Kinetic characterization of rat liver nuclear lysozyme

The kinetic properties of rat liver nuclear lysozyme, earlier purified to homogeneity in our laboratory, have been studied. The enzyme was found to be maximally active in the pH range 4.2 to 5.4 in 0.02 M buffer. Its Km was found to be 333 mg/litre. It was heat sensitive even in the acidic pH range. The enzyme exhibited tissue specific differences when compared with the rat kidney nuclear lysozyme.     

Magnification of the therapeutic uses of pomegranate fruits and peel in rats injected with carbon tetrachloride (Ccl4)

The liver is more prone to infections that cause fibrosis, such as steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatotoxicity, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Also, Viral hepatitis is a common condition worldwide it worsens into chronic inflammation of the liver. One of the healthiest fruits is the pomegranate for the body and health, as it contains a high nutritional value of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, so we worked on this investigation to magnify the therapeutic applications of pomegranate fruits (POF) and peel (POP) in carbon tetrachloride-injected rats (Ccl4). The experiment was carried out in a caged animal. All rats were fed a basal diet for one week before the study, and they were divided into seven groups, each with six rats. As a control negative group (C–ve), the first group sample was fed only the basal diet for 28 days. The remaining rats (n = 36) were injected with carbon tetrachloride (Ccl4). Five groups were fed varying concentrations of (5 %, 10 %, 15 % POF, 5 %, and 10 % pomegranate peel (POP)), whereas one group was diagnosed with the illness and disease, and didn't even feed the experimental diet. The results revealed significant increases in T.BIL, D.BIL, and BIL in the serum of rats injected by CC14 to induce hepatopathy compared to the healthy group (normal rats). Also, the best treatment considering the serum D.BIL was recorded for the 5 % POF.     

Age,growth and reproduction of Marcusenius pongolensis,Oreochromis mossambicus and Schilbe intermedius in an oligotrophic impoundment in Swaziland

The age, growth and reproductive biology of Marcusenius pongolensis, Oreochromis mossambicus and Schilbe intermedius were investigated in the Mnjoli Dam, Swaziland. Otolith annulus formation occurred in winter for M. pongolensis, and in spring/summer for O. mossambicus and S. intermedius. Maximum ages of 8, 6 and 8 years were recorded for M. pongolensis, O. mossambicus and S. intermedius, respectively. Growth was described by the von Bertalanffy growth model as L_t = 238.73(1 − exp^{−0.27(t+2.27}) mm fork length (FL) for M. pongolensis, L_t = 226.83(1 − exp^{−0.45(t+2.02)}) mm total length (TL) for O. mossambicus, and L_t = 214.59(1 − exp^{−0.60(t+1.20)}) mm FL for S. intermedius. Sexual maturity was estimated for male and female M. pongolensis at 134 mm FL and 119 mm FL, respectively. Marcusenius pongolensis matured within their first year. Female O. mossambicus and S. intermedius matured at 239 mm TL and 205 mm FL, corresponding to 2 and 4 years of age, respectively. Extended spawning periods, with two spawning peaks was observed for M. pongolensis, one in spring (September) and the second in autumn (March) and one peak over late‐summer for S. intermedius.     

Food and water deprivation effects on reproduction in female Blattella germanica

The effects of food and water deprivation on survival and reproduction of adult female German cockroaches were examined. Females, maintained under constant conditions, were deprived of food or water following adult maturation, mating, during the oothecal incubation period, and after first oothecal hatch. It was found that both food and water deprivations caused increased mortality, delays in the reproductive cycle and decreased oothecal hatch. The relative importance of food vs. water deprivation on reproduction is discussed along with possible reproductive strategies for this species.

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Résumé Les femelles, maintenues en conditions constantes, ont été privées d'aliments et d'eau après la maturité imaginale, l'accouplement, pendant la période d'incubation et après l'éclosion de la première oothèque. On a observé une mortalité accure, un retard dans le cycle de reproduction et une diminution des éclosions de l'oothèque. L'importance relative de l'alimentation par rapport au jeûne hydrique sur la reproduction est discutée en relation avec les stratégies reproductives possibles de cette espèce.

     

ECOLOGICAL NOVELTY BY HYBRIDIZATION: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FOR INCREASED THERMAL TOLERANCE BY TRANSGRESSIVE SEGREGATION IN TIGRIOPUS CALIFORNICUS

Early generations of hybrids can express both genetic incompatibilities and phenotypic novelty. Insights into whether these conflicting interactions between intrinsic and extrinsic selection persist after a few generations of recombination require experimental studies. To address this question, we use interpopulation crosses and recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the copepod Tigriopus californicus, and focus on two traits that are relevant for the diversification of this species: survivorship during development and tolerance to thermal stress. Experimental crosses between two population pairs show that most RILs between two heat‐tolerant populations show enhanced tolerance to temperatures that are lethal to the respective parentals, whereas RILs between a heat‐tolerant and a heat‐sensitive population are intermediate. Although interpopulation crosses are affected by intrinsic selection at early generational hybrids, most of the sampled F₉ RILs have recovered fitness to the level of their parentals. Together, these results suggest that a few generations of recombination allows for an independent segregation of the genes underlying thermal tolerance and cytonuclear incompatibilities, permitting certain recombinant lineages to survive in niches previously unused by parental taxa (i.e., warmer thermal environments) without incurring intrinsic selection.