Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ligia</Emphasis> Fabricius, 1798 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Ligiidae) from coasts of the Persian and Aden gulfs

Two new species of Ligia are described, L. persica sp. nov. from the Persian Gulf and L. yemenica sp. nov. from the Gulf of Aden. Ligia persica occurs along the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf and around some Iranian islands such as Qeshm and Kish. A comparison of SEM micrographs shows that the shape and ornamentation of distal parts of the appendix masculina are reliable characters for the identification of morphologically similar Ligia species. They are species-specific and of great importance in the taxonomy of the genus.     

Atarbolana makranensis,a new species of Cirolanidae (Crustacea,Isopoda) from Makran,Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman

Atarbolana makranensis sp. n. is described from the intertidal zone of Makran along the Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman. Atarbolana makranensis sp. n. can be recognized by the presence of a tuft of long setae on the antennal flagellum of males, elongate pleotelson with 12 robust marginal setae, pleotelson with narrowly rounded apex extending well beyond the uropodal endopod, uropodal endopod half as long as exopod with 14 robust marginal setae, and appendix masculina with an acute apex and extending beyond endopod distal margin. A key is provided for the four known species of Atarbolana Bruce & Javed, 1987.     

Oral oxymetholone reduces mortality induced by gamma irradiation in mice through stimulation of hematopoietic cells

Oxymetholone is a 17α -alkylated anabolic-androgenic steroid. This drug can stimulate bone marrow cells and increase the blood cells in the peripheral blood vessels. It has been used for the treatment of anemia caused by low red cell production. Since oxymetholone has hematopoietic effect, we studied radioprotective effects of this drug in mice. In this study, we determined percentage of survival, dose-reduction factor (DRF) and hematological parameters in irradiated mice which treated with or without oxymetholone. Oxymetholone administrated at different doses 80, 160, 320, 640 mg/kg by gavages at 24 h before 8 Gy gamma irradiation. At 30 days after treatment, the following percentage of animals survival in each group was as: 80 mg/kg, 50%; 160 mg/kg, 50%; 320 mg/kg, 55%; 640 mg/kg, 75% and vehicle, 15%. Percentage of survival increased in all of treated groups statistically compared with irradiated-vehicle group. In the groups treated by oxymetholone, maximum protection was realized at 640 mg/kg. In order to calculate the DRF for oxymetholone, mice were exposed to whole-body gamma irradiation with dose ranges between 5.83 and 11.23 Gy. The probit line for oxymetholone-treated mice was shifted to the right with a DRF of 1.14. In mice exposed to whole-body gamma-irradiation (4 Gy), an oral administration of 640 mg/kg oxymetholone ameliorated radiation-induced decreases in circulating platelets and erythrocytes, but had a less effect on total number of WBC. These results demonstrate that oxymetholone stimulates myelopoiesis and thrombocytopenia and enhances survival in mice after ionizing radiation.     

Morphological,anatomical, physiological,and cytological studies in diploid and tetraploid plants of Plantago psyllium

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Plantago psylliumis is under development as the source of mucilage, but has not been entirely domesticated. Since mucilage content is low and variable...