[Thyroid hormones changes in reproduction season of brownbanded bamboo shark [Chiloscyllium punctatum] from the Persian Gulf]

Background: Brownbanded Bamboo sharks [Chiloscyllium punctatum] is one of the cartilaginous fish that lives in the Persian Gulf

Objectives: The purpose of the present study is to study the effects of thyroid hormone on reproductive system of this specious

Methods: In this investigation, 36 individual of Brownbanded Bamboo sharks [Chiloscyllium punctatum] in both autumn [before reproduction] and spring [period of reproduction] seasons were caught from Dervish's Creek located at the northern of Persian Gulf. After weighing, biometry, sex determination and the numbering of sharks, [the sex is determined through clasper which is observed in male and not in female], ELISA was used to measure serum thyroid hormone concentrations

Results: The results showed that T3 and T4 hormones were increased dramatically in the reproductive season compared with the non-breeding season [p<0.05]. On the other hand, by classifying the sharks into different groups, we found that the levels of thyroid hormone were higher in the blood of larger sharks compared with the smaller ones [p<0.05]

Conclusions: It is probable that T4 hormone levels will increase dramatically for the development of eggs in the female shark

Investigation of species diversity and dominant of decapoda in the intertidal zone of Bushehr Rocky shores

To study the population structure of Decapods in the Intertidal Zone of Bushehr Rocky shores, some random sample collection from four Rocky and rubble shores of Bushehr were done using a 50x50 quadrates sampling unit, in four successive seasons from autumn 2009 to summer 2010. Totally 8 species belonging to 5 family of Decapods were identified and counted. In the whole course of sample collection, the highest frequency rate belongs to Petrolisthes Rufescence species with 51%, pagurus sp. species with 22%, Metapograpsus maculates with 7%, pilimnus sp. with 6.5%, Alpheus lobidens shrimp with 3% and other species with 10.5% ranked next. The results show a drop in frequency and diversity in cold seasons and the most important factor of those changes is temperature changes. Place frequency of Decapods showed that in sites of Lian and Holeileh [C and D Stations] diversity of Decapods is more due to less pollution, less accessibility, and vast and complex bed.

[GilI ultrastructural alterations in response to various environmental salinities in yellowfin seabream, [Acanthopagrus latus]]

Alterations to mitochondria-rich cells [MRC] in the fish gill epithelium have been previously reported. To specify the variation pattern of apical openings in mitochondria- rich cells in short and long terms exposure to different salinities. Yellowfin seabream, [Acanthopagrus latus] was subjected to different salinities [freshwater, 5, 20 and 60 ppt] besides the normal environmental salinity in the Musa creek [42 ppt] over 21days, with three replicates for each condition. Samples were collected at the 1[st], 7[th] and 21[st] days of experiment. Dissected gill arches were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde+2% paraformaldehyde [pH=7.4] at 4°C and studied using scanning electron microscopy. Three subtypes of mitochondria-rich cells [shallow basin, deep hole and wavy convex] were detected in the gill epithelium based on different environmental salinities. While most of mitochondria-rich cells were present in seawater group, all of them were detected as the shallow basin subtype in 60 ppt group. Meanwhile, decrease in salinity to 20 ppt, made morphological changes in the apical membrane of the mitochondria-rich cells on day 7, so that most of these cells have been detected as wavy convex or shallow basin subtypes. On the other hand, on day 21 they showed a pattern similar to the basal status. Furthermore, when they were transferred to hypoosmotic medium [5 ppt and FW], rapid changes were exhibited in the apical membrane of mitochondria-rich cell which were stabilized after 21 days so that all subtypes of mitochondria-rich cells were observed in photomicrographs of gill filaments. Shallow basin mitochondria-rich cells as typical cells in seawater fish species, would be able to do osmoregulation in hyperosmotic environment in yellowfin seabream, yet in hypoosmotic conditions all sub- types of the mitochondria-rich cells would be required

[Study of the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of gondal tubules in the sea cucumber [holothuria leucospilota]]

Due to the importance of sea cucumbers and the paucity of information about the status of Iranian populations, this study was necessary. Therefore, the biology of the reproduction system and macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the sexual glands of Holothuria leucospilota were carried out in this study. Data were obtained from monthly sampling of H. leucospilota during a one-year period on the Bustaneh Coast of the Persian gulf, Hormozgan, Iran. A total of 124 females and 108 males were collected. The gonads were found to be composed of many tubules. The gonad color of males of this species is creamy, while female gonads are pink to reddish-orange. Macroscopic and microscopic features of the gonads were used to assess maturity stages. The studied macroscopic features were gonad color, gonad weight, their length and diameter, and the number of tubules. Microscopic examinations included histological studies of hemotoxylin and eosin [H and E] stained texture slides. Based on these criteria, five stages of maturity were determined for both sexes: early growth [1], growth [2], advanced growth [3], mature [4], and post spawning [5]. The tubules were found to be longer and narrower in males than in females. The measured biometric factors of gonadal tubules developed from stage 1 to stage 4 of sexual maturity and declined in stage 5. The relationship between the number of tubules and the gonad weight was also calculated. The coefficient of a diagram was determined as 0.73 for male and 0.80 for female H. leucospilota

Rapid variation in kidney histology in spotted scat Scatophagus argus on exposed to abrupt salinity changes

In order to study the role of the kidney in fish osmoregulation, freshwater acclimatized juvenile spotted scat [Scatophagus argus L.] were subjected to four different salinities and observed for histomorphometric changes of the kidney at 1, 2, 10 and 15 days post transfer time points. The overall morphological changes displayed by fish kidney included significant decrease in the density of collecting tubules and glomeruli when subjected to higher salinity levels [10, 20 or 30 g/l] in comparison to proliferated, extensive, dense and muscular ones retained in the kidney of residents in freshwater and also of 5 g/l adapted animals. In conclusion, the observed histomorphological changes in the current study agree well with previously established physiological differences in the function of teleost kidney in freshwater and in the seawater

[Sodium Valproate: an adjuvant treatment in obsessive-compulsive disorder]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of sodium valproate as an adjuvant treatment in patients afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder.42 patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder participated in an eight weeklong double blind study. The subjects were placed in two groups,one taking fluoxetine along with sodium valproate and the other group taking fluoxetine with placebo. The efficacy of this adjuvant was assessed by Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and Beck Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed by t-test, Mann-Whitney, and analysis of variance with repeated measures.12 patients from the sodium valproate group and 11 patients from the placebo group completed the project.This evaluation illustrated that efficacy of sodium valproate did not cause significant difference between two groups. Headache, anxiety,and insomnia were observed more commonly in the placebo group; the rate of tremor was higher in the sodium valproate group. Sodium valproate as an adjuvant treatment in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder does not bind added efficacy in an eight weeklong treatment period