preliminary study on some potential toxic effects of Rosa damascena Mill

Rosa damascena has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine for different therapeutic purposes. In order to preliminarily study the probable toxic effects of the plant, its infusion was orally administered to 5 groups of 5 dogs at doses 0.5-8 times that of human use in traditional medicine [90-1440 mg/kg/d] for 10 successive days. The dogs in the control group [n=4] received placebo. Serum levels of urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], bilirubin, albumin and protein were measured in all experimental groups at days 0, 1, 3, 7 and 10. Except for a transient increase in bilirubin levels [day 3] and a rise in serum ALT at day 10, both with the highest dose of the treatment, there were no statistical differences between different experimental groups compared to the control. The results suggest minimal nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic effects for the infusion of R. damascena, however, the medication may be hepatotoxic at extraordinary high doses

Effect of long-term onion [Allium cepa] feeding on antioxidant enzymes in goat erythrocyte

The effect of long-term onion consumption on red blood cell antioxidant enzymes [glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]], were measured. The relationship of these enzymes with PCV and hemoglobin [Hb] concentrations was also determined. Twelve adult female goats were used for the experiment and randomly assigned to three groups. Animals of group 1 and 2 received diets containing 30% and 60% spring onions [DM basis] for 60 days, respectively. Goats of group 3 served as control and were fed whole alfalfa hay. Blood samples were obtained before feeding onion and every 10 days up to 80 days. In the onion groups, PCV amounts decreased from day 10 and reached the lowest value at day 40. Although onion consumption reduced PCV, the measures were within the normal range for goats. G6PD activity decreased from day 10 and the lowest value was detected at day 40. After day 40, a slow and gradual return toward the baseline values was seen. In the onion groups, SOD showed a negative correlation with PCV and Hb [P<0.01]. On the other hand, there was a positive correlation between G6PD and Hb [P<0.01]. It seems that up to 60% of onions in diet can be consumed by goats without noticeable clinical anaemia. Moreover, it seems that SOD has a compensatory role in protection of erythrocytes against oxidative stress induced by onion consumption in goats

[Determination of normal values of blood serum enzymes in Acipenser persicus]

Determination of normal values of serum enzymes in Acipenser persicus. Descriptive study. Fifteen male and 17 female Acipenser persicus. Blood samples were obtained by veinponcture and the levels of enzymes were measured using an autoanalyzer. Parametric t-test and pearson correlation tests. Values of enzymes were determined as: Asparat amino transferase [AST] = 294. 59 +/- 61.26 IU/L, Alanine amino transferase [ALT] = 5.96 +/- 1.27 IU/L, Alkanine phosphatae [ALP] =74.68 +/- 13.59 IU/L, Lactate dehyrogenase [LDH] = 20118.43 +/- 507.55 IU/L, Creatine phosphokinase [CK] =6878.70 +/- 1832.63 IU/L and Acid phosphatase [ACP] = 16.06 +/- 2.71 IU/L. There was a significant difference in CK activity between female [7609.41 +/- 1674.16 Iu/lit] and male [5991.42 +/- 1659.77 Iu/lit] fishes. Moreover there was significant correlation between AlT and ACP values [P<0.05, r=0.382]

Determination of concentration of some blood serum enzymes of huso huso

The aim of the present study was determination of reference values of blood serum enzymes of Huso huso. Descriptive study. 18 male and 18 female Huso huso was studied. Blood samples were obtained from caudal vein of 18 males and 18 females and the levels of enzymes were measured by an autoanalyzer. Parametric t- test and Pearson correlation test. Results of measurements for total samples are as follows: Asparat amino transferase [AST] = 290/27 +/- 60/29 IU/L, Alanine amino transferase [ALT] = 6/06 +/- 1/14 IU/L, Alkanine phosphatase [ALP] = 76/13 +/- 13/54 IU/L, Lactate dehyrogenase [LDH] = 2083/05 +/- 495/18 IU/L, Creatine phosphokinase [CK] = 6724/85 +/- 2079/29 IU/L, Acid phosphatase [ACP] = 16/76 +/- 2/53 IU/L, Obtained results showed, based on t- student statistical method used for the 6 enzyme that there is not any significant difference among male and female fishes. Also in pearson correlation test, there could neither be found any correlation among the 6 enzymes which were studied, nor any correlation among the male and female fishes

Effects of oral iron supplementation on haematocrit, live weight gain and health in neonatal dairy calves

Forty neonate calves were used in this study. The animals were divided into two treatment [n 20] and control [n = 20] groups. In the treatment group, oral iron as ferrous sulphate was supplemented to each calf at the dose of 150 mg/day for 28 days, from the birthday. Blood sampling was taken from jugular vein immediately after birth and on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after birth. Significant differences in haematocrit [PCV] levels were found between two groups on days 14, 21 and 28 [P < 0.05]. Total gain, mean daily gain and weight gain during 4th week of life was significantly higher in the treatment group than control group [P

Relationships between fertility, serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus in dairy cows

A prospective study was conducted to investigate the difference in levels of some blood constituents between fertile and infertile cows, A total of 40 dairy cows were selected at random from a dairy farm. Serum samples were collected three times on 5 +/- 3, 30 +/- 3 and 58 +/- 3 days postpartum. Serum glucose, urea nitrogen [UN], cholesterol, albumin, total protein, calcium, inorganic phosphorus and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] were measured for each sample. Cows were divided into two categories; those which conceived at either the first or second insemination [group 1] and those which conceived >/= 3 inseminations [group 2]. Seventy percent [28 of 40] of the cows conceived at first or second insemination and 30% [12 of 40] needed 3 or more inseminations. Results showed that calcium [2.34 vs. 2.17 mmol/L] and inorganic phosphorus [1.84 vs. 1.42 mmol/L] were significantly [P<0.05] higher in the group 1 cows at second stage of sampling

survey of white line disease in racehorse population in the North of Iran [Gonbad]

During summer 2000 and 2001, 482 racehorses kept in Gonbad in the North of Iran sere studied for white line disease. The survey was conducted when horses were being shoed by farriers. The horses that still exhibited damaged white line after regular trimming were diagnosed as having white line disease. The factors recorded were age, sex, number of diseased hooves, number of lesions by region over the bearing border of the hoof. The percentage of total diseased horses was 20.7% [100 horses], with incidence increasing significantly with age [P=0.00 1]. The occurrence of white line disease was independent of sex [P>0.05] and was observed more frequently in the fore- than in the hindhoof [P<0.05] and developed more frequently at the toe than at any other region of the forehoof-bearing border [P<0.05]