Report: quantitative estimation of beta-sitosterol, lupeol, quercetin and quercetin glycosides from leaflets of Soymida febrifuga using HPTLC technique.

Soymida febrifuga (Meliaceae) dried leaflets (10 gm) were extracted with petroleum ether. Unsaponifiable matter quantitatively used for sample preparation, labeled as SF-U. Another 10 gm leaflet powder was extracted with methanol and quantitatively used for sample preparation labeled as SF-A. Sample and standard solution were dosage on three different plates and developed in its respective mobile phase plates were scanned using TLC scanner III and estimated using integration software CATs 4.05. Calculations for percentage were done considering standard and sample R(f), AUC and dilution factor. Estimation of beta Sitosterol, Lupeol, Quercetin, Quercetin-3-O-galactoside, Quercetin-3-O-xyloside and Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside were determined as 0.02146% w/w, 0.0377% w/w, 0.4079% w/w, 0.6197% w/w, 2.974% w/w and 3.235% w/w respectively with the help of HPLC techniques.

Effect of neuroactive material on neurosecretion in adult cockroach. Periplaneta americana (L).

The neurosecretory material is found depleted in the medial neurosecretory cells in adult cockroaches poisoned with insecticide. It is, however, scanty in the neurosecretory pathway but abundant in the corpora cardiaca of these insects. The administration of toxicated haemolymph in the normal cockroach results in scanty material in medial neurosecretory cells, but the accumulation of the neurosecretory material in corpora cardiaca. The toxicated tissue extracts have also caused depletion of neurosecretory material from the medial neurosecretory cells as well as from the axonal tract and its accumulation in the corpora cardiaca. Thus effect is comparatively more pronounced by the extract from the Malpighian tubules and nerve cord than than of brain extract. Thus the effect produced by insecticide on the stimulation--secretion coupling mechanism of neurosecretion is comparable to the produced by the toxicated haemolymph and tissue extract. The possibility of involvement of the adrenergic system in regulating the action of neuroactive material on neurosecretory cells is suggested in the insects.

Head-kidney thyroid in some Indian teleosts.

Six species of fishes, with different habits and belonging to different habitats and families, have been investigated. Only four, namely Discognathus lamta, Carassius auratus, Glossogobius giuris and Polynemus sexfilis have shown the presence of heterotopic thyroid follicles in their head-kidneys. The heterotopic thyroid follicles of Discognathus lamta appear to be functional while those of the rest of fishes are in non-functional state.

Effect of heparin and adrenocorticotropin on the hepatic and serum cholesterol in catfish, Heteropneustes fossils.

The administration of heparin with or without ACTH significantly decreased hepatic cholesterol content in catfish. In serum, heparin alone produced first hypercholesterolemia which was followed by hypocholesterolemia whereas it potentiated hypercholesterolemic action of ACTH three hours after administration. It is concluded that heparin normally caused hypercholesterolemia by releasing cholesterol from liver as lipoprotein complex. The hypocholesterolemic action of heparin might be an indirect one.

Liver phospholipid distribution in hypophysectomized catfish, Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis.

The percentage of certain phospholipid fractions such as phosphatylcholine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol was more in the liver of Clarias batrachus than that of the corresponding fractions in Heteropneustes fossilis. Hypophysectomy in both the species resulted in an increase in phosphatidylcholine, but reduction in other fractions. The phosphatidylinositol however, remained unchanged in C. batrachus, but it disappeared in H. fossilis as a result of hypophysectomy.

Effect of salicylate and adrenocorticotropin on the hepatic and serum cholesterol in catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).

A single injection of salicylate or salicylate plus ACTH was able to lower the hepatic cholesterol content within one hour after the treatment. However, their daily injection for eight days caused significant rise in the hepatic cholesterol. ACTH alone could not significantly alter the liver cholesterol content after similar treatment. A single injection of salicylate produced hypocholesterolemia within one and three hours after the treatment. ACTH or salicylate plus ACTH also brought about 50 per cent reduction in serum cholesterol level from its initial control value within one hour. Similar treatments, however, raised the serum cholesterol after three hours. The rise in the serum cholesterol level was about twofold in animals five hours after salicylate plus ACTH treatment. Daily administration of salicylate, ACTH or salicylate plus ACTH for eight days caused, however, hypocholesterolemia.

Effect of hydrocortisone acetate on interrenal cells in the normal and hypophysectomized catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, (Bloch).

The interrenal gland of the Heteropneustes fossilis occupies three fourth area of the kidney and shows two types of cells histologically. The cells are arranged as cortical strands. Hypophysectomy resulted in regressive changes in the interrenal gland, as seen from the significant reduction in the nuclear diameter within fifteen days. A single injection of hydrocortisone brought about further reduction in the size of interrenal cell and the nuclear diameter in the hypophysectomized animals, but not in the intact fish. It is concluded that the amount of hydrocortisone added was sufficient to cause reduced functioning of the interrenal gland in the absence of ACTH.

Studies on the development of endocrine glands in fishes. V. Development of the thyroid gland in two species of teleosts.

In Channa punctatus the thyroid anlage is seen 40 h after hatching and is recognized as cells aggregating in the form of follicles with no colloid. During subsequent stages of development the thyroid follicles increase in number and in 5 days old larva an active division of cells and many follicles in the form of epithelial cords are seen. In 2 months old juvenile fish several thyroid follicles and lymphatic vessels are seen enclosed by connective tissue capsule. In Clarias batrachus the thyroid anlage is seen as a group of cells around tiny colloid droplets and is situated just below the bifuration of the 1st branchial artery. This stage is seen in 60 h old larva and is developed into thyroid follicles which is a long chain along the jugular vein and ventral aorta during latter stages of development. It is concluded that during early larval period of these fishes, the thyroid cells begin to trap iodine from the blood and synthesize it in the form of thyroid hormone which is stored as colloid and is also liberated in blood stream simultaneously. The compact nature of the thyroid gland in C. punctatus is because of development of connective sheath around follicles during early stages.

Effect of electrical stimulation of the olfactory tract and the caudal spinal cord on the Dahlgren cells in Clarias batrachus L.

Electrical stimuli applied to the olfactory tract for one minute caused partial depletion, but for two to five minutes resulted in complete depletion of the neurosecretory material (NSM) from the Dahlgren cells as well as from the urophysis. However, if similar stimuli were directly applied to the caudal spinal cord for one minute, the NSM was completely depleted. The neurosecretory granules were reaccumulated in the neurons within fifteen minutes after the stimuli were cut of A rapid depletion of the NSM from the caudal neurons was correlated with their electrical properties and rapid transduction of nervous information into the hormonal message. The immediate response of the caudal neurons to the olfactory tract stimulation suggested that the former are synaptically controlled by a center in the brain.

Comparative histomorphology of the Mauthner cells in some freshwater teleosts.

The histomorphological observations are made on the Mauthner cells in eight species of teleosts belonging to six different families. The cells are better developed in Channa punctatus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Labeo rohita, Danio, malabaricus and Puntius ticto. They are symmetrically situated in Nandus nandus and are found to be absent in Mastocembalus armatus. Their position, shape and size vary in different species. The axon cap is well developed in Channa punctatus, Heteropneustes fossilis and carps. The cell body sends lateral and ventral dendrites besides several small dendrites. The lateral dendrite emerges through the axon cap, turns dorsolateral and becomes myelinated to form Mauthner axon. The Mauthner axon extends in the spinal region upto the caudal peduncle and forms synapses with the spinal motoneurons of the front column. There are numerous synapses and end bulbs from the vestibular fibres and VIIIth nerve distributed on the perikaryan of the Mauthner cell body. It is suggested that the Mauthner cells are comparatively well developed in those species in which the tail fin is better utilized for swimming.

Histomorphological observations on the liver in some freshwater teleosts.

Histomorphology of liver is studied in six species of teleost viz., Heteropneustes fossilis, Clarias batrachus, Puntius ticto, Danio malabaricus, Nandus nandus, Chana punctatus. The liver is a bilobed structure usually reddish brown in colour. There are accessory liver lobes in H. fossolis and C. batrachus. The histological examination shows compact mass of oval or polygonel hepatocytes, blood sinusoids and reticuloendothelial cells. In addition several patches of pigmented hepatocytes are also noticed. After partial hepatectomy the changes in liver structure are shrunken nature of hepatocytes, enlarged blood vessels and accumulation of lymphocytes near the cut portion. After biliary obstruction with the help of ligation of bile duct hepatocytes become turgid in appearance within seven days. There is fibrosis of blood vessels as well as bile spaces. The turgidity of hepatocytes increases fifteen days after the ligation so much so that some of them show necrotic appearance. There are numerous bile thrombi noticed after biliary obstruction.

Histophysiologic response of the pituitary-inertrenal system to salicylate and adrenocorticotropin in catfish, Heteropneustes iossilis (Bloch).

The interrenal and pituitary cells showed increase in nuclear diameter eight days after treatment with ACTH, salicylate or salicylate + ACTH. After ACTH treatment, however, the cytoplasm in the interrenal cells was granular. Similarly, the lead-haematoxylin positive (PbH + ve) cells in the rostral pars distalis also showed partial depletion of stainable granules after ACTH treatment. Salicylate or salicylate ACTH caused depletion of cytoplasmic material in both the interrenal as well as PbH + ve cells.