Effect of Slope Position on Soil Properties and Types Along an Elevation Gradient of Arasbaran Forest, Iran

Sustainable development by forest managing need to identify forest ecosystem elements. Forest soil is the most important element of forest ecosystem that has key roles in forest managing. Therefore, studying of soil properties and evolution under different environmental conditions is necessary for sustainable management of forest ecosystems. Spatial variation of soil properties is significantly influenced by some environmental factors that slope position is one of them. The aim of this study was evaluating effects of slope position on forest soil change which was carried out in Arasbaran forest, North-West of Iran. Nine soil profiles were dug, described and sampled in three different parts of an altitudinal transect with same environmental conditions and different slope positions. Then soil samples were analysed physicaly and chemicaly and so classified based on Soil Taxonomy 2014. Also according to obtained results One-way analysis of variance was used to test relations of soil properties and slope positions. This results revealed significant effect of slope positions on thickness of the soil profile and solum, clay, organic carbon and total nitrogen percentages and cation exchange capacity at 5% level of confidence which lead to change of type, depth and sequence of soil horizons along altitudinal transect. Finally, it has found that slope position not only has important role in soil properties changes and soil evolution but also it can't be refused the various role and influence of same forest stand in different slope positions. Therefore various soils such as Inceptisols, Alfisols and Molisols were observed under different slope positions. Then it can be achieved that, because of special forest vegetation, soil evolution along altitudinal transect of forest ecosystems are differing from other ecosystems. Thus, for forest soil management program it is necessary to consider both of topography and vegetation effect over the area, even if one of them is constant

Experiencing neonatal maternal separation increased the seizure threshold in adult male mice: Involvement of the opioid system

Experiencing early-life stress has been considered as a potent risk factor for the development of many of brain disorders, including seizures. Intervening mechanisms through which neonatal maternal separation (MS) alters the seizure susceptibility in adulthood have not been well studied. In the current study, by applying 180 min of MS stress (PND 2–14), we determined the seizure susceptibility and considered the role of the opioid system. Maternal separation increased the seizure threshold, and administration of anticonvulsant/proconvulsant doses of morphine (1 and 30 mg/kg, respectively) reversed the impact of MS. Using tail flick and hot plate tests, we exposed animals to 30 min Restraint stress (RS) and found that MS decreased the pain threshold, suggesting the hyporesponsiveness of the opioid system. These results supported the abnormal seizure activity observed in the MS mice and suggested that abnormalities in the opioid system following MS alter seizure susceptibility in later life

Morphine modulates the effects of histamine H1 and H3 receptors on seizure susceptibility in pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure model of mice

Histamine regulates release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate and also is involved in several functions in central nervous system (CNS). It has been shown that histamine participates in disorders like seizure. It has been well documented that morphine dose-dependently induces anti or proconvulsant effects. In the current study, we firstly showed that morphine (1 mg/kg) exerts anticonvulsant effects which significantly reversed by naltrexone administration. Secondly, we determined seizure threshold for H1 and H3 receptors agonists and antagonists in mouse model of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced clonic seizures. Our results showed that activation of H1 receptors by 2-(2-Pyridyl)-ethylamine exerts anticonvulsant properties while inhibition of H1 receptors by pyrilamine maleate induced proconvulsant effects. Furthermore, we showed that immepip dihydrobromide, a H3 receptor agonist, increased seizure susceptibility to PTZ whereas thioperamide, a H3 receptor antagonist increased seizure threshold. We also revealed that pretreatment with morphine potently reversed the effects of histaminergic system on seizure threshold suggesting the involvement of opioid system in alteration of seizure threshold by histaminergic drug

Experiencing neonatal maternal separation increased pain sensitivity in adult male mice: Involvement of oxytocinergic system

Early-life stress adversely affects the development of the brain, and alters a variety of behaviors such as pain in later life. In present study, we investigated how early-life stress (maternal separation or MS) can affect the nociceptive response later in life. We particularly focused on the role of oxytocin (OT) in regulating nociception in previously exposed (MS during early postnatal development) mice that were subjected to acute stress (restraint stress or RS). Further, we evaluated whether such modulation of pain sensation in MS mice are regulated by shared mechanisms of the OTergic and opioidergic systems. To do this, we assessed the underlying systems mediating the nociceptive response by administrating different antagonists (for both opioid and OTergic systems) under the different experimental conditions (control vs MS, and control plus RS vs MS plus RS). Our results showed that MS increased pain sensitivity in both tail-flick and hot-plate tests while after administration of OT (1 μg/μl/mouse, i.c.v) pain threshold was increased. Atosiban, an OT antagonist (10 μg/μl/mouse, i.c.v) abolished the effects of OT. While acute RS increased the pain threshold in control (and not MS) mice, treating MS mice with OT normalized the pain response to RS. This latter effect was reversed by atosiban and/or naltrexone, an opioid antagonist (0.5 μg/μl/mouse, i.c.v) suggesting that OT enhances the effect of endogenous opioids. OTergic system is involved in mediating the nociception under acute stress in mice subjected to early-life stress and OTergic and opioidergic systems interact to modulate pain sensitivity in MS mic

Therapeutic Effects of Recombinant Growth Hormone in Improving the Growth of Thalassemia Major Patients: A Retrospective Study

Background and purpose: Beta thalassemia major is one of the most common inherited blood diseases and patients with this condition require regular blood transfusions. The resulting iron overload deposition causes endocrine gland disorders, including growth hormone (GH) abnormality. In this study, we examined the effects of recombinant growth hormone (rGH) in these patients. Materials and methods: This retrospective study was performed in thalassemia major patients in Amirkola Thalassemia Center, using the medical records (2011-2018), to evaluate the therapeutic effects of rGH on  growth velocity of six short stature patients aged 7-15 years (four boys and two girls). On the basis of abnormal or normal response to GH provocation test, the patients were included in GH deficiency (GHD) group (n=3) and idiopathic short stature (ISS) group (n=3), respectively. The data were analyzed in SPSS-18. Results: The mean age of patients was 11.00 ± 2.75 years old. The mean values for growth velocity before and after the treatment were 4.00± 0.86 and 7.83 ± 1.25 cm/year in GHD group (P=0.057) and 4.06 ± 0.81 and 6.00 ± 1.50 cm/year in ISS group, respectively (P=0.023). Conclusion: In this study, the positive therapeutic effects of rGh in improvement of growth velocity were seen in thalassemia major patients (both GHD and ISS groups)

Evaluation of hackberry (Celtis australis L.) fruits as sources of bioactive compounds

Abstract Hackberry (Celtis australis L.) is native to the Mediterranean region and is distributed in Europe, Turkey, North Africa, and Iran. To the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted on C. australis L. in the Arasbaran region, Iran. In the present study, total phenol (TP), flavonoid (TF), antioxidant capacity based on DPPH and FRAP assays and phenolic compounds and sugars profiles were investigated. According to the results, the range of antioxidant capacity based on DPPH and FRAP assays was 14.12–88.24% and 44.35–117.87 mg Fe2+/100 g, respectively. Also, the range of gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, p-coumaric acid, rosmaric acid, cinnamic acid, and apigenin content was 2.59–26.32, 2.03–9.32, 0.94–11.35, 1.80–4.857, 2.32–9.52, 4.74–51.38, 0.18–2.10 and 0.27–1.37 mg/g, respectively. The results of factor analysis showed that the C12, C14, C15, C20, C8, C16, C3, and C20 genotypes are positively characterized by the first principal component (PCA1) that have a higher caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, p-coumaric acid, rosmaric acid, quercetin, cinnamic acid, and apigenin phenolic compounds. Based on cluster analysis, the twenty genotypes were located in 2 main clusters. In general, the obtained results can be useful for breeding programs and the introduction of cultivars in Celtis australis L

Growth and soil characteristics of Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) natural stands in Urmia

In western Iran, forest stands containing multi-purpose species such as Sumac (Rhus coriaria), Barberry (Berberis sp.) and Pistachio (Pistacia sp.) in pure or mixed form mainly occur in the Northern Zone of Oak forests. The present paper aimed to study the site demands as well as the most important quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sumac in Urmia, West-Azerbaijan province. Therefore, two regional stands in Kachale and Khan Valley regions were selected. Total number of 30 circular plots, each 100m2 were established, in which attributes including collar diameter, diameter at breast height (DBH), height of main stem, crown height, mean crown diameter, the origin and vigor (health) of the trees were measured. Physicochemical properties of the soil were studied within 10 soil samples in Kachale and three samples in Khan Valley. Results indicated that collar diameter of main stem, DBH, height and mean crown diameter in Kachale were significantly higher than in Khan Valley stand. Surveying soil samples in Khan Valley and Kachale also showed that lime (51.8%) and potassium (276 p.p.m) in Khan Valley stand were significantly higher than in Kachale (1.25% and 224.5 p.p.m, respectively). Moreover, stand organic matter (1.6%) and potassium (210.75 p.p.m) under the canopy were more than in open space (%0.9 and 146.60 p.p.m respectively) across Kachale test site. This test site also revealed a significant correlation was observed between fruit weight and crown diameter

Toward the identification of molecular markers associated with phytochemical traits in the Iranian sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) population

Abstract Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is one of the important forest species dispersed in the northwest of Iran. It is one of the important spice in Iran and the Middle East because of active components containing organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins and terpenoids. This study aimed to investigate population structure and linkage disequilibrium (LD) extent within Rhus coriaria L. genotypes using ISSR markers and identify molecular markers associated with phytochemical traits using association analysis. In the molecular part of the experiment, the genetic diversity of 75 sumac genotypes from five different areas of northwest Iran was assessed by 18 ISSR primers. In the phenotypic assessment, the fruits of the sumac genotypes were analyzed using HPLC‐LC/MSMS for determining phytochemical components including maleic acid, ellagic acid, maleic acid hexoside, gallic acid, coumaric acid, quercetin, caftaric acid, and linoleic acid. The phenotypic data analysis revealed the great phenotypic diversity among and within Iranian sumac populations for the studied phytochemical traits. The studied sumac genotypes were divided into two subpopulations based on molecular marker‐based structure analysis. A significant level of LD was observed in 11.64% of the ISSR marker pairs (p < .05). The mixed linear model procedure showed that 12 loci had a significant association with investigated traits. The ISSR loci identified in this study can be potentially used in marker‐assisted selection in sumac breeding programs

Investigation of Nutritional Indices of Green Oak Leaf Roller (Tortrix viridana L.) on Quercus infectoria and Q. libani in Oak Forests of Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan, Iran

Introduction: Land use change, deforestation, grazing, intentional and unintentional fire and invasive pests and diseases are all the major cause of damage to the Zagros forest ecosystem. The green oak leaf roller (Tortrix viridana L.) is one of the important pests of Zagros forests. Larvae of the pest significantly damage the oak forests with feeding on leaves and buds of different species of oaks each year. Larvae enter 2'd instar after eating the internal contents of oak buds, then the third and 4th instars larvae consume whole buds and even oak leaves. After development to the 5th larval instar, they roll the leaves and enter the pupal stage. The attacked trees revitalize by creating new leaves from early May onwards. New leaves, pale green and are smaller than normal leaves. Continuation of the pest activity on Quercus species causes gradual weakness the trees and readiness to accept a variety of secondary pests and diseases in later years. Based on the status of Zagros forests and their importance in the conservation of soil and water sources, the nutritional indices of Tortrix viridana larvae of two species of Oak i.e. Quercus infectoria and Q. libani were determined to get a better understanding of this pest. Materials and Methods: Since early April, with regular visits, last instar larvae (5th instar) of T. viridana in oak forests in Perdanan areas (around the village Ghabr Hossein) were collected and transferred to the laboratory chamber. The larvae were fed on the two oak species. The leaves of these species were collected and transported to the laboratory in a room at a temperature of 25°C and suitable photoperiod conditions. The larvae were fed individually or in a group. In a grouping method, 10 larvae in two replicates and in individually method 40 larvae (one larva per replicate) for each host were considered. Larval weight, amount of consumed food and weight of feces were estimated by using a sensitive digital Carriage scale (0.001 gr). Relative consumption rate (RCR), relative growth rate (RGR), the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), the efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) and approximate digestibility (AD) were also calculated. For statistical analysis t-test and SPSS17 software were used to compare the mean of the data. Results and Discussion: Results of t-test (α=5%) indicated that the larval biomass, RGR, ECI, and AD were significantly different among the hosts in both methods of grouping and individually rearing of the larvae. In this study, Q. libani showed the lowest rate of digestibility. The larvae fed on Q. infectoria have the higher rate of AD than Q. libani because of high RCR, RGR, ECD and ECI. Also, the results related to the comparison of two methods (grouping and individually rearing of the larvae), on nutritional indices were significantly different and in both host trees, the rate of RGR, ECI and ECD in grouping method was more than individually rearing method. RCR is the indication of the insect's exploitation speed of food. In the other words, it shows feeding rate regarding insect's weight at the specific point of time depending on the amount of water and other nutrition physicochemical characteristics in insects. The result showed that this index rate in group rearing method on two host species is equal, but in individual rearing method on Q. infectoria, it is more than Q. libani. The possible reasons are more feeding of larvae in individual rearing method due to the lack of competition stress, the more likelihood of the desirability of Q. infectoria compared to Q. libani, the probability of the existence of antixenosis in Q. libani. The similar study investigating individual and group rearing methods in one insect species is not available. This result confirms that T. viridana larvae’s has a tendency toward social life and in the group situation, they eat effectively. In fact, although larvae in individual form feed more because of lack of competition stress, but in the group they make use of that little food in the best way. Conclusion: In this study, Q. libani had low food quality. As a result, its relative consumption rate, relative growth rate, the efficiency of conversion of ingested food and efficiency of conversion of digested food was less than Q. infectoria. According to the results, Q. infectoria is an appropriate host for this pest. Also, it shows that the larvae were more considering the rate of larval biomass, RCR, RGR, ECI and ECD in grouping method than the single method

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics and altitudinal zonation of Arasbaran forest protected area, northwestern Iran

Knowledge on silvicultural characteristics of forest stands is prior to any forest management practice. The objectives of this study were to determine the forest types and to explore some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Arasbaran forest protected area along an altitudinal gradient. Therefore, circular plots of 400 m2 at 50-meter elevation intervals were established along five altitudinal transects, 100 meters apart, from the lowest (1100 m a.s.l) to the highest (1725 m a.s.l) forest limit. In each plot, the physiographic conditions including slope gradient, altitude and geographic coordinates were determined. Woody species were identified and the diameter at breast height (dbh) of all trees above 7.5 cm dbh, as well as origin, health status, number of stems and tree leaning were measured. In addition, the regeneration frequency of each individual tree taller than 1.30 m in three diameter classes (0-2.5, 2.5-5 and 5-7.5 cm dbh) and shorter than 1.3 m in three height classes (0-10, 10-50 and 50-130 cm) were examined within 100 m2 regeneration plots. Four forest types including Carpinus betulus - Quercus petraea (1100-1400 m a.s.l), C. betulus - Q. petraea - Acer campestre- Fraxinus excelsior (1400-1500 m a.s.l), C. betulus - Q. petraea - A. campestre (1500-1650 m a.s.l) and C. betulus - Q. macranthera (1650-1725 m a.s.l) were distinguished along the altitudinal gradient. The highest number of stems per ha (mature and regeneration stands) and average basal area were observed in C. betulus - Q. macranthera type, whereas the highest average dbh was recorded in C. betulus - Q. petraea forest type. Finally, seed regeneration was most common in C. betulus - Q. petraea - A. campestre forest type