Search

The study tests the physiological responses of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, during the abrupt release of juveniles from freshwater ( FW) into brackish waters ( BW = 11‰) of the Caspian Sea. Fish weight at release was 2-3 g (2.55 ± 0.41 g; 8.8 ± 0.58 cm TL). Totals of 160 individuals were randomly distributed into four fiber-glass aerated tanks (volume 60-L). Two tanks served as controls ( FW groups), and two as exposure tanks for BW (Caspian Sea water = CSW). Fish were sampled at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hr after abrupt transfer to CSW. Plasma osmolality, immunolocalization of Na+, K+ - ATPase ( NKA) and Na+/K+/2Cl- ( NKCC) Co-transporter, NKA activity and the NKA α-subunit mRNA expression were analyzed. Blood osmolality of fish transferred from FW to CSW increased significantly within hours post-transfer ( p < .05) and remained at a high level for up to 96 hr. Immunolocalization of NKCC indicated co-localization with NKA in the chloride cells in the gill epithelium. A partial sequence of the NKA α-subunit (632 bp) is described. Its expression levels were up-regulated at 12 and 48 hr following salinity transfer ( p < .05). However, NKA activity sharply increased in CSW specimens by almost 2.8-fold ( p < .05) between 48 and 96 hr after transfer. Gill NKCC co-transporter abundance increased, coinciding with increased gill NKA activity. The increased activity of NKCC during salt excretion in CSW may lead to an influx of Na+ into the chloride cells. Consequently, NKA activity increases to maintain intracellular Na+ homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the relationships between a number of sperm characteristics (motility, concentration and pH) and sperm fertility (egg fertilisation and hatching rate) in 10 mature females and four mature males of the beluga sturgeon, Huso huso. The fish were treated with luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHA2), at a dose of 5-10 μg/kg of body weight (BW) by injection into the muscle between the dorsal and lateral scutes. Significant linear relationships were found between sperm pH and fertilisation rate (R² = 0.82, P < 0.01) and sperm pH and hatching rate (R² = 0.75, P < 0.05). Highly negative relationships were also observed between sperm concentration and fertilisation rate (R² =−0.71, P < 0.05) and sperm concentration and hatching rate (R² = -0.83, P < 0.01). We suggest that understanding these correlations is critical in the evaluation of sperm quality and for the preparation of media (extender) for use in sperm dilution to improve sperm motility/fertility and therefore increase fertilisation success in beluga sturgeon production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverticular disease is a common problem affecting the colon in developed countries. It causes significant cost to healthcare systems and leads to significant morbidity and mortality associated with its complications which include abscess formation, perforation, bleeding and colonic obstruction. The management of acute diverticular sepsis has evolved to include both radiological and surgical options of drainage as well as resectional surgery for more widespread sepsis. The developing use of laparoscopic surgery has further use within the management of the emergency patient as well as the elective setting including in diverticular surgery. The role of surgery in the elective setting is controversial and varied. We examine the evidence behind the management of this common and complex pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was assessment of hormonal treatments effects on sperm quality improvement in Barbus sharpeyi. Results showed differences in effects of treatments with LHRHa2, LHRHa2 combined with a dopamine antagonist (MET), and CPE (Carp Pituitary Extract) on parameters of sperm volume, motility, spermatocrit, biochemical indices of seminal plasma and sperm efficiency on artificial propagation, incubation survival, and deformities. Biochemical analysis of seminal plasma showed that the majority of parameters were affected by different hormonal treatments. In conclusion, the highest sperm quality of Benni fish could be achieved by application of LHRHA2 (10 μg kg-1+MET), LHRHA2 (5 μg kg-1+MET) and LHRHA2 (5 μg kg-1) at 8, 12, and 16 hours PHS, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important aspect in the management and protection of endangered species from extinction is the determination of normal physiological values, including the blood and seminal plasma properties. This study was undertaken to establish a reference range for six important blood and seminal plasma enzymes. Samples of 20Acipenser persicusBorodin, 1897 (10 female and 10 male) were analyzed. The reference ranges for the total samples and also for each sex were determined. The activities of measured enzymes in blood and semen were: alkaline phosphatase (ALP, 363.2 ± 25.24 and 12.23 ± 3.66 IU/L), acid phosphatase (ACP, 4.98 ± 0.39 and 1.86 ± 0.71 IU/L), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, 1978.8 ± 176.5 and 472 ± 138.7 IU/L), creatine kinase (CK, 1149.6 ± 110 and 553.8 ± 119.9 IU/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, 51.12 ± 3.5 and 2.29 ± 1.34 IU/L) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, 14.7 ± 0.89 and 6.9 ± 2.5 IU/L), respectively. There were significant differences between male and female fish in terms of LDH, CK and ALT activity (P < 0.05). To detect relationships among investigated parameters we used the Pearson correlation coefficient; no significant correlations were observed between these parameters in either blood or seminal plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induction of triploidy was attempted in the Caspian salmon, Salmo trutta caspius, using heat shocks. The optimal temperature level (26, 28 and 30°C), initiation time [5, 10, 20 and 40 min post-fertilization (PF)] and duration of thermal shock (5, 10 and 20 min) required for effective induction of triploidy were investigated. Incidence of triploid fry was determined by surface and volume measurements of erythrocytes as well as from flow-cytometric analysis of some blood samples. Survival from fertilization to swim-up, triploid rates and triploid yields were in the range of 0–70%, 0–97% and 0–57%, respectively. The highest triploid yield was obtained with a shock treatment at 26°C for 10 min duration initiated 40 min PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimum dose of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to produce gynogenetic Caspian salmon, Salmo trutta caspius, with emphasis on the "Hertwig effect" and photoreactivation (PR) were investigated. The sperm of Caspian salmon was irradiated with UV at 2010 ± 200 µw.cm-2 in different times including 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35 and 45 min and was allowed to fertilize normal ova; the fertilization, eyed and hatching rates were calculated to assess the performance. Using the irradiated sperm decreased the fertilization, eyed as well as hatching rates and the so-called "Hertwig effect" was observed, with the time-dependent decrease in the hatching rates at 0+ to 3 min irradiation, but better hatching rates were observed at more prolonged irradiation times. The best hatching rate was achieved at 25 min of UV irradiation; after that the survival rates rapidly declined to near zero. For PR studies, the semen was irradiated with UV (5, 30 and 120s) and untreated semen (0s) was used as control. Irradiated semen and/or fertilized eggs by treated semen were exposed to visible light (60 W) at a distance of 30 cm for 10 min; the eyed and hatching rates were measured. UV irradiation as low dose as 5s, significantly decreased the hatching rate (P 0.05). So, based on the results of this study, it was impossible to detect any PR mechanism in Caspian salmon.

Background: Intra-gastric balloon therapy (IBT) can achieve pre-operative weight loss in obese patients, and may make surgery safer and easier. We report our experience in weight reduction and outcome in morbidly obese patients. Methods: Data were prospectively collected in 50 consecutive morbidly obese patients undergoing intra-gastric balloon therapy. All balloons were inserted and removed by one consultant operator and injected with 500-600mls of methylene blue-stained saline. Patients were admitted after balloon insertion to control nausea and reflux symptoms. Analysis was performed on post-insertion data collated from the hospital obesity database and patient note review. Results: The majority of patients (70%) were female. Prior to IBT, mean patient weight was 149.9 +/- 36.8kg (male 184.7 +/- 38.1kg, female 135 +/- 26.5kg). At six months follow-up, mean weight of patients reduced to 133.5 +/- 34.3kg (male 166.8 +/- 33.3kg, female 119.3 +/- 25.9kg)- The overall percentage of excess weight loss was 22% (male 17%, female 25%, p=NS). Mean patient body mass index (BMI) at balloon insertion was 52.8(+/-8.2) kg/m² (male 56.8, female 51.0), mean patient BMI reduced to 47(+/-8.1) (males 51.4, females 45.1) at six months. Average BMI loss was 5.8 (male 5.4, female 6.0). Conclusion: IBT is an effective method of weight reduction in morbid obesity with an average excess weight loss of 22% in this series. The benefit of pre-operative weight loss in this patient group is likely to be significant, but has yet to be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to assess genetic comparison of two migratory forms of Caspian trout Salmo trutta caspius namely fall-run and spring-run. Owing to the lack of information on its genetic differences, 5 microsatellite loci were used for 58 sample analyses. Genomic DNA was extracted from caudal fin using Roche DNA extraction kit and each PCR reaction was performed in a 25 µl reaction volume. Results revealed that the most allelic frequencies were observed in fall-runs of Caspian trout. The average observed and expected heterozygosity in fall-runs and spring-runs were 0.7719, 0.6108 and 0.4435, 0.5911, respectively. In both groups except Str543INRA in spring runs, all loci had deviation from HardyWeinberg equilibrium. Furthermore except Str543INRA in spring runs, expected heterozygosity in all loci was more than observed heterozygosity. In conclusion microsatellite loci polymorphism in this study reveals low genetic differentiation between fall-runs and spring-runs. In order to increase gene flow between Caspian trout populations of different rivers and to increase the production of these fishes, restoration of rivers habitats, as well as using more breeders originating from various rivers is highly recommended.

Toxicity tests are commonly used as a tool to determine the standards of water quality for chemicals and to discover appropriate organisms as bioindicators in toxicological studies, and also could be used as an essential tool for evaluation of the pollutant effects in aquatic ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity of two Caspian fish species, Caspian trout as an endangered species and Caspian Kutum using the static acute toxicity in response to nonylphenol, which is widely discharged into the Caspian Sea environment.The fish were exposed to various concentrations of nonylphenol for 96 hours to determine the LC50. The experimental nonylphenol concentrations were consisted of five exposure groups for each species: 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 µg/l for Caspian trout; 400, 800, 1200, 1600 and 2000 µg/l for Caspian Kutum, with a control group for each of them.Using probit analysis, the 96 h LC50 of nonylphenol to Caspian trout and Caspian Kutumwas determined to be 204.78 and 1262.36 µg/l, respectively. In addition, Caspian trout was approximately 6 times more sensitive than Caspian Kutum. Nonylphenol was reflected to be "highly toxic" to Caspian trout and "moderately toxic" to Caspian Kutum. The results could be considered in preparing plans for conservation and restocking management of Caspian Kutum and the endangered Caspian trout.

The article presents a study which investigates the changes in the levels of sex steroid hormones of testosterone in male Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, after responding to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LH-RH). The results which show higher levels of testosterone in matured males than non-matured males are discussed. It is inferred that spermiation of Persian sturgeon by LHRHA injection was preceded by abrupt changes in steroids levels in spermiating males.

The objectives of the present study were to determine ionic and organic composition of seminal plasma, sperm concentration and their relationships in the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus). In this regard, ionic content (Na(+) , K(+) , Cl(-) , Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ) and organic content (total protein, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride) along with sperm concentration were measured in 17 specimens of the Persian sturgeon. The seminal plasma contained 59.53 ± 2.56 mm/l sodium, 9.1 ± 1.42 mm chloride, 4.72 ± 0.3 mm potassium, 1.45 ± 0.075 mm calcium and 0.7 ± 0.072 mm magnesium. The following organic contents were found: total protein 0.11 ± 0.02 g/dl, glucose 22.18 ± 4.16 mg/dl, cholesterol 6.67 ± 1.04 mg/dl and triglyceride 15.2 ± 0.65 mg/dl. The mean sperm concentration was estimated to be 1.6 ± 0.12 (×10(9)  sperm/ml). A significant relationship was found between sperm concentration and K(+) of seminal plasma (r = 0.533, p < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between ionic contents: Na(+) vs Cl(-) (r = -0.854, p < 0.01) and Mg(2+) vs K(+) (-0.583, p < 0.05). Also, level of triglyceride was negatively correlated with Mg(2+) (r = -0.503, p < 0.05). Presented data could be considered as a complementary study for developing special extenders and protectant solutions for improving artificial fertilization in this valuable species., (© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)