Effect of Lactobacillus casei on Innate Immunity Responses and Aeromonas hydrophila Resistance in Shabot, Tor grypus.

For investigating the possible effect of Lactobacillus casei on the immune status of Shabot, Tor grypus, 480 fish weighing 40 ± 10 g were randomly divided into four groups in triplicate. The first group (control) was fed on a commercial diet without probiotic supplementation. Other groups (A, B, and C) were received diet supplemented by different levels of L. casei, i.e., 5 × 106, 5 × 107, and 5 × 108 CFU g-1, respectively. The feeding trial was performed for 60 continuous days followed by 15 days as withdraw period, i.e., day 75. Serum immune responses were determined on days 0, 30, 60, and 75 of feeding trial. Gene expression in the kidneys was analyzed on days 0, 60, and 75 as well as following bacterial challenge. The results showed that dietary L. casei supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased serum lysozyme, serum bactericidal, complement, and respiratory burst activities as compared with control group, while it was observed that treated fish did not show any significant differences in immune responses on day 75 (P < 0.05). Results of gene expression (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-8) showed significant increases among different experimental times (P < 0.05). According to obtained results, it might be concluded that the feeding by L. casei could likely enhance the immune responses and gene expression in T. grypus. Treatments A and C were better than B, but the lower concentration is better as an economic viewpoints and biosecurity. Therefore, concentration A is suggested.

Metabolic and NH4 excretion rate of fresh water species, Chondrostoma regium in response to environmental stressors, different scenarios for temperature and pH.

Changes in water temperature and pH levels have substantial adverse effects on aquatic organisms, hence causing physiological constraint on their well-being. To understand the physiological responses of Chondrostoma regium to temperature or pH changes, standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), absolute and factorial aerobic scope (AS&FAS) as well as the specific rate of ammonia excretion (Jamm) were measured at following temperatures: acute low (3.5-4.5 °C), 24 h low (5.5-6.5 °C), 7 d low (5.5-6.5 °C), acute high (30-31 °C), 24 h high (29-30 °C), 7 d high (28-29 °C), and different pH treatments: acute low (4.3-4.4), 24 h low (4.3-4.4), 7 d low (6.3-6.4), acute high (9.8-9.9), 24 h high (9.8-9.9), 7 d high (8.8-8.9). A control group was also assigned to optimum temperature = 22-23 °C and pH = 7.8-7.9. These experimental ranges for each treatment were obtained based on critical thermal and pH thresholds, i.e., 1.9 to 31.7 °C and 2.7 to 11.1, respectively. SMR was enhanced significantly (P < 0.05) following pH treatments, except for 24 h low pH treatment. Results showed significant (P < 0.05) changes in both SMR and MMR at low and high temperature treatments. The AS was elevated following pH treatments except for acute low pH treatment in which AS significantly was declined (P < 0.05). Low temperature treatments resulted in lower AS while no significant changes in AS were observed in high temperatures. In all treatments, FAS value did not differ significantly from control, except for acute and 24 h low treatments of both temperature and pH. All high pH and temperature treatments showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in Jamm. Histopathological results of gills indicated hyperplasia and fusion of secondary lamella and kidneys histopathology revealed necrosis and loss of tubular lumen in the most treatments. Results indicated that increases in water temperature or pH are more stressful than the lower ranges of them, suggesting higher capability of fish to adjust to the low levels of temperature or pH.

Effect of Cd and Pb Pollutions on Physiological Growth: Wavelet Neural Network (WNN) as a New Approach on Age Determination of Coenobita scaevola.

Environmental pollution of aquatic ecosystems leads to an interference in several fundamental biochemical and physiological functions. In this study the interference of Cd and Pb pollutions on the physiological growth and subsequently on the age determination was investigated. The hermit crab, Coenobita scaevola (C.s) was selected as a bioaccumulator in this study. The direct and indirect age determination methods were carried out using annual band counts and carapace length, respectively. The results showed that, there was very low correlation (R2 < 0.5) between direct and indirect age determination. Wavelet Neural Network (WNN) was applied to take into account the environmental effects such as the accumulation of Cd and Pb elements in the C.s' tissues. It was observed that WNN successfully enhanced the growth rate model and estimated the C.s' age (R2 > 0.95). In addition, it was concluded that the environmental pollution had interaction with the growth physiology such as weight and length.

Effects of water-borne copper and lead on metabolic and excretion rate of bahaii loach (Turcinoemacheilus bahaii).

Beyond the role of anthropogenic activities, natural sources of metal contaminations are still controversial, together counting, however, as a major threat to inland and coastal waters, becoming an even more prominent stressor for aquatic life. To address the effects of metals on the physiological response of fish, standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), aerobic scope (AS) and factorial aerobic scope (FAS) as well as specific rate of ammonia excretion (Jamm) of Turcinoemacheilus bahaii were determined following different water-borne Cu2+ and Pb2+ treatments. Following LC50-96 h determination, 72 fish (BW = 1.153 ±â€¯0.56 g and TL = 6.155 ±â€¯0.97 cm) were exposed to different amounts of Cu2+ and Pb2+ in 9 different treatments (eight fish/treatment), including 0.910 mg l-1 Cu2+ for 24 h, 0.455 mg l-1 Cu2+ for 7d, 0.182 mg l-1 Cu2+ for 14d and 0.091 mg l-1 Cu2+ for 30 d as well as 124.430 mg l-1 Pb2+ for 24 h, 62.215 mg l-1 Pb2+ for 7d,12.443 mg l-1 Pb2+ for 14d, 6.221 mg l-1 Pb2+ for 30d and control. The SMR of fish was reduced following exposures to all Cu2+ and Pb2+ treatments (P < 0.05), except for 30d exposure as compared with the control. The MMR remained steady following all Cu2+ treatments while it was raised significantly (P < 0.05) following Pb2+ treatments at 7, 14 and 30d exposure. Although the AS showed a similar pattern to MMR, the FAS was elevated (P < 0.05) following all the treatments when compared with control. Lower Jamm were observed following all metals-treated fish in comparison with control (P < 0.05). In addition, higher (P < 0.05) levels of injuries were observed following all Cu2+ and Pb2+ treatments in gills and kidneys. The results suggest that Cu2+ and Pb2+ over the experimental period could impair the metabolic and excretory capacities, hence affecting the possible physiological performance of fish.

Metabolic capacities of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) following combined exposures to copper and environmental hypoxia.

In aquatic ecosystems, a decline in water O2 level is the main factor that can release heavy metal ions from top sediment layer. Therefore, hypoxia in turn, and in association with heavy metals might provide undesirable environment and impairs physiological functions of aquatic animals. To address this, metabolic capacities, including standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), aerobic scope (AS) and factorial aerobic scope (FAS) of common carp were determined following exposures to different levels of water-borne Cu(2+) as well as hypoxia. Treatments for Cu(2+) were included: 100% (acute), 50% (sub-lethal) and 10% (chronic) of LC50-96h for immediately, 24h and 7 days exposures respectively. Hypoxia treatments were assigned as acute for immediately, sub-lethal for 24h and chronic for 7 days. Combined effects of treatments were also considered as acute Cu(2+)+hypoxia, sub-lethal Cu(2+)+hypoxia and chronic Cu(2+)+hypoxia. While SMR of carp was reduced by chronic hypoxia, significant (P<0.05) increase was observed during acute hypoxia, as compared with control. The MMR and AS were significantly reduced (P<0.05) following all hypoxia treatments. The acute and chronic Cu(2+) treatments showed significant (P<0.05) increases in SMR and MMR values. All acute and sub-lethal combined treatments showed significant (P<0.05) reductions in SMR, MMR and AS values, whilst chronic combined treatments showed generally increasing trends for MMR and AS. PCrit was relatively reduced following all treatments except for acute and sub-lethal Cu(2+)-treated fish that showed higher value (P<0.05) and no change respectively. Although all Cu(2+) treatments increased the number of mucus cell, hypoxia treatments did not show any remarkable differences when compared with control group. In general, the results of present study reveal that hypoxia acts as limiting stressor whilst Cu(2+) do act as loading stressors in the case of common carp metabolism. The interactive exposures mostly showing a synergist effect in all metabolic capacities with an exception for chronic treatments.

Effects of different spawning agents on serum levels of reproductive steroid hormones and cortisol level in adult female Barbus sharpeyi (Gunther, 1874).

The question of whether, as hormone therapies, spawning agents differ from each other to induce physiological pathways of gametogenesis and oocyte maturation in fish remains important, because it could modify undesirable changes, regulated by endocrine systems of individual fish. A series of experimental treatments were applied to investigate the underlying mechanism(s) in which female bunnei (Barbus sharpeyi) fish respond differently to hormone therapies. Female broodstocks were injected twice (with 12 h interval) by three different treatments namely A, B and C. The treatment A received carp pituitary extract (CPE) + luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs (LHRHα2) (0.5 mg CPE kg(-1) BW for first injection and 2 mg CPE kg(-1) BW + 10 µg LHRHα2 kg(-1) for second injection), treatment B received CPE (0.5 and 3.5 mg kg(-1) BW), and treatment C received ovaprim (0.1 and 0.15 ml kg(-1) BW). Blood samples were collected at four different time intervals, including prior to injections, 6 h after first injection, 6 h after second injection and at the time of spawning, and serum steroid hormones, including testosterone, progesterone and estradiol-17ß as well as cortisol, were measured. Results showed significant increases in serum estradiol-17ß following all treatments, but the most profound response was found in treatments A and B. Testosterone was higher in larger broodfish than in small-sized broodfish (>1.5 vs. <1.5 kg) in all treatments. CPE led to higher concentration of testosterone rather than two other treatments. CPE also increases the progesterone following first injection and approximately remains unchanged till the end of experiment. Change in progesterone level was only significant after second injection of ovaprim as well as after spawning compared with previous time. Linear regression analyses indicated that cortisol had adverse effects on progesterone and testosterone levels of weight group <1.5 kg. These results suggest that among inducing agents, applied here, CPE can provide more reasonable response in reproduction of female B. sharpeyi.

Catecholamine Contents of Different Region of Adult Rat Brain Are Altered Following Short and Long-term Exposures to Pb(+2.).

Catecholamine is a group of neurotransmitters that is believed to be responsible for the normal function of animal brain. Physiological and behavioral changes of human body have been reported due to the damage of the brain function following lead exposure. Due to the assumption of lead disposal in brain tissue with two year for its half-life, which results in alteration of brain function, we investigated the ability of lead to change the brain catecholamines during short and long-term studies. Rats were exposed daily with varying amounts of lead and catecholamine contents of cerebellum, mid-brain and brain cortex were determined. Acute peritoneal administration of single dose of lead as lead acetate (260 µmol/Kg) after 2 h reduced (p < 0.05) the catecholamine levels of cerebellum, mid-brain and cortex part by 34.9%, 35.44% and 23.8%, respectively. The extension of experiment time to 5 h, significant (p < 0.05) reductions in catecholamine levels of mentioned regions of brain by 32.35%, 12.35% and 19.3% were seen respectively. Daily intraperitoneal administration of 10 µmol/Kg lead for 30 and 60 days reduced catecholamines levels of cerebellum (22.22% and 30.44%), midbrain (12.48% and 26.27%) and brain cortex (11.58% and 26.7%) respectively. It might be concluded that brain dysfunction in lead intoxicated rat occurred through the reduction in the catecholamine levels of different parts of brain. Lead might be therefore considered as a probable factor in causing neurological disease in lead exposed man.

Protective effects of copper against aluminum toxicity on acetylcholinesterase and catecholamine contents of different regions of rat's brain.

The probable protective effects of copper on the acetylcholinesterase activity and the catecholamine levels in cerebellum, cortex and mid-brain of rat, which was intoxicated by aluminum, were studied during short and long terms. In this respect, male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were received daily intraperitoneal doses of aluminum, copper and also combined doses of both metals for 15 days (Al 10 mg kg(-1) BW and Cu 1 mg kg(-1) BW), 30 days (Al 5 mg kg(-1) BW and Cu 0.5 mg kg(-1) BW) and 60 days (Al 1 mg kg(-1) BW and Cu 0.1 mg kg(-1) BW), respectively. The results obtained from the short period of exposure (15 days) showed that aluminum produced significant (P < 0.05) decreases in the acetylcholinesterase activity by 24.14, 23.30 and 25.81 %. Similarly, the catecholamine levels were reduced by 10.69, 12.25 and 12.64 % in cerebellum, cortex and mid-brain, respectively. Treatment with copper increases both acetylcholinesterase activity and catecholamine contents of cerebellum, cortex and mid-brain. Simultaneous injection of copper and aluminum increased both acetylcholinesterase activity and catecholamine contents in all three parts of rat brain when compared to aluminum-treated group. Same results were also observed following 30 and 60 days of exposures. In overall, it has been found that copper may have a protective-like ability to hinder aluminum toxicity in the brain.

Changes in serum parameters associated with iron metabolism in male rat exposed to lead.

Due to the severe hazardous influences of lead (Pb(2+)) on iron-related diseases, the effects of Pb(2+) on serum parameters associated with iron metabolism have been studied in this project. Male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were treated with Pb(2+) for the short and long period of times. The animals received daily intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg Pb(2+) kg(-1) body weight (BW) for 5 days and 4 mg kg(-1) BW of Pb(2+) for 30 and 45 days, respectively. The results show that when animals were treated with both low and high concentrations of Pb(2+), serum iron concentration decreased markedly, by 23.2, 32.8, and 39.9 %, while the sera TIBC and transferrin concentrations increased significantly (p < 0.05). Following short- and long-term exposures to Pb(2+), the percentage of serum transferrin saturation was also decreased in comparison with the untreated control group (p < 0.05). Concentrations of serum copper and ceruloplasmin following Pb(2+) treatments also reduced significantly (p < 0.05). The percentage of hematocrit and hemoglobin levels was reduced (p < 0.05) in all Pb(2+)-treated animals in comparison with the controls. These results suggest that Pb(2+) changes the serum parameters related to iron metabolism, which may play an important role in producing iron-related diseases.

Protective effect of zinc on related parameters to bone metabolism in common carp fish (Cyprinus carpio L.) intoxified with cadmium.

The short term effects of waterborne cadmium (Cd(+2)) on the levels of serum parameters related to bone metabolism including calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P(i)) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in common carp fish (Cyprinus carpio L.) were studied. Fish were treated with varying concentrations of Cd(+2) (0.22, 1.1 and 2.2 mg l(-1)) daily for 14 days. The results obtained show that serum P(i) and ALP concentrations were elevated by increasing Cd(+2) concentration in water containing fish whereas serum Ca level was decreased. At the same time, the protective role of waterborne zinc (Zn(+2), 1 mg l(-1)) on the same parameters was also investigated. Results showing that daily treatment of fish with Zn(+2), increased the concentrations of Ca and ALP in serum by 2.07 and 1.86 fold and decreased serum P(i) level by 57.7% in comparison with Cd(+2) treatment. The combination of Cd(+2) and Zn(+2) on the same parameters was studied next. There was a significant (P < 0.05) elevation in serum Ca and ALP levels in comparison with Cd(+2) treatment. Decreasing in serum P(i) level was not significant in comparison with Cd(+2) treatments. The protective effect of Zn(+2) on Cd(+2) disturbances in serum parameters related to bone metabolism in this manuscript has been also discussed.