Mohsen Khalili

The effects of dietary xylooligosaccharide on mucosal parameters, intestinal microbiota and morphology and growth performance of Caspian white fish (Rutilus frisii kutum) fry

The present study investigates the effects of different levels of dietary xylooligosaccharide (XOS) on skin mucus bactericidal activity and protein content, intestinal microbiota and morphology as well as growth performance of Caspian white fish (Rutilus frisii kutum) fry. The specimens (1.54 ± 0.03 g) were fed experimental diets supplemented with different levels of XOS [0% (control), 1%, 2% and 3%] for 8 weeks. The results revealed that feeding on XOS significantly increased skin mucus antibacterial activity and protein levels (P < 0.05) and the highest levels were observed in 3% XOS treatment. The total autochthonous intestinal heterotrophic bacteria significantly increased following XOS administration in diet (P < 0.05). Administration of 2 or 3% XOS in fry diet significantly elevated the autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.05). However, dietary XOS had no significant effect on intestinal morphology, growth performance and diet utilisation of Caspian white fish fry (P > 0.05). These results demonstrate beneficial effects of dietary XOS on different parameters of mucosal immunity (both skin mucus and intestinal microbiota) and encourage further studies regards various aspect of XOS administration in early life stages of fish.

Dietary galactooligosaccharide affects intestinal microbiota, stress resistance, and performance of Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus) fry

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of galactooligosaccharide (GOS), on the growth performance, stress resistance and intestinal microbiota of Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus) fry. Specimens (1.36 ± 0.03 g) were fed either a basal control diet (0% GOS, non-supplemented) or the basal diet supplemented with 1% and 2% of GOS. After 7 weeks of the feeding trials, growth factors (final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, condition factor and food conversion ratio) as well as body composition, resistance to salinity stress and autochthonous intestinal microbiota were assessed. Results demonstrated that at the end of the trial growth factors (final weight, weight gain, SGR, FCR) were significantly higher in 2% GOS fed fish (P < 0.05). In addition, supplementation of GOS significantly increased both survival rate (P < 0.05), and resistance to a salinity stress challenge of prebiotic fed groups (P < 0.05). However, body composition and the total autochthonous intestinal heterotrophic bacteria counts remained unaffected in different treatments (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, autochthonous lactic acid bacteria levels were significantly elevated in fish fed 2% dietary GOS (P < 0.05). These results confirm that GOS improves growth performance, stress resistance and modulates intestinal microbiota by increasing lactic acid bacteria of Caspian roach fry, a very important fish species in the Caspian Sea.

Effects of date palm fruit extracts on skin mucosal immunity, immune related genes expression and growth performance of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fry.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of date palm fruit extracts (DPFE) on skin mucosal immunity, immune related genes expression and growth performance of fry common carp (Cyprinus carpio). One hundred and twenty specimens (4.06 ± 0.13 g) were supplied and allocated into six aquaria; specimens in three aquaria were fed non-supplemented diet (control) while the fish in the other 3 aquaria were fed with DPFE at 200 ml kg(-1). At the end of feeding trial (8 weeks) skin mucus immune parameters (total immunoglobulins, lysozyme, protease and alkaline phosphatase activity) and immune related gene expression (tumor necrosis factor α [tnfa], lysozyme [ly] and interleukin-1-beta, [il1b]) in the head-kidney were studied. The results revealed that feeding carp fry with 200 ml kg(-1) DPFE remarkably elevated the three skin mucus immune parameters tested (P < 0.05). However, evaluation of immune related gene expression demonstrated that the expression of tnfa and il1b was considerably decreased (P < 0.05) in fish fed DPFE diet, while the expression of ly remained similar (P > 0.05) compared to control fish (fed control diet). Furthermore, growth performance parameters were significantly improved in fry fed DPFE (P < 0.05). More studies are needed to understand different aspects of DPFE administration in fry mucosal immunity.

Synthesis and determination of acute and chronic pain activities of 1-[1-(3-methylphenyl) (tetralyl)]piperidine as a new derivative of phencyclidine via tail immersion and formalin tests.

Phencyclidine (1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine, CAS 956-90-1, PCP, 1) and ketamine (2-O-chlorophenyl-2-methylaminocyclohexan, CAS 1867-66-9, II) revealed some analgesic effects. Some of their derivatives have been synthesized for biological properties studies. Utilizing 1-tetralone as a starting material, 1-[1-(3-methylphenyl)(tetralyl)]piperidine, (PCP-CH3-tetralyl, III) was synthesized and its analgesic effects were studied on rats via tail immersion (as a model of acute thermal pain) and formalin (as a model of acute chemical and chronic pain) tests and compared with those of ketamine and PCP. The results indicated a marked anti-nociception 2-25 min after ketamine injection, but this analgesic effect lasted for 40 min following PCP-CH3-tetralyl application in the tail immersion test. However, the data obtained from the formalin test showed that chronic pain could be significantly attenuated by ketamine, PCP and PCP-CH3-tetralyl.

Apple cider vinegar boosted immunomodulatory and health promoting effects of Lactobacillus casei in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Abstract The present study was performed to investigate the immunomodulatory and health promoting effects of combined or singular administration of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and Lactobacillus casei in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) diet. An 8‐week feeding trial was designed with following treatments: Control (basal diet), Pro (contains 107 CFU g−1 L. casei), LACV (contains 1% ACV), HACV (contains 2% ACV), Pro + LACV (contains 107 CFU g−1 L. casei plus 1% ACV) and Pro + HACV (contains 107 CFU g−1 L. casei plus 2% ACV). Evaluation of skin mucus revealed notable increase of total Ig level and lysozyme activity in Pro + LACV and Pro + HACV treatments compared other groups (P < 0.05). Similarly, serum total Ig and lysozyme activity in HACV, Pro + LACV and Pro + HACV fed carps was remarkably higher than other groups (P < 0.05). However, regarding serum alternative complement (ACH50) activity significant difference was observed just between Pro + HACV and control treatment (P < 0.05). The highest expression of immune related (LYZ, TNF‐alpha, IL1b, IL8) and antioxidant enzymes genes (GSR, GST) were observed in carps fed Pro + HACV and Pro + LACV. The expression of GH gene expression in Pro, LACV and HACV treatments was significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The highest expression level of GH and IGF1 was observed in fish fed combined Pro and ACV (P < 0.05). These results indicated that co‐administration of ACV boosted immunomodulatory and health promoting effects of L. casei and can be considered as a promising immunostimulants in early stage of common carp culture. HighlightsCombined administration of ACV with L. casei remarkably increased skin mucus immune response.Fish fed ACV + L. casei supplemented diets showed increased serum immune parameters.The highest expression of immune related and antioxidant enzymes genes were observed in carps fed ACV + L. casei.

Mucosal immune parameters, immune and antioxidant defence related genes expression and growth performance of zebrafish (Danio rerio) fed on Gracilaria gracilis powder

Abstract In the present study zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been used as model organism to establish the effects of dietary supplementation of Gracilaria gracilis powder (GP) on mucosal and innate immune parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and growth. In order to establish these features, zebrafish were fed for eight weeks with experimental diets containing different levels of Red algae, 0.25, 0.5 and 1% of GP; also, a group was fed with control diet. At the end of the experimental period the antioxidant superoxide dismutase and catalase (SOD, CAT) genes expression, interleukin 1 beta (il‐1&bgr;), lysozyme (LYZ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐&agr;) for immune‐related genes expression, total immunoglobulin (Ig), total protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity for innate immune parameters, and growth performance have been established. The GP dietary supplementation showed differences in SOD and CAT expression in zebrafish whole body respect to the control group. Non‐signifcant differences were noticed among the different groups in case of TNF‐&agr;, LYZ and il‐1expression (P > 0.05). The skin mucus total Ig and total protein in the group fed on 1% of GP were significantly higher respect to control group (P < 0.05). 0.25 and 0.5% of GP dietary supplementation significantly enhanced skin mucus ALP activity levels (P < 0.05). No significant differences were recorded for growth performances among groups (P > 0.05). The results obtained in the present study revealed that G. gracilis could be takes in account as fishes diet supplementation for its immune system stimulants effects. HighlightsGracilaria gracilis, as supplement in fish diet, influences mucosal immune parameters in Danio rerio.Gracilaria gracilis, as supplement in fish diet, affects on growth in Danio rerio.Gracilaria gracilis, as supplement in fish diet, affects on antioxidant enzymes in Danio rerio.