Prophylactic and curative effects of Bacopa monniera in gastric ulcer models.

Bacopa monniera Wettst. (BM, syn. Herpestis monniera L; Scrophulariaceae), is an Ayurvedic drug used as a rasayana. Its fresh juice was earlier reported to have significant antiulcerogenic activity. In continuation, methanolic extract of BM (BME) standardized to bacoside-A content (percentage-38.0 ± 0.9), when given in the dose of 10–50 mg/kg, twice daily for 5 days, showed dose-dependent anti-ulcerogenic on various gastric ulcer models induced by ethanol, aspirin, 2 h cold restraint stress and 4 h pylorus ligation. BME in the dose of 20 mg/kg, given for 10 days, twice daily showed healing effects against 50% acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers. Further work was done to investigate the possible mechanisms of its action by studying its effect on various mucosal offensive acid-pepsin secretion and defensive factors like mucin secretion, mucosal cell shedding, cell proliferation and antioxidant activity in rats. BME 20 mg/kg showed no effect on acid-pepsin secretion, increased mucin secretion, while it decreased cell shedding with no effect on cell proliferation. BME showed significant antioxidant effect per se and in stressed animals. Thus, the gastric prophylactic and curative effects of BME may be due to its predominant effect on mucosal defensive factors.     

Studies of the seminal receptacle of the crab Portunus sanguinolentus (Portunidae: Brachyura)

The seminal receptacle or spermatheca of Portunus sanguinolentus consists of two parts--an anterior glandular and a posterior chitinous part. The chitinous part continues as the oviduct, which opens on the sternite of the sixth thoracic segment. Significant morphological and histological differences were observed between the spermatheca, as well as the oviduct, of mated and unmated crabs. In mated crabs the spermatheca is much more bulging, owing to receipt of a copious supply of seminal products, and its cells are hyperactive. Further stages of ovarian development were observed as indicators of sequential changes in the spermatheca. The secretory cells gradually disintegrate by way of holocrine secretion; this results in cellular stratification and the formation of distinct furrows in the chitinous posterior part.     

Macromolecular synthesis in organ cultures of neonatal rat lung

Organ cultures of newborn rat lungs synthesize and accumulate DNA, RNA, collagen and noncollagenous proteins almost at a linear rate for at least 5 days. During this period the synthesis of collagen consistently exceeds the synthesis of noncollagenous proteins in a pattern similar to neonatal lung growth in vivo. Although some morphological characteristics of lung architecture are distorted after culture, fundamental structural similarities to lungs growing in intact animals are retained. When these cultures are maintained in atmospheres rich in oxygen, increased collagen synthesis is observed, a response similar to that of lungs in intact animals exposed to high oxygen concentrations in vivo. Our studies suggest that lung organ cultures may be a suitable system for investigating the biochemical aspects of lung tissue-environmental interaction. These studies were supported in parts by NIH Grant HL-19668, a contract (68-03-2005) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and grants from the California Lung Association.     

Observations on the nature of neurosecretion in the marine crab Portunus sanguinolentus (Herbst) (Crustacea: Brachyura)

Several types of NS cells were identified in Portunus sanguinolentus--five types (A, A', B, C and D) in the brain and thoracic ganglion, four types (A, B, C and D) in the commissural ganglia and four types (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) in the optic ganglia. The distribution of these NS cells is described. Cytochemically, the neurosecretory material in the NS cells has a carbohydrate moiety and is rich in disulphide groups, lipids, phospholipids and RNA. It contains a small amount of sulphydryl groups and protein-bound NH2 groups, but no tyrosine or tryptophan. The NS activity of the brain was found to be closely associated with the reproductive and moult cycles. Just before the initiation of vitellogenesis and moulting the NS cells display secretory hyperactivity. Axonal transport of NS material was also observed in the NS cells.     

Palaeocommunity Dynamics and Behavioral Analysis of Conichnus: Bhuj Formation (Lower Cretaceous),Kachchh-India

A palaeocommunity of large Conichnus conicus, a conical, cone-in-cone shaped burrow, created by sea anemones, occurs in medium-grained, crossbedded, well-sorted sandstone in the middle part of the Cretaceous Guneri Member of the Bhuj Formation in India. The trace fossil Conichnus is considered to be a common element of the Skolithos ichnofacies and is interpreted to reflect equilibrium movement in response to substrate aggradation. In the present study, three different varieties of Conichnus conicus are distinguished based on morphology and internal fabric. Community dynamics and burrowing behavior are revealed by inter-burrow relationships, burrow initiation levels and sedimentology. Three types of behavior are envisaged: retrusive equilibrium, protrusive equilibrium response, and escape behavior. Palaeocommunity dynamics show that the tracemakers consisted of only adult organisms that initiated burrows during neap tides and are adapted to feed effectively during weak flow conditions. The occurrence of Conichnus palaeocommunity in the Guneri Member indicates the tidal conditions in a fully marine setting. Results presented herein may aid in the understanding of palaeocommunity dynamics in other shallow marine sequences.     

Increase in hepatic ubiquinone on administration of diethylhexyl phthalate to the rat

It is shown for the first time that the content of ubiquinone of liver increases (2.5 fold) on dietary administration of the widely-used industrial Plasticizer diethylhexyl Phthalate to the rat. The increase is localized almost entirely in mitochondria in which the concentration of the quinone Per mg Protein is 1.7 times the control. IncorPoration of the radioactive Precursor (acetate) reveals that the biosynthesis of ubiquinone is increased in the livers of Plasticizer-administered animals. The rate of degradation is not altered.