Placement of the umbilicus in an abdominoplasty

The location of the umbilicus was measured in 100 randomly selected non-obese subjects. It was found that a line drawn from the highest level of the crest of one ilium to the same point on the other side will transect the umbilicus in 96 percent of the subjects. This relationship can be of use during an abdominoplasty, when determining the location for the umbilicus.     

Anatomical localization of corticotropin-releasing activity in the human brain

Corticotropin-releasing activity (CRa) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) content were measured in seven human hypothalami. The hypothalami were obtained from routine autopsy of patients suffering from no obvious neuroendocrinological abnormality. Twelve distinct hypothalamic areas were dissected in the frozen state and extracted in aqueous solution. CRa was measured by a bioassay measuring the aCTH released by rat pituitary cells in vitro, and vasopressin by direct radioimmunoassay. CRa was detectable in almost every area with the highest values in the supraoptic, paraventricular and infundibular (arcuate) areas. Vasopressin concentrations were maximum in the supraoptic nucleus, followed by the paraventricular and infundibular nuclei. We conclude that: hypothalami obtained from routine autopsy at a general hospital can be used for consistent CRa and vasopressin assay. Vasopressin and CRa are similarly distributed in man and in the rat. In both species, high CRa, which is not explained by AVP, is found in the paraventricular nucleus. The infundibular (arcuate) nucleus seems to display non AVP-dependent CRa much greater in the human than in the rat.     

Anxiolytic activity of Indian Hypericum perforatum Linn: an experimental study

The putative anxiolytic activity of 50% ethanolic extract of Indian Hypericum perforatum (IHp) was investigated in rats using various experimental paradigms of anxiety viz. open field exploratory behaviour (OFB), elevated plus maze (EPM), elevated zero maze (EZM), novelty induced suppressed feeding latency (FL) and social interaction (SI) tests. Pilot studies indicated that single dose administration of IHp had little to no acute behavioural effects, hence the extract of IHp was administered orally at different dose levels once daily for three consecutive days, while lorazepam (LR) (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered acutely. IHp extract (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant anxiolytic effects on all the paradigms of anxiety. The results indicate that IHp and LR induced a significant increase in open field ambulation and slight increase in rearings and activity in centre, whereas grooming and fecal droppings remain unchanged. In EPM, significant augmentation of open arm entries, open arm/closed arm entries ratio and time spent on open arms was noted in IHp treated rats. In EZM test, significant increase in time spent on open arms and entries in open arms were observed, whereas slight increase in head dips and stretched attend postures were also observed. IHp and LR significantly attenuated the novelty induced increase in feeding latency. IHp treated rats also showed significant increase in social interaction in the novel environment. The IHp extracts showed consistent and significant anxiolytic activity in all the tests. The effects induced by 50% ethanolic extract of IHp were less marked than those of lorazepam were.     

Compared intracellular localization of the glucocorticosteroid and progesterone receptors: an immunocytochemical study

The intracellular distribution of the glucocorticosteroid and progesterone receptors (GR and PR, respectively) was studied immunohistochemically. In control adrenalectomized (Adx) rat liver, immunostaining of paraffin sections revealed GR in cell nuclei, with a wide range of intensity between individuals. Following dexamethasone (Dex) treatment, the nuclear staining was uniformly high in all animals; the cytoplasmic staining was always weak and remained unchanged after Dex treatment. In frozen sections, the GR immunoreactivity in cell nuclei was weak in the absence and very strong in the presence of Dex, while no GR-specific cytoplasmic staining was observed. In frozen sections fixed in vapor of formaldehyde to avoid any artifactual redistribution of the receptor, some GR immunostaining was observed in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. In contrast, in paraffin as well as in frozen sections of chick oviduct, fixed by immersion or in vapor, PR was exclusively nuclear, including in the absence of progesterone, and the intensity of immunostaining was not modified by progesterone treatment. In order to verify if loss of nuclear receptors during tissue preparation could explain the differences in nuclear immunostaining observed between hormone-free and hormone-occupied GR, and between GR and PR, frozen sections of Adx rat liver and chick oviduct were preincubated at 4 degrees C in buffer solutions before the fixation procedure. It was found that hormone-free GR diffused out of the nucleus faster than hormone-occupied GR nuclei, and that nuclear GR diffused faster than nuclear PR. Based on these results, we propose that, during the fixation procedure, the fraction of nuclear GR which diffuses out of the nucleus is much smaller in the presence than in the absence of Dex. This lesser loss of nuclear GR after Dex treatment results in an increase of immunostaining after hormonal administration, which might have been erroneously interpreted as a sign of translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus. That the nuclear PR detection is not modified by progesterone treatment may be explained by its reduced diffusibility as compared to nuclear GR. This hypothesis does not rule out the existence of some cytoplasmic GR, whose significance remains unclear, but it offers a unified mechanism of action for all steroid hormone receptors. In the case of glucocorticosteroids, as already proposed for estradiol and progesterone, no step of cytoplasm to nucleus translocation would be required for hormone action, and transformation-activation would occur in the nucleus, resulting in tighter binding of the hormone receptor complexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anatomical study of an aquatic mustard: Subularia aquatica (Brassicaceae)

Subularia aquatica is a small annual aquatic plant in the family Brassicaceae with unique leaf morphology. Its anatomical features were studied using light microscopy. We show that the leaves of S. aquatica are bifacial dorsiventral phyllodes, having adaxial-abaxial polarity, rather than the alternative unifacial type. This morphology is also manifested in the collaterally arranged vascular bundles, which are clearly bifacial. The roots exhibit typical anatomical features of an aquatic plant, including prominent aerenchyma. Although unique within the Brassicaceae, S. aquatica displays many of the same morphological characteristics as other Isoetid life-forms.     

Anatomical and functional study of localization of originating neurons of the parasympathetic nerve to gallbladder in rabbit brain stem

The present study was to investigate the localization of preganglionic parasympathetic neurons of gallbladder in brain stem by anatomical and functional approaches. Male or female rabbits (n = 11) were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, i.v.). Cholera toxin B conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (CB-HRP) was injected into the gallbladder wall. Four days later, animals were re-anesthetized and perfused transcardially with paraformaldehyde solution in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer. The rabbit brain was then frozenly sectioned. The sections were processed for HRP label and stained with neutral red. Another group of rabbits (n = 54) were anesthetized by urethane (1 g/kg) after fasting for 18-24 hours, Gallbladder pressure (GP) was measured by inserting a frog bladder filled with normal saline into the gallbladder. Myoelectrical activity of the sphincter of Oddi (SO) was induced by a pair of copper electrodes. A glass tube (30 microm tip diameter) connected with a microsyringe was directed to the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) for microinjection. Majority of retrogradely labeled cells was found bilaterally in dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) throughout the length, except the rostral and caudal part. These cells were distributed in subnuclei parvicellularis or mediocellularis of DMV. Some labeled perikarya located in the medial subnucleus of the solitary tract (mNTS). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, 1.3 mmol/L, 0.2 microl) microinjected into the rostral portion of the DVC (including DMV and NTS) enhanced the motility of gallbladder and SO. Microinjection of TRH at the middle part of DVC seldom induces excitatory effects on the gallbladder or SO. TRH microinjected into the caudal portion of the DVC elicited weaker response of gallbladder and SO than rostral portion. Our results indicated that DMV is one of the most important original nuclei of gallbladder's vagus nerves and mNTS may be also involved in the control of gallbladder's parasympathetic activity. Neurons that innervate the gallbladder distribute at most part of DVC, and are relatively dense at rostral and caudal position of DMV.     

Agricultural ornithology: an Indian perspective

Agricultural ornithology aims at obtaining scientific information on birds in relation to agriculture and using this information for their management. Most of bird species play a useful role in agriculture by having a potent check on insect and rodent pests. However, some granivorous bird species, having adapted to the agricultural habitats and increased in numbers, are conflicting with our goals of agricultural production by inflicting economic losses to crops, fruits and stored grains. Bird management involves both the conservation of useful species and control of pests. Agricultural ornithology is of special importance in predominantly agricultural countries like India. Although a good deal of work has been done in this discipline in India, a lot remains to be done and, in fact, the discipline is still in its infancy. This paper reviews the progress made in agricultural ornithology in India, points out important problems and gaps in knowledge, and suggests approaches for future research.     

Anxiolytic activity of Indian Abies pindrow Royle leaves in rodents: an experimental study

Putative anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extract of Indian A. pindrow Royle leaf was investigated in rats using various experimental paradigms of anxiety viz. open field exploratory behaviour, elevated plus maze (EPM) and elevated zero maze (EZM) tests. Pilot studies indicated that single dose administration of extract had little to no acute behavioural effects, hence the extract was administered orally at different dose levels once daily for three consecutive days, while lorazepam (LR) (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered acutely. Ethanolic extract of A. pindrow (AP) leaves (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant anxiolytic effects on all the paradigms of anxiety. The results indicate that AP and LR induced a significant increase in open field ambulation and slight increase in rearings and activity in center, whereas grooming and faecal droppings remain unchanged. In EPM, significant augmentation of open arm entries, and time spent on open arms was noted in AP treated rats. In EZM test, significant increase in time spent on open arms and entries in open arms was observed, whereas slight increase in head dips and stretched attend postures was also observed. The AP extract showed consistent and significant anxiolytic activity in all the tests. The effects induced by ethanolic extract of AP were less marked than those of lorazepam were.