مجله پژوهشهای جانوری (زیست شناسی ایران)
سال سی و هفتم شماره 2 (تابستان 1403)

Stroke, as the most important cause of physical disability in the world, imposes many financial and psychological costs on the patient, family, and society. Recently, the attention of many researchers has been attracted to the use of more effective components with less side effects such as medicinal plants. Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss can be a suitable candidate for the present study due to its neuroprotective properties. 35 male rats were divided into five main groups: control, the methanolic extract of Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss-received group, ischemia, and ischemia+extract-received group. Biochemical parameters of blood serum and animal weight were measured in the control and extract-received group. In the ischemia group, the rats underwent into cerebral ischemia induction surgery without receiving any treatment. The extract, as a pretreatment, was administrated in the ischemia + extract-received group with a dose of 50 mg/kg orally for five days. Then, brain ischemia surgery was performed. Eventually, the groups undergoing ischemia surgery were evaluated using behavioral tests, infarct volume, and cerebral edema. The results showed that the extract had no harmful effect on the biochemical factors of blood serum. In addition, the extract reduced neurological defects, infarct volume and cerebral edema in the cortex area. Based on the results of the present study, it can be stated that the administration of the extract of Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss attenuated some of the damages caused by cerebral ischemia. Therefore, we can hope for this natural plant compound as a suitable candidate in the pharmaceutical industry.

Cortisol is one of the most significant factors contributing to controlling stress. Additionally, another well-known mechanism for protecting cells against various stresses and linked to cortisol is the reaction to heat shock, which triggers the production of heat shock proteins (HSP). By strengthening sturgeon fish's defense system against environmental stress, such as temperature stress, their stocks can be preserved. In this study, sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) liver tissue cells were extracted and cultured in flasks. Nopal Endurance (Pro-Tex®), amygdalin, and pyrazole derivatives (SZ) were used as HSP inducers (HSPi). In order to determine the viability and optimal dose, MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay was performed. The activity of cortisol and biochemical enzymes was analyzed in liver cells under temperature stress (18, 22, and 26 °C) in the presence and absence of HSPi compounds. MTT assay showed that cells receiving HSPi compounds increased survival. They could increase cortisol levels alone or in combination with stress. Amygdalin reduced biochemical enzyme activity.Discussion and Escape from apoptosis under stress conditions is a basic strategy for cell survival. Considering the role of cortisol and its relationship with HSP in environmental stress conditions, it can be concluded that treating cells with HSPi compounds can make cells resistant to stress and the harmful effects caused by stress reverse and ultimately increase survival.

Today one of the most important challenges for humans is environmental pollution through agricultural toxins, especially insecticides. Spirotetramat is a new insecticide that is widely used by farmers, and its side effects on the reproductive system have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spirotramate on oxidative stress and histochemical changes of testicular tissue in mice. In this study, 24 adult male mice, with a body weight range of 24-32 grams, were obtained from Urmia University Veterinary Animal House and studied. The animals were randomly divided into three group: controls, test group 1 and test group 2. Each group included 8 mice. Test group 1 and 2 received the spirotetramat at rats of 2.5 and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively, and the control group received the same amount of distilled water for 45 days orally by gavage. After this period, the mice were anesthetized and microscopic sections were prepared. The level of oxidative stress, carbohydrate reserves, cytoplasmic fat reserves and the level of inflammation in testicular tissue were investigated. Qualitative histochemistry findings were converted into quantitative data using Imag-J software. The results showed that spirotetramat decreased carbohydrate reserves, TAC, TTM and increased fat reserves, alkaline phosphatase enzyme, NO and MDA in the experimental groups compared to the control group. Therefore spirotetramat has increased the oxidative stress and histochemical changes in the testicular tissue by damaging the cells of the spermatogenic tube, as well as by inhibiting the activity of acetyl coenzyme-A.

Small mammals, especially rodents, play an important functional role in the ecological processes of the landscape and food chain in the ecosystem. Water vole has a wide distribution and is considered as a pest in parts of its distribution range. The Valley of Shara is a suitable habitat for branch birds, especially of the Arvicola amphibious. This study was conducted from 2018 in the Shara river, Intermediate of between the Duab bridge and the Goshirvan bridge in 2.5km distance from the river, Using of Habitat Biodiversity Modeler (HBM) method, With Modele of Maxent in the Terrset and Arc Gis13.1 softwares , and with variables 8 of such as: slope, elevation, proximity to the river, distance from the road, NDVI, water depth, land use, distance from the village. Results show, The Valley of Shara is the southeastern part of the habitat of the Arvicola amphibious in Iran. The validity of Maxent model is equal to (0.994), which indicates excellent performance. The most important variables affecting the desirability of the water vole habitat is the distance from river. And the variables of slope and distance from road are in the next ranks. The water vole is considered as a key species for Shara valley. that the destruction of the habitat of this species is aggravated by disasters and natural hazards in the valley. Therefore, that providing and protecting the habitat needs of this species will restore and protect the river.

In this study, 67 adult tree frogs, Hyla savignyii, were taken from Dasht-e-Poune and Paddy fields in Lodab region from May 2021 to November 2022, to investigate the hematology of the tree frogs. 11 metric characters were measured using a digital caliper (0.01 mm accuracy) to examin the morphology of male and female frogs. Blood samples were taken from the abdominal vein, smears were prepared, dried at ambient temperature, fixed with methanol, and stained by Giemsa. The blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes) were investigated under 40x and 100x magnification using an optical microscope. The male and female groups separate from each other in five out of 11 metric characters (p≤0.05). All the six metric characteristics of red blood cells in female frogs are greater than male frogs. Leuckocyte characters are significantly different between sexes with greater values for female group (p≤0.05). Different environmental and gender factors may responsible for cell metric differences between sexes.

Calcareous nannoplankton, a group of marine microrganisms, play a significant role in producing chalky limestones. They are predominantly associated with microscopic algae known as Haptophytes and can be found in both modern seawater and sediment, as well as in ancient ocean sediments. Selecting the appropriate sample preparation method is crucial for nannoplankton studies. This research explores various standard methods for sediment preparation for a light microscope (LM), such as smear slide, pipette strew slide, gravity settling, and centrifuging, along with methods specific to samples retrieved from seawater. Additionally, a technique for preparing samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze nannofacies is discussed. Furthermore, an innovative sample preparing technique for simultaneous study in LM and SEM is proposed. In addition, methods for determining the absolute abundance, Shannon diversity index, species richness, evenness, nutrient index, and species preservation, which are used in ecological analyses, have been discussed. Consequently, this study serves as a comprehensive guide to standard preparation techniques and studying methods for calcareous nannoplankton, facilitating biological, biostratigraphical, and paleoecological studies.