BACKGROUND: The foramen magnum (FM) is an important landmark of the skull base and a transition zone between spine and skull as well as its close relationship to the brain and the spinal cord. So the FM has gained considerable interest due to its comparative anatomy, ontogeny, clinical, and animal breeding viewpoints. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine morphology and morphometry of the occipital area of 20 mature and immature male Khouzestan river buffaloes. METHODS: 7 parameters of the occipital area and the shape of the FM in the skull of 20 mature and immature male Khouzestan river buffaloes were analyzed. RESULTS: The FM had 4 shapes including round, egg, oval, and tetragonal. In the mature and immature groups, the highest frequency of the FM shape belonged to oval. In the mature and immature groups, the tetragonal FM shape and the oval FM shape had the lowest frequency, respectively. The mean of the width, the length of the FM and the index of the FM in mature group was 38.60± 2.70, 35.34± 2.33, and 92.26±26 mm, respectively and 40.67± 1.51, 36.35± 2.33, and 90.23±3.65 mm in immature group, respectively. Amongst of the all parameters, the width and the length of the jugular process only differed significantly between mature and immature groups. CONCLUSIONS: The variations of the FM shape in river buffalo were more than those of reported animals. The  mean of  the length and  the width of  the FM,  the jugular processes width,  the length of the jugular process, the length  and width  of the  occipital condyles of male river buffaloes were greater than those of reported animals. The index of the FM in river buffalo was less than 100, which corresponded with the findings in rabbit, German shepherd and Pekingese dogs.

BACKGROUND: One of the most artificial sweeteners is Aspartame which is commonly  used in a variety of foodstuffs. Objectives: This study has been carried out in order to evaluate the effects of Aspartame on histology and histometry of duodenum. Methods: Forty female Balb/C mice, 21 days of age were selected and initial weight was determined. The treatment groups received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of Aspartame for 6 weeks, control group received only distilled water. At the end of experiment, the mice were reweighed. Then the duodenal tissue sections were prepared and stained with H&amp;E. Besides the histological study, histometric data were collected by a light microscope equipped with Axiovision software. Results: The body weights in treatment groups (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) were 5.57±1.18, 4.47±0.89 and 5.84±0.57 respectively, which in comparison with the control group (9.38±0.81) showed a significant difference (p<0.05). The histological study showed that the rate of destruction in the cells and mucosal structures, at the dose of 200 mg/kg compared to the dose of 100 and 400 mg/kg has been increased. In histometric aspect, abundance of duodenal villi, height of the villi and thickness of duodenal mucosa, only in the experimental group of 200 mg/kg were significantly increased compared to the control group (p<0.05). Whereas the width of villi (width of the apex, body and the base), in all of the experimental groups showed a significant decrease compared to the control group (p<0.05). The thickness of musculature of duodenum in experimental groups had no significant differences with the control group. Conclusions: Based on this study, it can be concluded that Aspartame can cause some histological and histometrical changes in duodenum.

BACKGROUND: Application of green chemistry to the synthesis of nanomaterials is of vital importance in medicinal and technological aspects. Recently, synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plants and marine macro algae to adapt this approach to the environment, has become  more popular. Objectives: The purpose of this study is biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles using seaweed, Sargassum angustifolium, and determining its toxicity in common carp. Methods: First, synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Sargassum algae was conducted and then acute toxicity of these silver nanoparticles was investigated at static renewal condition during 96 hours in common carp according to standard methods (1998) OECD. Results: TEM analysis showed that the average size of the bionanoparticles was found to be 32.54 nm and spherical in shape. The toxicity results showed that the LC50 at 24, 48, 72 and 96-h after exposure was 79.54 ± 0.007, 52.17 ± 0.006, 30.62 ± 0.008 and 11.34 ± 0.016 mg/l respectively. Conclusions: Analysis related to the characterization of the properties of silver nanoparticles proves bioreduction of silver ions by sargassum seaweed extract. According to the results the mortality rates of common carp showed an increasing trend with increasing concentration and exposure time, which indicates the toxicity of this substance in high concentration for common carp.

BACKGROUND: Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) are the only stem cells in adults that can transfer genetic information to future generations. Considering that a single SSC gives rise to a vast number of spermatozoa, genetic manipulation of these cells is a potential novel technology with practical application to various animal species. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) gene transfection into bovine spermatogonial colonies via liposome carrier and assess the best incubation day in uptake exogenous gene by spermatogonial colonies. METHODS: Transfection efficiency EGFP gene through lipofection was determined different in three days (day 4, 6 and 8) after the beginning of the culture by fluorescent microscope. Immunofluorescent staining against OCT4 and vimentin led to the confirmation of the nature of both SSCs and sertoli cells. RESULTS: Results showed that the transfected colonies through lipofection increased significantly (p<0.05) in each three days of transfection in comparison with those of the control groups. The transfection colonies were higher (significant) in comparision with those of the free exogenous gene carrier groups. The rate of infected colonies was higher when transfection proceed day 4. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that lipofectamine can be used safely for direct loading of exogenous DNA to spermatogonila colony, particularly during the fourth day of culture.

BACKGROUND: In traditional medicine in some Asian countries, including Iran, there is a belief that camphor is a suppressor of sexual activity. Not only has the validity of this hypothesis not been established, but also studies in this field are very limited.  OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the effects of camphor on sperm quality in mice, and to protect sperm damage vitamin E as an antioxidant was used. METHODS: This study was conducted on 30 adult male mice (balb/c) with weight range 20-25 gr in 5 groups. First group was control (CO) and treated with normal saline,  groups  2 and 3 were sham groups treated respectively with Olive oil (OL) and the combination of olive oil and vitamin E (OL+E), and finally, two experimental groups were treated using camphor (CA) and camphor with vitamin E (CA+E). Camphor at doses of 30 mg/kg/day and vitamin E at doses of 100 mg/kg/day were prepared. All materials were administered orally (gavage). After 35 days semen were collected from tail of epididymis, and then total count, motility, viability, nuclear maturity, and DNA damage were examined. RESULTS: Results showed significant reduction in sperm total count, percentage of viability, increase in  the number of immature sperms and  no significant difference in rate of motile sperms and sperms with damaged DNA in groups that received Camphor was observed. Vitamin E as a strong antioxidant administered lightly was able to reduce the effects of  Camphor on viable and mature sperms (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that Camphor could affect on mice sperm quality and vitamin E as an antioxidant,  was able to slightly reduce Camphor effects in sperm quality.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella Enteritidis in poultry is one of the main causes of illness that can be controlled effectively by some plant compounds, antibiotics and probiotics. OBJECTIVES: This study compares the effect of rosemary, thyme, propolis, antibiotic and probiotic on the immune system and blood parameters of broilers challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis.  Methods: Four hundred and twenty 1-day- old male broiler chicks Cobb strain were divided into seven groups: including rosemary ethanol extract, ethanol extract of propolis, ethanol extract of thyme, and probiotics, virginiamycin (10%) and positive and negative controls, and were reared for 6 weeks. At the end of experiment chickens were sampled and slaughtered. RESULTS: The results showed that plant extracts with probiotics can improve the immune system, reduce serum lipids, reduce harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli and increase the beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the herbal extracts and probiotics can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in broiler diets.

BACKGROUND: Increase in aquatic production is dependent on raw materials, quality of diet, feed manufacture technology and optimum feed formulation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was investigation and quality control feed of FFT, GFT1 and GFT2 of rainbow trout in farm and fish feed factory producers in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. METHODS: In this study samples of FFT, GFT1 and GFT2 of diets were randomly taken from farm and fish feed factory producers in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Samples were analyzed for moisture, crud protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, phosphorous, TVN, Total count and coliform count. RESULTS: The results showed, diet CP was differs significantly (p<0.05) from many of the feeds. In addition nutrients of CP, phosphorous and EE of diets were differed slightly from rainbow trout requirement and in some cases were lower than instance requirement. The index of TVN that shows free nitrogen, was higher than standard in all samples. Total count and coliform count were different  between some of the other feed factories. CONCLUSIONS: Better management in fish feed factories  must be applied to balance the nutrient requirements  of the rainbow trout diet in different stages of growth, by using fresh, suitable and special feed materials.

BACKGROUND: Lactococcus lactis is one of the lactic acid bacteria that can be considered as a probiotic in Persian sturgeon. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to increase the resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila after feeding the L. lactis JF831150. METHODS: In the present study, first 60 fish were fed different doses of L.lactis JF831150 for 56 days. The bacterial flora were counted with  TSA and MRS. Resistance of fish against A. hydrophila were considered after feeding. RESULTS: The use of L. lactis JF831150 for 56 days in P. sturgeon showed significant improvement in decreasing heterotrophic aerobic bacteria flora and increasing the lactic acid bacteria in the intestine. In the face of fish against A. hydrophila in third treatment (108 CFU/g), the survival rate was shown to be significantly higher than the control and other treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that consumption of L. lactis JF831150 (108 CFU/g) could improve the intestinal flora and increase resistance to A. hydrophila, and therefore has  potential for use  with P. sturgeon.

BACKGROUND: Foot -and- mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Iran. Molecular techniques for diagnosis of persistent infection or carrier animals have shown a potential ability to improve the detection of a low genome copy number in samples. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the frequency of foot and mouth disease viral carriers in slaughtered sheep in Mashhad industrial abattoir using RT-PCR. Methods: Samples were isolated from tonsil of 94 slaughtered sheep analyzed by RT-PCR experiment for the detection of FMD, identification of FMD virus serotypes and at the end nucleic acid sequencing were performed. Results: The results showed that the 23 samples (24/5 percent) were positive for the presence of FMD virus RNA, of which 89.9% of cases are type O and 3 cases of FMD samples did not respond. The results of the 1D genome sequencing of the nucleic acid virus showed that FMD virus of sheep (O/IRN/100/2010Sheep), has 92/02% similarity with the virus (O/IRN/67/2001-2005) and 88/42% similarity with the virus (O/IRN/15/2004-2008). Conclusions: This study showed that the percentage of FMDV sheep carriers in Mashhad slaughterhouse was remarkable. Estimation of the frequency of carrier state in cattle and small ruminants is recommended as a monitor of control plan in the region.

BACKGROUND: Haemobartonella (also known as Mycoplasma) is a blood organism of cats and can cause many anemia and many clinical signs in the infected cats. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study is to calculate the incidence rate of haemobartonellosis in pet cats of Tehran and study its relationship with certain factors. Moreover, some blood parameters in the infected cats were compared with non-infected ones. METHODS: 0.5 ml blood samples from cephalic veins of 120 pet cats in Tehran were prepared and after sending to parasitology laboratory and slide preparing, were stained with Giemsa. Finally, all of the prepared slides were studied with photomicroscope for presence of Haemobartonella. Meanwhile, the relationship between the infection and some factors including age, sex, breed, animal maintenance type, and color of their coats were studied with Chi square method. Moreover, some blood parameters in the infected cats were compared with non-infected by Mann Whitney test. RESULTS: Results showed that out of 120 pet cats in Tehran, 14(11.67%) were infected to Haemobartonella. Statistical analyses didn't show any significant relationship between the infection and the above-mentioned factors. Also, the results showed significant decrease in number of RBC, MCH, MCHC, NRBC, and number of Band cells compared with non-infected cats. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that haemobartonellosis is one of the probable diagnoses, when we have anaemia in pet cats of Tehran.