Artificial Reproduction of Octocoral (Plumarella flabellata)

The reproductive biology of Octocoral (Plumarella flabellata) in artificial habitats located in Northwest of Persian Gulf, Iran was studied by histological examination of gonad development. Various sizes of colonies were collected to determine the relationship between colony size and sexual maturity. The colonies smaller than 15 cm height did not contain gonads. Moreover, P. flabellata was a hermaphrodite species with gonads developed along with mesenteries. No planulae were observed in the samples investigated. Therefore, P. flabellata in Iran is most likely a broadcast spawener. The gonads were at the same developmental stages in each season. The results showed that spawning of P. flabellata probably occurred in July-August which is consistent with the suitable environmental conditions such as higher water temperature and long day-light. The present study indicated that P. flabellata exhibits a remarkably high reproductive potential, which contributes to its dominance in the artificial reef in Northwest of Persian Gulf

Ovarian development of Caspian roach, Rutilus caspicus, in southern Caspian Sea: A histological and ultrastructural study

The histology and ultrastructure of the ovarian maturation process in Caspian roach, Rutilus caspicus, was studied. A total 170 female specimens were collected from the Gharasoo River, Bandar Turkmen, the southern Caspian Sea to evaluate its maturation cycle. Based on the results, its ovarian follicle’s development could classified into six stages by distinct characteristics. Minimum and maximum diameter of oocytes were recorded in the chromatin-nucleolus and maturation stages as 56.34±3.74 and 918.83±14.82 µm, respectively. The zona radiata was observed from the cortical alveoli stage and its maximum diameter measured in the secondary vitellogenesis stage as 93.11±23.0 µm. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) reached to its peak in mid-March and its sharp drop in the late April showed its spawning period from late March or early April till the end of April. A positive correlation was found between the GSI and HSI in the vitellogenesis stage. The results also revealed Caspian roach as iteroparous synchronous spawner

Pathologic liver lesions in orange spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides exposed To Benzo[a] Pyrene

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant present in air, water, and sediment. BaP is readily absorbed by all routes of exposure and can pass directly through the plasma membrane of most cell types. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of BaP on liver tissue structure in orange spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides affected by different concentration of BaP. In the present report, 100 E. coioides were exposed by intraperitoneal injection to 2, 20 and 200 mg/kg of BaP for 14d under laboratory conditions and the samples were taken from fish liver in days 0, 2, 4, 7 and 14 of experiment for histopathological study. The liver samples were fixed in 10%formalin buffer solution. Fivemicrometer thick sections were obtained and were stained in hematoxylin/eosin for examination in light microscopy. No pathological alteration was observed in the liver samples of controls fish. The pathological alterations of liver were including of hepatocyte vacuoletion, increase of melanomacrophage centers, dilation of diss space, sinusoidal dilation, focal necrosis, hepatocytes hypertrophy, nucleus in a lateral position and hepatocyte degeneration. The frequency and severity of tissue changes rose with the increase of BaP concentration in all sampling days. The most frequency and severity of histopathological alteration were observed in fish treated by 200 mg/kg BaP in day 7

Histological study of gonads in Euryglossa orientalis from Persian Gulf

Among more than 600 fish species in Persian Gulf, Soles are considered as one of the most economically important species. These fish is different from other fishes in morphological, functional and structural organs and like many other flatfish are less well known. The present study was designed to investigate the histological structure of gonads of Sole (Euryglossa orientalis) in two breeding and rest seasons. 40 Sole fish were collected from Zangi estuary (located in Mussa creek in the north of Persian Gulf) in early July and early October (non- breeding and breeding seasons) 2013. After biometry, gonadal tissues were dissected and weighed to determine Gonadosomatic Index (GSI). Then fixed in Bouin’s solution. Histological specimens were transported to the histological laboratory. Tissue sections were prepared according to conventional methods include dehydration, clearing and paraffin. And then were cut down to 5 micron sections and stained. These tissue sections were studied by light microscopy. The result showed that different stages of germ cells in both male and female gonads. Although in breeding season mature cells were noticed, GSI index of testis and ovary in Sole showed significant difference between the two seasons

Ovarian maturatıon stages in Arabian carpet shark, Chiloscyllium arabicum, during reproduction and nonreproduction Seasons

The present study aimed to assess the ovarian tissue structure and plasma levels of the hypophysial-gonadal hormones, including 17-β estradiol, progesterone, GTH-I and GTH-II of the Arabian carpet shark, Chiloscyllium arabicum inhabiting the Persian Gulf in spring (April to July) and autumn (August to December). In this regards, a total of 60 C. arabicum female specimens were collected from the Bahrakan Port, in the north of the Persian Gulf. Fish were bleed after euthanization and biometrical characters and levels of 17-β estradiol, progesterone, GTH-I and GTH-II were measured. Fish were then dissected and samples were taken from the ovary and fixed in Bruin's solution for 48 hrs. Histological sections were prepared using routine histological techniques and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Based on the results, four different developmental stages were observed in the ovary in spring, including stage I, stage II (primary oogenesis), stage III (mediate oogenesis), and stage IV (final oogenesis). However, only three first stages were detected in autumn samples. The plasma levels of the studied hormones were higher in spring. Based on the results, spring (especially mid-April to mid-July) is the reproduction season of C. arabicum in the Persian Gulf

Effects of the environmental endocrine disrupting compound benzo[a]pyrene on thyroidal status of abu mullet (Liza abu) during short-term exposure

Benzo[a]Pyrene (BaP) is a ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that has been shown to disrupt the metabolism of thyroid hormone. Then, the present investigation aimed to study the effects of BaP on thyroid function in Liza abu. Fish were injected with 2, 10 and 25 mg/kg-bw of BaP. Samples were taken from blood, thyroid and muscle tissues at days 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14. Blood was evaluated for changes in the plasma levels of TSH, T3 and T4. Also, BaP bioaccumulation in the fish muscle was measured. Thyroid tissues were processed for routine histology. BaP concentration in the muscle of treated fish reached a maximum level after 4 days. Exposure of fish to BaP resulted in a significant decrease in T3 and T4 plasma level and increase in TSH concentration up to day 4. Also some pathological alterations were observed in BaP-exposed fish such as hemorrhage and increased number of large follicles with squamous epithelium. In conclusion, according to the results of the present investigation, short term exposure to sublethal concentrations of BaP significantly affected thyroid function in fish. The results revealed BaP ability to alter thyroid function. Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, Fish, Triiodothyronine, Thyroxin

Metabolism and removal of anthracene and lead by a B. subtilis-produced biosurfactant

Most of effluents discharged to the environment contain toxic contaminants such as aromatic compounds and heavy metals which are considered hazardous to the nature and living organisms. In this study, Bacillus subtilis resistant to anthracene and lead was isolated from Persian Gulf sediments. Biosurfactant production was demonstrated using three methods, drop collapse, blood agar and oil spreading. Evaluation of optical density by spectrophotometer showed the bacterial growth in presence of 30 mg/l of anthracene and 50 mg/l of lead. Considerable proportion of anthracene (69.95%) was reduced after 120 h and the maximum percentage of lead absorption (82%) was observed after 150 min. The results indicated that the isolated bacterium was capable of removing anthracene and lead. Keywords: Aromatic compounds, Bacteria, Heavy metal, Persian Gul

Morphological variability of Liza aurata (Risso, 1810), along the southern Caspian Sea

Morphological variability of Liza aurata (Risso, 1810), was studied in traditional morphometric measurements in 25 morphological characters from 90 specimens in three fishery areas in the southern Caspian Sea (Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan). Univariate analysis of variance showed significant differences between the means of the three groups for 22 out of 25 standardized morphometric measurements. In discriminant function analysis (DFA), the proportion of individuals correctly classified into their original groups was 100%. Principal component analysis results (PCA) for morphometric data indicated that samples of Guilan and Mazandaran showed high degree of overlap and these two regions were highly different from Golestan. The dendrogram derived from cluster analysis showed that the samples of L. aurata from Guilan and Mazandaran had same clade while both were obviously distinct from Golestan

Response of Melanomacrophage Centers in Yellowfin Seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) Immune Organs as an Immunohistological Biomarker in Short-term Exposure to Phenanthrene

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the changes in plasma levels of antioxidant enzymes and melano-macrophage centers (MMCs) in immune tissues as biomarkers of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) exposed to phenanthrene (Phe) for 14 days. Methods: The research was carried out at Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr, Iran in Jan 2016. Thirty-six immature fish were intraperitoneally injected with coconut oil (10 μl/g-bw) containing Phe (70mg/kg-bw) and compared with control group (without injection). Then tissue and blood samples were obtained at 1, 4, 7 and 14 d after injection. Results: The SOD and CAT activity showed a significant decrease in fish exposed to Phe up to day 7, then activity increased at day 14 in Phe-treated fish (P<0.05). The size and number of MMCs in treated fish in spleen and head kidney were higher than control. Conclusion: Changes in these parameters (SOD, CAT, and MMCs) might be used as useful biomarkers for evaluating immunosuppressive Phe in fish

CYP1A gene expression as a basic factor for fipronil toxicity in Caspian kutum fish

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of fipronil insecticide on the Caspian kutum fish at different levels of biological organizations and to find possible relationship between these biomarkers. Different doses of fipronil (65, 130 and 200 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally administered to the fish for 2 weeks. After 7 and 14 days of exposure, alterations in organ-somatic index, tissue and DNA structure, oxidative stress and CYP1A gene expression in gill, liver, brain and kidney were studied. Determination of these parameters in the liver showed that the degree of tissue change (DTC), comet tail, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and relative CYP1A mRNA expression increased mostly in a time dependent manner whereas in the kidney increased mostly in a dose dependent manner. These parameters in the gill increased more in time and dose dependent manner. Apart from the changes in CYP1A expression and oxidative stress, no alterations was observed in the brain. Multiple regression analysis showed that the CYP1A had the most correlation with the organ-somatic index (R2 = 0.76) and comet tail (R2 = 0.89) in the liver, and with DTC (R2 = 0.93) and oxidative stress (R2 = 0.87) in the kidney. Generally, this study showed that CYP1A gene expression can be considered as one basic factor for fipronil toxicity in this fish. However, other possible factors also should be considered for future research. Keywords: CYP1A gene, Oxidative stress, Comet assay, Fiproni