Efectos de la aclimatización al cortisol y a la salinidad en el Na+/K+/2Cl–- cotransportador de expresión génica y en la actividad Na+, K+-ATPasa en las branquias de juveniles del Esturión de Persia

Na+, K+-ATPase activity and Na+/K+/2Cl–- cotransporter (NKCC) gene expression in the gills of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, fry (2-3 g, 3.30-8.12 cm total body length) in freshwater (control group), diluted Caspian Sea water (5 ppt) and after treatment with cortisol in freshwater were studied. Na+, K+-ATPase activity was lower in the 5 ppt-acclimated fish (1.07±0.05 _mol Pi/mg protein/h) than in the control fish (1.19±0.05 μmol Pi/mg protein/h) but this difference was not significant. nKCC gene expression in the 5 ppt-acclimated fish (1.6±0.07) was significantly higher than in the control fish (0.8±0.00). In the cortisol treated fish, Na+, K+-ATPase activity (1.91±0.05 μmol Pi/mg protein/h) and NKCC gene expression (3.2±0.1) were significantly higher than in the control group. our results show that Persian sturgeon fry (2-3 g) can tolerate 5 ppt salinity by changing their enzymatic content and activity, and that exogenous cortisol application can increase the osmoregulatory capacity of fry before release into brackish water and can reduce their mortality.Se estudió la actividad Na+, K+-ATPasa y el cotransportador de expresión génica (NKCC) Na+/K+/2Cl–- en las branquias de juveniles de esturión de Persia, Acipenser persicus, (2-3 g, 3.30-8.12 cm de longitud total) en agua dulce (grupo control), agua diluida del mar Caspio (5 ppt) y posterior tratamiento con cortisol en agua dulce. La actividad Na+, K+-ATPasa fue menor en los peces aclimatados en 5 ppt (1.07±0.05 μmol Pi/mg proteína/h) que en los peces (1.19±0.05 μmol Pi/mg proteína/h), pero esta diferencia no fue significativa. La expresión génica NKCC en peces desde 5 ppt de salinidad (1.6±0.07) fue significativamente más alta que en el grupo (0.8±0.00). en los peces tratados con cortisol la actividad Na+, K+-ATPasa (1.91±0.05 μmol P Pi/mg proteína/h) y la expresión génica NKCC (3.2±0.1) incrementaron significativamente en comparación con el grupo control. nuestros resultados mostraron que los juveniles de esturión de Persia (2-3 g) pueden tolerar 5 ppt de salinidad y esta capacidad se consiguió cambiando su contenido y actividad enzimática; -la aplicación de cortisol exógeno puede incrementar la capacidad osmoregulatoria de los juveniles antes de soltarlos a aguas salobres y puede reducir su mortalidad

Effect of Oil Contamination on the Behavior of Collapsible Soil

Loessial soil is moisture-sensitive soil susceptible to settle when fully saturated. In this study, efforts were made to investigate the effect of oil pollutants on mechanical behavior of soil. The loess soil was contaminated by 2,4,6,8 and 10% dry weight of lamp oil and gasoline. Atterberg limits, direct shear, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests were performed to evaluate the behavior of oil-contaminated collapsible soils. The results of Atterberg tests showed that the plasticity of the soil decreased, due to the reduction in the thickness of the absorbed surface layer and double water layer. According to the direct shear test, with increasing contamination up to 10% of lamp oil and gasoline, the cohesion of the soil was decreased from 14.5 kPa to 7.3 kPa and 7 kPa, respectively, which was due to the reduction in soil plasticity and diffuse double-layer. Because of the lubrication of soil particles, the internal friction angle of soil was reduced from 18.5° to 13.6° and 13.9° for 10% lamp oil and gasoline. UCS of contaminated soil increased in low strains due to the apparent cohesion of hydrocarbons and it decreased 31% for gasoline and 53% for lamp oil at high strains due to the softening behavior of the contaminated soil. SEM test revealed that hydrocarbons covered the soil particles and changed the soil fabrication to dispersed skeleton. Generally, collapsible soil contaminated with different lamp oil and gasoline contents showed a decrease in shear strength and UCS with increasing oil content

The Effect of Acidic and Alkaline Chemical Solutions on the Behavior of Collapsible Soils

In this research, the effect of acidic and alkaline chemical solutions on the behavior of loessial soil was investigated. To evaluate the severity of acidity and alkalinity of chemicals, two factors sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide were used in the pH of 3, 5, 9, 11. In this research, the effect of acidic and alkaline solutions on the collapse potential, shear strength parameters and unconfined compression of collapsible soils were investigated. Experimental tests results showed that acidic solutions with a low pH increase the collapse potential and effective cohesion of soil and decrease effective internal friction angle; on the other hand, alkaline solutions with a high pH decrease the collapse potential and effective cohesion of the soil and increase effective internal friction angle. The results of unconfined compression tests showed that with increasing the acidity and alkalinity in soil, the undrained strength of the soil decreased. SEM test results showed an increase in soil cavities in acidic solution while the soil cavities were fixed in alkaline solution

Anticoagulant Properties of Protein Hydrolysates from the Muscle of Sea Cucumber

Background and purpose: Biological studies on marine fauna, especially invertebrates, has significantly increased in recent years which led to the identification of many different bioactive compounds. The sea cucumber are echinoderms with a very muscular body wall that contains 70% collagen and is considered a rich source of protein. Based on recent researches on bioactive compounds extracted from sea cucumber, it was found to have cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-coagulation properties. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, enzymatic hydrolysis method was used to study the anticoagulant properties of hydrolysates protein in muscles of sea cucumber. Finally, the anticoagulant properties of  hydrolysates protein on the human blood plasma was examined by the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time anticoagulant test (APTT) in two concentrations (90 and 130 µg/ml), and Prothrombin Time (PT) in different concentrations (220, 440, 670, and 900 µg/ml). Results: The total amount of hydrolysates protein was found to be 55.8 mg/g in wet tissue. The results of anti-coagulation assays showed that the hydrolysates protein of the sea cucumber muscle contains anticoagulant properties on human blood plasma and could prolong the clotting time. Conclusion: Peptides from the hydrolysis in sea cucumber muscle have anticoagulant properties as already reported for heparin-like compounds

Ionocyte Immunolocalization and the Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Their Abundance and Distribution in the Alenins of Caspian Sea Salmon,Salmo Trutta Caspius

Objective: On a global scale, stratospheric ozone depletion has caused an increase inUV-B radiation reaching the earth's surface. Ultraviolet radiation has long been suspectedto be harmful to aquatic organisms.Materials and Methods: In order to study ionocyte localization (by Na+/K+-ATPase immunolocalization)and the effects of UV radiation on the ionocytes of skin and gills, the alevinsof Salmo trutta caspius were exposed to different doses of UV radiation [unit low doses(ULD) of: 60 μw/cm2 UVC; 100 μw/cm2 UVB and 40 μw/cm2 UVA and unit high doses(UHD) of: 90 μw/cm2 UVC; 130 μw/cm2 UVB and 50 μw/cm2 UVA] using two adjustableF8T5 UV-B, 302 nm lamps (Japan) for 15 minutes once a day in laboratory conditions.Alevins not subjected to UV exposure served as a control group.Results: In both UV exposure groups, all the alevins died on the ninth day. No mortalitywas observed in the control group. The Na+/K+-ATPase immunolocalization study indicatedthat ionocytes were located, in lessening order, on the yolk sac, trunk, gills, operculaand rarely on the head skin. Immunohistochemical results showed significant reductionin the number of ionocytes on the yolk sac, with lesser reduction on the trunk in both UVexposure groups. In contrast, the number of immunofluorescence cells on the gill wassignificantly elevated. Our results also showed that the size of ionocytes was reduced onthe trunk and yolk sac in the UV exposure groups, but not significantly. Deformation anddestruction of ionocytes on the yolk sac and trunk were observed with scanning electronmicroscope (SEM) in the UV exposure groups.Conclusion: Our results showed that ionocytes were located mainly on the yolk sac,in lesser amounts on the trunk, gills and opercula, and rarely also on the head skinof alevins. UV radiation caused deformation and reduction in the number and size ofionocytes on the trunk and yolk sac. As the skin cells of trout alevins possess essentialfunctions for respiration, osmoregulation, excretion and defense during this stage oflife, the observed damage may have contributed to their suddenly mortality in the UVexposure condition

Ontogénèse des glandes antennaires chez les crustacés (Etude comparative de leur implication dans l'osmorégulation au cours du développement chez l'écrevisse Astacus leptodactylus et le hormard Homarus gammarus)

MONTPELLIER-BU Sciences (341722106) / SudocSudocFranceF

Venom Apparatus Structure and Conutoxins Granules formation in Cone Snail (Conus coronatus) of Persian Gulf

Background: Today use conotoxin as a neurotoxin and cytotoxin in medical science is obvious. These compounds are produced by venomous cone snails. Toxins produced by the venom apparatus of this snail and injected into the prey. To obtain and identification of these toxins, study of venom apparatus and the manufacture formation is necessary. Materials and Methods: In order to study the organ, specimens of C. coronatus were collected from the Coast of Gheshm Island. After dissection were fixed in Bouin's for 48 hours and transferred to laboratory into 70% ethanol. After dehydration and Paraffin embedded were cutted by microtome and then collected on glass slides and stained then photographed and studied. Results: Observation showed that, the venom bulb was muscular and in their middle part a channel with epithelial cells was observable that secreted some material. Venom duct walls composed of 3 parts including the outer layer of connective tissue with muscle an inner layer of columnar epithelial cells with basal nucleus and the inner lumens which filled by the. Departed nucleus by secretion exist in all 3 part of venom duct. In radula sac sections, lots growing radula were observed. Conclusion: Venom bulb was a weak secretion role and venom duct near the pharynx have a more mature granule than the other part. Holocrine secretion happened in all part of venom duct. Most suitable part for extract the conotoxin was the venom bulb end part

Changes in Chloride Cell Abundance, Na+,K+-ATPase Immunolocalization and Activity in the Gills of Golden Grey Mullet, Liza Aurata, Fry During Adaptation to Differend Salinities

Objective: Changes in chloride cell abundance, Na+, K+-ATPase immunolocalizationand activity were investigated in the gills of the golden grey mullet, Liza aurata, fry acclimatedto freshwater (FW) and different salinities (12‰, 36‰ and 46‰).Materials and Methods: Na+, K+-ATPase localization was performed through immunofluorescencelight microscopy using a mouse monoclonal antibody IgGα5. Quantitiveanalysis of Na+, K+-ATPase intensity was analyzed using Optima’s version 6.51 imageanalysis software (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, MD, USA).Results: In FW, the fluorescent cells (chloride cells) were observed on the epitheliaof filaments (mainly in inter-lamellar regions) and on the lamellae. Following transferto 12‰ salinity, the abundance of Na+, K+-ATPase immunofluorescence cells on thefilaments decreased 1.7-fold, and no immunofluorescence cells were detected on thelamellae. Samples from 36‰ and 46‰ salinity showed a high density of chloride cellson the epithelia of filaments, and a few cells on the lamellae. Na+, K+-ATPase intensitydid not change significantly with an increase in salinity from 36‰ to 46‰ but it wassignificantly higher (p>0.05) in the FW compared to 12‰ salinity. There was no significantdifference between gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity in FW and 12‰ salinity, but it wassignificantly higher (p>0.05) in the fish acclimated to 36‰ and 46‰ salinity (3.3- and5.1-fold) compared to 12‰.Conclusion: The capability of L. aurata fry to change the number and size of gill chloridecells, as well as their activities indicate the high degree of adaptability of this fishto a wide range of salinity

Effects of Cortisol on Gill Chloride Cells in Persian Sturgeon Acipenser persicus Fry

Objective: cortisol is the major corticosteroid in fish osmoregulation and Persian sturgeonis one of the endangered and economical species of the Caspian Sea sturgeons;this study is one of the first to investigate the effects of cortisol on one species of theAcipenserids species.Materials and Methods: Samples were fixed in Bouin’s solution, dehydrated, embeddedwith paraplast and subsequently sectioned. Immunohistochemical studies wereperformed by using IgGα5 and flourescin isothiocyanate conjugated (FITC) antibodiesthrough fluorescence light microscopy. Measurements of the chloride cells were examinedby Image Tools (2.0) image analysis software.Results: In the cortisol treatment there were 492 chloride cells per mm2 of the gill epitheliumwhich was significantly (p = 0.01) higher than the control group (289 chloride cells).The lengths of chloride cells were 13.9325 ± 0.5 μm and 16.0935 ± 0.5 μm in the cortisoland control groups, respectively; as reported, the length was significantly smaller in thecortisol group (p = 0.02). The widths of the chloride cells were 7.718 ± 0.3 μm and 7.922± 0.4 μm in the cortisol and control groups which were without any significant differences.Both the dispersion and numbers of chloride cells in four locations (on the filament, basementof the lamellae, interlamellar region and on the lamellae) were significantly different(p = 0.01) between the two experimental groups.Conclusion: exogenous cortisol can cause significant cellular and morphometric changesin gills of the Persian sturgeon fry for their adaptation to salinity