Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.     

Effect of Synthetic Auxin Analogs (2.4-D and α-NAA) on Growth and Biosynthetic Characteristics of Suspension Cell Culture of Tribulus terrestris L.

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Effect of synthetic analogs of auxins—2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2.4-D) and α-naphthylacetic (α-NAA) acids—on growth characteristics and...     

ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 and trnL-trnF Sequences as Markers for the Study of Species Diversity of Altai Feather Grasses

Russian Journal of Genetics - The ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 sequence of the 35S rRNA genes of 16 species of feather grasses and 2 species of false needlegrasses of the flora of the Altai...     

Effect of Furostanol Glycosides from Dioscorea deltoidea on Redox State of Alfalfa Cells In Vitro

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - The effect of exogenous furostanol glycosides (FG) on the activity of redox enzymes was investigated in suspension cell culture of alfalfa (Medicago sativa...     

Adaptogenic action of the complex of phenylpropanoids on Dioscorea deltoidea cell culture under abiotic stress

Biological activity of the extract from golden root (Rhodiola rosea L.) roots, containing the complex of phenylpropanoids (CPP), was studied on the cell culture of yam (Dioscorea deltoidea Wall) under normal conditions and abiotic stress. The high radical-binding capacity of CPP relative to anion- and hydroxyl-radicals was observed. Having a high level of antiradical protection, CPP at a high concentration(100 μM) exerted prooxidant effect, causing a decrease in D. deltoidea cell viability and a decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, guaiacol-dependent peroxidase, and catalase, with the exception of ascorbate peroxidase. At treatment with 100 μM CPP, oxidase (prooxidant) activity of peroxidase increased by three times. The low CPP concentration (2 μM) did not induce substantial changes in the activities of tested enzymes and also a substantial increase in the oxidase activity of peroxidase. Under conditions of oxidative stress induced by paraquat and high temperature, CPP manifested adaptogenic action, increasing cell viability; however, under hyperosmotic stress, it was not efficient. CPP was most efficient at a low concentration after cell pre-incubation with it for 5 days. In this case, the amount of primary and secondary POL products increased. Shortening pre-cultivation with CPP reduced its defensive effect.     

Proline and functioning of the antioxidant system in Thellungiella salsuginea plants and cultured cells subjected to oxidative stress

The effects of proline on the functioning of antioxidant enzymes — superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APO) — in Thellungiella salsuginea plants and cultured cells under normal conditions of culturing and under the influence of hydrogen peroxide (500 μM) were studied. Proline addition (0.2, 2, or 5 mM) to the medium for suspension culture or nutrient medium for plant growing resulted in the increase in the content of intracellular proline in both cultured cells and intact plant leaves and also in the activation of proline dehydrogenase, i.e., the enzyme degrading proline. Under normal conditions, treatment with proline exerted prooxidant action on both cellular and organismal levels. This was manifested in MDA accumulation and changes in APO and SOD activities. The amino acid alanine, used as a control, did not exert similar strong effect as proline. Application of 500 μM H₂O₂ on plant leaves resulted in the development of oxidative stress, whereas hydrogen peroxide addition into the culture medium — to the death of 50% of suspension cells. When plants and cultured cells were treated with 2 mM proline and than with H₂O₂, the number of dead cells in suspension was 35%, the content of MDA was decreased, APO was activated, and SOD activity was decreased in both cell culture and plant leaves. Thus, an increase in the intracellular proline concentration changed the redox balance and induced functioning of APO and SOD at both normal conditions of plant growing and cell culturing and under stress.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

Formation of protodioscin and deltoside isomers in suspension cultures of Nepal yam (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioscorea deltoidea</Emphasis> Wall.) cells

Changes in the content of the furostanol glycosides protodioscin and deltoside, particularly that of the (25S)-isomers of the glycosides, during suspension cultivation of different lines of Nepal yam (Dioscorea deltoidea Wall.) cells of the strain IFR-DM-0.5 has been investigated. The composition of furostanol glycosides has been characterized, and the dynamics of the accumulation of individual glycosides during lengthy subcultivation of cells maintained in flasks or in a barbotage bioreactor has been analyzed. A positive correlation between the growth and accumulation of substances that belonged to the class of furostanol glycosides has been demonstrated for cultured dioscorea cells, whereas the content of some of the individual glycosides varied considerably between the lines of the strain, cultures maintained under different conditions, and even between cells in different phases of the growth cycle. The increased content of (25R)-forms of the glycosides (protodioscin and deltoside) was correlated with a decrease in the cellular growth rate, whereas an increase in culture growth intensity occurred concomitantly to an increase of the amount of (25S)-isomers. This may be indicative of the specific stimulatory effect of (25S)-glycosides, but not the (25R)-forms, on cell proliferation in vitro. Thus, the concentration of (25S)-forms may increase due to the autoselection of cells capable of intensive division during prolonged cultivation.