Spring viremia of carp, a fatal viral disease, is caused by the spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) and can result in up to 70% mortalities in common carps and significant economic losses in several other cyprinid aquaculture. The present study aimed to investigate the possible control of SVCV replication in Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells using the RNA interference technology targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L) gene of the SVCV that is essential for its replication. Three stealth small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences were designed to target three different regions on the SVCV-L gene. The specific siRNAs designed were investigated individually or in combinations to inhibit the SVCV-L gene expression and the virus replication. Results showed that the most effective siRNA sequence was the siRNA-602 that specifically reduced the SVCV replication by two logs as indicated by the virus titration and quantitative real-time PCR. Results, also, showed that the minimum effective concentration of siRNA-602 was 20 nM when used to transfect the EPC cells before the virus inoculation. Results of this study clearly indicate that targeting the SVCV-L gene by RNAi can reduce the SVCV replication in vitro, that may lead to the control of SVCV in fish.

Spring viremia of carp, a fatal viral disease, is caused by the spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) and can result in up to 70% mortalities in common carps and significant economic losses in several other cyprinid aquaculture. The present study aimed to investigate the possible control of SVCV replication in Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells using the RNA interference technology targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L) gene of the SVCV that is essential for its replication. Three stealth small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences were designed to target three different regions on the SVCV-L gene. The specific siRNAs designed were investigated individually or in combinations to inhibit the SVCV-L gene expression and the virus replication. Results showed that the most effective siRNA sequence was the siRNA-602 that specifically reduced the SVCV replication by two logs as indicated by the virus titration and quantitative real-time PCR. Results, also, showed that the minimum effective concentration of siRNA-602 was 20 nM when used to transfect the EPC cells before the virus inoculation. Results of this study clearly indicate that targeting the SVCV-L gene by RNAi can reduce the SVCV replication in vitro, that may lead to the control of SVCV in fish.

Uranyl acetate (UA), a commercial stock from depleted uranium (DU), has a combined effect of chemical toxicity and mild radioactivity. Here, we investigated the potential antioxidant, antiapoptotic and cytoprotective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against UA-induced testicular damage in rats. UA reduced testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione (GSH) levels relative to the control group. Interestingly, the testicular SOD activity and NO and GSH levels of UA/TQ-and UA/NAC-treated groups were also significantly lower relative to the control. A marked increase in spermatocytes metaphase apoptosis was found (stage XIII) in UA-treated rats, which is probably due to difficulties in segregation of homologous-chromosomes. This may clarify why UA exposure decreased round spermatids numbers and fertility in previous studies. To check the reason of partial metaphase arrest, the presence of DNA-damage-related γ-H2AX foci in late spermatocytes of all groups was checked, but only insignificant increase was found in UA-treated group. TQ or NAC supplementation reduced the apoptosis and improved the testicular histological alterations. Thus, TQ and NAC attenuate UA adverse effects on the testicular microenvironement through anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective but not antioxidant effects.

Uranyl acetate (UA), a commercial stock from depleted uranium (DU), has a combined effect of chemical toxicity and mild radioactivity. Here, we investigated the potential antioxidant, antiapoptotic and cytoprotective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against UA-induced testicular damage in rats. UA reduced testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione (GSH) levels relative to the control group. Interestingly, the testicular SOD activity and NO and GSH levels of UA/TQ-and UA/NAC-treated groups were also significantly lower relative to the control. A marked increase in spermatocytes metaphase apoptosis was found (stage XIII) in UA-treated rats, which is probably due to difficulties in segregation of homologous-chromosomes. This may clarify why UA exposure decreased round spermatids numbers and fertility in previous studies. To check the reason of partial metaphase arrest, the presence of DNA-damage-related γ-H2AX foci in late spermatocytes of all groups was checked, but only insignificant increase was found in UA-treated group. TQ or NAC supplementation reduced the apoptosis and improved the testicular histological alterations. Thus, TQ and NAC attenuate UA adverse effects on the testicular microenvironement through anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective but not antioxidant effects.

Uranyl acetate (UA), a commercial stock from depleted uranium (DU), has a combined effect of chemical toxicity and mild radioactivity. Here, we investigated the potential antioxidant, antiapoptotic and cytoprotective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against UA-induced testicular damage in rats. UA reduced testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione (GSH) levels relative to the control group. Interestingly, the testicular SOD activity and NO and GSH levels of UA/TQ-and UA/NAC-treated groups were also significantly lower relative to the control. A marked increase in spermatocytes metaphase apoptosis was found (stage XIII) in UA-treated rats, which is probably due to difficulties in segregation of homologous-chromosomes. This may clarify why UA exposure decreased round spermatids numbers and fertility in previous studies. To check the reason of partial metaphase arrest, the presence of DNA-damage-related γ-H2AX foci in late spermatocytes of all groups was checked, but only insignificant increase was found in UA-treated group. TQ or NAC supplementation reduced the apoptosis and improved the testicular histological alterations. Thus, TQ and NAC attenuate UA adverse effects on the testicular microenvironement through anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective but not antioxidant effects.

Uranyl acetate (UA), a commercial stock from depleted uranium (DU), has a combined effect of chemical toxicity and mild radioactivity. Here, we investigated the potential antioxidant, antiapoptotic and cytoprotective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against UA-induced testicular damage in rats. UA reduced testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione (GSH) levels relative to the control group. Interestingly, the testicular SOD activity and NO and GSH levels of UA/TQ-and UA/NAC-treated groups were also significantly lower relative to the control. A marked increase in spermatocytes metaphase apoptosis was found (stage XIII) in UA-treated rats, which is probably due to difficulties in segregation of homologous-chromosomes. This may clarify why UA exposure decreased round spermatids numbers and fertility in previous studies. To check the reason of partial metaphase arrest, the presence of DNA-damage-related γ-H2AX foci in late spermatocytes of all groups was checked, but only insignificant increase was found in UA-treated group. TQ or NAC supplementation reduced the apoptosis and improved the testicular histological alterations. Thus, TQ and NAC attenuate UA adverse effects on the testicular microenvironement through anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective but not antioxidant effects.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of rumen-protected L-arginine (ARG) on the udder of ewes and growth rate of newly born lambs. At 15±3 days postpartum, ten clinically healthy, 3-4 years ewes with body weight 49.11±4.03 Kg were divided randomly into 2 equal groups Group 1: served as control, without any treatment. Group 2: treated with Rumen protected L-Arginine 20 Mg/Kg body weight,for 30 days. The animals were examined with ultrasound, and blood samples were taken at the 10th, 20th and 30th days of ARG supplementations begin, and the lambs were weighted in the same times. The results of this study revealed that significant differences (P0.05), between ARG treatment and control one, in some udder measurement's. The glucose concentration after 10, 20, and 30 days of treatment showed significant differences (P0.01, and 0.05), where the ARG reatment had higher glucose concentration than control. Also,there were significant differences (P0.05), between ARG treatment and control group, in the urea and AST concentrations. There was an increase in the lamb's body weight at 10th, 20th and 30th Day of ARG treatment. The ARG supplementation appeared to have significant effects on postpartum udder measurements as well as the growth rate of the newly born lambs.

Camel fertility faces many problems, which could be solved by assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). We designed the experiment to explore the effect of different cryoprotectant concentrations and combinations on viability and maturation rates of vitrified/warmed camel oocytes. We collected ovaries directly after slaughtering from local abattoir and transported them to laboratory in a thermo-flask containing normal physiological saline. We aspirated the oocytes from follicles, which is 2-8 mm in diameter, washed three times in TCM-199 and then examined under stereo-microscope for selection. We selected morphologically normal oocytes with an evenly granulated cytoplasm and a compact cumulus cell layer. We equilibrated morphologically normal oocytes in equilibration solution (ES), which is half concentration of vitrification one. After equilibration, We transported oocytes to vitrification solution using ethylene glycol (EG, 40%), dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO, 40%) and EG 40% + DMSO 40%. The obtained results revealed that addition of EG 40% + DMSO 40% resulted in the best quality of vitrified/warmed oocytes, which is demonstrated by higher per cent survival rate (90.16%) and maturation rate (58.95%). While DMSO 40% resulted in 62.79% and 29.54%, respectively, EG 40% reported 86.11% and 53.47%, respectively. We could conclude that vitrification of immature camel oocytes by using 40% EG + 40% DMSO is suitable methods to limit drawbacks of vitrification methods, and we need further studies to assess the ability of in vitro-produced blastocyst to develop in vivo and establish pregnancy after embryo transfer.

Camel fertility faces many problems, which could be solved by assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). We designed the experiment to explore the effect of different cryoprotectant concentrations and combinations on viability and maturation rates of vitrified/warmed camel oocytes. We collected ovaries directly after slaughtering from local abattoir and transported them to laboratory in a thermo-flask containing normal physiological saline. We aspirated the oocytes from follicles, which is 2-8 mm in diameter, washed three times in TCM-199 and then examined under stereo-microscope for selection. We selected morphologically normal oocytes with an evenly granulated cytoplasm and a compact cumulus cell layer. We equilibrated morphologically normal oocytes in equilibration solution (ES), which is half concentration of vitrification one. After equilibration, We transported oocytes to vitrification solution using ethylene glycol (EG, 40%), dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO, 40%) and EG 40% + DMSO 40%. The obtained results revealed that addition of EG 40% + DMSO 40% resulted in the best quality of vitrified/warmed oocytes, which is demonstrated by higher per cent survival rate (90.16%) and maturation rate (58.95%). While DMSO 40% resulted in 62.79% and 29.54%, respectively, EG 40% reported 86.11% and 53.47%, respectively. We could conclude that vitrification of immature camel oocytes by using 40% EG + 40% DMSO is suitable methods to limit drawbacks of vitrification methods, and we need further studies to assess the ability of in vitro-produced blastocyst to develop in vivo and establish pregnancy after embryo transfer.

Contents The aim of this was to investigate the histology and immunohistochemistry of interstitial glands during non-breeding season in camel ovaries. A total of 21 mature, non-pregnant and apparently healthy camels aged between 8 and 12 years were slaughtered. The ovaries were removed within 15 min, cleaned from adipose tissue, weighted and examined grossly. The histological preparation was made, and then, the blocks were cut at 3–5 microns thickness and stained by H&E for histological examinations. Moreover, some sections were stained with Sudan Black for lipid detection. Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded ovarian tissues was performed to detect the localization of S-100, vimentin, progesterone receptors (PR) and oestrogen receptors (ER). Immunoreactive signals were detected using UltraVision Detection System. The results revealed that the interstitial glands were located in the cortical region and they were arranged in various arrangements either single, in couple or in groups rich in lipid droplet. All interstitial gland arrangements were enclosed by connective tissue capsules containing fibroblasts and collagenous fibres separated them from the surrounding ovarian structures. Both interstitial glands and their surrounding CT were penetrated by several blood vessels. There was a strong immunoreactive signal for S-100 in the nuclei of interstitial cells, and no signals were detected either in cells of the interstitial glands or their connective tissue with PR. We could conclude that the interstitial gland is distinct in ovary of camel and further studies are needed to elucidate its rule in steroid synthesis.