This study presents the histomorphological features of tongue in Eurasian teal (Anas crecca); the smallest extant dabbling duck. Heads of four adult males and four adult females were used in this study. The results illustrate a tongue with three different parts; the apex with a lingual nail in ventral surface, the body with a lingual prominence in caudal part and some large and small conical papillae in lateral sides and the root, that was covered with many conical papillae in different sizes. Histological results revealed two types of keratinized and non-keratinized epithelium covering parts of the tongue. The lingual salivary glands were observed in the lamina propria of the body and root of the tongue showed strongly periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive reaction. The yellow adipose tissue was located under the lamina propria on the body and root of the tongue. The filiform papillae between the conical papillae of the body were arranged densely. The sensory organs, which contain sensory receptors (Grandry and Herbst corpuscles), were located in the lamina propria of the body of the tongue. In conclusion, the anatomical and histological structure of the Eurasian teal' tongue was generally similar to its family members such as domestic goose and duck but showed some differences that may be adoptions to the bird's habitat and mode of feeding.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effect of Echium amoenum plants on the liver and kidney of animal model. Background: Echium amoenum is one of the medicinal plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids with several properties which has widely consumed among different communities. Objective: The toxic effects of Echium amoenum on the liver and kidney were investigated in this study. Methods: Sixty mice were kept for 28 days under the appropriate laboratory conditions. Echium amoenum extract (25, 12.5, 50 mg / kg, ip.) was administered for 28 days. At the end of experiment, blood samples were drawn and liver and kidneys were removed for evaluating hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of extract. Additionally, experiments were conducted to assay the enzymatic and oxidative activities. Results: There was no significant difference in the levels of copper ion in the liver and kidneys among all groups. There was a significant difference in the levels of lipid peroxidation in the liver of treated groups versus control group. The significant difference was not observed in the levels of glutathione of the liver of all groups. However, the levels of glutathione of the kidney significantly decreased in the treated groups versus control group. There was no significant difference in the liver enzymes including ALP, SGOT, and SGPT between all groups. This indicates that damage increase with enhancing the time and concentrations of extract. Biochemical analysis showed the creatinine and urea levels did not change in the treated groups versus control group. Conclusion: According to the present findings, it is suggested that Echium amoenum causes hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity effects in dose and time dependent manner.

The Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) (ICP) is widely distributed in Asia; however, compared with other rodents, little is known about the structures of its respiratory system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histomorphology of the lower respiratory portion of the ICP to provide a basis for the identification of the normal How to cite this article: Marzban Abbasabadi B, Moradi HR, Arefi S, Kyllar M. Histomorphology of the lower respiratory tract in the Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica).

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. Despite the numerous medications, there are still the limitations such as side effects and treatment-resistance in depression treating. Herbal medicine has been considered as supplemental and alternative therapy for psychiatric disorders. Psycodigest is an antidepressant Persian formula composed of Aloysia triphylla, Citrus aurantium, Echium amoneum, Lavandula angustifolia, Melissa officinalis, Salix aegyptiaca, Valeriana officinalis, Viola odorata, and Cinnamomum zeylanicum. This survey was performed to evaluate the effect of the chronic administration of Psycodigest in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice behavior and its safety. CUMS-mice orally administered with Psycodigest (0.23ml /mice), Fluoxetine (20mg/kg), and Bupropion (15mg/kg) for 4 weeks. The antidepressant effects were evaluated by sucrose preference, tail suspension, and forced swimming test. The anxiolytic effect was tested by elevated plus maze. Besides, the brain, kidney, liver super oxidase dismutase (SOD) activity, and plasma level of cortisol, creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were detected. The histopathological effects evaluated on kidney, liver, intestine and brain. The daily oral administration of Psycodigest as well as Fluoxetine and Bupropion had antidepressant, but no anxiolytic effect. Psycodigest did not change the serum level of cortisol, ALT and creatinine. Also hematological and histological examinations were not affected. Meanwhile, the brain SOD activity increased followed by Psycodigest treatment, the kidney and liver SOD did not change. The chronic administration of Psycodigest significantly ameliorated the depressive-like behaviors and showed the antioxidative effect in the brain with no toxicity in the liver and kidney.