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BackgroundLung diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have a high incidence worldwide. The current drug therapies for ARDS have supportive effects, making them inefficient. New methods such as stromal cell therapy are needed for this problem.MethodsThis research was performed with ten New Zealand rabbits in two groups. Bone marrow aspiration was performed on the treated group, and mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured. The experimental model of ARDS was induced using LPS from Escherichia coli strain O55:B5. Then, 1010 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were autologously transplanted intrapulmonary in the treatment group, and 1–2 ml of PBS in the control group. The clinical signs, computed tomographic (CT) scans, echocardiography, blood gas analysis, complete blood count, and cytokine levels were measured before and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h after BM-MSC transplant. Finally, the rabbits were killed, and histopathological examination was performed.ResultsThe results showed that BM-MSCs decreased the severity of clinical symptoms, the number of white blood cells and heterophils in the blood, the total cell count, and number of heterophils and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage, and balanced the values of arterial blood gases (increase in partial pressure of oxygen and O2 saturation and decrease in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide). They also downregulated the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations and increased the IL-10 concentrations at different times compared with time 0 and in the control group, significantly. In the CT scan, a significant decrease in the Hounsfield units and total lung volume was found by echocardiography, and in comparing the two groups, a significant difference in the parameters was noticed. The histopathology demonstrated that the BM-MSCs were able to reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells and pulmonary hemorrhage and edema.ConclusionsThis study indicated that BM-MSCs play a significant role in the repair of lung injury.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13054-018-2272-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Serum biochemical parameters are important aspects in the management of endangered species, such as Acipenser persicus. The values of these parameters can be used for confirming the maturity and for monitoring any changes in the quality of waters and related soils. Serum samples of 44 A. persicus fishes were analyzed and their serum parameter values were determined as Mean+/-SD in four groups: mature males and females and immature males and females, respectively. We compared the levels of calcium (Ca; 1.97 +/- 0.31-2.38 +/- 0.28 mmol/l), blood urea nitrogen (BUN; 4.4 +/- 0.54-6.16 +/- 0.63 mmol/l), cholesterol (CHO; 2.55 +/- 0.42-13.51 +/- 0.65 mmol/l), creatinine (CREA; 27.23 +/- 3.5-83.98 +/- 7.5 mmol/l), magnesium (Mg; 2.74 +/- 0.18-3.05 +/- 0.46 mmol/l), bilirubin (Bilirubin; 2.05 +/- 0.42-13.93 +/- 4.39 mumol/l), aspatate transaminase (AST; 18.25 +/- 1.5-167 +/- 38 Iu/l), alanine transaminase (ALT; 11 +/- 1-25.33 +/- 9.24 Iu/l), alkaline phosphatase (ALP; 183.5 +/- 17.68-523 +/- 66.23 Iu/l) and creatine kinase (CK; 157.5 +/- 27.58-2132.2 +/- 250.92 Iu/l). We have shown that there were no differences in the Ca and Mg levels among the different groups. However, mature females have higher CREA, AST, CHO and lower BUN, ALP and ALT than the immature females. In the mature males, the values of ALP and bilirubin were higher yet the values of CREA and ALT were lower than in the immature males.

The objective of this study was to test existing ultrasound technology for use in early sex identification in beluga sturgeon (3-years-old fish) while including some methodological adjustments. Eighty cultured Beluga sturgeons aged 3 years underwent ultrasonographic examination using a high frequency transducer for sex determination. Sexing of the sturgeons was based on the shape and echogenicity (brightness) of the gonad and surrounding fat tissue in sonographic scans. Accuracy of ultrasound sex determinations were confirmed through directly inspecting the gonads by a small incision in the right or left ventral body wall. Females were identified with 96.7% accuracy (n = 31) and males with 97.9% accuracy (n = 49). Overall accuracy of sex determination using ultrasonography was 97.5%. Using high frequency transducer and transverse scanning just over the swim bladder in 3-year-old beluga may have been contributed in high accuracy sex detection. These technically improvements may be considered an advantage for beluga culture because this fish matures extremely late compared to other sturgeon species.

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