Effect of glycine: Studying memory and behavioral changes in mice

Glycine is an important chemical mediator of nervous system that plays a vital role in memory and other neurological functions. Therefore, the effect of glycine on these traits must be studied to understand biological mechanisms of intricate neurological system. We investigated the effect of different doses of glycine on memory and behavior using 30 albino mice models [treated and control]. After two weeks of glycine dosing, we performed light and dark activity and novel-object recognition [NOR] tests to assess the cognitive traits. Brain and blood samples were taken and kept at -70 degree C using ultra-low temperature freezer. Neurochemical estimation of blood glycine level was estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detectors [HPLC-ECD]. Concentration of glycine [100, 300 and 500 mg/kg] is significantly observed [p<0.01] and it changes due to physiological variations in N-methyl-Daspartate [NMDA] an important neurotransmitter for memory. We observed significant increase in serotonin metabolites including 5-hydroxy tryptophan [5-HT, p<0.05] and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid [5-HIAA, p<0.001] levels. Similarly, effects were found in case of dopamine [DA, p<0.05] and its metabolites: 3, 4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid [DOPAC, p<0.001] and homovanillic acid [HVA, p<0.001]. Histopathological investigation of brain tissues showed cellular clumps at cortical junctions at higher doses of glycine as compared to control. These findings revealed that dose dependent concentration of glycine can be useful for memory loss and behavior deficits

Banana fruit pulp and peel involved in antianxiety and antidepressant effects while invigorate memory performance in male mice: possible role of potential antioxidants

The present study was aimed to investigate the anti-stress and memory enhancing effects of banana [Musa sapientum L.] fruit pulp and peel extract in male mice. Locally bred albino Wistar mice were divided into control and 2 test groups [n=10]. Control rats received drinking water while test groups were treated with banana fruit pulp [600 mg/kg; oral administration] and extract of banana peel [400mg/kg; oral administration]. Behavioral activities of animals were monitored 14 days post administration of banana pulp and peel extract. Depression-like symptoms were measured by forced swimming test [FST]. Anxiety like behavior was monitored using light-dark activity [LDA] test and plus maze activity [PMA] test and memory functions of rats were assessed by morris water maze [MWM] test. Following 2 weeks animals were decapitated and brain was removed for estimation of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase [CAT], super oxide dismutase [SOD] and reduced glutathione [GSH]. In the present study both banana peel and pulp increased the time spent in light box and open arm, suggesting anxiolytic effects. A significant decrease in immobility time was observed in FST in both banana pulp and peel treated animals suggesting antidepressant like effects. Moreover, learning and memory assessed by MWM showed decrease in time to reach platform in both short term and long term memory test suggested increased memory function in both banana pulp and peel treated animals as compared to control animals. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes were significantly [p<0.05] greater in banana pulp and peel treated animals than control. It is concluded that both banana pulp and peel have anti-anxiety, antidepressant effect as well as strengthen the memory possibly via its antioxidant mechanism. Therefore, it is recommended that supplementation of banana could be taken a vital role in stress [anxiety and depression] relief and increased in memory function possibly by phytoantioxidants

Serum levels of leptin, zinc and tryptophan in obese subjects with sleep deficits

Obesity is an important risk factor for sleep disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the association of leptin, zinc and tryptophan [TRP] in obese subjects with sleep deficits [sleep apnea [SA], insomnia [IN]]. In this cross sectional case control, with the verbal and written consent 206, obese with sleep deficits and 30, non-obese/normal identified from various areas of Karachi, Pakistan. The socio-demographic data including; age, body mass index [BMI], education and residence, of participants was collected. After providing informed consent, fasting blood samples were taken and serum was collected. The serum concentration of leptin, zinc and TRP were analyzed by ELISA [Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay], FAAS [Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer] and HPLC [High performance liquid chromatography] respectively. A significant correlation was found between BMI [body mass index] and leptin, BMI and zinc, BMI and TRP. The correlation between leptin consecutively was significantly associated with zinc and TRP in obese patients. Sleep deficits elevated circulatory levels of leptin while lower zinc and TRP levels compared to levels seen in non-obese [Normal] subjects with no sleep deficits. Obese subjects exhibited significantly higher levels of leptin with sleep deficits compared with non-obese subjects with normal sleep pattern, while obese subjects with SA had significantly high levels of leptin than obese subjects with IN and IN+SA. Patients with sleep deficits had significantly lower levels of serum TRP and zinc than non-obese subjects with normal sleep pattern. Obese subjects with SA had significantly lower levels of zinc and elevated levels of TRP than obese subjects with IN. Obese patients with IN+SA had significantly lower levels of leptin and zinc than IN and SA , while TRP levels were significantly lower in subjects with IN than obese subjects with IN+SA and IN. These results suggest that elevated levels of leptin which are possibly by adiposity and lessened levels of zinc and TRP have a great impact on progression of obesity and their association can contribute to tempt sleep disorders

Epidemiological survey of helminths of goats in southern Punjab, Pakistan

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of helminths of goats such as Fasciola hepatica, Haemonchus contortus, Paramphistomum cervi, Oesophagostomum columbian, Cotylophoron cotylophorum, Monezia expansa, Oestertagia oestertagi and Oestertagia circumcincta. The overall prevalence of all species of helminthes was 52% in goat. The study was designed to investigate the factors of helminths prevalence on the basis of sex and age of goat with the help of Chi-square. All the results obtained were non-significant due to some factors which directly affects the prevalence of helminths.

Some observations on the adaptation of Eimeria tenella (local isolates) sporozoites on chicken embryos through chorioallantoic membrane

Eimeria (E.) tenella (local isolate) sporozoites were adapted on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of 10-12 days chicken embryos and completed its life cycle in 6~7 days at 39 degrees C and 70 per cent humidity. Only 23 embryos (4.6%) were found dead from 1~4 day post inoculation of sporozoites with mild lesions on CAM with no gametocytes but few sporozoites in chorioallantoic fluid (CAF). On 5~7 day post inoculation, 432 embryos (86.4%) were found dead with severe haemorrhages on CAM and CAF contained uncountable number of gametocytes. After seven days post inoculation, 45 embryos (9%) were found to be alive. Some oocysts were also detected in the CAF on 6~7 days post inoculation. In the histological sections of the CAM, there were abundant small dark colored rounded bodies of gametes; distributed extensively in tissues of CAM on 5~7 days post inoculation of sporozoites. In some cases, cluster of small mature and immature relatively large bodies were seen in increasing numbers on 5~6 days post inoculation.