Aggressive behaviour and energy metabolism in a cichlid fish, Oreochromis mossambicus

We have investigated the effect of mirror-elicited agonistic behaviour on oxygen consumption in the Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Cichlidae). Males exposed to their mirror image showed higher frequencies of both lateral display and tail-beating and escalated aggression more frequently than males exposed to a transparent glass that was used as a control for the presence of a novel object in the tank. This aggressive response was correlated with an increase in oxygen consumption. Overt aggression was highly correlated with display behaviour and with locomotor activity. Bivariate analyses showed high correlation (explaining about 64% of variation) between overt aggression, locomotor activity and metabolic rates. Weakly positive bivariate correlations between displays and metabolic rates turned spurious after partialling out aggression. The data suggest that energetic costs only emerge late during the conflict, when animals escalate their aggressive behaviour.     

Evaluation of haematological and serum biochemical parameters in Iranian camels (Camelus dromedarius) infected with haemotrophic Mycoplasma (Eperythrozoon) spp

Blood samples were collected from 67 adult Iranian dromedary camels naturally infected with Mycoplasma spp, and a control group comprised 20 healthy dromedary camels. Haematological and serum biochemical parameters were measured using standard techniques. In Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears, Mycoplasma appears attached to the surface of erythrocytes. In infected camels, the number of red blood cells, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit (packed cell volume) significantly decreased (P < 0.05).With regard to the values of mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, a normocytic and normochromic anaemia was observed in infected camels. In infected camels, the concentration of serum glucose was significantly lower as compared with controls (P < 0.05).     

An analysis of haematological findings on a feral population of aldabra giant tortoises (Geochelone gigantea)

In order to obtain haematological reference values for health assessment in captivity, blood samples were obtained from 143 feral Geochelone gigantea in a natural environment on Curieuse Island, Republic of the Seychelles. Tests were carried out by specially adapted field techniques. Because difficulty was experienced with obtaining a suitable blood sample, a method involving in vivo mixing was developed. Using this method it was found that values for haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and red (RBC) and white cell count (WBC) of healthy adult G. gigantea were low and the red cells were hypochromic and macrocytic compared with those of mammals and birds. Females had significantly lower Hb, RBC, PCV values and smaller red cells than males. Blood parasites were not found.     

Change in normal haematological values of camels (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camelus dromedarius</Emphasis>): influence of age and sex

This study was conducted to determine the longitudinal variations in normal values of haematological parameters in camels (Camelus dromedarius) of different age and sex. Three hundred and two camels of either sex were used to estimate the changes from 1 to 5 and above years of age. The haematological variables estimated were white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of different variables have been calculated and results are discussed in relation to previous reports. Significant variation for white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin was observed for males with age, while difference in white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular volume was observed for females.     

Effects of oral iron supplementation on some haematological parameters and iron biochemistry in neonatal dairy calves

Since the iron requirements of ruminants are not well established and most recommendations are estimates, this study was performed to determine whether 150mg/day iron supplementation in neonatal dairy calves (heifer replacement system) fed roughage and concentrates could promote a healthy haematology and iron profile. A total of 40 calves was used in the present study. The animals were divided into two groups (test 20 and control 20). In the test group, oral iron, as ferrous sulphate, was given as a supplement to each calf at a rate of 150 mg/daily for 28 days starting at birth. Sampling was conducted from the jugular vein immediately after birth and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after birth. The test group had significantly higher levels of haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (PCV) at 14, 21 and 28 days than the control group (P<0.05). Red blood cell (RBC) count was significantly higher in the test group at the 28th day (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in RBC indices between groups. The serum iron (Fe) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) saturation was significantly higher at the 14th, 21st and 28th days in the test group than in controls (P<0.05). At day 28, the TIBC was significantly less in the test group than in controls (P<0.05). In the test group, the levels of iron and RBC parameters were significantly higher at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days than at first sampling, and at day 28, compared to first sampling, for TIBC saturation (P<0.05). In the control group, the paired t-test revealed higher levels of Hb at day 28 than at first sampling, and there were lower values for PCV at day 14 and higher values of RBCs at days 21 and 28 (P<0.05). At days 14, 21 and 28, TIBC levels were significantly higher than at first sampling, and TIBC saturation was significantly lower at 14 and 21 days than at first sampling (P<0.05).     

Effects of muscarine agonists and antagonists on vasopressin-stimulated water transport in the amphibian bladder

The effects of M₁ and M₂ cholinoceptors on stimulated water transport in the urinary bladder of the common frogRana temporaria L. are described. In the presence of pirenzepine, a selective M₁ cholinoceptor antagonist, carbachol stimulated water transport. Activation of M₂ cholinoceptors by oxotremorine in concentrations of 0.5–5.0 μM inhibited water transport, whereas their activation by this compound in higher concentrations (10–100 μM) stimulated it. The use of the phospholipase C inhibitor neomycin (0.5 mM) and the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 (1 mM) indicated that activation of M₂ cholinoceptors switches on phospholipid-Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent mechanisms. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 9, pp. 252–254, September, 1995 (Presented by P. V. Sergeev, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences)     

Effects of water and ethanol extracts fromPaeonia lutea root bark on hemostatic parameters

Anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activities, as well as inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation of water (2%) and ethanol extracts from the peony root bark (P. lutea) are demonstratedin vitro. Chronic peroral administration of the ethanol extract activates anticoagulant and fibrinolytic processes in rat blood. Water extract apart from anticoagulant activity, strongly enhanced blood fibrinolytic potency and inhibited platelet aggregation, which implies its possible antithrombotic properties. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 5, pp. 533–535, May, 1999     

Effects of adaptation to hypoxia on cytochrome levels in the brain and liver of rats

After a prolonged (for 30 days) adaptation of rats to intermittent hypoxia, their brains contained lowered levels of mitochondrial cytochromes, despite an increase in the number of mitochondria in the brain tissue mass, along with similar levels of high-energy compounds and more protein as compaired to the brains of unadapted controls. A mitochondrial population with novel properties presumably emerged in the brain. These effects were all more strongly marked in rats with an initially low resistance to hypoxia. In the liver of hypoxiaadapted animals, unlike in their brain, cytochrome levels in the mitochondrial and microsomal redox chains were lowered and the biogenesis of mitochondria was much less intensive. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 12, pp. 576–579, December, 1995     

Effect of dietary supplementation with selenium and vitamin E on certain immunological parameters in rats

It is shown that enriching the rat diet with selenium and vitamin E augments the generation of spleen antibody-producing cells and the T-cell blast-transformation response to mitogen. The addition of selenium alone fails to affect the immune reaction; however, the addition of vitamin E alone boosts the T-cell response to mitogen. Dietary supplementation with selenium and/or vitamin E has no marked effect on the function of peritoneal macrophages or on lipid peroxidation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 3, pp. 317–319, March, 1995     

Effects of chronic morphine intake on binding of NAD and GABA-benzodiazepine agonists to synaptic membranes

Nine weeks of compulsory morphine drinking decreased the specific binding of³H-muscimol to GABA receptors and¹⁴C-NAD to rat brain synaptic membranes and increased the synaptosomal uptake of¹⁴C-GABA. These effects of morphine on the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex were reversed by excessive doses of vitamin B₃. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 3, pp. 295–301, March, 1999     

Effects of hydroxystyrene on the expression of the inflammatory cytokine genes and their content in macrophages tolerant to endotoxin

Preincubation of resident macrophages with 25-hydroxycholesterol decreased the lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of mRNAs of tumor, necrosis factor and interleukin-1, while 7-ketocholesterol stimulated the expression of the tumor necrosis factor mRNA. Tolerant macrophages characterized by decreased tumor necrosis factor secretion in response to lipopolysaccharide have increased (in comparison with resident macrophages) content of 25-and 27-hydroxycholesterol. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 1, pp. 71–74, January, 1999     

Effects of adaptation to periodic hypoxia on kinetic parameters of respiratory chain enzymes in rat brain

A study of kinetic parameters of brain respiratory enzymes revealed that the maximal velocity and the Michaelis apparent constant for NADH-cytochrome C-reductase are significantly lower in low-resistant rats than in rats with a high resistance to hypoxia. Adaptation to periodic hypoxia increases total resistance only in low-resistant rats. It is accompanied by an increase in the values of kinetics parameters for NADH-cytochrome C-reductase and cytochrome oxidase. Kinetic parameters for these enzymes in the brain of high-resistant rats are either unaltered or even decreased. It is suggested that the first enzymatic complex of the respiratory chain is one of the limiting or regulating links in energy metabolism determining the brain's resistance to hypoxia. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 3, pp. 252–255, March, 1996.     

Effects of substrate characteristics on bone cell response to the mechanical environment

The effect of substrate characteristics on primary human bone cell response to mechanical loading was investigated in this study. The substrates comprised organic and inorganic materials with a range of hydrophilic and hydrophobic features. Substrate surface topography varied from smooth to particulate to porous. It was found that hydrophilic substrates such as borosilicate glass facilitated bone cell adhesion, in contrast to hydrophobic substrates such as poly(L-lactic acid), in which clumps of cells grew unevenly across the substrate surface. All primary bone cells cultured in the various collagen-coated substrates were responsive to mechanical stimulation. The study showed that, at a low strain level of 1000μstrain, mechanical stimulation enhanced bone cell differentiation rather than proliferation. Coating the substrates with collagen type l enhanced cell adhesion and promoted an elongated cell morphology, indicating that the presence of specific binding sites on a substrate may be more important than its hydrophilic properties, regardles of the substrate topography.     

Effects of carotid glomectomy on erythron parameters in rats differing in the resistance to acute hypoxia

Rats with low resistance to acute altitude hypoxia did not differ from those with high resistance in the erythron parameters recorded under normal environmental conditions. After a bilateral carotid glomectomy, significant falls in the red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were recorded only in the group with low resistance to acute hypoxia, although the “altitude” resistance was decreased to similar degrees in the two groups. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 7, pp. 12–13, July, 1996     

Haematological characteristics of response to inflammation or traumatic injury in two species of black cockatoos: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calyptorhynchus magnificus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. funereus</Emphasis>

A retrospective study of the haematological response to inflammation and/or traumatic injury was performed in two species of black cockatoos, namely white-tailed black cockatoos (WTBCs) (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and red-tailed black cockatoos (RTBCs) (C. magnificus). Evaluation of haematological data collected from 28 predominantly free-living birds was undertaken. The most consistent findings associated with inflammation or traumatic injury were mild to moderate anaemia, heterophilia and monocytosis. Changes in heterophil morphology were a relatively uncommon finding.     

Effects of methyluracil and hydroxymethacil on free-radical oxidation in model systems

Three pyrimidine derivatives — methyluracil, hydroxymethacil (a new compound), and its lithium salt — were tested in model systems of differing complexity for antioxidant properties in comparison with the well-known antioxidant ionol. Tests for antiradical activity and for effects on spontaneous and Fe²⁺-ascorbate- or NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation revealed high antioxidant activity (comparable to that of ionol) of the hydroxymethacil lithium salt. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 8, pp. 142–144, August, 1995 Presented by G.N. Kryzhanovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences