Voltage activated calcium channels in somatic muscle of filarial nematode Setaria cervi.

Acetylcholine (Ach), levamisole and pyrantel pamoate all cause stimulation of spontaneous rhythmic movements of whole worm and nerve muscle preparation of filarial nematode Setaria cervi. These stimulant effects are manifested only in the presence of available Ca2+ or extracellular Ca2+. Electrical stimulation of nerve muscle preparation of Setaria cervi elicited depolarization and increase in amplitude and tone of contractions. Electrical current stimulates Ca2+ entry leading to depolarization and during the phase of depolarization addition of any of the three stimulants viz. Ach, levamisole or pyrantel pamoate fails to elicit any response on nerve muscle preparation. The findings indicate that electrical stimulation, excitatory neurotransmitter Ach and stimulant anthelmintics levamisole and pyrantel pamoate all produce their stimulant effect by triggering entry of Ca2+ into the muscle cell. Further, blocking the calcium channels by nifedepine and thereby the entry of Ca2+ into the cells blocks the stimulant effect of Ach levamisole and pyrantel pamoate.

Study of serum lipid and lipoprotein in pre-eclampsia with special reference to parity.

A cross sectional study was done to determine serum lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol in pre-eclamptic women in their third trimester, taking normal pregnant women in third trimester as controls. The values were compared in patients of different parity. It was observed that serum triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (Chol), LDL-c, VLDL-c, phospholipids (PL) and total lipids (TL) were significantly raised, while HDL-c, was significantly lower in pre-eclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. TG and VLDL-c were found to be increased significantly with parity.

Thyroid functions in pre-eclampsia and its correlation with maternal age, parity, severity of blood pressure and serum albumin.

Maternal thyroid function was investigated in 32 pre-eclamptic women and 10 normal pregnant women in their third trimester. Serum total tri-iodothyronine (TT3) and total thyroxine (TT4) were decreased significantly (P < 0.001) and TSH was increased significantly (P < .001) in pre-eclampsia as compared to normal pregnancy. There was no influence of parity and maternal age on thyroid functions. TT3 and TT4 decreased significantly (P < .001) with increase of serum albumin, while there was no correlation of TT4 with serum albumin.

Examination stress: changes in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids.

Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids were estimated in twelve students exposed to varying degree of examination stress. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides exhibited a rise proportional to degree of examination stress whereas total lipids exhibited an initial rise followed by a fall. Values of all these parameters attained control level when the stress was over. The rise in serum cholesterol and triglycerides seems to be due to stress induced changes in hormonal levels and peripheral lipolysis respectively.

Serum level of iron and transferrin in normal and anaemic pregnant women.

Serum levels of iron and transferrin, and percent saturation of total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and latent iron binding capacity were estimated in 89 women in their I, II and IIIrd trimester of pregnancy. Associated infective, metabolic or degenerative diseases were excluded after clinical examination. The women were divided into three groups of normal, mildly anaemic and severely anaemic. In the normal group serum iron levels were within normal range irrespective of period of gestation, whereas in the anaemic groups, these were lower. Serum transferrin levels were significantly low in II and III trimester of pregnancy of anaemic women. Percent saturation of TIBC was even lower than normal in Ist trimester of pregnancy in normal pregnancy (27.12%). However in mild anaemic there was significant fall and in severe anaemia, it was very low, leaving a vast latent iron binding capacity. The decrease of % saturation of TIBC even in normal pregnant women is indicative of inherent poor stores, which may be due to defective diet.

Effect of anaemia on respiratory and metabolic parameters during third trimester of pregnancy.

Pregnancy involves a considerable increase of metabolically active tissue. Anaemia a common occurrence during pregnancy hampers the normal metabolism of body due to Anaemic hypoxia. In present study oxygen uptake, Co2 output, Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RE) Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) were compared in normal women in IIIrd trimester of pregnancy (Hb 12 gm% or above) with anaemic women. Oxygen uptake and Co2 output were measured by Noyon's Dioferometer and PEFR by Wright's Peak Expiratory Flow Meter. RE and RMR were calculated. O2 uptake, Co2 output, RE and RMR were significantly increased whereas PEFR was significantly decreased in anaemic than in normal subjects during third trimester of pregnancy.

Acetylcholine: a possible neurotransmitter in Setaria cervi.

The total and free acetylcholine (Ach) and cholinesterase (CHE) content of adult Setaria cervi were estimated. The Ach was estimated by bioassay on rectus abdominis muscle of frog and the CHE by measuring the drop in pH following incubation of worm homogenate with Ach chloride. The free and total Ach contents (4.0 +/- 0.57 and 6.0 +/- 0.48 microgram/g wet weight of worms respectively) were as high as found in mammalian brain cortex. The cholinesterase activity was found to be 5.57 +/- 0.6 units/g wet weight of worms. It is possible that there may exist a well developed system responsible for the synthesis, storage, release and destruction of Ach and that Ach may be acting as an excitatory neurohormone in S. cervi.