Ketamine affects memory consolidation: Differential effects in T-maze and passive avoidance paradigms in mice

The effects of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, on memory in animals have been limited to the sub-anesthetic dose given prior to training in previous studies. We evaluated the effects of post-training anesthetic doses of ketamine to se

Differential effects of ageing on the EEG during pentobarbital and ketamine anaesthesia

Background and objectives: Pentobarbital and ketamine are commonly used in animal experiments, including studies on the effects of ageing on the central nervous system. The electroencephalogram is a sensitive measure of brain activity. The present study i

Recognizing of Ichthyophon and investigation of feeding and effects of water temperature, salinity and electrical conductivity on the population dynamic of Barbus grypus in the Dalaki and Helle river

This study was carried out for recognized ichthyophon and investigation of feeding and effects of water temperature, salinity and electrical conductivity on the population dynamic of Barbus grypus in the Dalaki and Helle river. In the study period, 2949 Barbus grypus was cached. The most of total length frequency was 200 to 300 mm and 2 to 3 years old. The oldest fish was8 years old with 756 mm total length. Fecundity was 950 upto 57400 oocyt per fish. Station no. 6 and 7 showed more temperature, fecundity and GSI than other stations. Females adulated before then males. Multiple stepwise regression of fecundity and RE (reproduction effort) showed significant correlation. Fishes of the upper parts of stream was more L than down stream stations. Condition factor of males was more than female, and for down stream stations was better than the other stations. Barbus grypus is omnivorous. Ichthyophon of Dalaki river include 4 family and 9 species that Capoeta capoeta intermadia was more than others species, but in the Helle river was 5 family and 9 species, that Liza abu zarudni was more than others.

Gross clinical signs and haematological changes associated with artifical infection of Edwardsiella tarda in Koi Carp

The occurrence of diseases is a significant setback for successful aquafarming. One of the common fish bacterial disease syndromes, Edwardsiellosis is caused by Edwardsiella tarda, a gram-negative, rod shaped bacterium associated with several diseases of marine and fresh water fish. In this study, an attempt was made to observe and analyze the onset of clinical symptoms and certain haematological parameters in Koi Carp, Cyprinus carpio L., following artificial infection with Edwardsiella tarda. The disease progress was observed and the clinical symptoms were monitored over a period of 15 days following infection. Fish were sampled at three day intervals to analyse the haematological parameters: total erythrocyte counts (RBC), total leucocyte counts (WBC), haemoglobin content and differential leucocyte count. Clinical symptoms observed included: erratic swimming behaviour, loss of appetite, haemorrhages, dropsy and exophthalmia. There was a significant decrease in the total RBC and haemoglobin levels by the 3rd and 6th day post infection, and an increase thereafter. WBC counts were higher in all infected groups in comparison to the control group. A significant increase in the number of neutrophils was found in the infected group up to the 9th day and a decrease thereafter. The lymphocyte number was significantly less up to the 12th day while the monocyte counts were significantly higher up to the 12th day post infection. The results showed that the bacterium, E. tarda, is pathogenic to Koi Carp. The hematological changes and clinical signs in infected fish reported in this paper will be helpful in the identification and the control of this infection.

Migration of mouse antibody-secreting hybridoma cells from blood to genital tract and its regulation by sex hormones are associated with the differential expression patterns of adhesion molecules and chemokines in the tract rather than in the antibody-secreting cells

To understand better the molecular mechanisms of differential migration of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) into mouse genital tracts, and regulation by sex hormones, surface markers, hormone receptors and adhesion molecules in mouse SG2 and PA4 hybridoma cells, respectively, secreting IgG2b and polymeric IgA antibody were detected by flow cytometry or RT-PCR. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was also used for measuring mRNA expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, P-selectin, JAM-1 and CXCL12) in genital tracts of various adult mouse groups. The mRNAs of androgen receptor, estrogen receptor beta and CXCR4 were expressed in the ASCs. Sex hormones had no effect on expression of these molecules in ASCs. Except for VCAM-1, mRNA of all examined genes was expressed in normal mouse genital tracts. The mean of relative amounts of ICAM-1 and CXCL12 mRNA in all examined organs of females were higher (2.1- and 1.9-fold) than those in males. After orchiectomy or ovariectomy, the expression of ICAM-1, CXCL12 and P-selectin mRNA in the examined organs increased, except JAM-1 in male and CXCL12 in female. Sex hormone treatment recovered the changes to normal levels of mRNA expression in many examined genital tissues. In combination with our previous work, preferential migration of ASCs into female genital tract and regulation of migration by sex hormones are associated with expression patterns of adhesion molecules and chemokines in genital tract rather than in ASCs. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Negative index photonic crystal lenses based on carbon nanotube arrays

We report a novel utilization of periodic arrays of carbon nanotubes in the realization of diffractive photonic crystal lenses. Carbon nanotube arrays with nanoscale dimensions (lattice constant 400 nm and tube radius 50 nm) displayed a negative refractive index in the optical regime where the wavelength is of the order of array spacing. A detailed computational analysis of band gaps and optical transmission through the nanotubes based planar, convex and concave shaped lenses was performed. Due to the negative-index these lenses behaved in an opposite fashion compared to their conventional counter parts. A plano-concave lens was established and numerically tested, displaying ultra-small focal length of 1.5 μm (∼2.3 λ) and a near diffraction-limited spot size of 400 nm (∼0.61 λ). © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.