A rapid and simple procedure for the whole-mount bone staining of small fish.

The cartilage and bone structure has provided insightful knowledge about evolution and ecology of fish, which is an important component of biological oceanography. However, the whole-body bone staining is a lengthy and complicated process that typically takes five days to several months, and the improvement of the conventional method has been one of the important issues in this field. Here we report a quick and easy whole-mount bone staining method for small fish, in which a newly designed fixative is applied. Compared to conventional methods, this novel protocol is a straightforward process that could be adopted for small estuarine fish and other small vertebrates.

Hematological Evaluation of Three Common Teleosts in Relation to The Environmental Changes from Trang Province, Thailand.

Hematological evaluation of fish is essential to the assessment of their physiological status. This study describes the morphometric analysis and comparison of blood cell characteristics in Zanarchopterus sp., Gerres filamentosus Cuvier, 1829 and Leiognathus decorus (De Vis, 1884). The species were collected at two locations off the coast of Trang Province, Thailand. A comparative hematological evaluation was made to assess the effects of environmental conditions on the blood of the fish. Ten individuals of each species were collected from a seagrass bed at Libong Island, where human activities are increasing, and from a secluded sandy beach. Their blood samples were analysed using the blood smear technique. Erythrocytes of all the studied fishes were either elliptical or oval. The morphometric data from both locations showed that erythrocytes were of similar size, except for those of Zanarchopterus sp. Fish from both stations showed several types of leukocytes, including neutrophils and lymphocytes.The highest proportion of leukocytes was made up of lymphocytes, followed by neutrophils. However, monocytes were only observed in fish from Libong Island and the erythrocytic nuclei of fish collected from Libong Island were both reniform and lobate. Our results show the potential of hematological evaluation as an early warning signal of environmental impacts on aquatic animals. The determination of baseline parameters could provide a tool for the monitoring of environmental quality.

Efficiency of Gymnema sylvestre-derived gymnemic acid on the restoration and improvement of brain vascular characteristics in diabetic rats.

The brain is a vital organ that requires a constant blood supply. Stroke occurs when the blood supply to specific parts of the brain is reduced; diabetes is an autonomous risk factor for stroke. The present study aimed to investigate the potential vascular protective effect of gymnemic acid (GM) by assessing the morphological changes of microvasculature, along with VEGFA and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) protein expression in the brains of diabetic rats. Rats were divided into five groups, including control, gymnemic control rats (CGM), rats that were rendered diabetic by single injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), diabetic rats treated with 400 mg/kg GM (STZ + GM) and diabetic rats treated with 4 mg/kg glibenclamide (GL; STZ + GL). After 8 weeks, brain tissues were collected to examine the three-dimensional morphology of the anterior cerebral arteries by vascular corrosion casting. Western blotting was performed to determine VEGFA and Ang-1 expression. Cerebral arteries, arterioles and capillaries were depicted the diameter, thickness and collagen accumulation of the wall, and the results demonstrated narrow diameters, thickened walls and collagen accumulation in the STZ group. After receiving GM, the histopathological changes were similar to that of the control group. Through vascular corrosion casting and microscopy, signs of vessel restoration and improvement were exhibited by increased diameters, and healthy and nourished arterioles and capillaries following treatment with GM. Furthermore, VEGF expression and Ang-1 secretion decreased in the STZ + GM group compared with STZ rats. The results of the present study revealed that GM treatment decreased blood vessel damage in the brain, suggesting that it may be used as a therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes.

The presence of abalone egg-laying hormone-like peptide in the central nervous system and ovary of the Spotted Babylon, Babylonia areolata.

Recently, the neuronal classification of the ivory shell Spotted Babylon, Babylonia areolata, was readily demonstrated. Regarding its importance as marine economic molluscan species, the attempt to understand the neuroendocrine regulation is necessary. This study firstly demonstrated the neurosecretory cells as well as the existence and distribution of the egg-laying hormone (ELH)-like peptide in the central nervous system (CNS) and ovary of the B. areolata. The neurosecretory cell was characterized by the cytoplasmic purple dot-like structure as stained by the Gomori's paraldehyde fuchsin. Using the anti-abalone (a) ELH, we detected the aELH-like-peptide in neurons (Nr) and neurosecretory cells (Ns) of all ganglia including the cerebral, pleural, parietal, pedal and buccal ganglia. The aELH-like peptide was also present in the neuropil of each. It was noted that not all Ns presented the aELH-like peptide. In the ovary, the aELH-like peptide was slightly detected in early developing oocytes and strongly detected in late developing oocytes and follicular cells. This study firstly reported the evidence of ELH-like peptide in the CNS and ovary of the B. areolata. The molecular cloning as well as to investigate the function of ELH in this species is needed as it will be beneficial for future applications in aquaculture.

Young coconut juice can accelerate the healing process of cutaneous wounds.

BACKGROUND: Estrogen has been reported to accelerate cutaneous wound healing. This research studies the effect of young coconut juice (YCJ), presumably containing estrogen-like substances, on cutaneous wound healing in ovairectomized rats. METHODS: Four groups of female rats (6 in each group) were included in this study. These included sham-operated, ovariectomized (ovx), ovx receiving estradiol benzoate (EB) injections intraperitoneally, and ovx receiving YCJ orally. Two equidistant 1-cm full-thickness skin incisional wounds were made two weeks after ovariectomy. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the third and the fourth week of the study, and their serum estradiol (E2) level was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The skin was excised and examined in histological sections stained with H&E, and immunostained using anti-estrogen receptor (ER-α an ER-ß) antibodies. RESULTS: Wound healing was accelerated in ovx rats receiving YCJ, as compared to controls. This was associated with significantly higher density of immunostaining for ER-α an ER-ß in keratinocytes, fibroblasts, white blood cells, fat cells, sebaceous gland, skeletal muscles, and hair shafts and follicles. This was also associated with thicker epidermis and dermis, but with thinner hypodermis. In addition, the number and size of immunoreactive hair follicles for both ER-α and ER-ß were the highest in the ovx+YCJ group, as compared to the ovx+EB group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that YCJ has estrogen-like characteristics, which in turn seem to have beneficial effects on cutaneous wound healing.

Immunohistochemical localization of parvalbumin calcium-binding protein in the heart tissues of various species.

Parvalbumin (PV), a cytoplasmic high-affinity Ca(2+)-binding protein, was recently identified in rat heart tissue and has been implicated in mediating relaxation in cardiac myocytes. The presence of PV in the heart of mouse, chicken, rabbit and pig was studied using immunohistochemistry. PV immunoreactivity (PV-ir) was identified in the heart of all four species. All cardiac myocytes of each species had an identical pattern of PV-ir in their cytoplasm. The highest intensity of PV-ir was observed in mouse and chicken cardiac myocytes. The intensity of PV-ir was lower in rabbit cardiac myocytes and lowest in pig cardiac myocytes compared to those of chicken and mouse. PV-ir was observed in the walls of all four cardiac chambers (left and right atria and left and right ventricles), with the left ventricle, in general, having the highest labeling intensity. The intensity of PV-ir may be correlated with the physical activity of the heart of each species. Some potential applications of these data for treatment of human diastolic heart dysfunctions are discussed.