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The study focused on gill lesions observed in Prespa barbel individuals caught on the north littoral site of Lake Prespa in the area of the Golema River confluence, which is under agricultural, industrial and urban pollution pressure. Microscopic analysis revealed a series of circulatory, regressive, progressive and, to a less extent, inflammatory changes of which the most prominent were: telangiectasia, necrosis of respiratory epithelium accompanied by collapsed secondary lamellae, necrosis and proliferation of interlamellar and lamellar respiratory epithelium, and parasite infection. These results indicate that the reiterated gill lesions were probably due to the double influence of the toxic effects of a polluted aquatic environment and opportunistic infections, which indicates that the application of mitigating measures is urgently needed in order to protect the Prespa Lake ecosystems.

As a result of the global warming, the average ambient temperature during summertime has increased in regions with moderate continental climate. The effects of 24 h exposure to heat stress (35±1 °C) on the morphology and function of pituitary adrenocorti cotropes were examined in adult male Wistar rats. Significant changes in the morphofunctional features of adrenocorti cotropes were found after the heat stress, with no differences noted in the cell shape or localization, com pared to controls. The adrenocorti cotropes cell volume, as well as the volume density, were significantly decreased (p

The activity of the adrenal gland is connected with the activity of other endocrine glands, such as the gonads. The experiments were conducted on testectomized adult, male rats, Wistar strain, acclimated on two ambient temperatures: room and moderately high temperature. Bilateral testectomy was performed on the rats of both temperatures and analyses were made 15-20 days after surgery. It was shown that the adrenal weight of testectomized heat acclimated rats was significantly increased. The widening of zona reticularis, shortening of zona fasciculata, as well as presence of supracortical nodules in the adrenal cortex of testectomized rats, regardless of the ambient temperature, was evidenced. Lipid content in the adrenocortical cells was lowered in both groups, but that was more prominent in testectomized rats from room temperature. The morphometric measurements of the nuclear area and volume were significantly elevated only in zona reticularis cells of testectomised animals from room temperature. Those parameters were significantly decreased in testectomized heat acclimated rats in comparison with the same values in the testectomized animals from room temperature. These results suggest that testectomy provokes changes towards increased activity of the adrenal cortex in both ambient temperatures, but those changes are less intense in heat acclimated animals.

A lipoma is a benign tumour of mature adipocytes which may appear in various species, including marine and freshwater fish. It usually occurs in isolated locations, such as a superficial or deep mass, mainly in the skin and seldom in other organs. In non-mammalian vertebrates, there is no agreed minimal size for the mass to be considered a lipoma. This study histologically describes a case proposed to be a microlipoma in the liver of Barbus balcanicus. The structure was an oval-shaped mass of well-differentiated adipocytes, surrounded by hepatic parenchyma. The adipocyte cluster did not contact with major vascular or biliary tracts, the liver capsule, or the hilum. The cell mass reached a maximal linear length and width of ~0.5 mm and ~0.4 mm. A three-dimensional and software-assisted reconstruction of the adipocytic mass showed that it had the shape of a flattened prolate spheroid (~0.01 mm3). Given the histological criteria currently used in the literature, we consider the mass as a lipoma, or, better, a microlipoma because it was tiny. We interpret this structure as an early growing lipoma. This work is the second description of a liver lipoma in a fish to the best of our knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigmented macrophage aggregates (MAs) are known to change under influence of various factors, such as aging, season, starvation, and/or pollution. In this study, changes in the pigment content of the MAs in the spleen of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis, Karaman) (n = 129) collected in spring and autumn, from three rivers with different pollution impact was examined: Zletovska River (metals), Kriva River (metals and municipal wastewater), and Bregalnica River (municipal wastewater). Collected data revealed increased relative volume and number of MAs containing hemosiderin under the influence of metals, significant in autumn (p <.05). In chub exposed to metals combined with municipal wastewater, significant increase of lipochrome accumulation in MAs in autumn, melanin in MAs in fish captured in the spring season, and number of splenic MAs containing combination of melanin and lipochrome was noted. Volumes and number of MAs containing combination of hemosiderin and lipochrome increased in spleen of fish captured in autumn from both Zletovska River and Kriva River, most likely due to the contribution of hemosiderin and lipochrome, respectively. Values measured for the various pigments in splenic MAs in fish captured from Bregalnica River, were overall closer to the values measured for fish captured from Kriva River. Notably, melanin and lipochrome are more likely to be found in fish from waters influenced by municipal wastewater (organic pollution) and hemosiderin in fish spleen from water influenced by mining activity (heavy metals pollution). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to histochemically estimate the relative copper content in the liver during the breeding cycle of female Ohrid trout, a wild population endemic to the Ohrid Lake. The histology of the oogenetic cycle in this species was documented for the first time. Histochemistry with semi-quantification revealed positive correlations between the gonadosomatic indices and copper load. Uptake of the metal increases in the liver as the ovaries increase in size, with the highest hepatic copper load occurring postspawning. The plasmatic levels of 17β-oestradiol were also quantified, but no correlations to copper load were found, so there is no direct estrogenic control on the uptake and release of copper from the bloodstream to either organ. Therefore, when interpreting field studies or assays on hepatic copper pollution and toxicity, breeding-related seasonal changes in Ohrid trout must be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Iron is an essential micronutrient for the normal metabolism of all cells. Intracellular iron varies within normality ranges, and depletion or overload of brings serious consequences. As such, iron can also be deleterious when appearing as an environmental toxicant. The aim of this study was to estimate semi-quantitatively the liver iron content in female Ohrid trout, from the Lake Ohrid, during the breeding cycle. Seasonal variations in hepatocytic iron were observed. The maximum content occurred at post-spawning, which was significantly higher than loads detected at pre- and earlyvitellogenesis. Positive correlations existed between iron amounts and stages of ovary maturation. By the contrary, there were no correlations between iron contents and plasma oestradiol levels. The new uncovered "iron-breeding association" strongly endorses that normal seasonal variations in hepatocytic iron content should be taken into consideration in field studies investigating and monitoring the metal burden and toxicological effects of metals on wild fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biologija is the property of Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Publishers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the haematological parameters between male and female Ohrid Roach (Rutilus ohridanus Karaman, 1924), from Lake Ohrid, during the spawning season. The results showed that males have higher values than females, with statistically significant difference for the erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and mean cell volume. These findings demonstrate that males have higher metabolic rate during this period, and that their blood physiology is influenced by the increased physical activity and very likely by the appropriate sex hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution with heavy metals may influence the immune system of fish, leading to impairment of their health or even increase their mortality. The fish kidney is one of the first fish organs to be affected by water contamination. Amounts of kidney macrophages (MACs), which are involved in fish immune response, as well as the qualitative and quantitative changes in the pigmented MACs in fish kidney, are used as biomarkers of pollution. Therefore, in this study, we have evaluated relative and total volumes of trunk kidney pigmented MACs, and analyzed the pigments accumulated within them. Fish were sampled from two mining impacted rivers, Kriva and Zletovska, highly contaminated with heavy metals, and from one reference river, Bregalnica, in spring and autumn of 2012. We have observed that main pigments found in kidney MACs of Vardar chub were melanin and lipofuscin/ceroid, as well as that relative volumes of MACs ranged from 0.56 to 1.68%. Moreover, the results showed that relative volumes of pigmented MACs were higher in metal contaminated rivers, especially in autumn season in the Zletovska River, concurrently with extremely high metal exposure. In addition, condition factors and kidney somatic indices were found significantly lower in the Zletovska River in both seasons, autumn and spring, possibly also as a consequence of high water pollution. Our data confirm that increase in relative volumes of pigmented MACs may serve as warning sign of potential heavy metal pollution in aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA), was studied in Vardar chub ( Squalius vardarensis Karaman) as an indicator of oxidative stress, using native fish from three rivers in northern Macedonia: the mining-impacted Zletovska and Kriva rivers and the agriculturally impacted Bregalnica River. MDA concentrations were measured in the intestine in the spring and autumn of 2012 and in the gills in autumn. The aims of the study were to establish the type of contamination which provokes a more pronounced MDA increase, as well as the organ which more reliably reflects the occurrence of oxidative stress. MDA levels in the intestine in spring amounted to 3.29-155.8 nmol g and in autumn to 4.85-111.1 nmol g, whereas MDA concentrations in the gills in autumn were 7.69-147.5 nmol g. Stronger influence of organic contamination on development of oxidative stress was observed in both organs, as seen from higher median MDA concentrations in autumn in fish from the highly pesticide-contaminated Bregalnica River (gills 78.4 nmol g; intestine 23.5 nmol g) compared to the highly metal-contaminated Zletovska River (gills 15.9 nmol g; intestine 17.4 nmol g). The response of the gills to contamination was twice stronger than that of the intestine. The majority of fish from the pesticide-polluted river had increased MDA in the gills, in contrast to only sporadically increased MDA in the intestine. Our results indicated that development of oxidative stress strongly depends on the selected fish organ and that the gills seem to be a better choice for monitoring oxidative stress than the intestine, due to their continuous and direct exposure to polluted river water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated chemical and biomarker approaches were performed to estimate if there is ongoing toxicity in the River Bregalnica, namely connected with the presence of metals. The study was performed in water, sediment, and barbel ( Barbus peloponnesius), collected in two seasons, from two suspected polluted and one reference zones. The water analyses revealed higher mean values in polluted sites for most of the examined physicochemical parameters. Metal concentrations (Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Fe) in water were more or less constant, whereas in sediment, they were higher at the two polluted locations. Condition factor (CF), as a general health indicator, revealed better overall condition in barbel from the reference site. In general, blood parameters revealed higher values in the polluted localities. Irrespective of sex and/or season, the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and vacuolated nuclei (VN) were with higher rates in polluted sites. Similarly, the frequencies of the leucocytes (Le), binuclei (BN), and irregularly shaped nuclei (ISN) were also significantly increased in the polluted localities, but they seemed prone to be influenced by sex and/or season. However, strong positive correlations between blood biomarkers and most water physicochemical parameters and metal in sediment were estimated. Our data support that the River Bregalnica's lower course receives significant genotoxic pollution, likely via metal industry effluents, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage, and reinforced the utility of MN and other nuclear abnormalities as sensitive and suitable biomarkers for genotoxicity when used in monitoring studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochemical and histopathological analysis for the assessment of the exposure of the aquatic organisms towards the environmental pollution has found a great use in biomonitoring studies of aquatic ecosystems. Biochemical markers, concretely, the liver enzymes of the first phase of transformation of xenobiotics-cytochrome P450 (CYP450), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and the histological markers, concretely, histopathological changes in the liver parenchyma were used in this study to assess the aquatic environmental pollution of the locations of the river Vardar in the Republic of Macedonia. The selected locations of this river were Vardar river near Vrtok - control station (L1), Vardar river in Jegunovce (L2), Vardar river on the outskirts of Skopje (L3) and Vardar river on the outskirts of Veles (L4). As an indicator species was selected Barbus peloponnesius V. High levels of catalytic activity of EROD in the liver of this fish was highlighted in the Vardar river in Jegunovce (141.71 ± 7.59 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein), in the Vardar river on the outskirts of Skopje (132.43 ± 7.16 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein) and in the Vardar river on the outskirts of Velesit (104.34 ± 8.86 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein), compared to the catalytic level of EROD in the liver of this fish of the control group (2.41 ± 0.23 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein). From the histopathological analysis of the fragments analyzed in the liver parenchyma of these fish which were collected in the bottom flows of the river Vardar were ascertained many histopathological changes. The results of this study authenticate the pollution in localities along the downstream of the river Vardar. The results show that the use of chemical and histological markers for assessing water quality is an appropriate method that can fit with the classical methods of monitoring the pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of overweight and obesity has become a world-wide problem. People with obesity or overweight have a much greater risk of developing different kinds of serious disease conditions. Obesity is not a problem only in developed countries; it is also starting to increase in developing countries as well. The Republic of Macedonia is a developing country for which no single data exist concerning prevalence of the overweight or obesity. In this study for the first time, we try to tackle the frequency of the overweight and obesity true examination of body mass index (BMI) in adult Macedonian populations. The results show that the prevalence of overweight is very high 50.98% in male and much less in female 20.38%. On the contrary, overweight frequency of obesity is much lower; 10.46% in male and 6.16% in female. The men and women of the older age group (>30) show the significant higher value. In total 33.24% of the Macedonian population are overweight and 7.92% have obesity. The study gave evidence for overweight and obesity, data which calls the government and other responsible organizations on emergency dealing in the pattern of making more deep study and to take the measure for decrease of especially high overweight in Macedonian population as prevention measure for possible increase of obesity in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study on wild female Ohrid trout was primarily designed to provide a general overview of the breeding cycle influence upon selected aspects of hepatocytes. According with a semiquantitatively evaluation, some of these cell's structural compartments change during the breeding cycle. Structural modifications were disclosed in the relative occurrence of lipid, glycogen, and RER content during breeding cycle. The relative amount of lipid deposits in the hepatocytes was much greater in previtellogenesis, and decreased postspawning. So, while the seasonal changes in RER were positively related with the ovary maturation status, those of the lipid droplets followed an opposite trend. The hepatocytic glycogen occurred rarely, mainly in late-vitellogenesis and spawning, suggesting that in this species such kind of energy storage is comparatively unimportant. Lipid accumulation and later usage is, probably, the relevant biochemical pathway for Ohrid trout in the wild. While glycogen and RER contents were positively correlated with the gonadosomatic index, lipids were negatively correlated. Additionally, glycogen inclusions were positively correlated with the plasma estradiol levels. When comparing seasonal patterns from wild Ohrid trout with those from well-studied rainbow and brown trout (specimens studied were from aquaculture), there are contradicting results as to lipid and glycogen reserves, and also as to RER loads. The differences among the mentioned trout can result from intrinsic interspecies differences or may be associated with natural feeding conditions versus feeding with commercially prepared diets, or other factors. This study offers new data useful as standard to access liver pathology in wild and aquacultured Ohrid trout. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:700-706, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in fish macrophage aggregate centres (MACs) are a useful indicator of environmental stress. In this study we evaluated stereologically the values of these cells in the polluted sites compared to the clean site in the River Bregalnica. MACs aggregates were randomly distributed in spleen and often showed irregular form. Dominant pigment in them was hemosiderin. Relative volume of MACs aggregates showed significant higher value in brook barbel from polluted site. Total volume showed the same pattern, but differences were not significant. Our data confirm that increase in MACs aggregates may serve as to warn on potential pollution in aquatic ecosystems. However, the precaution is strongly suggested, as results were based on quantitative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strong negative anthropogenic pressure on the River Bregalnica resulted in the increase of pollution in the river ecosystem. The aim of this study was to evaluate if aquatic pollutants generate genotoxic effects in barbel (Barbus peloponnesius). Thirty individuals were collected from three localities along the river: one control site and two locations in the middle and lower course of the river with the presence of different pollution sources. Blood smears were stained with May-Grünwald/Giemsa method and the frequency of micronuclei, vacuolated nuclei, binuclei, blebbed nuclei and notched nuclei expressed in per mill was recorded. In fish collected from the control site, the investigated erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities revealed lowest values compared to polluted sites. In general, significantly higher values for erythrocyte deformations, including micronuclei, were noted in the middle and lower part of the river. Significantly higher values of vacuolated and blebbed nuclei were detected in fish from the middle course of the river, while at the lower course the frequencies of occurrence of micronuclei and notched nuclei were significant compared with control site. The middle course of the River Bregalnica has more diverse pollutants compared to the lower course, and consequently the highest frequency of all nuclear deformations was found in barbel from the middle course of the river. Obtained results suggest that pollutants draining into the Bregalnica river ecosystem display a genotoxic effect on the local barbel population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Contributions. Section of Natural, Mathematical & Biotechnical Sciences is the property of Macedonian Academy of Sciences & Arts (MANU) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Changes in fish macrophages (Macs) are useful indicators of environmental pressures, but responses due to chemical and nonchemical stresses may be confounded by natural sources of variability. These may include sex and gonadal stage. In this study, we start addressing the following question: is the seasonally dependent ovary stage a factor to consider when using kidney Macs as biomarkers? To tackle this problem, the relative amount of pigmented Macs in kidney (head, trunk, and tail portions) was stereologically estimated in Ohrid trout, and related with the breeding status. The amount of Macs significantly increased from pre vitellogenesis to late vitellogenesis and showed a decreasing trend then after, with lower values noted after spawning in the head (1.9% versus 7.5% versus 2.0%), trunk (1.8% versus 7.5% versus 2.5%), and tail (2.5% versus 6.7% versus 2.9%) kidney. The decrease seen at spawning was significant in head and trunk kidney, and at post spawning it was significant for all kidney portions. The amounts of Macs were positively correlated with the ovary relative weights and plasma estradiol levels. We proved for the first time that fish kidney pigmented Macs can vary in amount during the breeding cycle. Our data, combined with literature, strongly support that the sex-steroid profile and kidney status-seasonal remodeling both influence the Macs pool; likely not only in female trout. So, while increases in Macs may warn of ecosystem problems, we show that using kidney Macs for biomonitoring should also take into account seasonally, particularly that related with ovary maturation. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Biochemistry is the property of Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is well known that factors such as aging and water quality may influence pigmented macrophages (PMacs) in fishes, but it is not established yet if PMacs undergo seasonal and breeding dependent variations. This study explored this caveat and reports qualitative histological and stereological data on liver PMacs from wild female Ohrid trout, Salmo letnica, during the annual breeding cycle. Data showed that a minority of PMacs contained melanin and that the vast majority of them contained only hemosiderin or hemosiderin and lipofuscin/ceroid pigment. It was suggested that this is the normal scenario for the species. One remarkable result was the demonstration of a striking increase, after spawning, of the relative and total volumes of the hepatic macrophages, both parenchyma and stroma located. Because the melano PMacs did not vary, those changes were due to fluctuations in the hemosiderin-laden PMacs. We concluded that Ohrid trout presented a pigment composition in liver macrophages that differed from other fish, including salmonids, where most liver phagocytes essentially display melanin. Our quantitative data support interspecies differences in the amount of liver macrophages and also that after spawning expansion of the macrophage pool is crucial and most likely connected with the needs of liver remodeling (leading to a decrease in hepatic mass). So, we suggested that the hormonal (sex steroidal) constellation influenced the liver macrophage pool. Additionally, we proved that the use of fish liver macrophages for biomonitoring should take into account the considerable natural breeding/seasonal dependent variations that are expected to occur. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]