Developmental and neurobehavioural toxicity study of arsenic on rats following gestational exposure.

To characterize developmental and behavioral alterations induced by arsenic exposure, Albino rats were exposed to arsenic (0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mg/kg/day/po) from gestation day 8 to till parturition and the offspring were observed over the first 3 postnatal weeks, until they were weaned on post-natal day (PND) 21. Once the pups were delivered (PND0), the treatment was discontinued. All pups were assessed for physical development, reflex development, strength and motor coordination from standard neurobehavioural developmental test batteries beginning on PND1. Gestational administration of arsenic at tested dose levels, showed no significant changes in the day of appearance of eye opening, startle reflex, negative geotaxis and spontaneous alteration performance in comparison to the control group. The number of live fetuses, mean fetal body weight and percentages of resorptions or malformations per litter were not affected by arsenic exposure. No treatment-related malformations or developmental variations were noted at any exposure level, suggesting that arsenic exposure at this dose level did not adversely affect behavioural endpoints of developmental toxicity.

Effect of freeze drying process on some properties of Streptococcus thermophilus isolated from dairy products

The present investigation represents the effect of freeze drying on some properties as acid and bile tolerance of Streptococcus thermophilus MTCC 1938 culture isolated from dairy products. The cell paste obtained from milk based medium was freeze dried with a pressure of 50-100 mtorr for 24h at -40ºC. Acid and bile tolerance test exhibited 3.8-4.9 and 3.2-3.8 log counts reduction after freeze drying respectively.

An experimental and clinical evaluation of anti-asthmatic potentialities of Devadaru compound (DC).

Devadaru compound was shown to be beneficial in Tamak Swasa (bronchial asthma). Clinical findings revealed higher percentage of relief in cardinal and general symptoms with decrement in the pulse rate and in the respiration rate. A significant linear increase in PEFR value was observed before and after treatment and an increase in FEV1 values measured in Group I subjects. There was relief of all symptoms in a significant number of patients. Occurrence of relief was observed only among patients who suffer less than 10 years duration with Tamak Swasa and among those the frequency of attacks of Tamak Swasa was at fortnightly or monthly intervals. Antispasmodic activity of Devadaru Compound (DC) on acetylcholine (Ach) induced contractions using rat ileum preparation was studied. The results demonstrated that DC inhibits Ach-induced contractions significantly and bears a dose-response relationship. This suggests that DC has got anti-spasmodic activity and corroborates the clinical findings. The clinical findings and experimental studies show that DC is of significant use in the treatment of Tamak Swasa (Bronchial Asthma) and superior to the standard and placebo therapy.

Magnesium and reserpine influence norepinephrine sensitivity of vas deferens in rats.

Reserpine induced supersensitivity to norepinephrine (NE) in rat vas deferens was sought by alteration of Mg++ and Ca++ concentration in incubation medium in the absence and presence of EDTA. Vas deferens incubated in Mg++ free and Mg++ excess media showed supersensitivity and subsensivity to NE respectively. Alterations in the sensitivity to NE produced by varying the concentrations of Mg++ were comparatively less. In the presence of EDTA, vas deferens obtained from reserpinized animals showed subsensitivity in normal and Mg++ excess media and supersensitivity in Mg++ free medium. In the presence of EDTA, reserpinized preparations showed slight supersensitivity in normal Mg++ medium, marked supersensitivity in Mg++ free and lesser subsensitivity in Mg++ excess medium. Probably EDTA by more effectively removing Mg++ from the membrane binding sites by chelation makes the membrane permeable to Ca++ leading to supersensitivity to NE (observed only in the presence of EDTA). These results suggest that the failure of reserpine to induce supersensitivity to NE in rat vas deferens may be due to an enhanced antagonism of Mg++ on Ca++ movements in this preparations due to the poor capacity of rat tissue to retain Ca++.