Some biological aspects of semen were investigated in the Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, by determination of seminal plasma indices (ionic composition and osmolality), sperm density and their relationships with sperm motility. The osmolality of seminal plasma ranged from 42.00 to 111.00 mOsmol Kg-1. The concentrations of Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Chloride (Cl-), Calcium (Ca2+) and Ma...

Platelet aggregation inhibitory effect and anticoagulant properties of fractions separated from the venoms of Cerastes persicus fieldi and Echis carinatus were investigated. The partial fractionation was performed on a Sephadex G-100 column. Two fractions separated from Cerastes persicus fieldi showed anti platelet aggregation activity on ADP (200 μM)-induced platelet aggregation (ca 80% inhibi...

Understanding the scale at which wild stocks of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) are genetically discrete is necessary for effective management of this commercially important species. Disomic DNA microsatellite markers are among the best tools for determining stock structure in fishes. As all sturgeon species have a polyploid ancestry of all sturgeons, most gene loci exhibit more than two ...

Histological examination of thymi from juvenile Acipenser ruthenus and Acipenser brevirostrum after haematoxylin and eosin staining revealed the presence of Hassall’s corpuscles, in a scattered distribution within the thymic medulla in two of seven, and one of nine examined specimens, respectively. Morphologically, the Hassall’s corpuscles were of the juvenile and premature type and no degenera...

Zearalenone (ZEA) as mycoestrogen is found in human foods and animal feeds. Its estrogenic potency depends on its biotransformation fate. The hepatic biotransformation of ZEA in two species of sturgeon fish (Acipenser persicus and Huso huso) was investigated. ZEA was incubated with the hepatic microsomal and post-mitochondrial sub-fractions in the presence of NADPH and the metabolites were dete...

Worldwide, sturgeons (Acipenseridae) are among the most endangered fishes due to habitat degradation, overfishing, and inherent life history characteristics (long life span, late maturation, and infrequent spawning). As most sturgeons are anadromous, a considerable portion of their life history occurs in estuarine and marine environments where they may encounter unique threats (e.g., intercepti...

Russian ( ), Persian ( ) and Siberian ( Acipenser gueldenstaedtii A. persicus A. ) sturgeons are closely related ‘Ponto-Caspian’ species. Investigation of baerii their population structure is an important problem, the solution of which determines measures for conservation of these species. According to previous studies, ‘baerii-like’ mitochondrial genotypes were found in the Caspian Sea among 3...