An observation of haversian systems in Stellagama stellio (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) in Barla/Isparta, Turkey

WOS: 000365097200019In this study, we observed haversian systems on the endosteal surface of the femur bone of one male individual of Roughtail Rock Agama, Stellagama stellio, which was collected from Barla/Isparta province of Turkey. It was observed that the haversian canal was located on the center of the haversian systems or secondary osteons, and it was surrounded by concentric lamellae. All lamellae were separated from each other by a cement line that stained darker than other constituents. Volkmann's canals were not observed between haversian canals, and other concentric lamellae were not encountered between periosteum and haversian systems. These results indicate that remodeling can be partly seen in this species. Our study is important in terms of being the first record to demonstrate haversian systems on the femur bone of S. stellio.General Directorate of Agricultural Research and PoliciesGida Tarim Ve Hayvancilik Bakanligi [TAGEM-BS-12/01-06/01-29]This work was supported by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (Project Number: TAGEM-BS-12/01-06/01-29)

Age determination and long bone histology in Stellagama stellio (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) populations in Turkey

WOS: 000338416600010In this study, the age structures of the four populations of Roughtail Rock Agama, Stellagama stellio distributed in Turkey were determined and their long bone development was examined from a histological perspective. The ages of some 218individuals (32 juveniles, 86 male male, 100 female female) captured from the Mediterranean, Transitional Mediterranean, Aegean, and Central Anatolia Regions were computed with the method of skeletochronology, and the correlation between age and the SVL (the snout-vent length) was compared. The mean SVL was greater in males than in females, and this difference was found statistically significant in all populations except for the Central Anatolian population. The mean ages for male and female individuals were calculated as 3.44 +/- 1.26 and 3.18 +/- 1.18 years in the Mediterranean population, as 4.65 +/- 1.25 and 3.69 +/- 1.31 years in the Transitional Mediterranean population, as 4.05 +/- 1.32 and 3.36 +/- 1.46 years in the Aegean population, and as 4.20 +/- 1.87 and 3.60 +/- 2.01 years in the Central Anatolian population, respectively. The oldest individuals were encountered in the Central Anatolian populations, and the maximum age detected for both sexes was 7 years. It was determined that the age at maturity was 3 in all the populations under examination and that there was not any difference in age at maturity either among the populations or between sexes. There was a significant positive correlation between age and the SVL. The impacts of environmental factors on age structures were examined, and altitude, latitude and climate were found effective on longevity. Histologically, the primary bone, which developed in the embryonic period, was preserved throughout the life of a species even in the oldest individual. Neither secondary bone development nor formation of lamellar systems was encountered. It was seen that intramembranous and endochondral ossification mechanisms played a joint role in long bone development.Research Fund Accountancy of Ege University, TurkeyEge University [2011FEN008]This study emerged from a Ph.D. thesis by the first author, supervised by Prof. Dr. D. AYAZ. We thank to Assoc. Dr. K. CICEK for their help in the field. This study financially supported by the Research Fund Accountancy of Ege University, Turkey (2011FEN008)

Protective effect of ischemic preconditioning on testis injury following transient focal cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats

OBJECTIVES: We aim to evaluate the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPreC) on testicular tissue after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ) and non-diabetic rats

Skin Pigmentation of Stellagama stellio (L. 1758) (Reptilia: Agamidae) Depends on Climate Conditions and Altitude

WOS: 000412259700005We studied skin pigmentation characteristics of the starred agama, Stellagama stellio, at different altitudes and climate conditions from Anatolia, Turkey. The epidermis was composed of stratum corneum and stratum basale, while the dermis occupied a much larger area. Melanophores were only found in the dermis and melanin pigments exhibited different distribution patterns in cells. Our results indicated that the skin pigmentation of S. stellio varied among populations depending on the altitude and climatic conditions. At higher altitudes, the melanophores in dorsal skin were larger and its melanin pigments aggregated in melanophores. The aggregation of the melanin pigments indicated the skin had lighter colour. The melanin pigments tended to be dispersed at lower altitudes. The skin of populations inhabiting hot climates and lower altitudes was more pigmented, while populations from steppe and higher altitudes exhibit lower pigmentation when comparing melanophores areas

Neuroprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning via modulating the expression of adropin and oxidative markers against transient cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats

Introduction: Ischemic preconditioning (IPreC) can render the brain more tolerant to a subsequent potential lethal ischemic injury. Hyperglycemia has been shown to increase the size of ischemic stroke and worsen the clinical outcome following a stroke, thus exacerbating oxidative stress. Adropin has a significant association with cardiovascular disease, especially with diabetes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the IPreC due to modulating the expression of adropin and oxidative damage markers against stroke by induced transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats

Protective Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning on Myocardium Against Remote Tissue Injury Following Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Diabetic Rats

Abstract Background: Remote ischemic preconditioning (IPreC) could provide tissue-protective effect at a remote site by anti-inflammatory, neuronal, and humoral signaling pathways. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible protective effects of remote IPreC on myocardium after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in streptozotocin- induced diabetic (STZ) and non-diabetic rats. Methods: 48 male Spraque Dawley rats were divided into eight groups: Sham, STZ, IPreC, MCAo, IPreC+MCAo, STZ+IPreC, STZ+MCAo and STZ+IPreC+MCAo groups. We induced transient MCAo seven days after STZ-induced diabetes, and performed IPreC 72 hours before transient MCAo. Remote myocardial injury was investigated histopathologically. Bax, Bcl2 and caspase-3 protein levels were measured by Western blot analysis. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) of myocardial tissue were measured by colorimetric assay. Oxidative stress index(OSI) was calculated as TOS-to-TAS ratio. For all statistical analysis, p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: We observed serious damage including necrosis, congestion and mononuclear cell infiltration in myocardial tissue of the diabetic and ischemic groups. In these groups TOS and OSI levels were significantly higher; TAS levels were lower than those of IPreC related groups (p < 0.05). IPreC had markedly improved histopathological alterations and increased TAS levels in IPreC+MCAo and STZ+IPreC+MCAo compared to MCAo and STZ+MCAo groups (p < 0.05). In non-diabetic rats, MCAo activated apoptotic cell death via increasing Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3 levels. IPreC reduced apoptotic cell death by suppressing pro-apoptotic proteins. Diabetes markedly increased apoptotic protein levels and the effect did not reversed by IPreC. Conclusions: We could suggest that IPreC attenuates myocardial injury via ameliorating histological findings, activating antioxidant mechanisms, and inducing antiapoptotic activity in diabetic rats

Age structure of a population ofChalcides ocellatus(Forskal, 1775) (Sauria: Scincidae) in Mediterranean Anatolia

Cicek, Kerim/0000-0002-6753-0757WOS: 000544572500001We studied the age structure of a population of the Ocellated Skink,Chalcides ocellatusin Mediterranean Turkey using the skeletochronological method. We examined the cross sections of femoral diaphyseal of a total of 106 museum specimens including 53 adult females and 42 adult males. the snout-vent length was significantly correlated with age. the mean age was 6.0 years (3-10 year) for males and 5.8 years for females, but the difference was statistically not significant. Sexual maturity is reached after their third hibernation period. the lifespan was significantly shorter in southwestern Anatolia than in southern Anatolia (mean age 5.43 years vs. 6.50 years for both sexes combined; P<0.004). According to von Bertalanffy growth curves, the growth rates were lower in southwestern Anatolia than in southern Anatolia than

A skeletochronological study of age, growth and longevity in two freshwater turtles, Emys orbicularis and Mauremys rivulata, from Mediterranean Turkey (Reptilia: Testudines)

WOS: 000372096000006We estimated growth parameters of Emys orbicularis and Mauremys rivulata in Mediterranean Turkey with the skeletochronological method, using specimens drowned in fyke nets. In adult E. orbicularis, the median age was 8 years in males and 10 years in females. The median age of adult M. rivulata was 10 years for both sexes. Both species reach sexual maturity at an age of 5-7 years. No difference was found in age composition between the sexes.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [103T189, 110T927]; EBILTEMEge University [2007BIL012]This study is financially supported by TUBITAK [Project numbers: 103T189 and 110T927] and EBILTEM [2007BIL012]. We are indebted to these organisations for financial support. The study protocol was approved with Decision No. 2010/13 by the Laboratory Animals Ethical Committee at Ege University, Turkey

Age, Growth and Longevity of Kotschy's Gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi (Steindachner, 1870) (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) from Central Anatolia, Turkey

We studied the age structure of Kotschy's gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi, from the Sultan Mountains (Central Anatolia, Turkey) using the skeletochronological method. We examined the humeral diaphyseal cross sections of a total of 19 (six males and 13 females) museum specimens. Our results showed that the age structure ranged from three to seven years (mean = 4.2 years, SD = 1.47) in males and from two to eight years (mean = 4.5 years, SD = 1.81) in females. Both sexes reached sexual maturity after their second hibernation, and no statistically significant difference in age composition was observed between the sexes. There was a strong positive correlation between SVL and age (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r = 0.93) and Von Bertalanffy growth curves fitted to the relationships between age (k = 0.80) and SVL (SVLmax = 42.4). In conclusion, M. kotschyi is a short-lived species with a high growth rate

Berberine Attenuates Cerebral Vasospasm After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Via Modulating AMPK/Rho Pathway

Purpose: Our goal is to clarify the effectiveness of berberine (BBR) on cerebral vasospasm induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage