Regulation of compensatory growth by molecular mechanism in Labeo rohita juveniles under different feeding regimes.

A study was carried out to assess the regulation of compensatory growth under different restriction feeding regimes in Labeo rohita juveniles by the interaction of various feed intake and growth regulating genes. A 60 day feeding trial was conducted with five treatment groups, Control (3% body weight, bw), T1 (alternate days), T2 (0.5% bw), T3 (1% bw) and T4 (2% bw) and feeding was done for first 30 days of the trial. For next 30 days, all the treatment groups were fed at a rate of 3% bw as in the control group. There was significant (p < 0.05) difference in the weight gain among the treatment groups with lowest FCR and highest PER was found in T2 group. Ghrelin gene mRNA levels were upregulated during first 30th days of the trial with highest expression levels in the T2 group. The expression levels of leptin gene mRNA were found significantly different (p < 0.05) among the treatments, which was down-regulated during initial 30 days and upregulated as the experiment progress towards 60th day. The IGF-1 mRNA expression levels were upregulated more in liver compared to the muscle tissue. The results of the study suggest that increased ghrelin levels and decreased leptin levels lead to hyperphagia during the onset of refeeding, which further triggers the compensatory growth in L. rohita. The present study describes the molecular mechanism behind the compensatory growth following a different feed restriction regime in L. rohita which is regulated due to the interaction of different energy homeostasis and growth regulating genes.

Safety Evaluation of Unani Formulation: Capsule Shaqeeqa in Albino Wistar Rats.

Capsule Shaqeeqa, Unani formulation, is prescribed for the clinical treatment of diseases like sinusitis, headache, and migraine. The safety evaluation data of it is not available; in order to provide the safety data the present study was carried out. The study was carried out on four groups of rats (n = 5). Two groups (one male and one female group) as normal controls were orally given water while the other two groups were orally given daily doses of drug at the dose level of 150 mg/kg of body weight for duration of 90 days. Physiological parameters like body weight, feed consumption, water consumption, and clinical signs were regularly monitored and recorded. Organs were collected, examined, and weighed and specimens were taken for histopathological studies. The results showed that the drug did not alter the physiological parameters. There was no mortality or any morbidity found in drug treated rats. There was no statistical significant change found in any haematological or biochemical parameter of rats orally fed with Shaqeeqa. A statistically insignificant association verified that haematological and biochemical parameters were rendered unaffected by the drug. Moreover histological investigations of essential key organs demonstrated that the drug did not prompt any histopathological change. These observations demonstrate the safety of Capsule Shaqeeqa at the studied dosage levels.