Relationship between testosterone and hepatic lipids in mature male bonnet monkeys, Macaca radiata (Geoffroy).

Administration of testosterone propionate (TP; 1 mg/kg body weight/day; im, for 30 days) to mature male bonnet monkeys, decreased total lipids, glyceride glycerol and cholesterol concentrations in hepatic tissue. The decrease in glyceride glycerol was due to decrease in monoacyl and triacyl glycerol. Both, free and esterified cholesterol were decreased after testosterone administration. Eventhough, total phospholipid was not significantly altered, phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin were increased, due to testosterone administration. Testosterone inhibited NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in liver. The findings suggest that testosterone acts as a lipolytic hormone and its action may be direct through its specific receptors in liver.     

Use of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to study genetic diversity within a population of blackfly, Simulium gravelyi from Palni hills, peninsular India

The genetic variation of local subpopulations (Palni hills, India) of the blackfly Simulium gravelyi was surveyed at different altitudinal locations using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. By comparing the similarity of the bands produced by RAPDs, it may be concluded that there is variation within this population. These data suggest that the heterogeneity of band pattern of S. gravelyi steadily increased from low elevation to high elevation. Site 5 (1590 m altitude) was more polymorphic and it differed most from site 1 (290 m). This is established by the ecological diversity and statistical analyses (PCA) and predicting two major ecological factors of conductivity and current velocity. The speciation hypothesis is consistent with the molecular evidence, postulates a high elevational site 5 (1590 m) and a subsequent site 4 (1250 m).