Plasma and cardiac oxytocin during rat gestation and postpartum: evaluation of their effects on the isolated perfused rat heart

Our purpose was to determine the dynamic changes in plasma and cardiac oxytocin during gestation, to study the cardiac effects of oxytocin in the isolated perfused rat heart model and whether pregnancy modifies the hormone's action. Cardiac and plasma oxytocin were evaluated at three stages of gestation [6,13 and 20 days] and at 2 days postpartum. In addition, at the same stages, hearts were excised and attached to a Langendorf's apparatus. Heart rate [HR] and left ventricular developed pressure [LVDP] were measured while being exposed serially to same plasma concentrations of oxytocin observed at each studied stage. Compared with non-pregnant controls, plasma and cardiac oxytocin were significantly and respectively decreased by 41.9%; 38% in early, 42.5%; 36.6% in mid and 8,9%; 47.9% in late gestation, to increase again by 178.1% and 81% postpartum. Hearts from pregnant rats had higher HR, LVDP and delta P/delta t[max] than did hearts from non-pregnant animals. Postpartum, hearts showed lower HR by 9.2%, LVDP by 6.9% and delta P/delta t [max] by 13.9% compared to non-pregnant rats. During pregnancy, reproductive hormones may regulate cardiac oxytocin release and consequently its negative chronotropic and inotropic effects. After parturition, an activated oxytocin system may help the body to get rid of the excess volume

Chemical constituents of jojoba oil and insecticidal activity against schistocerca gregaria and biochemical effect on albino rats

The present work deals with chemical constituents, insecticidal and biological studies of jojoba oil. Its saponifiable and unsaponifiable matters of the lipid were studied against Schistocerca gregaria. In addition, the effect of supplementation of jojoba oil and its defatted meal on albino rats. The chemical analysis of saponifiable matter showed that alpha-linolenic acid was found to be the major constituents, in fatty acids [37.1%] followed by nervonic acid [13.8%]. The main constituents of unsaponifiable matter were fatty alcohols, represent 53.84% and 9-octadecen-l-ol was detected with high quantity [41.35%]. The hydrocarbons were also detected in high quantity, 1, 21-docosadiene was the main hydrocarbons [20.64%]. The higher level of jojoba oil induced the lowest eaten area percentage [30.3%] of S. gregaria, followed by the unsaponifiable and saponifiable matters [39.5% and 47.4%], respectively. Antifeedant and protection activity percentage were increased by increasing the concentration. The highest mortality percentage [100%] of S. gregaria nymphs was recorded at 10% jojoba oil while it was [93.3%] in the case of unsaponifiable matter. The biochemical evaluation on albino rats showed that supplementation of 4% jojoba oil to an atherogenic diet [containing 1% cholesterol, 10% animal fat and 0.25% cholic acid] led to a reduction in serum cholesterol and triacylglycerols levels after three weeks; the decrease amounted to 33.1% and 20.8%, respectively. The remainder after oil extraction is referred to defatted jojoba meal. Rats fed diet supplemented with 10% defatted jojoba meal had [after 14 days] a significant reduction in mean values of body weight, food intake and faecal excretion compared to control group but showed no significant change in serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases activity and creatinine levels

Bacteriological and pathological studies on salmonellae in free-flying wild birds in faculty of veterinary medicine farm at Ismailia governorate

The occurrence of Salmonellae in a variety of free-flying wild birds was investigated. Of 57 intestinal content and reproductive organ samples examined, 10 yielded 3 different Salmonella serovars, which included 7 strains of S. typhimurium of Phage type 141, 2 of S. enteritidis of Phage type 4 and 1 of S. dublin. House sparrow [Passer domesticus], rock dove [Columba livia], swallow [Hirundo rustica] and crow [Corvus corone] were found positive for the presence of Salmonella. Antibiogram of the isolates was studied against 13 common chemotherapeutic agents. The gross lesions were the presence of hemorrhages in multiple organs. Necrotic focci in the liver and multifocal whitish firm nodules in kidney were noticed. Microscopically, the pronounced lesions were coagulative necrosis in liver and granulomatous nephritis

Purification of cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia Lamlia cysts using saccharose density gradients centrifugation

Cryptosporidium oocysts of Giardia lamblia cysts were separated from fecal contaminants by saccharose density layer centrifugation followed by low speed centrifugation. The filtrate of Cryptosporidium was concentrated on gradients with densities 1.04 and 1.09, while Giardia cysts were concentrated on 1.09 and 1.18. Decontamination by Na hypochlorite was useful only for Cryptosporidium oocysts as it was lethal for Giardia cysts. This method is simple and effective in preparing purified material for antigens, and as a source for maintenance of the cycle of Cryptosporidium in vivo or in vitro