Lactation stages modulate the hematological, serum biochemical, and endocrinological profiles and oxidative stress markers in crossbred cows under tropical humid island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The present study was designed to assess the interrelationship between hematological, serum biochemical, and endocrinological profiles and oxidative stress markers and lactational stages in crossbred (CB) dairy cows of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). Healthy (n = 6) CB cows (50-62.50% exotic inheritance; Holstein Friesian × Andaman local) of 4th parity with age of 7-9 years and body weight of 350-400 kg were selected from Cattle Breeding Farm, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI), Port Blair, ANI. These experimental cows were synchronized with Ovsynch protocol, and parturition was planned to happen in the month of May-June. Lactation was allowed for 305 days. Hematological profiles, serum biochemical profiles, oxidative stress markers and endocrinological profiles were measured at a 15-day interval from day 07 to 305 of lactation (after 6 days of colostrum). The lactation period was divided into first (day 07 to 90), second (day 91 to 180), and third (day 181 to 305) stage of lactation. Average daily milk yield (L) did not vary among the stages of lactations; however, first (8.56 ± 1.26) and second (9.79 ± 0.87) stages had higher milk yield compared to third (7.93 ± 0.79) stage of lactation. Hematological profiles did not vary among the stages of lactation; however, these values were within the range of bovine species at lactation. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, total protein, globulin, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increased (P < 0.05) and albumin and creatinine decreased (P < 0.05) gradually as lactation stages advanced. Activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and concentration of calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium were nearly similar among the stages of lactation. Similarly, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) increased and prolactin and cortisol decreased (P < 0.05) gradually as stages of lactation advanced. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased (P < 0.05) as lactation stages advanced. The results of the present study indicated that the lactating CB cows suffered nutritional stress (deficiency of protein, carbohydrate, lipids, and minerals), physiological stress (higher cortisol), oxidative stress (higher MDA and deficiency of total antioxidant capacity), and hormonal imbalance (higher prolactin and cortisol and deficiency of thyroid hormones) during the early stages of lactation. Thus, the first and second stages are more stressful events compared to the third stage of lactation in the CB cows in ANI. Therefore, regular monitoring of blood components and accordingly suitable feeding strategies with balanced nutrients and minerals, supplementation of suitable antioxidants, and appropriate management practices need to be implemented to mitigate these stresses and to prevent metabolic disorders with maximum milk production during different stages of lactation in CB cows under humid tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Flaxseed oil modulates testicular biometrics, hormone, libido, antioxidant and semen profiles in endangered Teressa goat of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Teressa goat is a unique goat breed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) of India. Effects of Flaxseed oil (FSO) supplementation in body weight (BW), scrotal circumference (SC), testicular volume (TV) and testicular weight (TW), endocrinological profiles, sex behavioural profiles (SBPs), oxidative stress markers and semen production and its quality profiles in rainy and dry summer season were studied in Teressa goat. Male goats (n = 12) of 3-4 years old were equally divided into control and treated groups. Treated animals received 25 mL FSO per day. Oral drenching of FSO was done in the morning before feeding the concentrate ration. Body weight, scrotal circumference, TV and TW were measured in bucks of FSO treated and untreated during rainy and dry summer seasons. Blood follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), cortisol and prolactin, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in bucks of FSO treated and untreated during rainy and dry summer seasons. Libido score (LS), mating ability score (MAS) and sex behavioural score (SBS) were estimated at time of semen collection in bucks of FSO treated and untreated during rainy and dry summer seasons. Semen samples (n = 100; 50 semen samples from each season; each 25 semen samples from control and treatment groups per season) were collected and analysed for semen quality profiles. One-way ANOVA (control rainy, control dry, treated rainy and treated dry) revealed that BW, SC, TV and TW, FSH, LH, testosterone, TSH, T3 and T4 were higher (P < 0.05) and cortisol and prolactin were lower (P < 0.05) in FSO treated bucks of rainy season followed by untreated bucks of rainy season, FSO treated bucks of dry summer season and were lower (P < 0.05) in untreated bucks of dry summer season. Similarly, TAC, CAT, SOD and GSH, LS, MAS and SBS, and volume, pH, sperm concentration, mass activity, total motility (TM), viability, acrosomal integrity (AcI), plasma membrane integrity (PMI) and nuclear integrity (NI) were higher (P < 0.05) and MDA and TSA were lower (P < 0.05) in FSO treated bucks of rainy season followed by FSO treated bucks of dry summer season, untreated bucks of rainy season and were lower (P < 0.05) in untreated bucks of dry summer season. The results of the present study indicated that the breeding bucks suffered physiological stress (higher cortisol), oxidative stress (higher MDA and deficiency of antioxidants), hormonal imbalance (higher prolactin and cortisol and deficiency of gonadotropins, gonadal hormone and thyroid hormones) and infertility due to poor libido and poor semen production and its quality profiles during dry summer season. Thus, dry summer was more stressful season compared to rainy season for the goat bucks. FSO supplementation mitigated these stresses and improved the scrotal and testicular biometrics, libido, antioxidants, hormones and semen quality profiles in Teressa goat bucks. The current study concluded that FSO effectively improved the hormones, libido, antioxidant profiles, and scrotal and testicular biometrics with cascading beneficial effects on semen quality profiles in Teressa goat bucks under humid tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Antibacterial activity of polyphenolic fraction of Kombucha against Vibrio cholerae: targeting cell membrane.

The present study was undertaken to determine the mechanism of antibacterial activity of a polyphenolic fraction, composed of mainly catechin and isorhamnetin, previously isolated from Kombucha, a 14-day fermented beverage of sugared black tea, against the enteropathogen Vibrio cholerae N16961. Bacterial growth was found to be seriously impaired by the polyphenolic fraction in a dose-dependent manner. Scanning Electron Microscopy demonstrated morphological alterations in bacterial cells when exposed to the polyphenolic fraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Permeabilization assays confirmed that the fraction disrupted bacterial membrane integrity in both time- and dose-dependent manners, which were proportional to the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, each of the polyphenols catechin and isorhamnetin showed the ability to permeate bacterial cell membranes by generating oxidative stress, thereby suggesting their role in the antibacterial potential of Kombucha. Thus, the basic mechanism of antibacterial activity of the Kombucha polyphenolic fraction against V. cholerae involved bacterial membrane permeabilization and morphological changes, which might be due to the generation of intracellular ROS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the investigation of antibacterial mechanism of Kombucha, which is mostly attributed to its polyphenolic content. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The emergence of multidrug-resistant Vibrio cholerae strains has hindered an efficient anti-Vibrio therapy. This study has demonstrated the membrane damage-mediated antibacterial mechanism of Kombucha, a popular fermented beverage of sugared tea, which is mostly attributed to its polyphenolic content. This study also implies the exploitation of Kombucha as a potential new source of bioactive polyphenols against V. cholerae.

Epidemiology of animal bites and rabies cases in India. A multicentric study.

Rabies, a disease of antiquity continues to be a major public health problem in India. Multiple factors contribute to high mortality and morbidity due to animal bites. An effective strategy for control of rabies takes into account the epidemiology of animal bites, rabies and factors influencing post exposure treatment. The study was carried out as a part of Agreement for Performance of Work (APW) from World Health Organization (WHO) during the period April 2001 to September 2002. Two sets of proformae were developed and used after field testing to interview cases of animal bites and get retrospective information about rabies cases. The study was carried out at six selected centres across the country viz. Delhi, Hyderabad, Raipur, Jamnagar, Coonoor and Rajahmundry and was co-ordinated by National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi. The officials engaged in the study work were thoroughly trained in the study methodology before the start of the study itself. To maintain quality and uniformity supervisory checks were done during the survey. A total of 1357 fresh animal bite victims were interviewed (exit interview) from the anti-rabies centres (ARCs). Dog bites caused maximum morbidity (92%). Second most common biting animal was monkey (3.2%), followed by cat (1.8%), fox (0.4%) etc. Most bites (64.3%) were unprovoked bites by stray (64.7%) animals. In this study 72.4% animal bite victims were males and 47.5% were children in age group of 2-18 years. 63% had Category III exposure as per the WHO classification. Before coming to ARCs 58.5% people had washed the wound with water/soap or water alone. Some of the bite victims (10.8%) had also applied chillies, salt, turmeric powder, lime, snuff powder, paste of leaves, acid, ash given by Peer Baba (magician) etc. These practices varied from one region to another. The practice of wound washing at the ARC which is an important component of animal bite management was being practiced at only one of the six centres. Of the six centres, Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) was available and was being used at only two centres. The study was conducted in public sector ARCs where Nervous Tissue Vaccine (NTV) was available free of cost. All the centres were using NTV except Coonoor, which is using indigenously produced Tissue Culture Vaccine along with NTV. Analysis of 192 case records of rabies cases, from two centres, revealed that dog bites caused maximum mortality (96.9%). Nearly 40% were children below 15 years of age and 78.6% were males indicating that it is an exposure related disease. In all cases, failure to seek timely and appropriate treatment led to development of disease. This paper provides an overview of epidemiology of animal bites and retrospective information about rabies patients. There is a need to strengthen Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programme regarding merits of local wound management including "do's and don'ts". ARCs should be strengthened in terms of facilities and availability of safe and effective anti rabies immunobiologicals. There is a need to create awareness regarding epidemiology and at-home and hospital management of animal bites among the service providers and general community.

Effect of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides on a rat model of tardive dyskinesia.

Withania somnifera glycowithanolides (WSG) were investigated for their preventive effect on the animal model of tardive dyskinesia (TD), induced by once daily administration of the neuroleptic, haloperidol (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.), for 28 days. Involuntary orofacial movements (chewing movements, tongue protusion and buccal tremors) were assessed as TD parameters. WSG (100 and 200 mg, p.o.), administered concomitantly with haloperidol for 28 days, inhibited the induction of the neuroleptic TD. Haloperidol-induced TD was also attenuated by the antioxidant, vitamin E (400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o.), but remained unaffected by the GABA-mimetic antiepileptic agent, sodium valproate (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.), both agents being administered for 28 days like WSG. The results indicate that the reported antioxidant effect of WSG, rather than its GABA-mimetic action, may be responsible for the prevention of haloperidol-induced TD.

A component of excitation-contraction coupling triggered in the absence of the T671-L690 and L720-Q765 regions of the II-III loop of the dihydropyridine receptor alpha(1s) pore subunit.

We conducted a deletion analysis of two regions identified in the II-III loop of alpha(1S), residues 671-690, which were shown to bind to ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) and stimulate RyR1 channels in vitro, and residues 720-765 or the narrower 724-743 region, which confer excitation-contraction (EC) coupling function to chimeric dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs). Deletion mutants were expressed in dysgenic alpha(1S)-null myotubes and analyzed by voltage-clamp and confocal fluo-4 fluorescence. Immunostaining of the mutant subunits using an N-terminus tag revealed abundant protein expression in all cases. Furthermore, the maximum recovered charge movement density was >80% of that recovered by full-length alpha(1S) in all cases. Delta671-690 had no effect on the magnitude of voltage-evoked Ca(2+) transients or the L-type Ca(2+) current density. In contrast, Delta720-765 or Delta724-743 abolished Ca(2+) transients entirely, and L-type Ca(2+) current was reduced or absent. Surprisingly, Ca(2+) transients and Ca(2+) currents of a moderate magnitude were recovered by the double deletion mutant Delta671-690/Delta720-765. A simple explanation for this result is that Delta720-765 induces a conformation change that disrupts EC coupling, and this conformational change is partially reverted by Delta671-690. To test for Ca(2+)-entry independent EC coupling, a pore mutation (E1014K) known to entirely abolish the inward Ca(2+) current was introduced. alpha(1S) Delta671-690/Delta720-765/E1014K expressed Ca(2+) transients with Boltzmann parameters identical to those of the Ca(2+)-conducting double deletion construct. The data strongly suggest that skeletal-type EC coupling is not uniquely controlled by alpha(1S) 720-765. Other regions of alpha(1S) or other DHPR subunits must therefore directly contribute to the activation of RyR1 during EC coupling.

Effect of Emblica officinalis tannoids on a rat model of tardive dyskinesia.

Effect of active tannoid principles of E. officinalis, comprising of emblicanin A (37%), emblicanin B (33%), punigluconin (12%) and pedunculagin (14%), was investigated on a rat model of tardive dyskinesia (TD) induced by once daily administration of haloperidol (1.5 mg/kg, ip) for 28 days. Involuntary orofacial movements (chewing movements, buccal tremors and tongue protusion) were assessed as TD parameters. The tannoid principles of E. officinalis (EOT) were administered concomitantly with haloperidol in the doses of 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg, po, for 28 days. Sodium valproate (200 mg/kg, po), a Gaba-mimetic agent, and vitamin E (400 mg/kg, po), an antioxidant, were used as the standard drugs and administered for the same period. EOT induced a dose-related inhibition of all the three TD parameters assessed, as did vitamin E. The effect of sodium valproate remained statistically insignificant. The results suggest that EOT exerts a prophylactive effect against neuroleptic-induced TD which is likely to be due to its earlier reported antioxidant effects in rat brain areas, including striatum.

The family of major royal jelly proteins and its evolution.

A cDNA encoding a new member of the gene family of major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) from the honeybee, Apis mellifera, was isolated and sequenced. Royal jelly (RJ) is a secretion of the cephalic glands of nurse bees. The origin and biological function of the protein component (12.5%, w/w) of RJ is unknown. We show that the MRJP gene family encodes a group of closely related proteins that share a common evolutionary origin with the yellow protein of Drosophila melanogaster. Yellow protein functions in cuticle pigmentation in D. melanogaster. The MRJPs appear to have evolved a novel nutritional function in the honeybee.

Molecular cloning and evolutionary analysis of the calcium-modulated contractile protein, centrin, in green algae and land plants.

Centrin (= caltractin) is a ubiquitous, cytoskeletal protein which is a member of the EF-hand superfamily of calcium-binding proteins. A centrin-coding cDNA was isolated and characterized from the prasinophyte green alga Scherffelia dubia. Centrin PCR amplification primers were used to isolate partial, homologous cDNA sequences from the green algae Tetraselmis striata and Spermatozopsis similis. Annealing analyses suggested that centrin is a single-copy-coding region in T. striata and S. similis and other green algae studied. Centrin-coding regions from S. dubia, S. similis and T. striata encode four colinear EF-hand domains which putatively bind calcium. Phylogenetic analyses, including homologous sequences from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the land plant Atriplex nummularia, demonstrate that the domains of centrins are congruent and arose from the two-fold duplication of an ancestral EF hand with Domains 1+3 and Domains 2+4 clustering. The domains of centrins are also congruent with those of calmodulins demonstrating that, like calmodulin, centrin is an ancient protein which arose within the ancestor of all eukaryotes via gene duplication. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from centrin-coding region comparisons mirror results of small subunit ribosomal RNA sequence analyses suggesting that centrin-coding regions are useful evolutionary markers within the green algae.

Effect of banana powder (Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca) on gastric mucosal shedding.

Banana pulp powder (Musa sapientum Linn. var. paradisiaca) was studied for its effects on gastric mucosal resistance. Banana-treated (0.5 g/kg orally, twice daily for 3 days) rats of either sex showed: (i) a significant increase in the [3H]thymidine incorporation into mucosal cell DNA; (ii) a significant increase in the total carbohydrate (sum of total hexoses, hexosamine, fucose and sialic acid) content of gastric mucosa; (iii) a significant decrease in gastric juice DNA and protein; (iv) a significant increase in the total carbohydrates and carbohydrate/protein ratio of gastric juice. Aspirin treatment to rats caused similar effects as banana on the [3H]thymidine incorporation into mucosal cell DNA but showed opposite effects on the other parameters. These results suggest that banana treatment increased and aspirin decreased the gastric mucosal resistance as evidenced by a respective decrease and increase in gastric juice DNA, the latter serving as an index of the rate of mucosal shedding. Increased cellular mucus may be the factor for increased mucosal resistance. The results of the present study tend to confirm that plantain banana powder strengthens mucosal resistance and promotes the healing of ulcers.