Predation of a grass snake Natrix natrix by a Peloponnesian freshwater crab Potamon pelops

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

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...

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...

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...

Daily and Seasonal Rhythms in Immune Responses of Splenocytes in the Freshwater Snake, Natrix piscator

Present study was designed to examine daily and seasonal variability in the innate immune responses of splenocytes in the fresh water snake, Natrix piscator. Animals were mildly anesthetized and spleen was aseptically isolated and processed for macrophage phagocytosis, NBT reduction, nitrite production, splenocyte proliferation and serum lysozyme activity. Samples were collected at seven time p...