This study investigates for the first time the reproduction biology of the Squid Uroteuthis duvauceli in the Suez Canal, over 4 seasons. The sexual maturity was analyzed using the gonad condition in both sexes and by the color of the accessory nidamental glands in females. Spawning season was determined by calculating the gonadosomatic index (GSI) in both sexes as well as the nidamental gland-somatic index in females and spermatophoric complex index in males. Fecundity was estimated in 20 females that were in stage IV (spawning) and had dorsal mantle lengths (DML) ranging from 14.5-18.5 cm. The incidence of mating was indirectly detected by the presence of spermatophores in the seminal receptacle situated near the buccal membrane of the arm crown of females. The spawning season takes place in late spring and summer. Significant positive correlations were detected between fecundity and dorsal mantle length (r 2 = 0.7753), body weight (r 2 = 0.4702) and weight of ovary (r 2 = 0.6665). Most of spawning females (80.32%) were found mated and fully mature females (17.21%) were observed mating. No females at stage I were found to have been mated.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in joints. Most currently-used drugs to treat OA induce gastrointestinal troubles and renal impairment. The current study investigated the alleviative effects of the ethanolic crude extract of Bauhinia variegata (BV) leaves on monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA. Ten groups of male Wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus; 5 rats/group) were randomly allotted into the control group that (G1) received distilled water; groups treated orally/daily with 200, 400, or 600 mg of BV extract/kg body weight, or the reference drug (250 mg glucosamine sulfate/kg body weight) for 4 weeks (G2-G5, respectively); group treated with 40 mg MIA/mL once by intra-articular injection (G6); and groups treated with MIA + the different doses of BV extract or the reference drug (orally/daily for 4 weeks) after 4 weeks of MIA injection (G7-G10, respectively). The results showed significant increases in serum calcium and phosphorus levels, and significant decreases in the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase, the levels of serum interleukin-6, prostaglandin E2, leptin, and type II collagen, as well as the levels of cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in knee joints, in the MIA groups treated with BV extract (in a dosedependent manner) compared with the MIA group. The X-ray imaging showed a significant increase in joint space in the MIA groups treated with the high doses of BV extract compared with the MIA group. The present study suggested that BV extract may be promising in the treatment of OA.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.