Histo-cytological responses of the prolactin cells of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis to cadmium exposure / Respuesta histológica y citológica frente a la exposición a cadmio de las células prolactínicas del pez gato Heteropneustes fossilis

Cadmium is an important metal for modern industrial processes and, being biologically non-essential, poses health hazards to the organisms. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of cadmium exposure on the histo-cytology of prolactin cells in the freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes (H.) fossilis. Fish were subjected to 288 mg/L (0.8 of 96 h LC50) and 72 mg/L (0.2 of 96 h LC50) of cadmium chloride for short-term and long-term, respectively. After sacrificing the fish, the blood was collected on 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in short-term and after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days in long-term experiment and analyzed for plasma calcium levels. Also, pituitary glands were fixed on these intervals. The plasma calcium levels of short-term cadmium exposed fish remain unchanged after 24 h. The levels exhibit a progressive decrease from 48 h onwards. The fish exposed to cadmium for 7 days exhibit a decrease in the plasma calcium level. Thereafter, the levels progressively decrease till the end of the experiment (28 days). The prolactin cells of the control fish exhibit structural resemblance to the description given for the prolactin cells of normal H. fossilis. No change in the histological structure and nuclear volume of prolactin cells of cadmium non-exposed fish has been noticed throughout the experiment. In cadmium treated fish, the prolactin cells remain unchanged till 14 days. On day 21, the nuclear volume of these cells exhibits an increase and the cells degranulate. These changes increased profoundly on day 28. In addition, vacuolization and cytolysis were also encountered on day 28 following cadmium treatment. It is concluded that cadmium affects the prolactin cells of the fish H. fossilis thus disturbing the ionic balance.

El cadmio es un metal importante para los procesos industriales modernos, siendo no esencial biológicamente, representa riesgos para la salud de organismos. En este estudio tratamos de evaluar el efecto de la exposición al cadmio por el aspecto histológico y citológico de células secretoras de prolactinas del pez gato de agua dulce Heteropneustes (H.) fossilis. Los peces fueron sometidos a una exposición de 288 mg/L (0,8 de 96 h CL50) and 72 mg/L (0,2 de 96 h CL50) de cloruro de cadmio por a corto y largo término respectivamente. Después del sacrificio de los peces, la sangre fue colectada, tomando muestras de 24, 48, 72 y 96 hs en el corto término y de 7, 14, 21 y 28 días en las sometidas a largo término, la cuales se analizaron para medir niveles de calcio. Además, las glándulas pituitarias fueron fijadas en esos intervalos El nivel plasmático de calcio en los experimentos de exposición a corto tiempo se mantuvo sin cambio tras 24 h. Los niveles exhibieron una caída progresiva a partir de las 48 hs. Los peces expuestos a cadmio por 7 días presentaron una disminución en el nivel plasmático de calcio. Después de esto, los niveles decayeron progresivamente hasta el fin del experimento (28 días). Las células prolactínicas de los peces controles mostraron semejanza estructural a la descripción dada para estas células normales en H. fossilis. No se observaron cambios en la estructura histológica y el volumen nuclear de las células prolactínicas de los peces no expuestos a cadmio a través de todo el experimento. En los peces tratados con cadmio las células prolactínicas se mantuvieron sin cambios hasta los 14 días. En el día 21, el volumen nuclear de esas células se incrementó y estas células presentaron desgranulación. Estos cambios aumentaron profundamente en las muestras del día 28. Adicionalmente en el día 28 posterior al tratamiento con cadmio se encontró vacuolización y citólisis. Se concluyó en que el Cadmo afecta las cñelupas prolactínicas de H fossilis, produciendo disturbios en el balance iónico.

'Bio-load' and bio-type profiles of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in the domestic livestock population endemic for Johne's disease: a survey of 28 years (1985-2013) in India.

Bio-load and bio-profile of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis was studied in the domestic livestock population of the country. Of the 23,429 farm and farmer's animals screened, average bio-load was 23.3% (Period of study; 28 years for goats; 13 years for sheep, cattle and buffaloes). Species-wise, bio-load was 20.1, 32.7, 39.3 and 28.3% in goats, sheep, cattle and buffaloes, respectively. Bio-load was significantly lower in time period A (P < 0.001) and B (P < 0.03), compared with period C. Geographical zone-wise, bio-load of MAP was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Central zone compared with South, West, East and North zones. Bio-load in 11 states ranged from 16.2 to 87.8%. Of 8450, 5643, 8185 and 1151 samples screened by microscopy, culture, indigenous ELISA and IS900 blood PCR, 20.0, 10.6, 35.1 and 26.6% samples were positive, respectively. Bio-load was 32.8 and 31.6% in farm and farmer's goats and sheep, respectively, and 62.1% in farmer's cattle. MAP bio-load was also monitored in four farm units (three goats and one sheep) for breed improvement and three farm goats units for experimental purposes at Central Institute for Research on Goats in Mathura district. Of the 8025 goats and 1525 sheep that died from 1988 to 2013, 10.9 and 3.0% deaths were due to JD, respectively. On the basis of JD and suspected JD, 10.0 and 28.4% goats and 2.2 and 40.9% sheep, respectively were culled from the farm units in 25 years. Microscopic examination of 214 tissues (mesenteric lymph nodes and intestines) of 107 animals, it was observed that bio-load of MAP was high (25.0-60.0%) in farm animals. 'Indian Bison Type' was the dominant biotype, irrespective of domestic livestock species and the geographical zone.

Study of position, shape, size and incidence of mental foramenand accessory mental foramen in indian adult human skulls / Estudio de la posición, forma, tamaño e incidencia del foramen mentoniano y foramen mentoniano accesorio en cráneos humanos de indios adultos

Paralysis of the mental nerve is one of the principal complications of surgery of the mandibular canal and mental foramen region. Therefore, identification of mental foramen is important for dental surgeons in nerve block and surgical procedures like apico curettage of mandibular premolars, amalgam filling, peridental surgery etc. to avoid injury to neurovascular bundle. Accessory mental foramina tend to exist in the apical area of the first molar and posterior or inferior area of the mental foramen. The accessory branches of the mandibular canal showed common characteristics in the course of gently sloping posterosuperior direction in the buccal surface area. Verification of the existence of accessory mental foramina would prevent accessory nerve injury during periapical surgery. In root canal treatment, the possibility of accessory mental foramina­related nerve paresthesia seems low unless the mental foramen and mandibular canal are injured. Therefore, prior surgical knowledge of morphology and morphometry of mental and accessory mental foramen peculiar to particular block may enable effective mental block anaesthesia. Besides this, as mental foramen and accessory mental foramen have been found to vary in position in different ethnic groups. So, it is important to study the morphology and morphometry of mental foramen and accessory mental foramen. Hence this study was carried out. Present study was conducted using dried adult human mandibles of both sexes. Size and position were determined using digital vernier callipers. Incidences and shapes of mental foramen and accessory mental foramen were also observed. Mental foramen was present in all one hundred observed mandibles and it is bilateral. Accessory mental foramen was present in 8 percent on left side while on right side, it was 5 percent. None of the mandibles presented with bilateral accessory mental foramen. Shape was predominantly round with 94 percent on right side and 87 percent on left side while...

La parálisis del nervio mentoniano es una de las principales complicaciones de la cirugía del canal mandibular y la región del foramen mentoniano. Por lo tanto, la identificación del foramen mentoniano es de gran importancia para cirujanos dentistas en el bloqueo del nervio y los procedimientos quirúrgicos como el legrado ápical de premolares inferiores, obturación de amalgamas, la cirugía periodental, etc., a fin de evitar lesiones del paquete neurovascular. Los forámenes mentonianos accesorios tienden a existir en la zona apical del primer molar y la zona posterior o inferior del foramen mentoniano. Las ramas accesorios del canal mandibular presentan características comunes en el curso de la leve pendiente de dirección posterosuperior de la superficie bucal. Verificar la existencia de forámenes mentales accesorios evitaría la lesión del nervio accesorio durante la cirugía periapical. En el tratamiento del canal radicular, la posibilidad parestesia relacionada con daño de los forámenes mentonianos accesorios es baja a menos que el foramen mentoniano y el canal mandibular se lesionen. El conocimiento de la morfología y la morfometría del foramen mentoniano y los forámenes mentonianos accesorios puede permitir un efectivo bloqueo anestésico mentoniano, y es fundamental previo a una cirugía. Además de esto, se ha encontrado que los forámenes varían en su posición en diferentes grupos étnicos, siendo importante estudiar su morfología y morfometría. Se realizó el estudio sobre mandíbulas humanas adultas secas, de ambos sexos. El tamaño y la posición de los forámenes se determinaron utilizando calipers digitales. La incidencia y la forma del foramen mentoniano y forámenes mentales accesorios también fueron observados. El foramen mentoniano estaba presente en las 100 mandíbulas observadas, y fueron bilaterales. Forámenes mentales accesorios estaban presente en un 8 por ciento en el lado izquierdo, mientras que en el lado derecho, un 5 por ciento...

Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in the urban and rural population of a north Indian district.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major contributor to the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Reports suggest that hypertension is rapidly increasing in developing countries like India. Non-communicable diseases are likely to overshadow infectious diseases in the coming years and pose a heavy strain on health budgets in our country. In this study we have tried to study the prevalence of hypertension in a north Indian population based on the recently formulated criteria of the JNC-7 and to identify the determinants of hypertension. OBJECTIVES: (1) To determine the prevalence of hypertension in the urban and rural population of Lucknow District. (2) To study the relationship of hypertension with age. (3) To study the determinants of hypertension in the urban and rural population of Lucknow District. SETTING AND DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected areas in urban and rural parts of Lucknow district, respectively. Two-stage stratified random sampling technique was used. METHODS: We studied 800 subjects (355 men, 445 women) aged 20 years and above, 400 from urban area and 400 from rural area of Lucknow district. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to elicit the required information from the study participants and the diagnostic criteria for hypertension were taken according to the Seventh Joint National Committee Report on Hypertension (JNC-7). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Pearson's Chi-square test, Student's t-test, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension was 32.8% in the urban population and 14.5% in the rural population. The mean blood pressures were 128.4 +/- 18.8 mmHg systolic and 82.6 +/- 10.2 mmHg diastolic in urban area and 120.5 +/- 16.1 mmHg systolic and 77.8 +/- 8.8 mmHg diastolic in rural area. A significant correlation of blood pressure with increasing age was seen. In urban area, hypertensives were less physically active, and more likely to smoke and consume alcohol. About 9.2% of the hypertensives had coexisting diabetes mellitus. Mean weight, BMI and waist circumference of hypertensives was significantly higher, whereas there was no significant difference between mean heights. In rural area, similar association was seen except alcoholism and diabetes. Multivariate logistic regression showed that regardless of area, age and gender, were significant risk factors of hypertension. In the urban population, diabetes (OR = 6.917) and BMI (OR = 1.195) and in the rural population, physical activity (OR = 0.483) and waist circumference (OR = l.094) were significantly associated. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of hypertension was seen in the urban and rural population of a north Indian district Risk factors of hypertension were age and gender in urban as well as rural population. Diabetes, higher BMI values, decreased level of physical activity and increased waist circumference also significantly contributed to the risk of hypertension, which necessitates intervention at the primary health care level for its prevention.

Responses of the ultimobranchial gland to vitamin D3 treatment in freshwater mud eel, Amphipnous cuchia, kept in different calcium environments.

Freshwater mud eel, Amphipnous cuchia, were injected intraperitoneally daily with 100 ng of vitamin D3/100 g body weight and maintained in media containing either no calcium or different calcium concentrations. The eels were killed after 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 days following the treatment and their serum calcium levels were measured. The ultimobranchial glands were fixed and processed using the routine paraffin method for histological studies. The results of the present study indicate that vitamin D3 can induce hypercalcaemia in eels kept in different calcium environments. Also, the ultimobranchial glands became hyperactive following vitamin D3 treatment. It is concluded that in mud eels, the gland has a calcium-regulating function.

Plasma calcium and calcitonin levels in eels fed a high calcium solution or transferred to seawater.

To examine the physiological role of calcitonin (CT) in calcium homeostasis of teleosts, we compared calcium and CT levels in freshwater eels fed a high calcium-consomme solution (Ca2+: 1.25 M; 1 ml/100 g body wt) into the stomach (Experiment I), and in freshwater eels transferred from freshwater to seawater (Experiment II). In experiment I, plasma calcium and CT levels in the high calcium-treated eels rapidly increased (calcium: 2.63 mM at 0 h to 8. 50 mM at 3 h; CT: below detection level at 0 h to 1118.2 pg/ml at 3 h). Plasma calcium and CT levels in the control eels remained below detection level during the 3 h of the experiment. In experiment II, the plasma CT levels did not increase, although the plasma calcium levels increased from 3.23 mM at 0 h to 4.10 mM at 8 h. Therefore, in eels, we demonstrate a correlation between plasma CT and plasma calcium raised by dietary calcium in the consomme form, but it does not participate in the initial processes of seawater adaptation.

Calcitonin cells in the intestine of goldfish and a comparison of the number of cells among saline-fed, soup-fed, or high Ca soup-fed fishes.

Calcitonin-immunoreactive cells were found in the intestine of goldfish. These cells were distributed mainly in the anterior part of the intestine, dispersed in the intestinal epithelium. The nucleus was located in the basal portion of the serosal side, and the cytoplasm was elongated to the luminal side. From the anterior part of the intestine, cDNA fragments with the same nucleotide sequence as that of the goldfish calcitonin gene were amplified by RT-PCR method. After administration of one of three kinds of solutions (saline, consommé soup, or high Ca consommé soup) into the digestive tract of the goldfish, the number of those cells was the largest in the consommé group at 6 h after ingestion, although blood Ca levels were the highest in the high Ca consommé group. The function of calcitonin cells in the intestine may be to restrain the acute absorption of nutrients and not to control blood Ca levels.

Influence of calcitonin on serum calcium levels of intact or hypophysectomized freshwater catfish Heteropneustes fossilis.

Serum calcium levels were markedly reduced in male freshwater catfish Heteropneustes fossilis following hypophysectomy. The administration of salmon calcitonin to intact fish had no effect on serum calcium level, whereas the same treatment to hypophysectomized fish induced hypocalcemia.

Annual changes in serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels and correlation with gonadal status of a freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

Adult Channa punctatus murrels of both sexes (60-80 g) were collected locally from Ramgarh Lake during the second week of every month (10 individuals of each sex/month) throughout the year. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum calcium and phosphate levels by the methods of Trinder (1960) and Fiske and Subbarow (1925), respectively. Gonads were fixed to judge the state of maturation of the fish. Males exhibited no change in serum calcium levels throughout the year in correlation with testicular maturation. However, serum phosphate levels exhibited a rise in correlation with the increased gonadosomatic index. Females showed marked seasonal changes in serum calcium and phosphate levels which were associated with ovarian maturation (vitellogenesis).

Plasma calcium and stanniocalcin levels of male tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, fed calcium-deficient food and treated with 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The vitamin D metabolite 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3; calcitriol) was injected ip (5 microg/kg-1 body mass daily) into male tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, fed calcium-deficient food. Plasma calcium (total and free) and stanniocalcin levels, as well as calcium contents of vertebral and opercular bone and scales, were determined on days 1, 3, and 5. In the treated fish, total plasma calcium levels increased on days 3 and 5. Plasma-free calcium levels remained unaffected. Plasma stanniocalcin levels increased, indicating a response of the Stannius corpuscles to redress 1, 25(OH)2D3-induced hypercalcemia. The calcium contents of bone, operculum, and scales were unchanged. It is concluded that in fish, which lack parathyroid hormone, 1,25(OH)2D3 is hypercalcemic and its action is independent of dietary calcium.

Salmon calcitonin induced hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in an elasmobranch, Dasyatis akajei.

Salmon calcitonin (5 micrograms/kg body wt) was administered in an elasmobranch, Dasyatis akajei, to investigate the effects upon plasma calcium and inorganic phosphate. The hormone produced hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in the stingray. It is concluded that calcitonin may have a role in calcium homeostasis by a mechanism different from that on bones.

Morphological and functional aspects of reptilian ultimobranchial gland.

The intention of this review is to compare studies on the morphology and histology (light and electron microscopic) of ultimobranchial glands of various groups of reptiles. Moreover, experiments (including our investigations) on suppression or stimulation of the ultimobranchial gland are included. Adult reptiles possess one (on the left side) or two ultimobranchial glands (UBG). The UBG lie just anterior to the heart. Light as well as electron microscopically, the gland has been shown to contain follicles and cell cords (cell aggregates). The follicular epithelium is lined by simple cuboidal or pseudostratified columnar cells. Ciliated and goblet cells may be present in the follicular epithelia in some groups. The lumen may contain a colloid-like substance with desquamated cells or debris. The UBG of reptiles seem to be an active secretory organ with influence on calcium regulation. Other functions of calcitonin have also been suggested in reptiles for example in neurotransmission, in volume regulation, phosphate balance and promotion of bone calcification (at least in juveniles).

Vitamin D3-induced calcemic and phosphatemic responses in the freshwater mud eel Amphipnous cuchia maintained in different calcium environments.

Vitamin D3 (100 ng 100 g body weight-1 day-1) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) to the freshwater mud eel Amphipnous cuchia kept in artificial freshwater, calcium-free freshwater, low-calcium freshwater (0.2 mmol/l CaCl2) or calcium-rich freshwater (13.4 mmol/l CaCl2) for 15 days. Analyses of serum calcium and phosphate levels were performed on days 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 after the beginning of the experiment (six eels from each group at each interval). Administration of vitamin D3 elevated the serum calcium [maximum elevation occurred at day 10 in artificial freshwater (vehicle: 10.55 +/- 0.298, vitamin D: 13.90 +/- 0.324), low-calcium freshwater (vehicle: 11.17 +/- 0.220, vitamin D: 12.98 +/- 0.297) and calcium-rich freshwater (vehicle: 11.24 +/- 0.373, vitamin D: 14.24 +/- 0.208) whereas it occurred at day 5 (vehicle: 8.42 +/- 0.253, vitamin D: 11.07 +/- 0.328) in calcium-free freshwater] and phosphate levels [maximum elevation at day 15 in artificial freshwater (vehicle: 4.39 +/- 0.105, vitamin D: 5.37 +/- 0.121), calcium-free freshwater (vehicle: 4.25 +/- 0.193, vitamin D: 5.12 +/- 0.181), low-calcium freshwater (vehicle: 3.93 +/- 0.199, vitamin D: 5.28 +/- 0.164) and calcium-rich freshwater (vehicle: 3.77 +/- 0.125, vitamin D: 5.46 +/- 0.151)] of the fish maintained in the above mentioned environmental media, but the responses were more pronounced in the fish kept in calcium-rich media.

Corpuscles of Stannius-extract-induced rapid but transient hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in stingray, Dasyatis akajei.

Aqueous extracts of goldfish Corpuscles of Stannius were tested in an elasmobranch, Dasyatis akajei, to investigate the effects upon plasma calcium and inorganic phosphate. The extract produced hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in the stingray. Receptors with affinity for stanniocalcin are therefore widespread among the vertebrates.

Vitamin D3- induced histological changes in the corpuscles of stannius of a freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis kept either in artificial freshwater, calcium-rich freshwater or calcium-deficient freshwater.

Vitamin D3 (50 I.U./100 g body wt) was injected daily intraperitoneally to the fish H. fossilis maintained in artificial freshwater, calcium-rich freshwater and calcium deficient freshwater. The animals were killed on day 1, 3, 5, and 10. The serum calcium levels were estimated and CS were fixed for histological studies. Administration of vitamin D3 induced hypercalcemia in the fish kept in all the three different media. The AF-positive cells of CS of vitamin D3 treated specimens kept in artificial freshwater, calcium-rich freshwater and calcium-deficient freshwater depict hyperactivity which is expressed by their degranulation and increased nuclear volume. The AF-negative cells of CS of vitamin D3-treated fish kept in artificial freshwater have not shown any change, however, the AF-negative cells of the fish treated with vitamin D3 and maintained in calcium-rich freshwater and calcium-deficient freshwater exhibit a decrease in their nuclear volume.