ABSTRACT
Meiosis is an essential step in gametogenesis which is the key process in sexually reproducing organisms as meiotic aberrations may result in infertility. In meiosis, programmed DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation is one of the fundamental processes that are essential for maintaining homolog interactions and correcting segregation of chromosomes. Although the number and distribution of meiotic DSBs are tightly regulated, still abnormalities in DSB formation are known to cause meiotic arrest and infertility. This review is a detailed account of molecular bases of meiotic DSB formation, its evolutionary conservation, and variations in different species. We further reviewed the mutations of DSB formation genes in association with human infertility and also proposed the future directions and strategies about the study of meiotic DSB formation.
Subject(s)
Humans , DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded , DNA Repair/genetics , Infertility/genetics , Meiosis/physiologyABSTRACT
Ficus carica has been known for its medicinal benefits for the treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular and respiratory problems but little information is available regarding the effects of its leaf extracts on behavior. Present study was designed to report the effect of Ficus carica leaf extract on the selected aspects of male albino mouse behavior. Six week old male albino mice were orally treated for 14 days either with 100 mg/ml solvent/ Kg body weight of Ficus carica leaf extract or with commercially available saline solution [Otsuka, Pakistan]. A battery of neurological tests [Morris Water Maze, Elevated Plus maze, Novel object test] were applied in order to determine the effect of Ficus carica extract on exploratory behaviour, learning and memory in male albino mice. It was observed that oral supplementation of 100mg/ ml solvent/Kg body weight of Ficus carica leaf extract for 2 weeks enhanced neuromuscular co-ordination as they had significantly higher mean speed [P = 0.001] than control group during elevated plus maze test. Morris water maze and novel object test performance remained unaffected [P > 0.05] when compared between Ficus carica leaf extract treated and untreated mice
ABSTRACT
Present study was designed to demonstrate the effect ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja orientalis on the learning and memory formation in albino mice. Four week old albino mice were either orally supplemented with 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis or with equal volume of saline solution [0.9% NaCl] for seven days. A battery of neurological tests [Elevated plus maze, Rota Rod, light and dark box, open field and novel object recognition test] were applied at the end of dose supplementation. Thuja orientalis leaf extract treated female mice spent significantly les time on rotating rod [P = 0.02] than male treated with saline solution [indicating poor neuromuscular coordination]. While all other neurological test performances varied non significantly [P > 0.05] when compared between Thuja orientalis treated albino mice [of both genders] with their respective control groups indicating a moderate effect of 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis on the behavior of young albino mice
ABSTRACT
Acute coronary artery syndrome [ACS] is the major cause of mortality in Pakistan with genetic and environmental influence on the incidence of the disease. This case-control study was designed to find out if a correlation is existing between ACS and single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] in DNA repair genes XPD [at codon 751, rs 13181 [Lys to Gln]] and XRCC1 [at codon 399, rs25487 [Arg to Gln]; 280, rs25489 [Arg to His] and 194, rs 1799782 [Arg to Trp]] either individually or in various combination with each other [haplotype analysis]. The objective of this study was to find out the association of various studied risk factors and serum lipid profile of the subjects with the disease, if any. PCR-RFLP method was used to determine genotype at specific codon in 221 subjects [115 ACS patients and 106 healthy controls] from Southern Punjab population. Genotypic and allelic frequency distribution among the cases and controls revealed that all the studied SNPs were not individually associated with the ACS. Haplotype analysis revealed that subjects having wild type combination of all three XRCC1 SNPs had greater susceptibility to ACS than any other studied genotypic combinations. Analysis of risk factors revealed that hypertension [P<0.001], age [P=0.05], education [P<0.001], gender [P<0.001], family history [P=0.005], smoking habit [P=0.002] and diabetes [P<0.001] were significantly associated with the incidence of ACS. Serum lipid profile analysis indicated that cholesterol level was significantly higher [P=0.048] in patients [161.5mg/dL] than controls [142.1mg/dL] while triglyceride remained unaffected [P=0.87] when compared between the two treatments
ABSTRACT
Interleukin [IL] 6 and 18 plays an important role in inflammatory response following hypoxia ischemia encephalopathy [HIE]. Present study was designed to demonstrate the effect of two GABAB receptor antagonists [CGP 35348 and 55845], respectively, on the serum IL6 and IL 18 concentrations in albino mice. Albino mice pups [of both genders] were subjected to Murine model of hypoxia-ischemia encephalopathy on postnatal day 10 [right common carotid artery was ligated followed by 8% hypoxia for 25 minutes]. After neonatal brain damage and following weaning, mice were divided in three groups, in gender specific manner, and fed on normal rodent diet till they were 13 week old. At this time point, group 1 received intraperitonial saline solution [control group], group 2 was supplemented with CGP 35348 [1mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight] and group 3 with CGP 55845 [1mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight], intraperitonially, for 12 days and IL 6 and 18 concentrations were determined in serum by ELISA. It was observed that CGP 35348 supplementation resulted in reduced interlukin-6 and interlukin-18 concentrations in male albino mice. While CGP 55845 supplementation increased IL-6 and IL-18 concentrations in female albino mice following HIE. Our results are indicating that GABAB receptor antagonist's supplementation affects IL concentrations in albino mice in a gender specific manner following neonatal brain damage and can be further explored for the treatments of hypoxia ischemia associated neurological ailments
ABSTRACT
Randomly selected 500 fingerlings of Labeo rohita were collected from fish seed hatchery Muzaffar Garh. Six groups of 40 fish each were exposed to subleathal concentration of Imidacloprid [120 mg L[-1]] under short-term [2, 4 and 8 days] and long term [16, 32 and 64 days] conditions to assess the effect of this most extensively used insecticide on the heart, liver and kidney of economically most important fresh water fish, L. rohita, in Pakistan. Separate control groups were used for each Imidacloprid treatment. No drastic histopathological changes were observed in heart structure following short and long term treatment with Imidacloprid. Exposure of liver to Imidacloprid resulted in severe degenerative changes, which were directly related to exposure time. Wrinkling of hepatocyte cell membrane, hepatocyte necrosis and degeneration, dislocation of nucleus, dilation of blood sinusoid and pycnosis of hepatic nuclei were the visible changes in liver histology in various experimental treatments. Comparison of treated and untreated kidney of L. rohita revealed wide Bowman's space, renal tubular lumen enlargement, necrosis and inflammation of cells. Our results are the pioneer report indicating that imidacloprid can act as strong toxic agent for L. rohita
ABSTRACT
IL-6 has been reported to have neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia while IL-8 is a pro inflammatory cytokine structurally related to interleukin-1 family. In the present study, we tried to determine whether 2% Creatine monohydrate supplementation for variable duration influence the IL-6 and 18 concentrations in the serum of male albino mouse following right common carotid artery ligation and hypoxia [8% oxygen] for 25 minutes. Our result revealed that serum concentration of IL6 [P=0.0001] as well as IL-18 [P=0.003] were significantly higher in mice supplemented with creatine monohydrate for 15 weeks than in male albino mice on normal rodent diet following hypoxic ischemic insult indicating that long term creatine monohydrate supplementation up regulates the IL-6 and IL-18 concentrations triggering the neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective responses
ABSTRACT
The creatine biosynthetic pathway is essential for cellular phosphate associated energy production and storage, particularly in tissues having higher metabolic demands. Guanidinoacetate N-Methyl transferase [GAMT] is an important enzyme in creatine endogenous biosynthetic pathway, with highest expression in liver and kidney. GAMT deficiency is an inherited autosomal recessive trait that was the first among creatine deficiency syndrome to be reported in 1994 having characteristic features of no comprehensible speech development, severe mental retardation, muscular hypotonia, involuntary movements and seizures that partly cannot be treated with anti-epileptic drugs. Due to problematic endogenous creatine biosynthesis, systemic depletion of creatine/phosphocreatine and accumulation of guanidinoacetate takes place that are the diagnostic features of this disease. Dietary creatine supplementation alone or along with arginine restriction has been reported to be beneficial for all treated patients, although to various extent. However, none of the GAMT deficient patient has been reported to return to complete normal developmental level
ABSTRACT
Acute Coronary Syndrome [ACS] is the most common disease and cause of mortality in both genders across the world and certain risk factors i.e. age, gender, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, drugs usage, weight etc are known to be associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to find if there is any correlation exists between ACS and hereditary genetic defect in endothelial nitric oxide synthase [ecNOS] gene as eNOS generates Nitric oxide in blood vessels and regulates the vascular tone hence directly affecting the cardiovascular function. Single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] [Glu 298 Asp] in ecNOS was determined in 280 subjects, from Southern Punjab [in Pakistan] population, including [160 ACS patients and 120 healthy controls] by PCR-RFLP method and genotype was correlated with various risk factors as well as with serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Our results indicated that the genotype Glu 298 Asp was not associated with ACS but when various studied parameters were compared among patients suffering from various forms of ACS and their healthy controls, it was observed that age [45-55 years] [P = 0.05], gender [male] [P < 0.001], education [P<0.001], family history [P=0.03], hypertension [P<0.001], diabetes [P<0.01] and smoking habit [P = 0.03] were the significantly different parameters among them and may be associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol [161.5 +/- 79 mg/dL] level was found to be higher in patients [P = 0.04] than controls while triglyceride remained unaffected [P = 0.87] in both groups
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the chemical composition of 8 tetra pack milk samples, Olpers [S1], Haleeb [S2], Good milk [S3], Everyday [S4], Milk Pack [S5], Dairy Queen [S6], Dairy Umang [S7], Nurpur [S8] available in local markets and to detect the presence of various chemical adulterants in tetra pack milk samples in Southern Punjab [Pakistan]. Density, pH, solid not fat, total solids, lactometer reading, specific gravity and fat contents were analyzed to determine the chemical composition of milk samples. Our results revealed that all the studied parameters had statistically non significant differences [P>0.05] except total fat in milk samples which was significantly different [P=0.03] among the 8 studied milk samples. Presence of a number of chemical adulterants, formalin, cane sugar, starch, glucose, ammonium sulphate, salt, pulverized soap, detergents, skim milk powder, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, borax, boric acid and alkalinity were also detected in milk samples following standard procedures. Results indicated that formalin, cane sugar, glucose, alkalinity and benzoic acid were present in all samples while salt test was positive only for Olper milk. All other studied adulterants were not detected in 8 milk samples under study.% fat was the only significantly different feature among the studied milk quality parameters with S8 containing lowest while S5 having the maximum% fat.
Subject(s)
Animals , Food Contamination , Dairying , Milk/chemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the presence of Babesia bovis (B. bovis) in large ruminants in southern Punjab and its effect on hematological and serum biochemical profile of host animals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were collected from 144 large ruminants, including 105 cattle and 39 buffaloes, from six districts in southern Punjab including Multan, Layyah, Muzaffar Garh, Bhakar, Bahawalnagar and Vehari. Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires. Different blood (hemoglobin, glucose) and serum (ALT, AST, LDH, cholesterol) parameters of calves and cattle were measured and compared between parasite positive and negative samples to demonstrate the effect of B. bovis on the blood and serological profile of infected animals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>27 out of 144 animals, from 5 out of 6 sampling districts, produced the 541-bp fragment specific for B. bovis. Age of animals (P=0.02), presence of ticks on animals (P=0.04) and presence of ticks on dogs associated with herds (P=0.5) were among the major risk factors involved in the spread of bovine babesiosis in the study area. ALT concentrations were the only serum biochemical values that significantly varied between parasite positive and negative cattle.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>: This study has reported for the first time the presence of B. bovis in large ruminant and the results can lead to the prevention of babesiosis in the region to increase the livestock output.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Cattle , Alanine Transaminase , Blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases , Blood , Babesia bovis , Genetics , Babesiosis , Blood , Epidemiology , Parasitology , Blood Glucose , Buffaloes , Cattle Diseases , Blood , Epidemiology , Parasitology , Cholesterol , Blood , India , Epidemiology , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase , Blood , Polymerase Chain Reaction , RNA, Protozoan , Blood , RNA, Ribosomal , Blood , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus [HBV] affects more than 350 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries like Pakistan. Lamivudine has potential to inhibit hepatitis B virus [HBV] replication but long term lamivudine treatment results in mutations in YMDD region of HBV, making this therapy ineffective. In this study, we have optimized a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] based protocol to detect two mutations in HBV DNA polymerase gene [at codon 528 and 552] in chronic hepatitis patients, without any prior lamivudine treatment. HBV genome was extracted and tested by PCR-RFLP for detection of mutations in polymerase gene. Variations in HBV genome were not detected in enrolled patients confirming that lamivudine can be used to treat chronic Hepatitis B in these patients. Several studies have reported the natural occurrence of mutation in YMDD motif of polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients, not treated with lamivudine, but these mutants were not detected in Pakistani lamivudine-untreated chronic hepatitis B patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Hepatitis B virus , Lamivudine , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Mutation , Gene Products, polABSTRACT
The creatine/phosphocreatine system is essential for cellular phosphate coupled energy storage and production, particularly in tissues subject to high metabolic demands. Male factor infertility is a common condition with unknown etiology in most of the cases. Sperm abnormalities could possibly lead to infertility. As sperm motility depends on intact mitochondrial function and energy levels. Thus reduced intracellular creatine stores may contribute to decreased sperm motility leading to male infertility as creatine /phosphocreatine system plays major role in making and breaking of ATP, thus in energy kinetics. We developed and validated a denaturing high performance liquid chromatograph [DHPLC] method for the molecular analysis of SLC6A8 and GAMT genes involve in creatine biosynthesis and transport as a possible source of human male infertility by analyzing DNA from 64, clinically confirmed, infertile men. No mutation/polymorphism was detected in the exonic regions of both genes in all the patients and in fertile healthy controls indicating that SLC6A8 and GAMT genes may not be directly involved in human male infertility