Melanism, body size, and sex ratio in snakes—new data on the grass snake (Natrix natrix) and synthesis

Morphological and Histochemical Studies of the Chromatoid Body in the Grass-snake, Natrix natrix By BHUPINDER N. SUD

The chromatoid body in the spermatogenesis of the grass-snake, Natrix natrix, has been studied by the use of phase-contrast microscopy, vital dyes, and histochemical tests. It first appears during the growth of the primary spermatocyte and is also seen in the secondary spermatocyte and late spermatid, but is absent at metaphases of both the maturation divisions, in the early spermatid, and duri...

Nesting ecology of the grass snake (Natrix natrix) and its implications for conservation

Study of Blood Parasites of the Three Snake Species in Iran: Natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata and Zamenis longissimus (Colubridae)

Infections with blood parasites are common phenomenon in reptiles from all over the world. Apicomplexan are the majority of blood parasites that frequently occur with high levels of parasitaemia in the snakes. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of blood parasites in some snakes Guilan province in the North of Iran. A total of 51 specimens of three snake species were captured in...

Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Blood of Grass Snake (Natrix natrix L.) during Prehibernation and Posthibernation Periods

This work examined the enzymatic (superoxide dismutase-CuZn SOD, catalase-CAT, glutathione peroxidase-GSHPx, glutathione reductase-GR, and the biotransformation phase II enzyme glutathione-S-transferase-GST) and nonenzymatic (total glutathione-GSH and lipid peroxides-TBARS concentrations) biomarkers of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the blood of the grass snake (Na...

Effect of Photoperiod and Melatonin on Splenocyte Proliferation in Freshwater Snake, Natrix Piscator

The neuroendocrine and immune systems help an organism cope with changing environmental conditions. In recent years, melatonin, a neural hormone synthesized and secreted primarily by the pineal gland (Pelham et al., 1972; Pang and Ralph, 1975), has been suggested to have immunomodulatory roles. The involvement of melatonin in the establishment of a pineal-immune system regulatory axis is curren...