The effects of endosulfan on P450 1A gene expression, antioxidant enzymes activity and histopathological alterations in liver of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus Borodin, 1987)

The effects of 14 days exposure to sublethal concentrations of endosulfan (10 and 40 μg L−1) were investigated in mRNA- P450 1A expression, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activity and histopathological alterations of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) fingerlings with weights of 3–5 g. The results illustrated that the relative mRNA- P450 1A expression level significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Highest significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed on the first day, then decreased towards day 14 of exposure. The SOD and CAT activity showed a significant increase in fish exposed to different concentrations up to day 7, then activity decreased on day 14 in fish of all treated groups. Although signs of tissue lesions were observed on day 4, they increased from day 7 and reached the highest level on day 14. The magnitude of all changed studied parameters (gene expression, enzymes and histopathological) follows a concentration-dependent manner. © 2016 Blackwell Verlag Gmb

Study of ovarian fluid biochemical parameters and its influence on spermatozoa motility of the Ship (Acipenser nudiventris Lovetzky, 1828) in the south-eastern Caspian Sea

Biochemical aspects of ovarian fluid were investigated in 10 specimens of the Ship (Acipenser nudiventris) by assessment of ionic organic composition and their relationships with osmolality. Also spermatozoa motility of the ship sturgeon was investigated in different percentage (5, 10, 25, 50 and 100%) of ovarian fluid (pooled 6 samples). Ovarian fluid contained 104.78±32.12mmol/1 Nat, 3.43±1.08mmol/ 1(7, 3.26±0.87mg/d1 Ca2+, 7.32±1.06rnEcil1 Mg^2+, 0.606±0.207mg/l protein, 24.88±13.02mg/l cholesterol and 60.35±14.49m/1 glucose. The pH of ovarian fluid ranged from 7.29 to 8.10 and osmolality ranged from 185 to 212msmol/Kg. There was also significant positive correlation between Nat concentration and osmolality (r = 0.835, P<0.01). When ship sturgeon semen diluted with 50 and 100% ovarian fluid, the spermatozoa remained immotile. The total duration of motility and percentage of motile spermatozoa was greatly reduced when semen was diluted in ovarian fluid higher than 5%. We found that the spermatozoa of ship sturgeon are immotile in the ovarian fluid because of ovarian fluid composition such as high concentration of K and osmotic pressure

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals Cu, Zn, and Hg in muscles and liver of the stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) in the Caspian Sea and their correlation with growth parameters

Bioaccumulation of Cu, Zn, Hg in muscles and liver tissues of stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) from the southern Caspian Sea was measured. Effects of condition factor (CF), age and hepatosomatic index (HSI) on metal accumulation were also determined. Some 40 stellate sturgeons were collected using gill nets in winter and spring 2007-2008 from the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Total (TL) and fork (FL) length and weight of all specimens were measured. Cross sections of first ray of pectoral fins were used for age determination. Muscle and liver samples were taken and transported to the laboratory in ice packs and kept in -20 °C prior to analyses. In the laboratory samples were oven dried, digested with HClO3 and HNO3 and diluted with dionized water to 50cc to measure Cu, Zn, and Hg concentration with a flame spectrophotometer. Sequence of metals in Acipenser stellatus was Zn>Hg> Cu in muscle tissues and Zn>Cu>Hg in liver samples. Concentration of Zn was slightly in correlation with age (R= 0.3). A negative correlation was observed between Zn concentrations with condition factor (R = -0.3). Zn concentrations were negatively correlated in muscle tissues (R = -0.3). The results were compared to international standards proposed by MAAF, EEC and NHMRC. Our study showed that accumulation of heavy metals in sturgeon tissues was influenced by concentration of metals in sediment and the physiological state of fish

Survey of effects of different concentrations of electrolytes and pH on characterization of sperm motility in wild carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Effects of pH, Na, K, Ca^+ Mg^2+ ions on characterization of sperm motility (duration of motility and percentage of motility) of wild carp (C. carpio) were investigated. After determination of optimum pH, its interaction effect with Na, K, Ca^2+ and Mg^2+ was studied. Maximum motility (duration of motility and percentage of motility) was observed at pH=8.5. Effects of different treatments of NaCl on sperm motility was significantly different (P<0.05) while that of the MgCl _(2) was significantly different (P<0.05). In general, it is concluded that movement of spermatozoa of wild carp is influenced by high concentration of ions

The enrichment influences of Artemia urmiana with vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids on growth, survival and salinity stress resistance in beluga (Huso huso) larvae

VWe assessed the effects of Aremia urmiana nauplii enriched with vitamin E (α -tochopherol acetate, MERCK, Germany) and unsaturated fatty acids (EPA 18% and DHA 12%) on growth, survival and stress resistance of Beluga (Huso huso) larvae during six weeks. Beluga larvae (mean body weight 69.8c6.2 mg) at the first feeding were fed in four treatments and three replications using A. urmiana enriched with unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) containing 20% and 50% vitamin E (El and E2 treatments, respectively) and HUFA without vitamin E (HUFA group). The control group was fed on non-enriched Artemia. All treatments were fed with non-enriched Artemia for 5 days after the first feeding and then fed with enriched Artemia for 7 days. After period of enrichment, the larvae were fed with daphnia from 13 ^(th) to 40 ^(th) day. The Beluga larvae were then exposed to salinity stress (12 g/l) for two days after the 40 days feeding trial. Blood samples were obtained at the end of the first and second days in order to evaluate hematocrite index. Growth, survival and stress resistance were compared at the end of experimental period. Growth factors showed significant difference between the groups. The highest and the lowest growth were observed in El and control treatments, respectively (P<0.05). Larvae resistance to salinity stress was comparable between the enriched and control groups (P< 0.05). The results indicated that the enrichment of Artemia with essential fatty acids and vitamin E can improve some growth and stress tolerance factors in beluga sturgeon (H. huso) larvae

Benthic macroinvertebrate distribution in Tajan River using canonical correspondence analysis

The distribution of macroinvertebrate communities from 5 sampling sites of Tajan River were used to examine the relationship among physiochemical parameters with macroinvertebrate communities and also to assess ecological classification system as a tool for the management and conservation purposes.The amount of variation explained in macroinvertebrate taxa composition is within values reported in similar studies. Results of CCA ordination showed that the dissolved oxygen, water temperature, turbidity, pH and TSS were the most important physicochemical factors to affect distribution of macroinvertebrate communities. The study revealed that macroinvertebrate communities of Tajan River may be explained by physiochemical parameters. Mean values of Shannon–Wiener diversity index calculated for macroinvertebrates ranged from 1.35± 0.07 (S5) to 1.86± 0.10 (S1). According to the Shannon–Wiener diversity index the S1 sampling site was categorized in ‘‘good‘‘ and the sampling sites S2 and S3 in ‘‘moderate’’ and S5 in ‘‘moderate to substantially polluted” classes. The anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. trout farms and effluents from factories) impacted abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrate

Feeding regime of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) in the south Caspian Sea

Feeding regime of the Persian sturgeon in the southern basins of the Caspian Sea was studied in summer and winter 2006 in three provinces Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan. We caught 52 fish specimens in 85 sampling sites varying in depths from 2-100 m using bottom trawls. The average weight and length of fish specimens were 332.81+1 g and 37.69±1 cm, respectively. The alimentary tract of fishes were analyzed and 11 food items including Gobiidae, Gammaridae, Mysidae, Nereidae, Ampharetidae, Pseudocumidae, Clupeidae, Syngnathidae, Scrobicularidae, insects and Cardiidae were identified. The highest feed diversity was observed in Mazandaran province (9 items) and the lowest in the Golestan province (4 items). Although Nereids showed the highest percentage of benthic organisms (49%) but they were of secondary and tertiary importance in the fish diet qualitatively. Comparison of Fulton's condition factor of fishes in the three provinces showed a similar pattern (0.3<1(<0.4). A tukey test revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between condition factor and gastrosomatic index in the three provinces while Vacuity index (CV) showed significant statistical differences among the provinces

Concentration of heavy and toxic metals Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg in liver and muscles of Rutilus frisii kutum during spawning season with respect to growth parameters

Concentration of heavy and toxic metals Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg were determined in liver and muscles of Rutilus frisii kutum and their relationships with growth parameters (length, age, condition factor) and hepatosomatic index were examined. Thirty-six fish samples were collected from February through March 2009 caught by beach seine in the southwest parts of the Caspian Sea. Atomic absorption and Hg determined concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu by vapor method. Cadmium was recorded only in liver samples. Range of other metals in muscle tissue were ND-0.591, 0.001-0.013, 11-26 and 0.729-7.261 µg/g dw for Pb, Hg, Zn and Cu respectively. Highest levels of Pb, Zn, and Cu were recorded in muscles Hg and Cd in liver samples. Growth parameters showed a significant relationship with Zn and Cd concentrations in liver samples and only Zn concentrations in muscle samples. There was a positive significant correlation between concentration of Cd in liver and physiological indices (p<0.05). Although higher concentration of Pb was recorded in this study in comparison to previous studies, based on Provisional Tolerable Weekly and daily Intake of fish for human health, kutum is considered safe for human consumption. Considering the results of this study it seems reproductive status of the fish influences heavy metals concentration in liver and muscles of kutum and therefore concentrations of some metals such as Zn and Cu in liver samples may not be a reliable bioindicator for environmental pollution

Assessment of fish farm effluents on macroinvertebrates based on biological indices in Tajan River (north Iran)

Impacts of effluent from fish farming activities on fluvial ecosystems lead to deterioration of water quality and changes in the macroinvertebrates assemblage. In this study, the influence of fish farm effluents on water quality and macroinvertebrates communities of Tajan River was investigated to evaluate the suitability of macroinvertebrates based on biological metrics and indices. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed seasonally for a period of one year . Five sampling stations were selected along the study reach of 50 km. Station 1(S1) which is located upstream from the fish farm, was used as the reference site. Station S2 and S3 were located downstream from the fish farm outlet; S4 and S5 were further downstream. In order to assess the changes in diversity and richness in relation to water quality,two major groups of sites based on similarity between macroinvertebrate communities identified by cluster analysis. Diversity of macroinvertebrates, EPT richness and EPT/CHIR indices significantly decreased toward downstream stations except for station S4. Conversely, values of HFBI and Jacard index significantly increased in the downstream stations. The present study revealed significant differences in water quality parameters between the stations located above and below the fish farms. Owing to the relatively high diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates inhabiting rivers, use of macroinvertebrate based biological indices is recommended for assessment of water quality and pollution in fluvial systems

Heavy metals Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in tissue, liver of Esox lucius and sediment from the Anzali international lagoon- Iran

Levels of contaminants in fish are of particular interest because of the potential risk to humans consuming them. This paper examines the levels of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper in liver and muscle tissue of Esox lucius and in sediments from the Anzali international wetland in Iran. The wetland is a nursery and feeding habitat for fish species both from the lagoon and the Caspian Sea, which are consumed by the local inhabitants and others. Eleven main rivers discharge agricultural, industrial, urban and municipal wastes into this wetland. Twenty five Esox lucius specimens, with a mean weight of 804.6±121g and mean length of 430.7± 2mm were collected from the wetland by multi mesh gill nets in September and December 2007.. The age was determined from scale samples according to the annual ring structure. Average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn accumulated in the mid-dorsal muscle tissue (filleted and skinned) of fish were 0.001, 0.21±0.02, 0.13±0.01 and 2.55±0.18 µg.g-1, respectively. The concentrations of these metals in liver samples were Cd: 0.0014± Cu: 0.96± 0.61, Pb: 0.11 ± 0.04 and Zn: 2.46±1.5 µg.g-1. Significant positive correlations were detected between Zn and Cu with body weight, while negative correlations were found between Pb and body weight. The concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cd were below the maximum allowable concentrations for fish proposed by WHO and MAFF (safe for human consumption) but concentration of Pb exceeded the standard levels