Zoology

We monitored annual fecal sex hormones and reproductive displays of five individuals of males and females Thai sarus crane (Grus antigone sharpii), a flock of five males and females black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), and five pair bonded lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus), all maintained in captivity at Bangprha Waterbird Breeding Research Center. Reproductive behaviors were observed during 0600–1800 h, for four days during the second week of each month and feces were collected monthly to determine annual male total testosterone (mTT) and female estradiol (fE2) levels by radioimmunoassay. Thai sarus crane exhibited a peak mTT in August following a fE2, with a surge in July. Black-headed ibis demonstrated a peak mTT in January prior to a fE2 with a surge in March. Lesser adjutant stork showed a maximal mTT coincidently with fE2 with a surge in October. Thai sarus crane frequently displayed courtship in May-October, corresponding well with higher mTT rather than fE2 levels. Black-headed ibis showed courtship-copulation displays in January, simultaneously with mTT, but not with fE2 surge. Lesser adjutant stork often displayed courtship-copulation in October-January, seemingly corresponded with higher mTT and fE2 levels during October-December and October—November, respectively. Male and female lesser adjutant stork displayed egg-incubation and chick-rearing behaviors in November—January and December—June, respectively. We suggest that mTT and/or fE2 apparently played an important role in regulation of courtship-copulation displays but did not relate to both egg-incubation and chickrearing behaviors.

Abstract
Background: Momordica charantia (M. charantia) seed has been supposed to have an antifertility property but mechanisms underlying the infertility effect have not been investigated.
Objective: We investigated the antifertility effect of M. charantia ethanol seed extracts on reproductive toxicology and seminal and plasma testosterone in male Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: The control group (I) was provided daily 1 ml dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and the experimental groups II and III were given daily 400 and 800 mg dry matter/kg body weight of the extracts dissolved in 1 ml DMSO via the esophageal route. All groups were administered for 42 days (day 42). Changes in body weight, fertility, reproductive characteristics, testicular histopathology and levels of seminal and plasma testosterone among three groups were compared.
Results: On day 42, the extracts caused antifertility (p=0.001). The extracts demonstrated significant reductions in diameters of seminiferous tubules and epididymides, spermatid density, daily sperm production and caudal epididymal spermatozoa, sperm motility and viability (p=0.046). Pathological changes in seminiferous tubules revealed atrophy, desquamation, pyknosis nucleus and multinucleated giant cell. Plasma cells were evident in three parts of epididymides of rats treated with high dose of the extract. Furthermore, the high dose of the extract suppressed seminal testosterone level (p=0.001) and plasma testosterone level (p=0.002).
Conclusion: Our data showed that high dose of M. Charantia seed extracts caused infertility in male rats. The interruption in their fertility was probably attributed to the direct toxic to seminiferous tubules, epididymis and the lowered testosterone level which might impact on sperm parameters.

The interaction of a pyrimethamine-sulfanilamide combination on the fertility of reversible infertile effects in male Wistar rats was investigated. Sample groups of rats were administered orally for 49 d based on kilograms of body weight (kgbw) as group I: 1.5 mL corn oil/d; group II: 25 mg/kgbw/d of pyrimethamine; group III: 170 mg/kgbw/d of sulfanilamide; and group IV: 25 and 170 mg/kgbw/d of combined pyrimethamine and sulfanilamide. All groups then had 35 d of drug withdrawal. Males were cohabited with untreated females to diagnose infertility on days 7, 21, 35, and 49 and reversible infertility on days 56, 70, and 84. Males were sacrificed on days 49 and 84, when spermatogram (numbers of spermatids and epididymal spermatozoa, sperm motility, viability of epididymal spermatozoa) and testicular and epididymal histopathology were examined. Male rats showed significant reductions in fertility on days 21, 35 and particularly 49 from the combined treatment, corresponding to significant impairments of spermatogram. Desquamation and multinucleated giant cells in seminiferous tubules as well as hyperplasia, degenerative and cloudy chief cells were observed in the epididymis of rats treated with the combined drugs. Infertility, spermatogram, testicular and epididymal histopathology reversibly became normal by day 35 after drug withdrawal. It was concluded that the combined administration of pyrimethamine and sulfanilamide potentiated temporal infertility effect in male Wistar rats.

Background: Momordica charantia (M. charantia) seed has been supposed to have an antifertility property but mechanisms underlying the infertility effect have not been investigated. Objective: We investigated the antifertility effect of M. charantia ethanol seed extracts on reproductive toxicology and seminal and plasma testosterone in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: The control group (I) was provided daily 1 ml dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and the experimental groups II and III were given daily 400 and 800 mg dry matter/kg body weight of the extracts dissolved in 1 ml DMSO via the esophageal route. All groups were administered for 42 days (day 42). Changes in body weight, fertility, reproductive characteristics, testicular histopathology and levels of seminal and plasma testosterone among three groups were compared. Results: On day 42, the extracts caused antifertility (p=0.001). The extracts demonstrated significant reductions in diameters of seminiferous tubules and epididymides, spermatid density, daily sperm production and caudal epididymal spermatozoa, sperm motility and viability (p=0.046). Pathological changes in seminiferous tubules revealed atrophy, desquamation, pyknosis nucleus and multinucleated giant cell. Plasma cells were evident in three parts of epididymides of rats treated with high dose of the extract. Furthermore, the high dose of the extract suppressed seminal testosterone level (p=0.001) and plasma testosterone level (p=0.002). Conclusion: Our data showed that high dose of M. Charantia seed extracts caused infertility in male rats. The interruption in their fertility was probably attributed to the direct toxic to seminiferous tubules, epididymis and the lowered testosterone level which might impact on sperm parameters.

We describe the external morphology of the tadpoles of two frogs endemic to Thailand: the Phu Luang cascade frog
(Odorrana aureola) and the Isan big-headed frog (Limnonectes isanensis) from the type localities in the Phu Luang Wildlife
Sanctuary, Loei Province, northeastern Thailand. Morphological and genetic characters (16S rRNA) were used to
identify specimen and match tadpoles to the adults. Detailed descriptions of external morphology and coloration in life
are provided for both species. We provide a brief discussion of the ecology of these tadpoles and a comparison to
previously published data from tadpoles of closely related taxa. Additionally, we provide evidence for the utility of larval
morphology in resolving the taxonomic puzzles presented by cryptic species complexes.

A new glossiphoniid leech species, Placobdelloides tridens sp. n., is discovered on the Malayan Giant Turtle (Orlitia borneensis) at the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo in Thailand. The morphological study of this new species revealed that it is distinguished from P. siamensis, a turtle leech species that can be found commonly in Thailand. Placobdelloides tridens presented the following diagnostic morphological characteristics: a pear-shaped and triannulate body, well-developed rod-like papillae on the dorsal surface, smooth posterior and anterior suckers with nominal pits inside, a single pair of dark contiguous eyes, light yellow-brown to greenish dorsal color, absence of median line, male and female gonopore separated by a single annulus and a unique trident shape at the tip of the crop ceca. The phylogenetic relationships of P. tridens sp. n., was clarified, and shown to be a sister clade to the P. siamensis and P. sirikanchanae clade. Furthermore, this is a new host record for P. siamensis, which was found on O. borneensis, Batagur affinis and B. borneoensis in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi, Thailand.

A 70-day growth trial was conducted with postlarvae 12 (PL12) Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) to study the suitability of soybean meal and oil originating from a single-celled microorganism (thraustochytrid) as fishmeal and fish oil substitutes in practical diets for L. vannamei. The growth, survival rate and immune characteristics were evaluated. Seven experimental diets were designed with soybean meal used as the primary protein source; each formulation contained 33% crude protein and 8% lipid. Fish oil was completely substituted with 3% soybean oil and meals originating from single-celled heterotrophs rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) were added at different concentrations. A commercial shrimp feed was used as the control diet. The final weights and survival rates of the shrimp were not significantly different among all treatments. However, shrimp raised on diets supplemented with marine algal meals rich in DHA and ARA showed significant improvement in immune parameters, such as total hemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and bactericidal activity. Additionally, the survival rate after challenge with Vibrio harveyi was increased. These findings demonstrated that substitution of thraustochytrid-derived meals as an alternative to fish-based ingredients in shrimp diets provided similar growth rates while increasing the immune parameters and providing vibriosis resistance.