Nervous system in Olveria indica, a rumen paramphistome (Digenea) of bovines, as revealed by non-specific esterase staining

On the basis of esterase localization the complete nervous system has been visualized in Olveria indica Thapar & Simha, 1945, a paramphistome from the rumen of cattle, recorded for the first time from the north-east region of India. The basic number of posterior longitudinal nerves (i.e., 3 pairs) is the same as in other paramphistomes; four pairs of anterior longitudinal nerves are present, there being an extra pair of pharyngeal nerves. Conspicuous differences in the innervation patterns were observed, mainly in the innervation of the genital atrial region and acetabulum. The presence of prominent longitudinal connections, joining the anterior and posterior dorsal nerves and the anterior and posterior ventral nerves on either side, is a feature not hitherto found in other paramphistome species. The details of the course of all the nerves and their branches are discussed.     

Chelation in metal intoxication. XXIII: Effect of N-(2-mercaptopropionyl) glycine on lead or lead and ethanol intoxicated rats

Efficacy of N-(2-mercaptopropionyl) glycine to reduce the body burden of lead and restore the altered biochemical parameters in lead or lead and ethanol intoxicated rats was investigated. The investigation was aimed to suggest suitable prophylaxis of lead poisoning prevalent among workers in lead industry who may also be exposed to ethanol. The rats were given lead (10 mg/kg, p.o.) or lead and ethanol (10% v/v in drinking water) daily for 8 weeks. Following exposure period a single dose of N-(2-mercaptopropionyl) glycine (0.3 mmole/kg, intraperitoneal) was given daily for 4 days. The chelator was effective in enhancing the urinary and faecal excretion of lead, reducing the concentration of lead in liver and kidney and lowering the excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid in lead treated rats. However, the protection was more noticeable in animals treated with lead alone than with lead and ethanol.     

Sulphur and phosphorus requirements of three fungi causing diseases in storage

Summary The effect of different sulphur and phosphorus compounds on the growth and reproduction of three fungi causing storage rot, viz.,Fusarium solani, Botryodiplodia ananassae andMacrophomina phaseoli has been studied. Sixteen different sources of sulphur were used and out of them magnesium sulphate was found to be most favourable for the growth and reproduction of all the three fungi. Sodium sulphite and sodium bisulphite were toxic. Potassium metabisulphite prevented growth ofF. solani and M. phaseoli while it supported moderate growth ofB. ananassae. Only magnesium sulphate could induce the sporulation ofB. ananassae while sporulation and sclerotial development ofF. solani andM. phaseoli respectively varied with the type of sulphur sources used. Optimum concentration of magnesium sulphate was also determined and it was found that the growth and sporulation ofF. solani andB. ananassae were best at 0.375 g/l and 0.75 g/l.M. phaseoli tolerated higher doses of this substance as the best growth and excellent sclerotial development were recorded at 3.0 g/l (the maximum concentration used). Phosphorus was found to be essential for the present fungi as none of them could grow in complete absence of this substance. Onthophosphates and nucleic acid, were found to be favourable sources for growth and reproduction of the 3 organisms.     

Identification of a nucleotide-binding site on glycoprotein IIb. Relationship to ADP-induced platelet activation

Formalin-fixed platelets have been used to study the binding of adenine nucleotides in order to avoid the complications of nucleotide metabolism and to achieve steady-state binding. Sp-adenosine-5'-(1-thiotriphosphate) (Sp-ATP-alpha-S) binds to platelets at two sites (Kd1 3 nM; 31,000 sites/platelet; Kd2 200 nM; 300,000 sites/platelet) as compared with values for ADP under these conditions (Kd1 30 nM; 25,000 sites/platelet and Kd2 3 microM; 400,000 sites/platelet) (bound/total approximately 0.1). Competition binding experiments showed that both of the ATP-alpha-S sites were accessible to ADP and vice versa. [35S]ATP-alpha-S was photoaffinity cross-linked to unfixed platelets by direct irradiation with ultraviolet light. A single radiolabeled component (120 kDa) was identified and shown to be identical with the alpha subunit of GPIIb based on two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by Western blotting with anti-GPIIb monoclonal antibodies, by isoelectric focusing (pI 4.5-5.5), by immunoaffinity adsorption using monoclonal anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies coupled to Sepharose, and by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Amino-terminal sequencing of a tryptic fragment labeled with [35S]ATP-alpha-S identified an 18-kDa domain beginning at Tyr-198 in the primary sequence of GPIIb alpha. These studies demonstrate the presence of an adenine nucleotide-binding site on GPIIb alpha.     

Chelation of lead during co-exposure to ethanol

Efficacy of calcium disodium EDTA, D-penicillamine (DPA), 2,3 dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), and alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA) to reduce the body burden of lead and restore the altered biochemical variables in lead or lead + ethanol administered rats was investigated. The investigation was aimed to suggest suitable prophylaxis of lead intoxication prevalent among workers co-exposed to lead and alcohol ingestion. Administration of lead (10 mg/kg, oral, once daily for 8 weeks) produced a significant inhibition in the activity of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), elevation in the blood zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) and urinary elimination of lead and delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Lead contents of blood, liver, kidney and brain were also significantly higher than the normal control. The above changes were more marked in animals co-exposed to lead + ethanol (20% in drinking water) compared to lead alone. All the chelators were effective in increasing the urinary lead elimination, reducing the above biochemical alterations and lead contents of tissues. The order of effectiveness being DMSA greater than Calcium disodium EDTA greater than DPA greater than MFA. However, the protection was more noticeable in animals treated with lead alone than with lead and ethanol.     

Chromium(VI) and apparent phenotypic reversion in Salmonella TA100

After treatment with potassium chromate at concentrations causing ultramicroscopic cellular lesions, a significant proportion (up to 75%) of TA100 colonies fail to replicate on fresh minimal plates containing biotin. This suggests that chromium(VI) may not always induce his- reversion to his+ in Salmonella TA100. The terms 'false' or phenotypic reversion have been used to distinguish such instances from 'true' or genotypic reversion, where progeny his+ cells readily grow on biotin replica plates. Results of the present study indicate that the majority of chromate-exposed colonies, initially scored as his-, are identifiable as his+ after 24 h culture on nutrient agar. Moreover, chromate exerts a cytostatic effect on TA100 since early colony development is suppressed at high chromate concentrations. A gradual chemical reduction of chromium(VI) ions by normal media compounds is probably responsible for the re-emergence of colony growth during prolonged incubation of test plates. Thus, temporary growth inhibition at high chromate concentration appears to be responsible for most of the non-replicating colonies detected in mutagenicity assays of chromium(VI).