Genetic characterization of two hill stream fish species Barilius bendelisis (Ham.1807) and Barilius barna (Ham.1822) using RAPD markers

Genetic structure of four wild populations of two hill stream fishes Barilius bendelisis (Ham.1807) and B. barna (Ham. 1822) from Uttarakhand, India, was studied using RAPD markers. Eight selective primers provided distinct and consistent RAPD profiles in both the species, producing a total of 47 and 35 scorable bands in B. bendelisis and B. barna respectively. The bands in the range 666–4,830?bp were scored for consistent results. The RAPD profiles generated by all the eight primers revealed varying degrees of polymorphism (25.00–50.00?%). The average genetic diversity (h) was estimated as 0.1661 and 0.1606 among the four populations of B. bendelisis and B. barna respectively.     

Cytoarchitecture of the corpuscles of Stannius in hillstream teleosts, Barilius bendelisis (Ham.) and Garra gotyla (Gray)

The teleosts, Barilius bendelisis and Garra gotyla possess corpuscles of Stannius (CS) which are discrete, encapsulated bodies lying in close proximity to the mesonephros. The corpuscular cells are arranged in anastomosing cords which are separated from each other by connective tissue septa and numerous sinusoids. Light microscopically, 2 types of secretory cells comprise the CS in these species. Majority of the corpuscular cells are stainable with AF and PAS in contrast to the nonstainable cells which evince little affinity for the dyes. The fine cytoplasmic granules contained in the stainable cells are polarized on the vascular face in Barilius bendelisis.     

Seasonal changes in the blood parameters of two major carps, Labeo rohita (Ham.) and Cirrhina mrigala (Ham.).

Seasonal changes in blood properties of two Indian major carps, L. rohita and C. mrigala, were investigated. Haematocrit values, haemoglobin concentrations and erythrocyte numbers showed seasonal fluctuations, being high from September to November and again in April-May, and low from January to March. Males had generally higher blood values than the females.     

Studies of the ultimobranchial gland of a teleost, Esomus danrica (Ham.)

The author describes the histophysiology of the ultimobranchial gland of E. danrica. The gland is the site of synthesis and storage of the polypeptide calcitonin, which has a hypocalcaemic effect. However, the sexual dimorphism of the ultimobranchial gland suggests that it also plays a role in reproduction, particularly in ovarian maturation.