Assessment of teratogenecity and embryotoxicity of sludge from textile industries at Pali (India) in Swiss albino mice exposed during organogenetic period.

The present investigation was carried out to assess the teratological effects of in-utero exposure of sludge leachate from textile and dyeing industries located in Pali, Rajasthan. Sludge was collected at the combined effluent treatment plant (CETP). Two groups of 10 pregnant Swiss albino mice each, were given sludge leachate of 1/10 and 1/100 dilutions with water ad libitum from 6th day to 15th day of gestation covering the critical period of organogenesis. Cesarean sections were performed on day 18 of gestation and all foetuses were examined for reproductive and teratological tests. Sludge induced maternal toxicity was evidenced by significant increase in leachate consumption, reduction in body weight gain and reduction in fur of the body. Developmental toxicity was evidenced by a significant decrease in foetal weight per litter increase in the number of resorptions and an increase in total number of foetuses showing bone retardation and skeletal variations (specially of skull, sternebrae and vertebrae). The leachate of the sludge that is being dumped in the open areas of the town Pall seems to elicit teratogenic as well as embryotoxic potential as indicated by the findings of the present investigation.

Surveying Acyclovir side effects on developing embryos of Balb/C mice strain

Acyclovir is a drug used to treat herpes virus infections including cold catch injuries, hot spots of genital organs, zona, AIDS, chicken pox and some other viral infections. The local cream of acyclovir is prepared in%5 packages, each gram containing 50mg of drug in a base of polyethylene glycol. Acyclovir cream [%5] in days 7, 8 and 9 of gestation was applied around their mouth [experimental group 1] and to the shared skin of other group [experimental group 2] twice a day in two hours intervals. Pregnant mice were sacrificed and dissected on day 15 of gestation and morphological and histological studies on the embryos and placenta were carried out. In the case of non-pregnant mice, the uteral born and ovaries were processed for histological investigations. Histological analyses showed significant decrease in embryogenesis and significant increase of abortion in experimental group 1 compared with control group. Significant increment was found in uterus diameter and thickness of endometrium when compared with control group. A pregnant woman should be very careful about applying acyclovir during the first trimester of pregnancy

Influence of genotype and explant source on indirect organogenesis by in vitro culture of leaves of Melia azedarach L

In vitro regeneration of shoots from leaf explants of the Paradise tree (Melia azedarach L.) was studied. Three different portions (proximal portion, distal portion and rachis of the leaflets) of three developmental stages (folded, young still expanding and completely expanded) of leaves of 10-15 year old plants of seven genotypes were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) supplemented with 1 mg x l(-1) benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.1 mg x l(-1) kinetin (KIN) + 3 mg x l(-1) adenine sulphate (ADS). The rachis of the leaflets of the completely expanded leaves was found to be the most responsive tissue, in most of the genotypes employed. Shoot regeneration occurred in leaf explants of all the genotypes tested. The best genotype for shoot regeneration was clone 4. Rooting was induced on MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg x l(-1) 3-indolebutyric acid, IBA, (4 days) followed by subculture on MS lacking growth regulators (26 days). Complete plants were transferred to soil.