Episodic growth hormone secretory patterns in male rats: relationship to gonadal steroid hormones

Sequential blood samples were obtained from freely-behaving male rats bearing chronic intracardiac venous cannulae. Blood samples were obtained at 20-minute intervals for 6 hours from intact rats, castrated rats treated with either testosterone propionate [TP] or estradiol benzoate [EB] and intact rats treated with either TP or EB. The data obtained showed that, gonadal steroids are responsible, at least in part, for the differences in GH secretory pattern between males and females. The increase in the magnitude of GH secretory spikes in males could account for the increase in growth rate at puberty in males than in females

Relation between cellulolytic bacteria and Azospirillum brasilense

The association of different strains of azospirilla and cellulose decomposing bacteria was studied in sterile soil. Azospirilla alone failed to use cellulose as a sole carbon source, while inoculation of a cellulose decomposer markedly increased azospirilla densities. Inoculation of active cellulose-solubilizing bacteria in combination with azospirilla in soil containing cellulose increased the acetylene reducing activity over that due to inoculation with azospirilla alone. Nitrogen gains and efficiency of fixation were markedly increased as a result of the association between Azospirillum and cellulose - solubilizing bacteria. Between 286-402 ug/g N were gained at the end of the incubation period which corresponded to 68.9-80.1 mg N fixed/g carbon oxidized

Antibiogram of Escherichia coli causing generalized infection in chickens

The antibiogram of 480 E. coli isolates recovered from diseased chickens revealed the following resistance percentages: 100 bacitracin, 99.5 sulphonamide, 95.6 spiramycin, 92.6 doxycycline, 85 kanamycin, 81.7 oxytetracycline, 79.7 erythromycin, 71.9 trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, 71.3 chloramphenicols, 26.8 ampicillin, 61.1 naldixic acid, 50 colistin, 46.5 streptomycin, 30.2 neomycin, 26.7 gentamycin, 19.7 flumequin and 13.6 furazolidone. The study presented current antibiotic sensitivity patterns of E. coli isolated from diseased chickens and revealed a high incidence of drug resistance amongst them. The importance of these findings and suggestions to overcome the problem were discussed

influence of some dopamigergic agents on serum prolactin concentrations in male rats

The effects of several dopaminergic agents on prolactin [PRL] release were determined in male rats. The central nervous system stimulant, 4 aminopyridine, which affect turnover of monoamines [2.6 mg/kg] induced a non significant decrease in serum PRL level, while dopamine precursor L-dopa [100 mg/kg] resulted in a significant inhibition on PRL levels. Pencillamine and discultiram, a dopamine beta-hydroxylase inhibitors at a dose of 300 and 480 mg/kg respectively, had no effect on serum PRL level. It is concluded that neurotransmitter dopamine is responsible for inhibition of PRL release, since the dopamine precursor L-dopa inhibits PRL and the dopamine receptor blocker haloperidol [HAL] increases its release

Bacteriological characteristics of soil and water as affected by some industrial wastes in Helwan-El-Saf area [Egypt]

The present work was intended to investigate the bacteriological charocteristics of 29 water samples and 41 soil samples taken from the industrial area of Helwan-EI-Saf in Egypt. Bacteriological studies showed that total bacterial count in the soil beside the metallurgical industry complex was low and it increased to about 5 times with increasing the distance from the factories. Total bacterial count was positively correlated -with soil organic matter contant [r = 0.768*], while it was negatively correlated with both total soluble salts [r = -0.751*] and total heavy metals [r = 0.808*] of the studied soils. Total bacterial count in the irrigation water of El-Hager and El-Khashab canals were increased by increasing distance from the factories, while in the Nile water, counts showed a remarkable decrease by getting away from the bank. Coliforms were detected in all of the studied water courses. Their counts increased largely beside some villages which indicated the water pollution by sewage wastes from these residential activities. It was found that biological oxygen demands [BOD] of the studied waters were positively correlated with total bacterial counts [r = 0.861**]. The hygienic aspects of the studied water Courses in terms of faecal pollution were also discussed

Protection against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity by acetyl salicylic acid in rats

Acetyl salicylic acid [ASA] given simultaneously with paracetamol decreased paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity as measured by serum transaminase activities as well as histopathological examination of the liver, without any effect on glutathione depletion. Delayed treatment with [ASA] also reduced paracetamol-induced liver toxicity