Habitat preference features (abundance, distribution, and stability) of sea cucumber (Holothuria arenicola) population in the coast of Chabahar Bay during one year from November 2008 to September 2009. Sampling was randomly done bimonthly during low tide from 5 stations. Then, samples were counted and identified and their spatial and temporal variability were investigated. The results of the study showed that the highest abundance of H. arenicola was in January 2009. According to the results of Kruskal-Wallis analysis, abundance of sea cucumbers showed significant difference in different months and stations (P<0/05). Investigation of distribution and stability indicators revealed that dispersion of H. arenicola was random and its stability was rare.

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of pultry by-product powder replacement instead of fish meal at levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% on structure of skin tissue of Nile tilapia. After 8 weeks, 5 specimens of each treatment were selected. After biometrics 0.5 centimeter specimen dorsal of head, middle of the trunk and caudal stalk were removed and immediately were placed in 10%formalin buffer. Rutine procedure of tissue prepration was done and sections of 4-6 micron thicknesses were stained by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), periodic acid schiff (PAS) and massonchr('39')s trichrome histochemistry staining. Microscopic results showed that in control group mucosal cells count, taste buds count, epiderm thickness and collagen thickness increased compared to other groups. Instead in group fed100% pultry by-product increased club cells count and chromatophore thickness compared to other groups and there was a significant difference to some groups (p≤0.05). According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that pultry by-product powder replacement instead of fish meal up to 100 % is tolerable for Nile tilapia. Because according to this study, no lesions or adverse effects on the histomorphology of skin were reported.