[Effect of sodium azide on sperm parameters and the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH in adult male mice]

Sodium azide is a chemical and toxic compound. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium azide on the viability of sperms and the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH in mature male laboratory small mice. In this experimental study, 50 Balb/C male mice weighing 20-25g were divided into five groups [10 mice in each group]. The animals were prescribed sodium azide for 60 days. Alternatively 5, 10 and 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight of sodium azide were fed to the animals in the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. After the completion of treatment, serum values of testosterone, LH and FSH were measured. The viability of sperms was also studied. The number of sperms in three experimental groups showed significant decrease compared to the control and sham groups [p<0.001]. Serum value of testostrone hormone showed dose- dependently significant decrease compared to the control and sham groups. The serum level of FSH in the experimental groups did not show any significant change compared to the control and sham groups. But, the serum level of LH in experimental groups receiving sodium azide 10, 20 mg/kg increased significantly compared to the control and sham groups [p<0.01]. It seems sodium azide reduces serum level of testosterone and the number of sperms under the process of spermatogenesis in the animals

Sodium azide mutagenesis resulted in a peanut plant with elevated oleate content

Screening of peanut seeds resulting from 0.39 percent sodium azide treatment with NIRS calibration equation for bulk seed samples identified a plant with more than 60 percent oleate. Oleate content in individual seeds of the plant, as predicted by NIRS calibration equation for intact single peanut seeds, ranged from 50.05 percent ~ 68.69 percent. Three seeds with >60 percent oleate thus identified were further confirmed by gas chromatography. Multiple sequence alignments of the FAD2B gene from Huayu 22 (wild type) and peanut seeds with elevated oleate (mutant type) revealed a C281T transition in the coding region causing an I94T substitution in the oleoyl-PC desaturase, which may be responsible for reduction in the enzyme activity.

[Survey of antimutagenic effects of ethanolic extract of propolis by Salmonella typhymurium/microsome]

In this study, antimutagenesis effect of ethanolic extract of propolis against two mutagenic substances named azide sodium and potassium permanganate in the presence and the absence of microsomal homogenate of mouse liver [S9] has been investigated. In this experimental study at first, different concentrations of ethanolic extract of propolis [0.1-5%] for determining minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] against tester strains were used. Then by Ames test, antimutagenesis effect was assessed in nontoxic extent. In this test, various strains of Salmonella typhymurium were used. Mutant strains [His-] were grown on culture media containing minimum salt and glucose in the presence of mutagen substances above. So only those bacteria that were reversed by mutation [His+] could grow and form colonies on culture media. If antimutagen [EEP] and mutagen substances were gathered, reversed mutation would be reduced and the rate of mutation inhibition could be calculated by means of formula. The differences between the averages of revertants per plate of the sample in relation to the mutagens were analyzed using SPSS software and one-way ANOVA. The resulted MIC values clearly showed that ethanolic extract of propolis at 5% concentration has antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhymurium, but in 0.1-4% concentrations, such effects were not seen. Findings also showed that propolis in such concentrations could neutralize mutagenic effects of those substances in a dose dependent manner. Finally we found that ethanolic extract of propolis that contains different kinds of major and important substances like flavonoids, has good antimutagenic effects and the best concentration for obtaining such effect is in 4% which also was confirmed with microsomal results. The mechanism of antibacterial effect of propolis is complex and it has no analogy to any classic antibiotics, but it should be emphasized that bacterial cell division is inhibited by propolis. Some researchers also argue that propolis could inhibit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Purification and some properties of carbonic anhydrase from Elephas trogontherii (Steppe elephant) bone.

Four isoenzymes of carbonic anhydrase (CA) were purified from Elephas Irogontherii (steppe elephant) bone (approx 0.3-0.5 million years old) from different locations (outer peripheral, cytosolic, inner peripheral and integral) using Sepharose 4B-L-tyrosine sulphanilamide affinity chromatography and their kinetics properties were investigated and compared with known CA isoenzymes. The purification degree of CAs was monitored by SDS-PAGE. Purification fold for outer peripheral, inner peripheral, cytosolic and integral CA was 395.6, 652.8, 1091 and 429.3 and the molecular mass (as determined by gel filtration chromatography) was 37, 36, 35, and 39 kDa, respectively. The optimal temperature for isozymes was 10-20, 30, 30 and 60 degrees C and optimal pH- was between 7.5-11, 7.5-10, 7.5-10 and 7.5 respectively. K(m) values (at optimum pH and 20 degrees C) for p-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate were 4.83, 6.80, 4.525 and 3.86 mM and the Vmax values for the same substrate were 0.00097, 0.0149, 0.00249 and 0.00072 micromol/L*min, respectively. I50 values of isoenzymes for the inhibitors of CA - sulphanilamide, KSCN, acetazolamide and NaN3 were also determined.

Purification of a peroxidase from Solanum melongena fruit juice.

Solanum melongena fruit juice contains peroxidase activity of the order of 0.125 IU/mL. A method for the 11-fold purification of the enzyme was developed. The Km values of the peroxidase for the substrates guaiacol and hydrogen peroxide were 6.5 mM and 0.33 mM, respectively. The pH and temperature optima were 5.5 and 84 degrees C, respectively using guaiacol as the substrate. Sodium azide and phenyl hydrazine inhibited the enzyme competitively.

Cellular uptake of magnetic nanoparticle is mediated through energydependent endocytosis in A549 cells

Biocompatible silica-overcoated magnetic nanoparticles containing an organic fluorescence dye, rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RITC), within a silica shell [50 nm size, MNP@SiO2(RITC)s] were synthesized. For future application of the MNP@SiO2(RITC)s into diverse areas of research such as drug or gene delivery, bioimaging, and biosensors, detailed information of the cellular uptake process of the nanoparticles is essential. Thus, this study was performed to elucidate the precise mechanism by which the lung cancer cells uptake the magnetic nanoparticles. Lung cells were chosen for this study because inhalation is the most likely route of exposure and lung cancer cells were also found to uptake magnetic nanoparticles rapidly in preliminary experiments. The lung cells were pretreated with different metabolic inhibitors. Our results revealed that low temperature disturbed the uptake of magnetic nanoparticles into the cells. Metabolic inhibitors also prevented the delivery of the materials into cells. Use of TEM clearly demonstrated that uptake of the nanoparticles was mediated through endosomes. Taken together, our results demonstrate that magnetic nanoparticles can be internalized into the cells through an energy-dependent endosomal-lysosomal mechanism.

Azide resistance in Rhizobium ciceri linked with superior symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Isolated azide resistant (AzR) native R. ciceri strain 18-7 was resistant to sodium azide at 10 microg/ml. To find if nif-reiteration is responsible for azide resistance and linked to superior symbiotic nitrogen fixation, transposon (Tn5) induced azide sensitive mutants were generated. Using 4 kb nif-reiterated Sinorhizobium meliloti DNA, a clone C4 that complemented azide sensitivity was isolated by DNA hybridization from genomic library of chickpea Rhizobium strain Rcd301. EcoRI restriction mapping revealed the presence of 7 recognition sites with a total insert size of 19.17 kb. Restriction analysis of C4 clone and nif-reiterated DNA (pRK 290.7) with EcoRI and XhoI revealed similar banding pattern. Wild type strain 18-7, mutant M126 and complemented mutant M126(C4) were characterized for symbiotic properties (viz., acetylene reduction assay, total nitrogen content, nodule number and fresh and dry weight of the infected plants) and explanta nitrogenase activity. Our results suggested that azide resistance, nif-reiteration, and superior symbiotic effectiveness were interlinked with no correlation between ex-planta nitrogenase activity and azide resistance in R. ciceri.

Effect of sodium azide on germination and growth of lycopersicon lycopersicum [linn] Karast

In an experimental study carried out on Lycopersicon lycopersicum [Linn.] Krast var. PED dose dependent effect of sodium aside was observed on the percentage as well as on the speed of seed germination. The growth was reduced at higher doses possibly due to the genetic loss through chromosomal disorder. Decrease in the mean value of growth parameter was gradual and dose dependent due to the inhibitory effect of the mutagen or due to the delayed onset of growth following germination delay