ABSTRACT
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a plant with phytoestrogenic properties, which has been used as a major part of diets in husbandry. Since there are controversial reports related to the effects of alfalfa consumption on animal fertility, its effects on rat testicular tissue were assessed in the present study. Control (n=15) and alfalfa (n=15) groups were fed with ordinary rat chow and ordinary rat chow plus alfalfa, respectively. Testicles were removed after 30, 45, and 60 days of consumption, and tissue sections were prepared to assess histomorphometric changes related to alfalfa consumption.Based on the results, there was no significant difference in length, width, and volume of testes of treated rats to control in all groups. But the number of testicular spermatogonia cells, primary spermatocyte cells, primary spermatid cells, testicular spermatozoid cells and Leydig cells significantly or insignificantly increased in rats that received alfalfa for 30 days but all of these parameters insignificantly decreased in rats that received alfalfa for 60 days. The cause of these changes may be due to estrogenic or anti-estrogenic, antioxidant and endocrine effects of alfalfa. Conclusion:Consumption of alfalfa forshort time had only a transient positive effects on testicular tissues but use of alfalfa for 60 days had little destructive effects on testicular tissue in rats. So longer durations of time could be suggested for further research on the effects of alfalfa on rat’s reproduction index
ABSTRACT
Background: Maturity of silver carp [Hypophthalmichthys molitrix] ovary takes place at 2-8 years old and it is depends on photoperiod and environmental water temperature
Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify macroscopical and microscopical structure of silver carp ovary in two categories of body weight, total body length and at 2 and 4 years old in Khuzestan province climatic conditions
Methods: 20 silver carp ovaries were studied in two groups: Group 1[G1]: 10 fish with total body length 46 +/- 1.33 Cm and weight 1050 +/- 0.09 grand approximately 2 years old. Group 2[G1]: 10 fish with total body length 86 +/- 3.64 Cm and weight 5460 +/- 800 gr and approximately 4 years old. For the histometrical studies, 5-6 micro sections were made by routine paraffin embedding method and stained by H and E and PAS
Results: Microscopic results showed that ovaries of G1 covered by a thin loose connective capsule which numerous of egg-bearingtrabecula extended from capsule into ovaries. These trabecula contained primary germ cells, oogonium, chromatin nocleolus, perinocleolus and cortical alveolus follicles. Ovaries of G1 do not have yolk and mature follicles. But in ovaries of G2, growth and mature follicles were observed and mature follicles were most follicles. Histometrical results showed that there are not a significant differences in diameter of follicles, oocytes and oocytes nucleolus in G1 and 2. The maximum and minimum diameter of follicles were seen in mature and chromatin nucleolus follicles respectively. The Zona plucida thickness was increased from corticalalveolus [1.53 +/- 1.11 mm] to mature follicles [6.88 +/- 0.21 mm] significantly [p<0.05]
Conclusions: The most interesting finding of this study is that in Khuzestan Province climate, the ovary of silver carp fish in G1, with average weight 1050 +/- 0.09 gr and total length 46 +/- 1.33 Cm and approximately of 2 years old is immature but ovary of G2 with average weight of 5460 +/- 800 gr and total length 86 +/- 3.64 Cm and approximately 4 years old is mature
ABSTRACT
Quantitative microscopic structure of testis in adult Arabian rams, raised under closed grazing system in Khuzestan province of Iran, was studied in four seasons over a one year period. For this purpose, thirty adult rams were randomly selected and the live weight and scrotal circumference of rams were recorded. At the beginning of each season, among the study group, four rams were randomly selected, slaughtered and their left testes were removed and weighed. For microscopic studies, tissue samples were excised from the left testes, fixed in Bouin's solution and embedded in paraffin. Cross-sections [5 micro m thickness] were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and evaluated with quantitative techniques. The results showed that scrotal circumferences, weight and volume of testis varied significantly throughout the year, with the lowest values in early summer [P<0.05]. Seminiferous tubule diameter was highest in early winter [220.97 +/- 12.15 micro m]. Also, relative and total volumes of seminiferous tubules and germinal epithelium gradually increased during the summer and autumn, with highest values in early winter. Higher relative volume of seminiferuos tubuli lumina [P<0.05] was found in early summer [%12.15 +/- 0.35]. Lower relative volume of interstitial tissue [P<0.05] was found in early winter [%15.70 +/- 0.49]. Scrotal circumference was significantly correlated with the seminiferous tubule diameter and the total volume of seminiferous tubules [r = 0.70, P<0.01]. The results indicated that the stereological structure of testis in Arabian rams raised under closed grazing system in the Khuzestan province of Iran is highly affected by season
ABSTRACT
Several studies have revealed that inflammation plays an important role in development of Coronary Artery Disease [CAD] and its other manifestations. IL-18 is a pleiotropic cytokine that enhances Th1 [T helper 1] or Th2 [T helper 2] immune response depending on its cytokine milieu and genetic background. It strongly induces formation of plaques in patients with CAD. Variation in the Il-18 gene found to influence both levels of IL-18 and clinical outcomes in individuals with history of heart disease. To investigate the association of two IL-18 promoter gene polymorphisms at -607C/A and - 137 G/D positions with CAD, and some CAD risk factors such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking and obesity. Genomic DNA was extracted by the salting out method from the peripheral arterial blood of 280 patients with CAD documented by coronary angiography [143 with a documented history of myocardial infarction termed positive MI and 137 without myocardial infarction designated negative MI] and 140 age- sex matched persons with a normal coronary angiography [control group]. The genotype of both CAD and control groups were assessed by ASP-PCR method. Arlequin program was used for gametic phase estimation and haplotype analysis. There was no significant difference between patient and control groups either allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic for both variants[p>0.05]. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between IL-18 genotypes and CAD risk factors in the patient group [P>0.05]. There results suggest that the investigated IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms at -607 C/A and -137G/C positions are not associated with genetic susceptibility to CAD in southern Iran