This experiment was conducted to determine effect of different extender on recovery and storage of epididymal ram spermatozoa. Testes were obtained from eight mature rams which were slaughtered at four different occasions, a pair in each session. Caudal epididymis was isolated and divided to four equal parts. Spermatozoa recovery from each part of the caudal epididymis was performed by milk (M), Tris (T), Tris plus caproic acid (T-C) and sodium citrate (S) extenders. Spermatozoa in each extender were divided into four parts and then the amount of 0 (E0), 5 (E5), 10 (E10) and 15% (E15) egg yolk were added. Samples were chilled to 4 °C and stored for 7 days. The evaluation of sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity were performed daily. The results showed that there was interaction between egg yolk and storage time and also egg yolk and extender on sperm motility (p < 0.05). Sperm motility was highest at 15 % egg yolk (25.6 %) on 7 d (p < 0.05). Sperm motility was higher in ME15 (57.8 %) and T-CE15 (62.3 %) than TE15 (53.4 %) and SE15 (41.9 %; p < 0.05). There was interaction among egg yolk, extender and storage time on acrosome integrity, membrane integrity and sperm viability (p < 0.05). On 7 d, there were no differences among ME15, T-CE15 and TE15 on sperm viability and membrane integrity. Acrosome integrity was higher in T-CE15 (75.25 %) than ME15 (62.5 %) on 7 d (p < 0.05). Therefore, Tris caproic extender was superior to other extender for recovery and storage of ram epididymal spermatozoa.

Microbial activity and spoilage of chicken meat from the market in Mashhad, Iran, stored in air at 0, 4, 10 and 15°C was assessed. Microbial spoilage population, Total VolatileBase Nitrogen (TVB-N), pH and organoleptic changes were determined. Based on the results of sensory analysis, shelf-life of chicken meat stored at 0, 4, 10 and 15°C was 72, 120, 220 and 320 h, respectively. TVB-N that serves as an important indicator increased with storage time and TVB-N values were more than 28 mg/100g at the time of unacceptable sensory analysis. Both of them showed a high correlation coefficient with microbial growth, especially, Pseudomonas spp. However, pH cannot be used as a good indicator of chicken spoilage under aerobic conditions and there was relatively low correlation between this parameter and the sensory analysis. The results from microbiological behavior analysis, organoleptic quality and TVB-N values identified pseudomonas spp. as special spoilage organisms (SSO) of poultry meat stored at 0-15°C and Pseudomonas spp. population level was 7.5 CFU/g at the end of shelf life. The microbial growth under dynamic temperature condition followed the same pattern and the results showed that temperature abuse affects the surviving population of Pseudomonas spp. and it leads to reduction of shelf life.

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The pine marten (Martes martes) is a medium sized carnivore rarely found in Iran. The aim of this study was to describe species-specific characteristics of the celiac artery in pine marten. In pine marten examined in this study, it was observed that the celiac artery originated from the ventral aspect of abdominal aorta. The celiac artery was divided into two branches. A thick branch was the common trunk of the splenic and the left gastric arteries, namely the gastrosplenic trunk and the other branch which was thin and longer, namely the hepatic artery. The splenic artery was divided into three branches that supplied the spleen. In the examined pine marten, there were two left gastroepiploic arteries, one originated from the splenic, and the other from the left gastric artery. The hepatic artery was extended to the portal fissure of liver and had five following branches: pancreatic branch, gastroduodenal, right gastric, left hepatic, and right hepatic arteries. The right gastroepiploic artery was originated from the gastroduodenal artery. This is the first report on ramification of the celiac artery in the pine marten

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of a sustained-release simvastatin in collagen-polyglycolic acid scaffold on bone formation in the rabbit calvarial critical-sized defect. This study was carried out to examine if maximum bone regeneration with less inflammation would be attained by combining an optimal dose of simvastatin with Collagen-Polyglycolic acid scaffold, which is an osteoconductive biomaterial capable of releasing the drug slowly. To induce critical-sized calvarial defect in the 10 nominated adult New-Zealand rabbits we trephined four holes measured 5-mm-diameter into each head, and filled them with preparations of different doses of simvastatin (0.5 mg, and 1 mg) blended with Collagen-Polyglycolic acid, Scaffold alone or left empty. Five animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks and the rest of them after 8 weeks and examined histologically. Statistical analysis revealed that in the first time frame (the first four weeks), the difference between the control group and the simvastatin 0.5 mg group on one hand and the simvastatin 1 mg group and the control group on the other hand, there were statistically significant difference between (p < 0.05). In the second time frame (the next four weeks), there were statistically significant differences between the simvastatin 0.5 mg group and the control group, and between the scaffold group and the control group (p

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary garlic powder and vitamin E supplement for 6 weeks on lipid and protein oxidation markers in nonfrozen and frozen carp meat at various time intervals. Fish were divided into four groups: Group 1 served as control; Group 2 and 3 received 25 and 50 g/kg diet garlic powder, respectively; Group 4 received diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg vitamin E. Based on the results, meat malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease after 12, 48, 72 and 96 hours storage at 4 °C and after a storage period of 1 and 3 months at -20 °C in all treatment groups as compared to the control group. Carbonyl groups accumulation was found to be significantly reduced at 6 hours (in group 4), at 12 hours (in groups 3 and 4) and at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours (in all treatment groups) after storage at 4 °C compared to the control group. Alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation resulted in the lowest MDA and protein carbonyl contents relative to garlic supplementation. It can be concluded that both studied compounds are notably effective against lipid and protein oxidation of carp meat during storage.

A homing pigeon (Columba livia domestica) was referred with the presence of ulceration, bleeding, loss of feathers and scabs and crust in the head. Mycological evaluation was shown simultaneous infections by Malassezia and Microsporum gallinae. Pathological findings revealed severe and deep necrotic skin lesions associated with fungal hyphae and especially numerous yeasts. It was concluded that keratinophilic fungi, especially dermatophytes in skin and feathers of birds can cause severe lesions and be a potential source of spread of disease in the human population and animals. It also suggests considering the role of Malassezia spp. as a risk factor in the development of skin lesions and the emergence and exacerbation of infections such as dermatophytes.

Infection by Macrorhabdus ornithogaster (MO) formerly called Megabacteriosis has been diagnosed as the cause of depression, wasting, regurgitation, fluffed feathers, lethargy, and soft watery bulky feces and also the cause of mortality in a flock of breeding canaries over a long period of time (3 months) in Mashhad, Iran. Large numbers of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster were detected in wetmount fecal preparations of the feces and direct smears from mucosal scrapings of proventrilculus of one bird under light microscopy. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating a chronic proventriculitis histologically which was associated with MO organisms along with molecular tests.

For many years it was believed that extremely lowfrequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) do not have any significant biological effects. In this study, the influence of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on the growth performance, serum antioxidant power and gastrointestinal structure of rainbow trout were evaluated. Rainbow trout (17-18 g) were exposed to electromagnetic fields (15 Hz) at the range of 1 h daily and 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 5 and 50 µT, for a period of 60 days. Growth performance of the trout improved in different treatment groups especially at 0.1, 0.5, 5 and 50 µT. Serum total antioxidant activity was significantly enhanced with different doses of electromagnetic induction at 0.5, 5 and 50 µT. Meanwhile, higher density of goblet cells per villus in fish intestines and pyloric caeca at 0.5 µT induction was observed. These results indicate that application of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields with a frequency of 15 Hz and induction of more than 0.5 µT might improve the growth performance, total antioxidant power and gastrointestinal structure in rainbow trout.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of eCG, PGF2α, and combination of eCG and PGF2α early postpartum on reproductive performance in high producing dairy cows. Three hundred sixty eight postpartal Holstein dairy cows were divided in 4 groups. Cows in groups 1 and 2 received 500 IU eCG on day 8 ± 2 and cows in groups 3 and 4 received saline. Cows in groups 1 and 3 received injections of 500 µg cloprostenol twice 8 hours apart between days 20 to 25 postpartum, and cows in group 2 and 4 received saline. Presentation of a functional CL was assessed by ultrasonography of ovaries and serum progesterone concentration in groups 1 and 3. None of the treatments could improve fertility, and reproductive indices including 120 days in milk pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss, first service pregnancy rate and calving to conception interval was not different among the various different groups. Only days to first service in eCG treated cows was marginally lower than that of control cows. Treatment with eCG in cows in group 2 (eCG+saline) had no effect on the initiation of ovarian cyclical activity by day 30 ± 1 postpartum. Resumption of ovarian cyclical activity by day 30 ±1 postpartum did not affect reproductive performance in dairy cows. Additionally, treatment with eCG, PGF2α and combination of eCG and PGF2α had no effect on the prevalence of clinical endometritis, anovulatory anestrus, and follicular cyst. In conclusion, early treatment of high producing dairy cows after parturition with eCG and PGF2α had no effect on reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows.