Effect of Astaxanthin, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C in Combination with Calorie Restriction on Sperm Quality and Quantity in Male Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of calorie restriction and dietary antioxidant supplementation separately or in combination on the quality and quantity of sperm in male rat. Forty male rats were randomly allocated to four groups of 10 animals each, and fed for at least 86 days with an ad libitum diet (group 1), a restricted diet (group 2), an ad libitum diet and astaxanthin, vitamin E, and vitamin C supplements (group 3), or a restricted diet with astaxanthin, vitamin E, and vitamin C supplements (group 4). At the end of the study period, sperm count and motility were determined with a hemocytometer, and differences between the groups were analyzed by analysis of variance. In addition, total antioxidant capacity and 8-epi prostaglandin F2 alpha were measured at the beginning and end of the study period with an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay method. After 86 days, a significantly higher sperm count was seen in group 4 compared to other groups. The percentage of immotile sperm was significantly decreased in groups 2, 3, and 4 in comparison to group 1. A significant increase in total antioxidant capacity was observed in group 3 (p = 0.02) and group 4 (p = 0.02) compared to groups 1 and 2. Antioxidant supplementation with or without calorie restriction had no significant effect on serum isoprostane level in any group. Astaxanthinin, combined with vitamin E, vitamin C, and calorie restriction, was able to ameliorate, in part, infertility in male rats

Measurement of Heavy Metals (Nickel, Chromium, and Cobalt) in Wild and Farmed Carps (Cyprinus carpio) of Hamadan Province

Fish consumption has been considerably increased in Iran recently. On the other hand, the increase in aquatic ecosystem pollution can cause the accumulation of heavy metals in aquatic animals – the fish, in particular. Therefore, measuring the amount of heavy metals in fish is of great importance for consumers’ health. This study aimed to measure the amount of heavy metals (nickel, chromium, and cobalt) in wild and farmed carps (Cyprinus carpio) by using an ICP device. In this cross-sectional study which was performed in Hamadan province in 2018, 40 carp samples (20 wild carp samples and 20 farmed ones) were randomly collected from Anouch and Shirinsoo dams and from breeding centers of the province and, after completing the digestion phase, the amount of heavy metals in the samples were measured using the ICP device. The study results showed that the amounts of nickel metal in wild and farmed carps were equal to 0.108±0.086 and 0.102±0.108 mg/kg dry weight, respectively; and the amounts of chromium in wild and farmed fish samples were 0.348±0.396 and 0.136±0.074 mg/kg dry weight in muscle tissue, respectively. Cobalt metal was not observed in wild and cultured samples. According to the results from the statistical analysis, no significant difference was detected between wild and farmed fishes regarding contamination with nickel metal. However, a difference was found between wild and farmed fishes (P<0.05) regarding chromium. Taking into account the higher amount of nickel and chromium metals in the wild carp samples compared to the farmed ones, it was recommended that necessary measures be taken to control the sources responsible for polluting the aquatic environment and to prevent the penetration of industrial effluents and other polluting factors into the dams of Hamedan province in order for avoiding the increase in the amount of heavy metals in the province’s water sources

Facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of the Asmari Formation in the northern area of Dezful Embayment, south-west Iran

This paper concerns the sequence stratigraphy of the Oligocene (Rupelian–Chattian)–Early Miocene (Burdigalian) Asmari Formation based on microfacies analysis of the sediments in the Ghale Nar Oilfield, central area of Zagros fold-thrust belt. Fourteen facies types typical for upward shallowing trend from open marine (MF 1–3), to shoal (MF 4-5), semi-restricted and restricted lagoon (MF 6–12) and finally to near-shore lagoon (MF 13-14) depositional environments were identified. Based on the environmental interpretations, we reconstructed a homoclinal ramp mainly represented by its inner and middle sectors. Facies types MF 4–14 are characterized by the occurrence of large and small porcelaneous benthic foraminifera representing a shallow-water setting of an inner ramp influenced by wave and tide processes. MF1 (Pabdeh Formation), and 2 -3 with planktonic, large and small hyaline benthic foraminifera represent between FWWB and SWB. Four third-order depositional sequences were recognized. In this study, in order to better correlate the identified sequences with pre-defined sequences of the Asmari Formation in the Dezful Embayment and the Izeh zone that are chronologically well-defined, we use their number instead of their name. Sequence 2 mainly consists of an open marine environment in the base, followed by semi-restricted to restricted lagoonal facies. Sequences 36 are characterized by semi-restricted to restricted lagoonal facies. Moreover, the regional relative sea-level change curves correlate well with the global sea-level change curves

Planktonic foraminiferal turnover across the Cenomanian – Turonian boundary (OAE2) in the northeast of the Tethys realm, Kopet-Dagh Basin

Two Late Cenomanian – Early Turonian (C–T) intervals of the eastern part of the Kopet-Dagh basin, NE Iran have been investigated to evaluate the response of planktonic foraminifera to the geological event OAE2. The Gharesu and Taherabad sections with the thicknesses of 30 m and 22.5 m are composed of shale and marl interbedded with glauconitic sandstone. Three biozones Rotalipora cushmani, Whiteinella archaeocretacea and Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica were recognized based on study of planktonic foraminifera, in these sections. We observed the patterns of planktonic foraminiferal assemblage changes around the C–T boundary and divided this succession into several successive intervals. This study confirms that OAE2 was a long term event. A gradual perturbation in the study successions starts in the interval 1 with low abundance and diversity of planktonic foraminifera. An enhanced oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) occurs in the interval 3 which coincides with a temporary absence of planktonic foraminifera and sedimentation of framboidal pyrite. High diversity of planktonic foraminifera and appearance of new genera in the interval 5 indicate return of normal conditions to the basin. A significant short-term sea surface temperature cooling is also indicated by planktonic foraminiferal turnover and carbonate contents in the interval 2 which is comparable with other parts of the Tethys Ocean, Boreal sea and Atlantic region

Orbital obliquity evolution during the late Paleozoic ice age across the northeastern gondwana: Implications for regional sea-level change trigger and reservoir quality assessment

Orbitally-induced cycles build stratigraphic sequences on time spans ranging from several thousand to several million years by altering depositional conditions. Previous works have shown that the gas-bearing Faraghan Formation (Cisuralian) has been impacted by orbitally-forced climatic change, resulting in the development of sedimentary sequences on astronomical cycle timescales. Obliquity evolution has been observed in the Faraghan Formation, with ∼1.2 Ma and ∼173 ka modulation cyclicities recorded. We attribute a strong sedimentary noise observed in the Faraghan Formation, which is distinct from the other noises, to a transregional sea-level rise, most likely correspond to MFS P10. The prolific gas zones (PGZ) in the Faraghan Formation are in consistent relationship with obliquity maxima and depositional noise events, which are associated with high obliquity power. This constant offers the hypothesis that obliquity altered the sedimentary regime in such a way that favorable conditions for reservoir quality development occurred. The ∼173 ka obliquity modulation cycle is recorded from the Late Paleozoic. It is postulated that this periodicity was the causal mechanism for the creating of the Faraghan Formation's fifth-order sequences. The reconstructed sea-level patterns from sedimentary noise modeling (DYNOT) confirm the three third-order sequences proposed for the Faraghan Formation by displaying three different sedimentary noises. The detected ∼1.2 Ma obliquity modulation cycles match the ∼1.2 Ma periodicities filtered from the DYNOT median values, indicating that the ∼1.2 Ma orbital cycle is one of the primary drivers of regional sea level. ∼1.2 Ma obliquity modulation cycles are correlated with third-order sequences, implying that the aforementioned cycle was one of the key mechanisms causing the creation of these third-order sequences

Evaluating the Effect of Estrogen and Progesterone on Expression of EAAT2 and EAAT3 Glutamate Transporters Following Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Abstract Background: Glutamate is the most widespread excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) and plays major role in the pathogenesis of ischemia brain injury.Glutamate transporters have a major role in glutamate removal and maintain its concentration below excitotoxic levels. Although estrogen’s and progesterone’s neuroprotective effects were well-described, the exact molecular mechanism has yet to be determined. This study has investigated estrogen and progesterone effect on glutamate transporters expression in the ischemic penumbra/peri-infarct region in rat. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 1 h. Estrogen and progesterone combination was immediately injected after tMCAO subcutaneously. Sensorimotor functional tests for evaluating behavioral deficits and TTC staining for measurement of infarct volume were performed 24 h after MCAO. Real-time PCR technique was used for gene expression analysis of glutamate transporters EAAT2 and EAAT3. Results: The combination of estrogen and progesterone could significantly reduce lesion volume. Also, hormone therapy could improve ischemic neurological disorders. After hormone therapy, gene expression of glutamate transporters EAAT2 and EAAT3 did not show significant changes. Conclusion: Combined estrogen–progesterone treatment significantly reduces neurological deficits and infarct volume; these effects are independent of the glutamate transporters signaling pathways