Length–weight and length–length relationships for 11 species of the genus Alburnoides Jeitteles, 1861 (Cyprinidae) from Iran

Length–weight (LWR) and length–length (LLR) relationships were estimated for 11 Alburnoides species from 15 localities throughout Iran. These represent the first reports of LWR and LLRs data for 10 species, including: Alburnoides coadi (40 specimens), A. damghani (30), A. eichwaldii (110), A. holciki (30), A. idigensis (113), A. namaki (30), A. nicolausi (30), A. parhami (30), A. qanati (30) and A. tabarestanensis (30) and first LLR data for A. samiii. Nine of these species are endemic and two are native to Iran. The length–weight parameter b for these species ranged from a minimum of 2.94 for Alburnoides nicolausi to a maximum of 3.37 for Alburnoides parhami, with regression coefficients (r²) ranging from 0.91 to 0.99. All LLRs were highly significant (r² > 0.96).     

Sericin modulates learning and memory behaviors by tuning of antioxidant,inflammatory, and apoptotic markers in the hippocampus of aged mice

Molecular Biology Reports - Sericin is a protein derived from silkworm cocoons and identified as an anti-aging agent. This study aimed to examine the effects of sericin administration on episodic...     

Effect of Nano-Fe as Feed Supplement on Growth Performance,Survival Rate,Blood Parameters and Immune Functions of the Stellate Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)

Russian Journal of Marine Biology - The present study is aimed to investigate the effects of iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) on growth performance, liver histopathology and some blood parameters of the...     

Detection of morphometric differentiation between isolated up- and downstream populations of Siah Mahi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capoeta capoeta gracilis</Emphasis>) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in the Tajan River (Iran)

It has been postulated that the building of the Shahid-Rajaei dam on the Tajan River around 1995 has lead to the morphological divergence of Siah Mahi Capotes capoeta gracilis (Pisces) of up- and downstream populations due to the isolation. A 13-landmark morphometric truss network system was used to investigate the hypothesis. Univariate analysis of variance showed significant differences between the means of the two groups for 45 standardized morphometric measurements out of 78 characters studied. In linear discriminant function analysis (DFA), the overall assignment of individuals into their original groups was 87.6%. The proportion of individuals correctly classified into their original groups was 90.3% for upstream and 83.7% for downstream population. The principal component analysis (PCA) scatter plot of individual component scores between PC1 and PC2 showed 121 fish specimens grouped into two areas but with a relativity high degree of overlap between two populations. Clustering analysis based on Euclidean square distances among groups of centroids using an UPGMA resulted into two main clusters indicating two populations of C. c. gracilis. The present study indicated the presence of two morphologically different populations of C. c. gracilis in the Tajan River across the Shahid-Rajaei dam, probably due to their limited downstream dispersal and the elimination of upstream migration altogether, due the construction of the dam.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships for nine species of the genus Paracobitis (Nemacheiliidae) in Iran

Length–weight (LWR) and length–length (LLR) relationships were estimated for 330 specimens from nine Paracobitis species in 11 localities throughout Iran. All fish were collected upon occasion by electrofishing throughout Iran from July 2010 to October 2016. These represent the first reports of LWR data for eight species including: Paracobitis atrakensis, P. hircanica, P. longicauda, P. molavii, P. persa, P. rhadinaeus, P. smithi and P. vignai and first LLR data for all species. A new maximum length is reported for P. malapterura. Four of these species are endemic and five species are native to Iran. The length–weight parameter b ranged from a minimum of 2.74 for P. atrakensis to a maximum of 3.01 for P. longicauda, with regression coefficients (r²) ranging from 0.96 to 0.99. All LLRs were highly significant (r² > .96).     

The effect of metalloporphyrins and heme liposomes on delta-aminolevulinate synthase activity in rat liver

Heme administration causes inhibition of delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS), best tested in the allylisopropylacetamide (AIA)-treated rat, a model for hepatic porphyrias. Because heme suspended in aqueous media (for injection) is unstable and has adverse effects on coagulation, alternate therapeutic modalities are being explored. The present study tries to answer two questions: 1) are any heme analogs as effective inhibitors of ALAS as heme is; and 2) does heme administration in the form of liposomes increase its effectiveness? None of the liposome compositions tested, even if containing lactosylceramide for preferential hepatocyte uptake, was more effective in inhibiting AIA-induced ALAS activity than heme in buffer. As for the function of the heme analogs, although deuteroheme and heme dimethyl ester proved ineffective, mesoheme and cobalt protoporphyrin were nearly as effective as heme itself, indicating that both hydrophobic side chains in positions 2 and 4 and free propionate groups at 6 and 7 are essential for ALAS inhibition, as is the presence of a central cobalt or iron atom.     

Length–weight relationships of six species of the genera Cobitis and Sabanejewia (Cobitidae) in Iranian river systems

Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for six spined loach species from Iran. Data were collected between 2010 and 2015. These represent the first reports of length–weight data for five of the species (Cobitis avicennae, Cobitis faridpaki, Cobitis keyvani, Sabanejewia aurata and Sabanejewia caspia) while also providing additional data on the remaining species (Cobitis linea). Five of these species are endemic and the remaining S. caspia, is native to the country. Estimated b values obtained for the studied species ranged from 2.381 for S. aurata to 3.411 for C. keyvani.     

Length–weight relationships for 37 freshwater fish species of Iran

Length–weight parameters were estimated for 37 freshwater fish species of Iran belonging to seven families. Significant length–weight relationships with high correlation coefficients were found for all species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cobitis faridpaki</Emphasis> sp. nova—a New spined loach species (Cobitidae) from the southern Caspian Sea basin (Iran)

Spined loaches from the Siahrud River of the southern coast of the Caspian Sea in the province of Mazandaran, north of Iran, are described as a new species Cobitis faridpaki. This species belongs to Cobitis species group with a single lamina Canestrini at the base of the second pectoral-fin ray in males and subdorsal scales with reduced eccentric focal zone. These characters differentiate C. faridpaki from both southern Iranian species C. linea and C. melanoleuca distributed in the northern Caspian Sea basin. The stout body, small and numerous (25–30) lateral spots and the presence of 14–16 branched caudal-fin rays separate C. faridpaki from Caucasian species C. satunini.     

Age,growth and reproduction of the Iranian goby, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ponticola iranicus</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from the southern Caspian Sea basin

To estimate reproductive biology of Ponticola iranicus Vasil’eva et al., 2015, in Sefidroud River in the southern Caspian Sea basin age, sex ratio, fecundity, oocytes diameter, gonadosomatic, modified gonadosomatic and dobriyal indices were measured. Regression analyses were used to find relations between fecundity and fish size (length and weight), gonad weight, and age. Mature females and males were longer than 46 and 49 mm in total length, +1 in age. The Von Bertalanffy growth models were L _∞ = 23.00 cm (TL), K = 0.21, t ₀ =–0.25 for all specimens. Sex ratio was 1: 1.32 in favor of males. The average egg diameter was 0.96 mm. The spawning period extended from late February to late April. The averages of absolute and relative fecundity were calculated as 536.9 and 81.3, respectively. The absolute fecundity was significantly related to the body length and weight, as well as gonad weight.