Acceleration of neutrophil precursors' maturation and immunostimulation of CD3+, CD4+ lymphocytes by stanozolol in mice

The abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) for improved physical performance is associated with many deleterious effects. The present study aims to evaluate the short-term effect of an AAS compound stanozolol, on lipoprotein profile, granulopoiesis and immune response in adult female mice. The mice were assigned to five experimental groups and different doses of stanozolol (low - 0.05 mg, medium - 0.5 mg, high - 5 mg and highest dose - 7.5 mg/kg bwt or only vehicle respectively) were administered s.c. for 15 days. A decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) as well as total cholesterol (TC) in all the stanozolol treated groups and an increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) in high and the highest dose treated groups indicate that stanozolol alters serum lipoprotein profile. A significant increase in the percentage of myelocytes, metamyelocytes and neutrophils in all the treated mice unveils the stimulation of granulopoiesis through the acceleration of neutrophil precursors' maturation in the bone marrow of mice. The stimulation of erythropoiesis was also noted in all the treated groups. The flow cytometry analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3(+) and CD4(+)) revealed immunoenhancing response of stanozolol at optimum physiological dose, however, it is immunosuppressive at supraphysiologic level. We conclude that stanozolol accelerates granulopoiesis and stimulates immune response (at physiologic level only), though it alters the lipoprotein profile in mice.     

Development and evaluation of high‐density Axiom®CicerSNP Array for high‐resolution genetic mapping and breeding applications in chickpea

To accelerate genomics research and molecular breeding applications in chickpea, a high‐throughput SNP genotyping platform ‘Axiom^®CicerSNP Array’ has been designed, developed and validated. Screening of whole‐genome resequencing data from 429 chickpea lines identified 4.9 million SNPs, from which a subset of 70 463 high‐quality nonredundant SNPs was selected using different stringent filter criteria. This was further narrowed down to 61 174 SNPs based on p‐convert score ≥0.3, of which 50 590 SNPs could be tiled on array. Among these tiled SNPs, a total of 11 245 SNPs (22.23%) were from the coding regions of 3673 different genes. The developed Axiom^®CicerSNP Array was used for genotyping two recombinant inbred line populations, namely ICCRIL03 (ICC 4958 × ICC 1882) and ICCRIL04 (ICC 283 × ICC 8261). Genotyping data reflected high success and polymorphic rate, with 15 140 (29.93%; ICCRIL03) and 20 018 (39.57%; ICCRIL04) polymorphic SNPs. High‐density genetic maps comprising 13 679 SNPs spanning 1033.67 cM and 7769 SNPs spanning 1076.35 cM were developed for ICCRIL03 and ICCRIL04 populations, respectively. QTL analysis using multilocation, multiseason phenotyping data on these RILs identified 70 (ICCRIL03) and 120 (ICCRIL04) main‐effect QTLs on genetic map. Higher precision and potential of this array is expected to advance chickpea genetics and breeding applications.     

Differentiation and development of testis in the oviparous lizard, Calotes versicolor (Daud.)

The differentiation and development of the testis in the lizard Calotes versicolor was studied histologically and histoenzymatically from the day of oviposition (stage 27) to 2 months after hatching. The study reveals the appearance of the gonadal component as a genital ridge at stage 27. The first sign of testis differentiation is observed at stage 33, which displays a well-developed medulla consisting of seminiferous cords comprising Pre-Sertoli cells. The sex differentiation of the embryonic gonads occurs at stage 34. At this stage, seminiferous cords of the testis are prominent and extensive with many pre-Sertoli cells and few spermatogonia. The interstitial space consists of immature fibroblast-type Leydig cells. Pre-Sertoli cells of the seminiferous cords differentiate into Sertoli cells with a triangular nucleus becoming apparent around stages 36-37. The fibroblast-like Leydig cells differentiate into round matured Leydig cells at stage 40. Quantitative estimation of germ cells reveals that the number of germ cells increases in individual gonads, and in 5-day-old hatchling's, this number multiplies by manifold. Spermatogonia show reductional division in the testis of 1-day-old hatchlings.Histochemical localization of Delta5-3beta-HSDH and G-6-PDH activity appears in the seminiferous cords (medulla) of the testis after sexual differentiation (stage 36), indicating that the embryonic medulla is the site of steroidogenesis and not the cortex in C. versicolor. This study also suggests that morphological differentiation of the gonad precedes detectable steroidogenesis in this species. In 10-day-old hatchling's, Delta5-3beta-HSDH activity is seen in the interstitial cells of the testis, which, however, is not detected in the seminiferous tubules. The intensity of the enzyme activity remains more or less the same in the testis up to 10 days after hatching and begins to increase thereafter. The increase in steroidogenesis parallels the progressive post-hatching increase of the interstitial/Leydig cells.     

Role of Altered Expression,Activity and Sub-cellular Distribution of Various Histone Deacetylases (HDACs) in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Hippocampal Sclerosis

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology - Histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been described to have both neurotoxic and neuroprotective roles, and partly, depend on its sub-cellular distribution. HDAC...     

Biodegradation of Phenanthrene by a Bacillus Species

A bacterial strain capable of utilizing phenanthrene as sole source of carbon was isolated from soil and identified as a Bacillus sp. The organism also utilized naphthalene, biphenyl, anthracene, and other aromatic compounds as growth substrates. The organism degraded phenanthrene through the intermediate formation of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, which was further metabolized via o-phthalate by a protocatechuate pathway, as evidenced by oxygen uptake and enzymatic studies. Received: 1 December 1999 / Accepted: 5 January 2000     

Biodegradation of Carbaryl by a Micrococcus Species

A bacterium capable of utilizing carbaryl as sole source of carbon was isolated from garden soil and identified as a Micrococcus species. The organism also utilized carbofuran, naphthalene, 1-naphthol, and several other aromatic compounds as growth substrates. The organism degraded carbaryl by hydrolysis to yield 1-naphthol and methylamine. 1-Naphthol was further metabolized via salicylate by a gentisate pathway, as evidenced by oxygen uptake and enzymatic studies. Received: 27 November 2000 / Accepted: 29 December 2000     

A tropical oviparous lizard, Calotes versicolor, exhibiting a potentially novel FMFM pattern of temperature-dependent sex determination

Among squamate reptiles, lizards exhibit an impressive array of sex-determining modes viz. genotypic sex determination, temperature-dependent sex determination, co-occurrence of both these and those that reproduce parthenogenetically. The oviparous lizard, Calotes versicolor, lacks heteromorphic sex chromosomes and there are no reports on homomorphic chromosomes. Earlier studies on this species presented little evidence to the sex-determining mechanism. Here we provide evidences for the potential role played by incubation temperature that has a significant effect (P < 0.01) on gonadal sex and sex ratio. The eggs were incubated at 14 different incubation temperatures. Interestingly, 100% males were produced at low (25.5 ± 0.5 ° C) as well as high (34 ± 0.5 ° C) incubation temperatures and 100% females were produced at low (23.5 ± 0.5 ° C) and high (31.5 ± 0.5 ° C) temperatures, clearly indicating the occurrence of TSD in this species. Sex ratios of individual clutches did not vary at any of the critical male-producing or female-producing temperatures within as well as across the seasons. However, clutch sex ratios were female- or male-biased at intermediate temperatures. Thermosensitive period occurred during the embryonic stages 30-33. Three pivotal temperatures operate producing 1:1 sex ratio. Histology of gonad and accessory reproductive structures provide additional evidence for TSD. The sex-determining pattern, observed for the first time in this species, that neither compares to Pattern I [Ia (MF) and Ib (FM)] nor to Pattern II (FMF), is being referred to as FMFM pattern of TSD. This novel FMFM pattern of sex ratio exhibited by C. versicolor may have an adaptive significance in maintaining sex ratio.