Effect of estrogen on angiotensin converting enzyme in immature quail oviduct.

Effect of oestradiol was studied on the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)--a component of renin angiotensin system, in oviduct of immature quails of 15 days of age. ACE was studied in whole oviduct, magnum, shell gland and the glandular epithelium of magnum and shell gland. It was found that whole oviduct had a significantly higher level of ACE in control than those treated with exogenous estrogen at three dose levels (200, 400 or 600 micrograms). ACE contents of whole muscle and glandular epithelium did not differ but magnum had higher ACE level than the shell gland. Results are explained on the basis of functional role of oviductal parts.

Effects of cadmium salt on phosphomonoesterases activity and fertilizing ability of fowl spermatozoa.

Daily administration of cadmium salt for 25 days (2.5 mg per Kg body weight) in the male domestic fowl caused the end of treatment period. An increased incidences of concentration. Fertility dropped to zero at the end of the treatment period. Activity of acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases were also drastically reduced by the end of treatment period. An increased incidences of morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa were noticed in the treated birds. After 46 days cessation of the treatment, full recovery of the above measures was found. These alterations suggest the reversible type of effect of cadmium chloride on the spermatozoa of male domestic fowl.

Ca2(+)-dependent glucose transport in chicken intestine.

Transport of glucose was measured in the intestine of white leghorn layers in vivo using ligated upper small intestinal segment in the presence of Ca2+ and other ions either singly or in combination. Transport of glucose across the intestine was very significantly increased with Ca2+ than Na+, K+ and Po4(3-) individually, but when Ca2+ was combined with Na+, K+ and PO4(3-), the glucose absorption increased significantly over that achieved by Na+ ions alone. These data revealed that Ca2+ ions might be exerting the major influence on glucose transport processes of the chicken intestine.

Effect of gonadotrophin releasing hormone in underfed immature rats.

An investigation on the effect of restricted feeding an GnRH treatment using immature rats of both sexes was made to see if the GnRH can produce its desired effect on the reproductive organs through the pituitary gonadal axis irrespective of the age and nutritional status of the animal. It was observed that immature male and female rats responded differently to the treatment of GnRH and responses are to a great extent age-dependent. Restricted feeding in these animals slowed down the growth of the reproductive organs.

Effects of hypothyroidism on pregnancy of rats.

Adult female rats of approximately same age and weight were grouped and thyroidectomized before pregnancy and at different stages of gestation. While studying their pregnancy performances, it was observed that there was a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in the length of gestation in thyroidectomized animals as compared to intact controls. This is possibly due to the smaller litter size. The litter size and foetal weights were significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than the controls and were inversely proportional to the duration of the hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Hypothyroidism did not affect the implantation. The mammary gland growth was significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced in all the experimental groups. Hypothyroidism during pregnancy hardly affected the adrenal weight but significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased the ovarian weight possibly due to the disturbance in hypophysialgonadal axis.

Effect of pregnancy and thyroidectomy on the rat spleen.

Pregnancy caused a significant increase (P less than 0.001) in the ascorbic acid and cholesterol concentrations in the spleen as compared to the controls, indicating a rise in its metabolic functions. When thyroid gland was removed either from the non-pregnant animals or at different stages of gestation from pregnant animals, there were significant (P less than 0.001) fall in the levels of these biochemical parameters as compared to the corresponding intact groups. These findings indicated that splenic functions undergo certain changes during pregnancy and the thyroid hormones significantly influence them.