The flukes are the primary locomotor structure in cetaceans, which produce hydrodynamic thrust as the caudal vertebrae are oscillated dorso-ventrally. Effective thrust generation is a function of the kinematics of the flukes, the angle of attack between the flukes and the incident water flow, and the shape of the flukes. We investigated the effect of bending within the caudal region of odontoce...

Glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) are essential enzymes of the cellular defense system. The aim of this work was the identification of GPx transcript in a freshwater bivalve, Unio tumidus, and the effects of Aroclor 1254 on GPx and pi-class GST (pi-GST) expression pattern. The GPx full-length coding sequence was obtained by reverse transcription PCR using degene...

Fipronil is widely used against insects in agriculture and ectoparasites domestic areas veterinary medicine. However, fipronil may influence non-target species as a result of the contamination aquatic ecosystems. The present study aimed to investigate acute sublethal effects freshwater mussels (Unio delicatus), species, with physiological, antioxidant action mechanisms histopathological observa...