In Vitro Studies on the Environmental Biology of Goniodes Colchici (Denny) (Mallophaga:Ischnocera)

1971 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 553-568
Author(s):  
R. T. WILLIAMS

1. Active uptake of water vapour, following previous desiccation, has been studied in the pheasant body louse, Goniodes colchid (Denny). 2. Uptake is not continuous but occurs during limited periods of varying duration. 3. Water vapour is taken up by adult lice at temperatures of 32-44 °C and at humidities of 60-100 % R.H. The rate of uptake is not affected by temperature. The amount of uptake is not affected by humidity but is maximal at 36.8 °C. 4. Water vapour is not taken up at humidities below 50 % R.H. At 55 % R.H. about half of the lice take up the normal amount, the rest none at all. 5. Immature lice take up either much water vapour or none at all at temperatures of 32-44 °C; there is no temperature of maximal uptake. 6. Lice are unable to take up water vapour during moulting and/or starvation. But within 48 h of moulting they are often able to take up enough to increase the body weight above its pre-moult level. 7. It is concluded that in lice of this species the greater part of their water intake is by active uptake of water vapour. The conditions of temperature and humidity which these lice require for survival and reproduction can be understood on this basis.

1964 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. V. Large

1. Thirty Suffolk × Half bred lambs were slaughtered at the following ages: two twin lambs at birth and two singles and two twins at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 16 weeks of age.2. The following weights were recorded: live-weight immediately before slaughter; and carcass, head, skin, feet, alimentary tract, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and trachea, and blood immediately afterwards.3. The alimentary tract was emptied and weighed in four separate parts; reticulo-rumen, omasum-abomasum, small intestine, large intestine.4. The volumes of the reticulo-rumen and the omasum-abomasum were measured by immersing in water and filling the organs with water to 2 cm. pressure.5. The in vitro digestive efficiency of rumen liquor from lambs of 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age was assessed.6. Empty body weight was considered to be valuable in comparing animals of different ages or from different feeding regimes or at different times of the year because variations in gut ‘fill’ were eliminated.7. There were no differences between singles and twins in the relationship of the fresh weights of the parts of the body to empty body weight, except that development of the liver and the blood was rather slower for singles.8. Little evidence was found of a difference in rate of development of the alimentary tract between singles an d twins, although the log an d square root transformation suggested a possible difference in reticulo-rumen size in favour of twins, significant at the 5% level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Soheb Anwar Mohammed ◽  
Bugga Paramesha ◽  
Yashwant Kumar ◽  
Ubaid Tariq ◽  
Sudheer Kumar Arava ◽  
...  

Allylmethylsulfide (AMS) is a novel sulfur metabolite found in the garlic-fed serum of humans and animals. In the present study, we have observed that AMS is safe on chronic administration and has a potential antihypertrophic effect. Chronic administration of AMS for 30 days did not cause any significant differences in the body weight, electrocardiogram, food intake, serum biochemical parameters, and histopathology of vital organs. Single-dose pharmacokinetics of AMS suggests that AMS is rapidly metabolized into Allylmethylsulfoxide (AMSO) and Allylmethylsulfone (AMSO2). To evaluate the efficacy of AMS, cardiac hypertrophy was induced by subcutaneous implantation of ALZET® osmotic minipump containing isoproterenol (~5 mg/kg/day), cotreated with AMS (25 and 50 mg/kg/day) and enalapril (10 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. AMS and enalapril significantly reduced cardiac hypertrophy as studied by the heart weight to body weight ratio and mRNA expression of fetal genes (ANP and β-MHC). We have observed that TBARS, a parameter of lipid peroxidation, was reduced and the antioxidant enzymes (glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) were improved in the AMS and enalapril-cotreated hypertrophic hearts. The extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9) were significantly upregulated in the diseased hearts; however, with the AMS and enalapril, it was preserved. Similarly, caspases 3, 7, and 9 were upregulated in hypertrophic hearts, and with the AMS and enalapril treatment, they were reduced. Further to corroborate this finding with in vitro data, we have checked the nuclear expression of caspase 3/7 in the H9c2 cells treated with isoproterenol and observed that AMS cotreatment reduced it significantly. Histopathological investigation of myocardium suggests AMS and enalapril treatment reduced fibrosis in hypertrophied hearts. Based on our experimental results, we conclude that AMS, an active metabolite of garlic, could reduce isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and stabilizing ECM components.


1946 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo G. Nutini ◽  
Sister Eva Maria Lynch

1. The ability of alcoholic-precipitated extracts of beef tissue—brain, spleen, heart, and kidney—to stimulate the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, in vitro, and to convert the yellow S form to a white R variant with altered biochemical characteristics conforming to those of an avirulent organism, has been confirmed. 2. The avirulence of the white R variant has been established by tests in vivo on mice. 3. Staphylococcus aureus infections induced subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, and intravenously in mice responded favorably to brain extract following subcutaneous or oral administration. The mortality was 2 per cent in 444 experimental animals and 81 per cent in 448 control animals. 4. The extracts appeared equally efficient when used therapeutically (mortality 2 per cent of 162 experimental animals and 90 per cent in the control series) or prophylactically (mortality 2 per cent of 282 experimental animals and 76 per cent in 286 control mice). Extracts of brain and spleen were more effective than those of either heart or kidney. 5. Studies concerning the mechanism of action of the tissue extracts indicate that they prevented the formation of toxin by Staphylococcus aureus, and had but little effect on toxin actions. 6. Toxicity tests revealed that the brain and spleen extracts were relatively non-toxic, dosages equivalent to 2 per cent of the body weight being well tolerated. Kidney and heart extracts were much more toxic, producing mortality in dosages as low as 0.3 per cent of the body weight.


1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nateetip Krishnamra ◽  
Liangchai Limlomwongse

The hypocalcaemic action of ethanol (3 g/kg body weight) was investigated in intact, thyroparathyroidectomized and antrectomized rats. It was found that ethanol administered either intraperitoneally or orally reduced plasma calcium concentrations within 30 min and that this response lasted for 8 h. Additional studies performed in antrectomized and thyroparathyroidectomized rats indicated that neither gastrin nor the hormones parathormone and calcitonin had any effect on the hypocalcaemic effect of ethanol. Investigation of the mechanism of action of ethanol-induced hypocalcaemia involved measurements of calcium efflux from and influx into the plasma pool. Ethanol did not have any effect on the disappearance from plasma of 45Ca administered intravenously at 0 min. In contrast, ethanol was found to enhance the disappearance of 45Ca administered intraperitoneally 17 h prior to the experiment. The interpretation of 45Ca studies was discussed and it was concluded that ethanol-induced hypocalcaemia resulted from a decrease in calcium influx into the plasma. Additional in vitro studies did not indicate the suppressive action of ethanol on the release of calcium from tibias. In conclusion, our results show that the mechanism of hypocalcaemia caused by ethanol is the suppression of calcium release from some tissue(s) into the plasma.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1880-1880
Author(s):  
Georg Seifert ◽  
Patrick Jesse ◽  
Aram Prokop ◽  
Tobias Reindl ◽  
Stephan Lobitz ◽  
...  

Abstract Mistletoe (Viscum album) is one of the most used alternative cancer therapies applied as monotherapy or in combination with conventional therapies. Anti-tumor effects of mistletoe (MT) extracts were related to cytostatic and immunomodulatory effects observed in vitro. Aqueous MT extracts contain the three mistletoe lectins I, II and III as one predominant group of biologically active agents. The MT lectins inhibit protein biosynthesis by inactivating the 60S ribosomal subunit. Mistletoe lectin-I (ML-I) is one important apoptosis inducing compound. It is a heterodimer that consists of a cytotoxic A-chain (ribosome inactivating protein, RIP type 1) linked by a carbohydrate binding B-chain for cellular lectin uptake. However, although MT is widely used, there is a lack of scientific preclinical and clinical data. Here, we describe for the first time efficacy and mechanism of MT extracts against lymphoblastic leukemia in vitro and in vivo. For this purpose, we first investigated both the cytotoxic effect and mechanism of action of two standardized aqueous MT extracts (MT obtained from fir trees (MT-A); MT obtained from pine trees (MT-P)) and isolated ML-I, in three human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines (NALM-6, sup-B-15 and REH). MT-A, MT-P and ML-I clearly inhibited cell proliferation as determined by LDH reslease assays at very low concentrations (ML-I LD50 from 0,05 ng/ml to 10 ng/ml depending on the host tree) with MT-P being the most cytotoxic extract. The mechanism of cell death was determined by DNA-fragmentation assays. These indicated dose dependent induction of apoptosis as the main mechanism of cell death. Finally, we evaluated the efficacy of MT-A and MT-P in an in vivo SCID-model of pre-B ALL (NALM-6). For this purpose, mice (n=8/group) were injected i.v. with 1 × 106NALM6 cells and treated by intraperitoneal injections four times per week for 3 weeks (day 1–4; 7–11; 14–18) at varying doses (1, 5 and 50 mg/Kg (plant weight/body weight)). Mice (n=8) treated with PBS and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg, once on day 1) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Toxicity, peripheral blood counts, bodyweight and survival was determined over time. Interestingly, both MT extracts in all tested concentrations significantly improved survival (up to 55,4 days) in contrast to controls (34,6 days). Furthermore, no hematologic side effects were observed from this treatment as indicated by completely stable blood counts. Also the body weight of treated animals remained stable over time indicating a complete absence of systemic toxicity in the selected dose range. In summary, we demonstrate for the first time efficacy and mechanism of MT extracts against ALL in vitro and in vivo and hereby provide an important base line for the design of clinical trials with these compounds.


Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Kassayová ◽  
Martina Marková ◽  
Bianka Bojková ◽  
Eva Adámeková ◽  
Peter Kubatka ◽  
...  

AbstractThe question of effects of long-term melatonin (MEL) administration have not yet been explained sufficiently, especially its metabolic consequences in young persons and animals. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of MEL given during prolonged time (for 3 months) and chronically (for 6 months) at the dose of 4 µg/mL of tap water, on the selected metabolic and hormonal parameters in young female and male Wistar:Han (WH) rats. The weights of selected organs, tissues, body weight gains and food and water intake were registered. Six weeks aged rats were adapted to standard housing conditions and light regimen L:D=12:12 h, fed standard laboratory diet and drank tap water (controls) or MEL solution ad libitum; finally they were sacrificed after overnight fasting. Prolonged MEL administration decreased serum glucose concentration and increased triacylglycerol and malondialdehyde concentration/content in the liver in females. In males MEL increased concentrations of serum phospholipids, corticosterone and liver malondialdehyde. MEL treatment reduced the body weight in both sexes and weight of epididymal fat in males, without any alterations of food and water intake. Chronic MEL administration reduced serum glucose concentration and increased concentration/content of glycogen, triacylglycerol and cholesterol in the liver and glycogen concentration/content in heart muscle in males. In females, the significant rise of serum corticosterone concentration and liver malondialdehyde content was recorded. MEL significantly increased liver weight and decreased thymus weight in males. MEL administration increased temporarily water intake in males, body and epididymal fat weights were similar to that in controls. Body weight of MEL drinking females was reduced in the 1st half of experiment only; the food and water intake did not differ from control group. The response in WH rats on MEL was more prominent as in the Sprague-Dawley strain (our previous studies). Male rats were generally more affected, probably due to higher daily and total consumption of melatonin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
M. V. Popovych ◽  
◽  
Ya. R. Shalai ◽  
V. P. Hreniukh ◽  
O. R. Kulachkovskyy ◽  
...  

Background. A pronounced cytotoxic action of the thiazole derivatives complexed with polymeric carriers on tumor cells in vitro was reported earlier, while no cytotoxicity of these compounds was detected toward noncancerous cells. It was found that thiazole derivatives at concentrations of 10 and 50 µM affected lymphoma cell ultrastructure in vitro. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of thiazole derivative 8-methyl-2-Me-7-[trifluoromethyl-phenylmethyl]-pyrazolo-[4,3-e]-[1,3]- thiazolo-[3,2-a]-pyrimidin-4(2H)-one (PP2) and its complexes with polymeric carriers poly(VEP-co-GMA)-graft-mPEG (Th12) and poly(PEGMA) (Th14) on the ultrastructure of lymphoma cells in vivo. Materials and Methods. Experiments were conducted on white wild-type male mice with grafted NK/Ly lymphoma. Ascite tumors were created by intreperitoneal inocu­lation of 1–2 mln of Nemet–Kelner lymphoma cells to mice. On the 12th day after inoculation, the body weight of animals was increased by 140–160 % mostly due to ascites growth. For treatment of ascites three solutions of the chemical compounds were prepared: PP2, PP2 + Th12, PP2 + Th14 and administered to the mice intraperitoneally for 5 days. The final concentration of PP2 was 5 mg/kg of body weight. Abdominal drainage from ascites was performed with a sterile syringe under chloroform anesthesia on the 10th day after the start of treatment. The ultrastructure of the cells was examined by electron microscopy. Results. Еlectron microscopy study showed that control lymphoma cells have a special subcellular formations such as a relatively large nucleus, and specific plasma membrane filaments. The effects of thiazole derivative revealed apoptotic and necrotic manifestations of cytotoxicity, such as a deformation and disintegration of nucleus, a decreased nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, a destruction of the plasma membrane and a change of mitochondria shape. The studied compound complexed with polymeric carriers caused an apoptotic-like changes in lymphoma cells. Under the action of such complexes, the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio decreased and the area of mitochondria increased. Conclusions. The obtained results suggest that the tested compounds induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Complexes of thiazole derivative with polymers do not impair the effect of the compound on lymphoma cells. The obtained data can be used to carry out further preclinical studies of thiazole derivatives complexed with polymeric carriers as potential antitumor drugs.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Enok Sobariah ◽  
Ali Khomsan ◽  
Ingrid S. Surono

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 12.45pt 6pt 17.85pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="en-us" xml:lang="en-us">The aim of this study were  to identify the in-vitro tolerance of pro-biotic bacteria to acid and bile salt condition; and  to prove a hypothesis that the supplementation of oxygenated water has a positive effect on the body weight of rat and on viability of pro-biotic bacteria.  The first study was carried out at PAU Laboratory of Bogor Agricultural University, while the second study was conducted at Department of Community Nutrition of Bogor Agricultural University and Microbiology Laboratory of Indonesia Institute of Technology. Forty five rats aged 6 weeks were divided into three groups, i.e., control group without probiotic (a0), Lactobacillus casei Shirota (a1), and Lactobacillus IS-7257 (a2).  Each group (consisting of 5 rats each) has three different treatments, namely, control without oxygenated water (b0), 50 ppm oxygenated water (b2), and 80 ppm oxygenated water (b2). Oxygenated water was administered to the rats twice a day in the morning (3.25 ml) and afternoon (3.00 ml). Observation was carried out on the body  weight of the rats, fecal lactic acid bacteria, coliform, and anaerob bacteria by plate counting, for 4 periods, i.e, prior to the treatment (C0), after three-day treatment (C1), after seven-day treatment (C2), and on the 10<sup>th</sup> day treatment or three days after washed out period. The results indicated that probiotic bacteria are resistant to acid and bile acid condition. Oxygen concentration in water has a significant positive influence on the body weight of rats towards viability of probiotic bacteria (p-level &lt; 0.05).  The supplementation of  oxygenated water 50 ppm significantly increase the population of viable fecal lactic acid bacteria in L. casei Shirota and Lactobacillus IS-7257 groups after 3 and 7 days of treatment.  Lactobacillus IS-7257 gave better response than L. casei Shirota. The supplementation of oxygenated water 80 ppm significantly reduces the fecal coliform in-vivo in both L. casei Shirota and Lactobacillus IS-7257 groups (p-level &lt; 0.05).</span></p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 2083-2089
Author(s):  
Nabeel K ◽  
Asra Fathima ◽  
Farhath Khanum ◽  
Manjula S N ◽  
Mruthunjaya K ◽  
...  

The present study was aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity property of Tamarindus indica seed extract (TSE) on high fat-fed obese rats. TSE was prepared by cold maceration method and qualitative phytochemical studies had been carried out. In vitro cell viability assay (MTT assay) was and oil red staining for evaluating the lipid accumulation in cells was carried out using 3T3-L1 cells, and leptin levels was evaluated by ELISA. In-vivo Obesity was induced in experimental rats by administration of a high-fat diet for 04 weeks. The anti-obesity effect was screened by oral administration of TSE at two different dose levels i.e., 250 and 500mg/kg b. Wt. Along with a high-fat diet for a period of 04 weeks. The anti-obesity activity is estimated in terms of body weight gain, serum triglycerides (TG), Total cholesterol (TC). In -vitro studies revealed that the TSE has no cytotoxic effect, Administration of a high-fat diet for 04 weeks significantly increased the body weight, serum triglycerides, cholesterol. Upon treatment with TSE, a significant dose-dependent alteration in body weight, triglycerides, cholesterol levels were observed, inferring the anti-obesity property of Tamarindus seed extract.


1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Williams

Weight changes have been used to assess the effect of various conditions of temperature and humidity on the rates of water loss of pheasant body lice, G. colchici. Both living and dead animals, in 0% R.H., lose water at a low but increasing rate from 32 to 40C; above this temperature, the rate of water loss suddenly increases. Living insects lose water at half the rate of dead ones over this temperature range. At 35C and 0% R.H., all non-moulting stages lose water at a similar rate. Moulting insects lose water at half the rate of non-moulting ones. The threshold humidity for survival of these insects is within the range 52.5-62.5% R.H. The weight of mature animals does not vary at different humidities above the threshold. In general, the patterns of humidity requirements and regulation of water loss of G. colchici do not differ from those of other insects. There is no evidence that the dependence of these animals on temperatures in the 30-40C range for survival and reproduction is connected with more efficient control of water loss under these conditions.


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