Biology

Ferulago angulata Boiss. known in Iran as Chavir, has some bioactive compounds having antioxidant activity. Because of its antioxidant activities, it sounded Chavir extract can be a good candidate for finding chemopreventive agents having inductive apoptosis properties on cancer cells. In this study, the cytotoxic effects and proapoptotic activities of Chavir's leaf and flower extracts were investigated on human adenocarcinoma gastric cell line (AGS). The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was used to determine antioxidant activity of the extract. Cytotoxic effects of the extract were performed by trypan blue and neutral red assays. For apoptosis detection, we used Annexin V staining, flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation assays. The FRAP assay results showed that antioxidant activity of leaf extract was higher than flower extract. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing activity of flower and leaf extracts changed coordinately, indicating the cytotoxicity of chavir extracts is due probably to induce apoptosis. Our results revealed that the cytotoxic effects of F. angulate Boiss. extracts on AGS cell line is close to some other plant extracts such as Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) and Scutellaria litwinowii. This is the first study on cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of chavir leaf and flower extracts against AGS cell line. The Further investigation can be identification of the agent(s) by which these effects is observed.

Background and aims: Non-synonymous (ns)SNPs represent typical genetic variations that may potentially affect the structure or function of expressed proteins and therefore could have an impact on complex disorders. A computational-based (In Silico) analysis has been done to evaluate the phenotypic effect of nsSNPs in human Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), a newly identified candidate in multiple cancers.

"We studied variation of ectoparasite load in a free ranging populations of Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) on five successive occasions in a nursery roost in western Iran. In total, 87 Rhinolophus mehelyi were captured. The patterns of abundance differed greatly among parasite species but total parasite load was markedly higher in pregnant females in spring and early summer and lower in solitary males. On average, 90% of bats were infested by Eyndhovenia sp. with a mean intensity of 13.79 individuals per bat. Penicillidia sp. and one species from Streblidae were found in 66.7% and 11.49% of bats with parasite
load of 2.31 and 1.8 parasite per bat, respectively. Using ratio of forearm length to body mass as an indication of bat health the
correlation coefficient between parasite load and the health indicator was 0.002 for males and 0.06 for females indicating that
parasite load has no apparent impact on bat’s health."

We studied the variation in the sizes of erythrocytes and their nucleus in two closely related species of mountain newts, Neurergus kaiseri and Neurergus microspilotus, living in two different environments, using blood smears stained with Giemsa. The erythrocytes were found to be more elongated and bulky in N. kaiseri with a broader nucleus, whereas in N. microspilotus, the erythrocytes were smaller with a relatively elongated nucleus. The nuclear membrane showed crenation in both species, which is located central or eccentric in both N. kaiseri and N. microspilotus.

"Hematologic investigations have been used diagnose disease. In this study morphological characterization of blood cells were investigated in three species of tortoise (T.graeca, Testudinidae) and turtle (Emys orbicularis and Mauremyscaspica, Emydidae) in Iran. The largest and the widest erythrocytes and nucleus were found in E. orbicularis and the smallest in T. graeca. Thrombcytes and Five types of leukocytes were found in the turtle and tortoise blood namely basophiles, eosinophils, lymphocytes,hetrophil and monocytes. The biggest thrombocytes, eosinophils, hetrophils and
lymphosytes were observed in T.graeca, the biggest basophiles was in E.orbicularis and the biggest monocytes were in M.caspica."

"Using bivariate and multivariate techniques we evaluated sexual size dimorphism in 13 body-related and six head-related metrics from 99 live specimens of the Lorestan newt, Neurergus kaiseri. Analyses of variance of 12 metrics showed that average sizes for all these characters in females are significantly (P<0.05) greater than in males. However, one character (vent length) is larger
in males than females (P<0.001). Evaluation of 13 metrics showed that average size dimorphism is apparent in 10 characters with nine characters showing these differences at P≤0.01 and one character at P<0.05 confidence levels. Principal Components Analysis of external characters provided a good separation of males and females. Although body measurements gave a clear pattern of differences between the sexes in N. kaiseri, head measurements showed no such distinctions."

This study describes the postnatal development of body mass, forearm length and epiphyseal phalangeal gap in a free ranging population of the Long-fingered Bat, Miniopterus schreibersii pallidus Thomas, 1907, in a maternity roost in the Mahidasht cave in western Iran. The pups at birth had a mean body mass of 3.74 ± 0.09 g and forearm length of 24.3 ± 0.31mm. The length of forearm and body mass increased linearly during first two weeks, and thereafter maintained an apparent stability. The epiphyseal gap of the fourth metacarpal phalangeal joint increased until the thirteenth day, then decreased linearly until the 70th day and thereafter fused. The rate of body mass gain and forearm growth during the first 13 days was 0.54 g/day and 1.39 mm/day, respectively. Initiation of flight occurred three weeks after birth. A method of estimating age was derived from the values of the forearm length and the total gap of the fourth metacarpal phalangeal joint during the pre-flight and post-flight periods.

"To determine whether differences in birth body
mass influence growth performance in Pipistrellus kuhlii ,
we studied a total of 12 captive-born neonates (ten twins
from five litters and two singles). Bats were assigned to two
body mass groups: light birth body mass (LBW: 0.89 ± 0.05,
n = 8) and heavy birth body mass (HBW: 1.35 ± 0.08, n = 4).
Heavier body mass at birth was associated with rapid
postnatal growth (body mass and forearm length), faster
epiphyseal gap closure and a higher survival rate. During
the first 3 weeks, body mass increased by 0.11 ± 0.18
g/day in HBW, and the rate of increase in forearm length
was 0.67 ± 1.13 mm/day. Corresponding values for LBW
were 0.10 ± 0.11 g/day and 0.62 ± 0.69 mm/day, respectively.
The initial rapid growth in HBW gradually decreased to
merge single asymptomatic maxima at approximately 60
days after birth. The HBW class attained a maximum epiphyseal
phalangeal gap of 4.9 mm on day 19 and closed the gap faster (-0.07 mm/day) than the LBW class, with a maximum epiphyseal gap of 4.78 mm on day 23 and a closure rate of -0.06 mm/day. Pup mortality was nil in HBW, whereas four LBW males died at ages 4 – 6 weeks."

We studies variation in the sizes of erythrocyte in two similar size and closely related species of bats (Pipistrellus kuhlii and Hypsugo savii) living in western Iran. The larger erythrocytes were found in Pipistrellus kuhlii and the smaller in Hypsugo savii. The RBC in both species shows acanthocytosis, poikilocytosis and anisocytosis. In Pipistrellus kuhlii most of the RBC's show acanthocytosis while in Hypsugo savii only 50% of RBC's show these cases. In Pipistrellus kuhlii 20% of RBC`s are hypochromic.

Pipistrellus kuhlii and Hypsugo savii are temperate vespertilionid bat which stores spermatozoa for an extended period as strategies that allow bats to interrupt their reproductive cycle by hibernating. In this study we examined the effect of pH and time of preservation on sperm viability in the two species. Sperms obtained from the epididymis of sexually mature bats, in experiment І sperms incubated in different pH (6.4- 7- 7.4 7.8 and 8.2) in 37˚ C for 48 h. In experiment ІІ sperms were preserved in 5˚ C for 1-10 days. Sperm viability was assessed and compared between two species. Our results showed that in experiment І, percentage of viable sperms in pH 6.4 was higher than the others in both species. In experiment ІІ the percentage of viable sperms in control and glycerol was similar and it was better than sucrose. Sperm Viability in two experiments in P.kuhlii was significantly higher than H.savii. We suggest that the pH 6.4 and Glycerol in 5˚ C can be used for sperm preservation in P. kuhlii and H.savii.

Mozafar Sharifi, Somaye Vaissi, Hossein Javanbakht, and Vahid Akmali (2012) Postnatal growth and wing development in Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in captivity. Zoological Studies 51(8): 1235-1247. Postnatal growth of the body mass, forearm, and epiphyseal phalangeal gap, and changes in wing morphology including the wingspan, wing area, handwing length, handwing area, armwing length, armwing area, aspect ratio, and wing loading were studied in 12 Kuhl's pipistrelles, Pipistrellus kuhlii, which were born and reared in a flight cage. The pups at birth had a mean ± S.E. of 1.04 ± 0.08 g of body mass and forearm length of 11.48 ± 0.45 mm. At 60 d, the mean body mass had reached 87.56% of the adult postpartum mass (5.47 ± 0.07 g), and the mean forearm length was 89.46% of the adult length (35.97 ± 0.86 mm). Rates of body mass gain and forearm growth during the 1st 23 d were 0.10 ± 0.10 g/d and 0.64 ± 0.61 mm/d, respectively. The wingspan and wing area increased linearly until 33 d of age, at which time, young bats exhibited clumsy flight with gentle turns. Analysis of changes occurring in the wing morphology indicated that 7 wing characteristics exhibited rapid growth rates in the "pre-flight" period and secondary slower growth rates in the "post-flight" period. Wingspan, handwing length and area, armwing length and area, and total wing area increased linearly until the age of the 1st flight, after which growth rates significantly declined (all p < 0.000). Wing loading decreased linearly (-0.80 N/m 2 /d) until 41 d of age and thereafter increased to a maximum of 25 N/m 2 at 88 d of age. The aspect ratio showed a high degree of scatter in the early stages of life, which decreased in the latter period of growth. Additionally, linear regression equations, confidence intervals, and prediction intervals were used for age estimations based on data available for the forearm, body mass, total gap of the 4th metacarpalphalangeal joint, armwing length, handwing length, and wingspan.

"The study was held to investigate erythrocyte size and morphology of the three gecko species Asaccus elisae, A. nasrullahi and Cyrtopodion scabrum (Gekkonidae) from Iran were examined. Blood smears stained with Giemsa were examined. The longest erythrocytes and nuclei were found in A. elisae, the shortest erythrocytes and nuclei in C. scabrum, the widest erythrocytes in C. scabrum and the narrowest erythrocytes in A. elisae. The widest nuclei were found in A. elisae and the narrowest C. scabrum. The largest erythrocytes were found in A. nasrullahi and the largest nuclei in A. elisae."

In this study, erythrocyte of the snakes, Platyceps najadum najadum, Malpolon insignitus insignitus and Eirenis collaris, living in Iran were examined. Smears stained with Gimsa were utilized. The sizes of erythrocytes and their nuclei were measured using an ocular micrometer at a magnification of 6300x. The largest erythrocytes were found in Eirenis collaris while the widest and the smallest erythrocytes were found in Malpolon i. insignitus. The largest and widest nucleuses were found in Malpolon i. insignitus and the smallest nucleuses in Platyceps n. najadum.

The aim of this study was to determine the erythrocyte and nucleus sizes of two species of Agamidae (Laudakia nupta and Trapelus lessonae), one species of Scincidae (Mabuya aurata) and one species of Lacertidae (Ophisops elegans) from Iran by means of blood smears stained with Giemsa. The sizes of erythrocytes and their nuclei were measured using an ocular micrometer at a magnification of 6300x. The longest, widest and largest erythrocytes were found in Laudakia nupta. The shortest and narrowest erythrocytes and nuclei were found in Trapelus lessonae. The longest, widest and largest nuclei were found in Mabuya aurata. The study revealed significant variation between Iranian species and others indicating the significant affect of environmental conditions.

Abstract: We were able to distinguish immature and mature zoosporangia, zoospores and discharge tubes of chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in live and dead endangered yellow spotted mountain newt (N. microspilotus) in Kavat Stream in western Iran. Histological evidences provided from finger toes confirm the presence of B. dendrobatidis in the host keratinized epithelial cells of the skin tissue. The newts diagnosed with chytridiomycosis in our study included two dead adult N. microspilotus collected from the Kavat Stream and two juveniles kept in laboratory. Clinical symptoms in dead N. microspilotus kept in a laboratory included lack of appetite, loss of weight, loss of digits, accumulation of gelatinous material on the skin and plain fungal infections on the body. This study provides the first record of the presence of B. dendrobatidis in live and also cases of chytridiomycosis in dead yellow spotted mountain newts from Kavat Stream in western Iran.

ABSTRACT: The yellow spotted mountain newt Neurergus microspilotus is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. In spite of its conservation status and laws protecting it, the species continues to decline in the wild. A captive breeding program was successfully established to support the species recovery. In order to learn more about the species’ ecology and winter mortality, 24 juveniles reared in captivity were released on 4 occasions in a small spring enclosure from July-September 2012 and monitored until December, when they disappeared for over-wintering. In 12 visits to the site before and after over-wintering a total of 31 individual newts were identified. Following over-wintering, 2 newts were observed on 12 March 2013 and 4 on 9 April. Based on an average diurnal detection probability for this newt (0.61 ± 0.19), the observed newts during the pre-overwintering period were estimated to represent 6.5 to 41.0% of the re-introduced newts. The newts observed after over-wintering were 13 to 28% of the re-introduced newts. This study demonstrates that post-metamorph captive-bred N. microspilotus released into the wild survived to the second growing season and provides a choice of life stage for a re-introduction plan.

Histological evidence obtained from toe clips of free-living endangered N. microspilotus confirmed the presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in this newt. This inference is based on the presence of zoosporangia with discharge papilla embedded in the skin epithelium and projecting beyond the surface of the epithelium. Data gathered from lines of arrested growth (LAGs) were used to determine the age of the sampled
newts. Of 81 sampled toe clips of the living N. microspilotus 48% tested positive for B. dendrobatidis. Although no clinical signs of disease were found in the sampled N. microspilotus, data gathered from histological evidences provided from toe clips allowed an estimate of the asymptomatic infection to B.
dendrobatidis in different age groups. The prevalence rates over eight age groups ranged from 13% in four year olds to 81.9% in 10 years and older.

"The endangered Kaiser’s Mountain Newt, Neurergus kaiseri, is a species endemic to the southern Zagros range in iran.  until now, N. kaiseri had been reported from only five localities.  the present study describes eight new localities that increase the species’ known range from 212 km2 (minimum convex polygon) to 789 km2 at elevations between 930−1395 meters.  the localities are generally dispersed; nearest neighbor distances among the 13 localities average 4.61 km (range, 0.93−12.39 km).  the streams are separated from one another by steep and rocky terrain with vegetation cover of mature open oak woodland in the west and sparse scrubland or thin oak-pistachio woodland in the central area and east, thus potentially isolating many of the populations from each other.  we surveyed 12 of the 13 localities with newts 1−2 times and counted a total of 1,277 adults, post-metamorphic sub-adults, and larvae (mean per stream, 106; range, 2−650) in a total of 4.23 km of stream reaches.  Most of the observed newts (86%) were found in just two of the localities."