ABSTRACT
A non-toxic dose of abrin, (1.25 microg/kg body wt) consecutively for five days in normal mice stimulated specific humoral responses. A noticeable increase was observed in total leucocyte count, lymphocytosis, weights of spleen and thymus, circulating antibody titre, antibody forming cells, bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive bone marrow cells. The results suggest that abrin can potentiate the humoral immune response of the host.
Subject(s)
Abrin/pharmacology , Abrus/chemistry , Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology , Animals , Antibody Formation/drug effects , Bone Marrow Cells/drug effects , Esterases/metabolism , Female , Immunity, Cellular/drug effects , Leukocyte Count , Lymphocytosis/chemically induced , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Organ Size/drug effects , Seeds/chemistry , Spleen/metabolism , Stem Cells/drug effects , Thymus Gland/metabolismABSTRACT
The serum profile of certain macroelements such as calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium of healthy crossbred heifers in Kerala were estimated before and after conception, at different stages of pregnancy and early lactation. The serum concentration of calcium showed a decreasing trend during second trimester of pregnancy which attained significantly lower (P < 0.01) value (5.57 mg/dl) when compared to controls. By the ninth month of pregnancy calcium level was elevated. The serum phosphorus level was significantly higher (P < 0.01) during the fifth month of pregnancy (8.29 mg/dl) when compared to controls and then it was decreased by the 9th month of pregnancy. The serum magnesium level showed an increasing tendency to attain a peak value (2.55 mg/dl) by the 9th month of pregnancy which was significantly higher (P < 0.01) when compared to the control. During the period of study no production diseases were encountered in the animals screened which indicated that the serum calcium, phosphorus and magnesium profile of these animals were at the optimum level.
Subject(s)
Animals , Calcium/blood , Cattle , Female , Hybridization, Genetic/physiology , Lactation/blood , Magnesium/blood , Phosphorus/blood , Pregnancy/bloodABSTRACT
Abrin, a galactose specific lectin was purified using sepharose 4B affinity column from seeds of Abrus precatorius. It exhibited antitumour activity in mice when used at a sublethal dose of 7.5 micrograms/kg every alternate day for 10 days. Both intralesional and intraperiloneal (i.p.) administration of abrin was effective in reducing solid tumour mass development induced by Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells. DLA cell line was more sensitive to abrin than EAC. Abrin when injected i.p. increased the life span of ascites tumour bearing mice. Abrin when used simultaneously with tumour cells brought about maximum antitumour effect. On developed tumour masses, abrin administration brought about significant reduction in tumour volume, especially in DLA induced tumours. Prophylactic administration of abrin was found ineffective.
Subject(s)
Abrin/pharmacology , Abrus , Animals , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Phytotherapy/methods , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Seeds , Tumor Cells, Cultured/drug effects , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methodsABSTRACT
Pregnancy is considered to be one of the physiological stressors. The stress hormone, cortisol is significantly involved in various events during periparturient period including initiation of parturition. The study was conducted to estimate the serum cortisol concentration in cows and the neonatal calves in order to correlate the effect of cortisol on certain haematological and biochemical parameters such as blood glucose level (BGL), total plasma protein (TPP), lymphocyte:neutrophil ratio and mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferative response. Blood samples were collected from six cows in four periods, namely., 3 days prior to parturition, on the day of parturition, and 7 days after parturition. Blood samples were also collected from neonatal calves in the period 0, 7 and 14 days of age. Calves above two months of age and non-pregnant dry cows were considered as the controls. The serum cortisol concentration in cows on the day of parturition was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than controls and the value in calves was also significantly higher (P < 0.01) at 0 day than their controls. On the day of parturition BGL level of the dam and calves were significantly higher (P < 0.01), whereas the proliferative response of lymphocytes to mitogen was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than controls. However TPP levels did not differ significantly. This confirmed that the dam at the time of parturition and neonatal calf before taking colostrum are under a high risk of infection because of the low profile of immune status. The lymphocyte:neutrophil ratio also justified the above suggestion.