فصلنامه زیست شناسی جانوری تجربی
سال ششم شماره 3 (پیاپی 23، زمستان 1396)

The urease enzyme (EC.3.5.1.5) is from hydrolase group that catalyzes urea hydrolysis to ammonia and carbon dioxide. This enzyme has various applications in nitrogen metabolism, vaccine preparation, urea diagnosis kits, drinking industries, and so on. In this study, amyloid nano-fibrils from bovine serum albumin were used as a new scaffold for immobilizing the urease enzyme. The production of amyloid nano–fibers has been optimized with three techniques of Congord specrophotometry, Spectrofluorimetry and Spectropolarimetry, and the resulting fibrils have been confirmed by electron microscopy images. Then the urease enzyme was immobilized on the amyloid fibrils using glutaraldehyde molecules via cross-linked bridges and their kinetic factors were compared with the free enzyme. The highest amount of amyloid fibrils was obtained after 48 hours incubation of bovine serum albumin at a concentration of 10 mg.ml-1 and 70 ºC in a citrate-phosphate buffer pH 4. The immobilized enzyme had more reusability and stability than the free form and showed a higher activity and a smaller Km. Optimum temperature was improved from 40 ºC to 70 ºC and optimum pH was also improved from 6–7 to 6–9 in immobilized enzyme. In conclusion, amyloid fibrils with different chemical groups have been suitable for immobilization of urea enzyme. Improvement of kinetic properties and stability of urease enzyme by immobilizing on amyloid fibers allows for the widespread use of this enzyme in the related industries.

The bilateral relationship between Ventro Medial Nucleus and dopaminergic system may play an important role in the secretion of the gastrointestinal exocrine glands, nutritional behaviors and habits. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of dopaminergic receptors in regulation of the exocrine glands and to find out whether the change in saliva secretion is the primary effects of central nervous system or there are subsequences of taking food, lick, swallowing and digestion in the mouth. Ninety rats were stereotaxically implanted under urethane anesthesia. The rats were divided into 9 groups: one control group, one fasted control group, two sham groups given surgery and surgery plus medicine solvents, one SCH23390 group, one bromocriptine group, one mixed group: SCH23390 along with bromocriptine, one pilocarpine and a mixed group: bromocriptine along with pilocarpine. In this study, saliva secretion was gathered from submandibular glands by cannulas and measures then volume of secretion by using SPSS program the groups were compared (Test Anova). The saliva secretion was not significantly different between all groups except SCH23390 group, pilocarpine, and both mixed groups which showed significant differences in the saliva secretion. This study showed that SCH23390 (7.5 μg) could increase saliva secretion. Bromocriptine could not affect saliva secretion. Bromocriptine along with pilocarpine significantly decreased saliva secretion. However, this agonist together with SCH23390 significantly increased saliva secretion. So the dopaminergic system of the Ventro Medial Nucleus has a considerable effect on the secretion of the exocrine glands in the digestive system.

The present study has investigated the effect of Iron nanoparticle on the ovary tissue lesion in the mice treated by isoniazid. In this study, 50 full-grown female rat divided randomly in five groups of eight rats. The control group received no treatment; the witness group received intraperitoneal (i.p.) isoniazid (50 mg/kg/bw , orally), group 2, group 3, and group 4 received 50 mg/kg isoniazid in combination with 150 and 250 mg/kg/bw respectively. Nanoparticles were intraperitoneally injected during 12 consequent days. After 24 hours, the nanoparticles in combination with isoniazid were injected again to the rats. On the 15th day, all groups were killed, dissected, and their ovaries removed for microscopic studies. After 15 days all rats were anatomized and their ovaries were taken out to be microscopically tested and put into ten percent formalin; the findings indicated the decrease of primary and secondary follicle (one and some layer), graph and yellow material in the group received isoniazid (P>0.05). The group received isoniazid and Nano ferrous oxide (150) show more significantly increase in primary and secondary follicles and graph and in the isoniazid and Nano ferrous oxide (250) primary, one layer, secondary and graph follicles show increase level compared to the isoniazid group (P>0.05). However, isoniazid had destroyed the ovary tissue in the groups who had received it and Nano ferrous oxide due to its antioxidant effects relatively decreased such effect.

In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of Zataria multiflora essential oil against iron nano particle induced liver damage in rats. The animals were divided into three groups: negative control group; animals were treated with normal salin in three days. poitive control group: 200 mg/kg b.w iron nano particle was administered intrapertoneally to male in three days. Treatment group with Zataria multiflora oil; animals were injected intraperitoneally with Zataria multiflora oils (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w) in three days. After three days, blood samples were drawn from heart and the liver tissues were removed for biochemical and histological studies. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferas (AST), alkalin phosphatase (ALP), Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP), lipid peroxidation (LP) and glutathione (GSH). The results of this study showed that iron nano particles caused increasing the serum AST and LP levels and decreasing FRAP and GSH levels, but it has no effect on ALT and ALP. Consumption of Zataria multiflora oil reversed AST, LP and GSH levels to the normal levels without any effect on FRAP. Finally, treatment of rats with iron nanoparticle caused induction of oxidative hepatic damage and consumption of zataria essential oil can be effective for the recovery and prevent of liver damage.

This study was directed in the four stations of the coast of Noor, Mahmoudabad and Royan cities (Mazandaran Province) located in the coast of the Caspian Sea for identification and determine some ecological factors of crab Rhithropanopeus harrrissi. Samples of each station were fixed and transported to the laboratory and were identified at the species level. The 192 collected samples were found to be Rhithropanopeus harrrissi in the laboratory analysis. In order to verifying the species, our samples compare with the metatypical crab samples in the Zoological Museum, University of Tehran. Also in this species, morphological features, sex ratio, abundance and distribution were analysis. The one ways ANOVA with LSD test showed a significant difference (p

The fauna of Jajrood snails in the province of Tehran during the years 2015-2016 was investigated. A total of 23 species of snails were identified for the first time in the Jajrood River of Tehran province, belonging to 17 genera from 19 families, and based on morphometric characteristics (shape, size, patterns on oysters, aperculus, oysters, rectangular or leftover) The presence of oysters, the location of the respiratory hole, median back, mucus and its color, body size, radula, kidney line and reproductive system were identified. The highest and lowest species diversity among the identified snails is with 14 and 8 species, respectively, from stations 2 and 6 from Jajrood River, 36 km from each other. The largest family in terms of family diversity Cochlicella acuta, Euomphalia pisiformis, Helicella krynickii, Helix lucorum lnnaeus, Helicella derbentina, Euomphalia ravergieri, Caucasotachea atrolabiata, Levantina dschulfensis. Also, Lymnaea truncatula is identified as the most frequent and has medical importance. Limax maculates and Arion ater species are reported for the first time from Iran.

The rodents order is the largest class of mammalians; and they are very important in the medicine and agriculture. During of faunistic study on rodent order (Order: Rodent) in Marand region (East Azerbaijan province), North west of Iran, from 2012 to 2015, 6 Species collected and diagnostic. In this research, species were collected from the mountains, farms, villages and houses by traps and poisonous baits. The rodents recognized in Marand region are: 1- Mus musculus,
2- Ellobius fuscocapillus, 3- Microtus socialis,
4- Apodemus sylvaticus, 5- Meriones persicus,
6- Cricetulus migratorius. Their figure and a simple diagnostic key are provided to determin of them in this region.

Quaternary climatic fluctuations had remained phylogeographical footprints on some organisms. Relocation of northern populations of many species to the southern parts during ice ages, followed by subsequent northward expansions from refugia during interglacial periods had been resulted in intraspecific morphological and molecular divergence. This model has been used Fat Dormouse was used as a model species for investigation about such events that happened in the Hyrcanian Refugium. By photographing of lower mandibles we would able to compare morphological differences between populations distributed along the Hyrcanian forests. We compared our results with previous molecular findings. However the role of remnant Hyrcanian forests as a refugium has been confirmed by some investigations but longterm survival and isolation of some species in this refugium from eastern and northern parts of Palearctic region trigged inter population’s evolutionary divergence. By investigation about these evolutionary diverged traits, some micro refugiums can be defined along the Hyrcanian refugia. In this study, we found some preliminary documents about the presence of eastern micro refugia based on morphological divergence of Glis glis as a model species.

In this study, the effects of genistein and 17β-estradiol (E2) was investigated on some semen seminal plasma biochemical and enzymes in male gibel carp, during the spermiation phase. Mature male gibel carp (with ~ 30 to 40 g body weight (BW)) received intramuscular injections of one of two genistein doses (5 μg/g BW; G5, or 50 μg/g BW; G50), (10 μg/g BW 17β-estradiol, E2), 10 μg/g BW corn oil DMSO .Then, milt were collected in order to measure seminal plasma ionic, nonionic compounds and enzymes. The results of this study showed, there were significant differences in seminal plasma ionic, nonionic compounds and enzymes among the treated groups (p

Alborz province with area about 5833 km2 located in west of Tehran province. In a long term study of the lizards in this province which lasted 2 years (2015-2016), 13 species of lizards, Paralaudakia caucasia, Trapelus agilis, Phrynocephalus persicus, Darevskia defilippi, Lacerta strigata, Eremias persica, Eremias fasciata, Eremias papenfussi, Ophisops elegans, Mesalina watsonana, Bunopus crassicaudus, Ablepharus bivittatus and Eumeces schneideri, belonging to four families, were collected, recognized and reported from the area. We also built 13 distribution maps for lizards of the Alborz province. We recorded two new distribution records for lizards of Iran in the area, we found an isolated population of Lacerta strigata in the north of the province which extends altitudinal distribution of the species more than 900 m in Iran. We also found an isolated population of Eremias faciata in south of the province, this record is the westernmost record for this species in Iran and extends the known distributional range of the species about 200 km westward.

The main goals of this research are predicting the suitable habitat distribution, identifying habitat selection of brown bear and the main effective factors in Central Alborz Protected Area on spring and summer when they have yearling cubs. Identifying core areas, as source populations, have a key role to conserve of the species. The results are showed as a predicted map of suitable habitat patches distribution and priority of influence factors, according to the species fundamental niche. The required data are a set of species occurrence coordinates (presence points) according to the field observations and study areas’ environmental parameters layers. In this study we used Maximum Entropy Model for habitat modeling in central Alborz protected area. The presence data were gather from field surveys. The AUC values is 0.89 indicating good performance of the model. Jackknife graph showed that annual precipitation is the most effective parameter and vegetation is the most individual parameter. The predicted habitat of species showed a seasonal pattern of distribution. This results can be used to manage and conserve species in suitable habitats according to the species response to the environmental factors.

This research was conducted to preliminary biological study of Eastern Persian toad Bufotes oblongus, in Ghasabe qanats of Gonabad township in Razavi Khorasan province and dam and seasonal spring of Mahvid village and Kowran and Baladeh qanats of Ferdows Township and Mohammad Abad qanats of Qaen township in South Khorasan province at April 2012 to July 2013. Were collected Larvae of these species with the help of hand net (with openings of 1 mm) during the day and collected all adult specimens by hand at the night. The important characteristic of this species is the lump downward of parotoid gland at the rear tympanic membrane and also the small size of tympanic membrane. The maximum length obtained from these species was 8.27 cm (for female) and the minimum length 5.59 cm (for male). In this species the ratio of legs to body size was 0.35 and the ratio of parotoid gland length to body size was 0.21. The results of this research showed in relation to the seasonal spring, there are the threatening factors of these species: polluting water ponds due to the entering of domesticated animal feces into the spawning and larval development place, using that as a drinking water supply and also water evaporation due to the heat. It appears to be a solution for protection of these vertebrate, making plan and carrying out educational projects to raise awareness people is necessary concerning to the amphibians role especially in semi-desert regions of the country.

Sphaerodactylidae is a family of geckos comprising 200 species in 12 genera. They are distributed in the Northern and Southern America, the Caribbean, Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia. Individuals of genus Pristurus are also known as the Semaphore Geckos and consist of 23 to 26 species. Pristurus rupestris is one of the smallest species of the genera which is found throughout the Eastern Arabian Peninsula and Southern Iran. In the current study, the origin and distribution of this species in Iran and the islands in which the presence of this gecko was confirmed, as well as the effects of climate oscillation on the distribution of this species during the periods of geologic events with usage of the mitochondrial marker (12S) was studied. In doing so, ten samples were collected from the species distribution range and their sequences were added to sequences obtained from GenBank and the resulted data set was analyzed using Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods. The results show that all Iranian samples belong to the Eastern Clade. Also, except for Kharg Island, all samples from other islands of the Persian Gulf are similar to those in the mail land. The Haplotype Network illustrated that both Iranian and Omani samples are placed in the same haplogroup and the central haplogroup is located in Oman. We speculate that during the last Ice Age in Pleistocene era, the Iranian individuals were separated from the Arabian ones and arrived in Iran during the Persian Gulf’s drought. Given that the geomorphologic barriers can directly affect the distribution patterns of reptiles, they would be excellent indicators for studying the phylogeographic.