Age related changes in ovarian follicular kinetics in the Indian skipper frogRana cyanophlyctis (Schn.)

Changes in ovarian follicular kinetics were studied in relation to aging in the Indian skipper frog Rana cyanophlyctis.Age was determined by skeletochronology, by counting the number of growth rings and lines of arrest of growth from the cross sections of 4th phalange of 4th toe. For follicular kinetics study oocytes were counted under binocular using 10% of Bouin’s fixed ovary and they were classified into first growth phase, medium-sized second growth phase, large-sized second growth phase and atretic follicles. Analysis of phalangeal cross sections indicated that frogs ranging 14–54 g in body weight and 4.9–8.9 cm in body size showed 1–7 year rings. Frogs that weighed 14–16 g showed 1 year ring, and contained immature ovaries; those with 18 g body weight had one to two year rings, in which second growth phase oocytes appeared for the first time in the primiparous ovary. Frogs with 20–54 g body weight showed 2–5 year rings in which ovary contained 5–24% of second growth phase oocytes. Further, body weight, body size, ovarian weight, number and size of second growth phase oocytes and total number of oocytes showed a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation, while, the number of first growth phase and atretic follicles showed a poor correlation with age. The results suggest that in nature, the age of Rana cyanophlyctis ranges between 1–7 years. Phalangeal growth rings are formed annually. Females attain sexual maturity in 2nd year. Frogs with 2–5 years of age may constitute breeding females. Body weight, body size, ovarian mass, number of second growth phase and total oocytes, and egg size increase with age up to 5 years.     

Primary subcutaneous Nocardia asteroides infection in a renal allograft recipient

Nocardia asteroides is an important opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. The primary infection is usually in the lungs and is followed by dissemination to other parts of the body. Primary subcutaneous infection with Nocardia asteroides has been reported rarely (three reports) and no such case has been reported in a renal transplant recipient. We describe here a case of renal transplant recipient who developed primary subcutaneous infection with Nocardia asteroides within one and half years of the transplantation. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Short-term zinc deficiency in diet induces increased oxidative stress in testes and epididymis of rats

In order to determine the effects of Zinc deficient diet on oxidative stress in testis and epididymis, various parameters viz: total proteins, lipid peroxidation, hydroperoxides, antioxidant capacity and enzymatic activities are evaluated in rats fed on zinc deficient diet for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Total proteins, water and lipid solouble antioxidant capacity decreased while lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and hydroperoxides concentration increased in testes, caput and cauda epididymis except in 2ZD (testes) where hydroperoxides revealed a significant decrease. GSH decreased in testes and caput and cauda epididymis. GPx and gamma-GT activities increased in testes and caput and cauda epididymis of zinc deficient rats. Further, GST increased in testes but exhibited decreases after 2 and 4 weeks and an increase after 6 weeks in caput and cauda epididymis of zinc deficient rats. GR activities decreased in testes but it increased in caput and cauda epididymis of zinc deficient rats. Thus, zinc deprivation results in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. All these may have been as a consequence of increased ROS generation and/or decreased zinc dependent antioxidant processes.     

Docking of a Series of Peptide-Based Interleukin-1β Converting Enzyme Inhibitors with Aspartyl Hemiacetals, α-((2,6-Dichlorobenzoyl)oxy)methyl and (Acyloxy)methyl Ketone Moieties

The enzyme-binding mode of a series of interleukin-1 converting enzyme (ICE) inhibitors has been analysed on the basis of the crystal structure of the complex between hICE and tetrapeptide aldehyde. The conformation of these ligands were explored by performing molecular dynamics simulations at 100 ps. The conformation adopted by these inhibitors was very similar to and could be superimposable onto the regions of crystal structure. The active and the low energy conformers were docked either by grid or manually into the binding site. The analysis of the resulting model indicated that O-benzylacyl group of aspartyl hemiacetals interact with Cys285 and the large substituents: semicarbazone, 2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzoate, other leaving groups of (acyloxy)methyl and -((2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)oxy)methyl ketone series of P1 site protrude from the surface of Cys285 and interact with Val338, which is located below the binding pocket. The hydrogen bonding interaction between -NH of semicarbazone and Cys285 seems to have significant role. The total potential energy including intermolecular interaction energy, consisting of van der Waals and electrostatic energies were calculated. The resulting model is qualitatively consistent with the reported experimental data and can be useful for the design of more potent inhibitors of ICE.Electronic Supplementary Material available.     

Evaluation of terrestrial plants extracts for uranium sorption and characterization of potent phytoconstituents

Sorption capacity of four plants (Funaria hygrometrica, Musa acuminata, Brassica juncea and Helianthus annuus) extracts/fractions for uranium, a radionuclide was investigated by EDXRF and tracer studies. The maximum sorption capacity, i.e., 100% (complete sorption) was observed in case of Musa acuminata extract and fractions. Carbohydrate, proteins, phenolics and flavonoids contents in the active fraction (having maximum sorption capacity) were also determined. Further purification of the most active fraction provided three pure molecules, mannitol, sorbitol and oxo-linked potassium oxalate. The characterization of isolated molecules was achieved by using FTIR, NMR, GC-MS, MS-MS, and by single crystal-XRD analysis. Of three molecules, oxo-linked potassium oxalate was observed to have 100% sorption activity. Possible binding mechanism of active molecule with the uranyl cation has been purposed.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid metabolism in human and rabbit anterior uvea

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) metabolism into 3 series cyclooxygenase and 5 series lipoxygenase products was assessed in human and rabbit anterior uvea. Both tissues synthesized 3 series cyclooxygenase products such as delta17 6-keto-PGF1 (PGI3 metabolite), PGE3 alpha, PGE3, PGD3 and TxB3 (a stable product of TxA3) and lipoxygenase products 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE), 5-HEPE and 5,12-diHEPE from 14C-EPA. EPA-derived cyclooxygenase product synthesis was considerably greater than the formation of lipoxygenase products from EPA in both tissues.     

Action of nicotine and analogs on acetylcholine receptors having mutations of transmitter-binding site residue αG153

A primary target for nicotine is the acetylcholine receptor channel (AChR). Some of the ability of nicotine to activate differentially AChR subtypes has been traced to a transmitter-binding site amino acid that is glycine in lower affinity and lysine in higher affinity AChRs. We studied the effects of mutations of this residue (αG153) in neuromuscular AChRs activated by nicotine and eight other agonists including nornicotine and anabasine. All of the mutations increased the unliganded gating equilibrium constant. The affinity of the resting receptor (K_d) and the net binding energy from the agonist for gating (ΔG_B) were estimated by cross-concentration fitting of single-channel currents. In all but one of the agonist/mutant combinations there was a moderate decrease in K_d and essentially no change in ΔG_B. The exceptional case was nicotine plus lysine, which showed a large, >8,000-fold decrease in K_d but no change in ΔG_B. The extraordinary specificity of this combination leads us to speculate that AChRs with a lysine at position αG153 may be exposed to a nicotine-like compound in vivo.