LUNGS HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL INTOXICATION WITH RELDAN 40 EC AT PELOPHYLAX RIDIBUNDUS (PALLAS, 1771)

The objective of this paper is to study the histological changes induced by Reldan 40EC in a dose of 0.01 ml chlorpyrifos/g body weight at the level of the lungs of the amphibian specimens Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771). The insecticide was administrated by intraperitoneal injection (1 injection at 2 days in a scheme for 2 weeks). Highly degenerative changes were observed in animals cultured at 22–24°C, compared to those cultured at 4–6°C: thickness of alveolar septa, intraparietal, higher number of hypertrophied goblet cells, disorganization of blood capillaries, fibrosis.

Histological Comparison of the Edible Water Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus Pallas, 1771) Gonads Before and After Reproduction

In this study, testicular and ovarian structures of economically important edible Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) were histologically examined before and after reproduction in male and female individuals. Fourty eight (24 ♀, 24 ♂) adult frogs were collected from Gölbaşı Lake in Hatay. The average weight and length values of female frogs collected from nature were found to be 56.61±19.59 g and 79.54±7.07 mm; while, the average weight and length values of male frogs were 36.63±12.84 g and 69.29±9.15 mm, respectively. Frogs were brought to the frog farm established in Aydıncık and placed in breeding ponds with a width of 1m2. Frogs in the ponds were brought to the laboratory of Iskenderun Technical University in different periods, before breeding (March) and after breeding (June). Then, histological samples were taken from ovary and testis. The female frogs were determined ready for reproduction. Moreover, a large number of mature oocytes in the before breeding ovaries in vitellogenic stage, while after reproduction oocytes in primary structure and oocytes which have atresia status observed. Also, increase in the thickness of the theca layer was determined. In the male frog seminiferous tubules containing a large number of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid and a small number of spermatozoons including sperm bundles and leydig cells were found before reproduction. After the reproduciton, the density of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatids were decreased; while, the density of spermatozoon and sperm bundle were increased in the seminiferous tubules. This study will contribute to the determination of mating and spawning in frog breeding by revealing the histological status of the gonad structure of P. ridibundus in the breeding process.

New records of trematode and acanthocephalan species in frogs in Erzurum Province, Turkey

Summary A total of 32 frogs of two species (Rana macrocnemis, Pelophylax ridibundus) that were dissected in some lectures in Ataturk University Science Faculty Biology Department were investigated parasitologically even after the lectures between 2008 and 2014. 9 digenean species (Cephalogonimus retusus [Cephalogonimidae]; Diplodiscus subclavatus [Paramphistomotidae]; Gorgodera cygnoides, Gorgoderina vitelliloba [Gorgoderidae]; Haplometra cylindracea, Haematoloechus variegatus, Opisthioglyphe ranae, Skrjabinoeces similis and Skrjabinoeces breviansa [Plagiorchiidae]), 3 acanthocephalan species (Acanthocephalus ranae, Centrorhynchus sp., Pomphorhynchus laevis) were found. All the parasites are the first record for Erzurum province, Cephalogonimus retusus and Skrjabinoeces similis are the first records of the parasite fauna of Turkey.

Growth Layers and Its Complex Structure in a Common Species Under Uncommon Conditions: Pelophylax ridibundus in the Talysh Mountains

In the Talysh Mountains, the marsh frog, Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771), increases its distribution due to human activity. In the mountain forest belt, frogs inhabit flowing ponds with cold spring water. These reservoirs are characterized by a stable temperature regime: the water in them is kept at the level of 10 – 12°C in winter and does not fall below 6°C, and in summer does not rise above 18°C. Probably, the cold flow water of ponds in the mountain-forest belt of Talysh can cause some features of growth and maturation for P. ridibundus. The aim of our work was to study the features of the structure of growth layers including the variation in degree of expression of lines of arrested growth (LAGs) of the marsh frogs in ponds with cold flow water. Frogs were collected in the upper part of the Tangeru River gorge in Sym village of Astara District of Azerbaijan (480 m a.s.l.) in August 2018. In total, we studied skeletochronologically 8 females and 9 males. In contrast to the results of the tubular bones studies in the marsh frog presented in earlier works, the studied individuals are characterized by a more complex and diverse structure in the cross section of shin bones. All the revealed diversity of this structure can be divided into three groups. To the first group are relatively rare cases in which there are growth layers with wintering LAGs and additional growth layers but without additional LAGs. The second group includes more frequent cases in which there are growth layers not only with wintering LAGs but with additional LAGs differing discretely from wintering LAGs. The third group includes the rarest cases where there are growth layers with wintering LAGs and with additional LAGs without discrete difference from wintering LAGs. The revealed high variable structure of growth layers and distinctiveness of LAGs in P. ridibundus can be explained by unusual temperature regime in habitat of studied population and the existence of several activity period during a year. The most continuous period of low temperatures (February and March) corresponds to formation hibernation LAGs and dark rings in growth layers. Besides, period from early December to late January may be so cold that frog growth retard sufficiently or stop completely. The formation of more dark parts of growth layers or even several additional LAGs can correspond to this period.

Comparison of sperm parameters and testis histological structure in lake frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) from areas with different level of anthropogenic pollution

The aim. The aim of the work was to study the indicators of spermatogenesis in the lake frog, Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771), in the zone of the influence of emissions from the Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant (TPP). Materials and methods. Urinal sperm and testes samples were taken from male frogs under conditions of anthropogenic pollution (Burshtyn industrial area). Such parameters as sperm concentration in ejaculate, the number of live spermatozoa, total amount of actively mobile forms, and percentage of spermatozoa with progressive motion were determined by calculations in the hemocytometer. Testis samples were processed for routine histological method. The diameter of seminiferous tubules and histological abnormalities were studied. Results. Studies have revealed that near the Burshtyn TPP industrial site, the sperm concentration in the sperm sample and the total number of motile spermatozoa of the lake frogs significantly decreased. The number of dead spermatozoa increases. Amphibians from polluted sites had histological abnormalities in testes such as dilation of the seminiferous tubules with sparse sperm. At the same time, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules in the animals from polluted site significantly decreased. Conclusions. The impact of the emissions from the Burshtyn thermal power plant has an expressive reprotoxic effect that is manifested by depressive changes in testes tissue and gametes. The reproductive system of the lake frog is quite sensitive to environmental pollution. Sperm parameters and histological changes in testes are informative biomarkers and can be used for bioindication of technogenically transformed territories