Neurobehavioural study of subchronic administration of oxydemeton-methyl (insecticide and acaricide) in rats.

Oxydemeton-methyl, an organophosphate insecticide and acaricide produced decrease in the exploratory behaviour and prolongation of barbitone sodium induced hypnosis in rats after intermittent aerosol spray inhalational exposure, for 1/2 hour daily for 7 consecutive days, compared to the saline control group. Further, ED50 +/- SEM value for haloperidol induced catalepsy, CD50 +/- SEM value for pentylenetetrazole induced seizure and CI50 +/- SEM value for electroshock (i.e. the dose of haloperidol, PTZ and intensity of electroshock producing catalepsy or positive seizure response in 50% of rats) were significantly decreased after 7 days exposure to oxydemeton-methyl compared to that of saline control group. The study has established the central nervous system depressant effect, extrapyramidal effect and proconvulsant potential of oxydemeton-methyl which is widely used by the agricultural workers in the form of field spray.

An observational study on neurobehavioural effects of acute oxydemeton-methyl (insecticide and acaricide) exposure in rats.

Oxydemeton-methyl, an organophosphate insecticide and acaricide produced decrease in the exploratory behaviour and prolongation of barbitone sodium-induced hypnosis after intermittent aerosol spray inhalational exposure for 1 h in rats compared to the saline control group. Further, CD50 +/- S.E.M. value for pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and CI50 +/- S.E.M. value for electroshock (i.e. the dose of PTZ and intensity of electroshock producing positive seizure response in 50% of rats) were significantly decreased by acute exposure to oxydemeton-methyl compared to that of saline control group. The study has established the central nervous system depressant effect and proconvulsant potential of oxydemeton-methyl which is widely used by the agricultural workers in the form of field spray.

Processes of maturation and senescence in two communities of Punjab (India) as studied from some morphological measures.

The results of two series based on a large number of anthropometric measurements, one on males aged 10-21 years and the other on females aged 20 to 80 years on Jat-Sikh and Bania communities of the Punjab state (India), have been combined to study the processes of maturation and senescence in males and females, respectively. The male sample is constituted by 799 Jat-Sikhs and 421 Banias and the female sample is based on 502 Jat-Sikhs and 510 Banias. The results indicate that the adolescent spurt occurs at age 14.5 in the lean body measures in the males of both the communities. Though, the general pattern of development in attaining the adult status is univocal, marked differences have been observed in the tempo of growth. Generally, Jat-Sikhs have bigger lean tissue dimensions, while the Banias have significantly more amount of fat as indicated from the triceps skinfold. The females of Bania community show the onset of negative growth in stature from age group 20-24 onwards, while Jat-Sikh females show the occurrence of this trend from age 30-34 years onwards. The statural loss due to ageing and the effects of secular changes on stature have been separated.

A study of maximum oxygen uptake and heart rate during work and recovery as measured on cycle ergometer on national Indian sportsmen.

We have studied 73, top level Indian sportsmen for VO2 max and heart rates during work and recovery. High negative values of 'r' between VO2 max and heart rate during work and recovery have been observed. Absolute VO2 max, VO2 max/kg body wt/min and VO2 max/kg lean body mass/min are found to play an important role in influencing recovery of heart rate, more so in the initial phases. A similar trend has been observed while studying the influences of work heart rate on the recovery of heart rate after a standard exercise. Regression equations for the prediction of VO2 max from recovery pulse scores, have been worked out for Indian sportsmen.