NOPR Collection:

Pre-electroconvulsive shock administration of calcium channel blockers reduces retrograde amnesia induced by ECS

2013-11-23T16:36:49Z

Title: Pre-electroconvulsive shock administration of calcium channel blockers reduces retrograde amnesia induced by ECS Authors: Sushma, M; Sudha, S; Guido, S Abstract: Effect of pre-electroconvulsive shock (ECS) administration of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) like verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, nimodipine, flunarizine and cinnarizine on retrograde amnesia induced by ECS was examined using passive avoidance paradigm in rats. The groups (Gr 1-7) of adult, male Wistar rats received true ECS with CCBs (5mg/kg; i.p) or vehicle (10 ml/kg; ip) and other groups (Gr 8-14) received sham ECS with CCBs (5mg/kg; i.p) or vehicle (10 ml/kg; i.p). The anti-amnestic activity of CCBs were evaluated using the passive avoidance paradigm in rats. Results showed that, the baseline latencies for all the groups did not differ significantly. Rats receiving true ECS produced significantly lower latencies. There was increase in the post ECS step through latencies of the rats administered CCBs before ECS. Therefore, pre-ECS administration of calcium channel blockers might reduce retrograde amnesia produced by ECS without altering seizure duration. Page(s): 1141-1144

In vitro clonal propagation of bird eye chilli (Capsicum frutescens Mill.)

2013-11-21T16:39:45Z

Title: In vitro clonal propagation of bird eye chilli (Capsicum frutescens Mill.) Authors: Gururaj, H B; Giridhar, P; Sharma, Ashwani; Prasad, B C N; Ravishankar, G A Abstract: An efficient and highly reproducible protocol for micropropagation of bird eye chilli Capsicum frutescens was attempted. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.5-3.0 mgl^-1 of 6-benzyladenine (BA), 2-isopentenyl adenine (2 iP), kinetin and 0.5-2.0 mg l^-1 of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) along with 1 gl^-1 activated charcoal (AC) were used for shoot regeneration from both shoot tip and nodal explants. Shoot tip explants (100%) grew well on medium containing 1 mg l^-1 of kinetin and l mgl^-1 of IBA. Shoot proliferation (1-3) from nodal explants was effective on this medium. The regenerated shoots with 4-7 nodes had further growth upon sub-culturing on to kinetin (1 mg l^-1) and IBA(1 mgl^-1) and rooted simultaneously. The rooted plants were transferred to pots after hardening under controlled conditions. The survival percentage in pots was 80-90%. Page(s): 1136-1140

Evaluation, grafting success and field establishment of cashew rootstock as influenced by VAM fungi

2013-11-25T16:36:30Z

Title: Evaluation, grafting success and field establishment of cashew rootstock as influenced by VAM fungi Authors: Lakshmipathy, R; Balakrishna, AN; Bagyaraj, D J; Sumana, D A; Kumar, D P Abstract: Seven isolates of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi were isolated from cashew rhizosphere soil of different cashew growing regions of South India. These seven isolates along with two more VAM fungi namely Acaulospora laevis and Glomus mosseae, which were found to be better symbionts for cashew during our earlier study were used to study their effectiveness on the growth and nutrition of cashew rootstock Ullal-1. Four promising VAM fungi were selected based on this study. Rootstocks inoculated with these four fungi were evaluated for their vigour through grafting success, using Ullal-3 cashew variety as scion. Grafting success was more in rootstocks inoculated with A. laevis and one of local isolates Glomus etunicatum. Grafts with rootstock treated with G. etunicatum and A. laevis survived and performed better when planted in the field compared to the uninoculated and other VAM fungal treatments. Page(s): 1132-1135

Formulation of medium constituents by multiresponse analysis of central composite design to enhance chitinase production in Pantoea dispersa

2013-11-21T16:45:04Z

Title: Formulation of medium constituents by multiresponse analysis of central composite design to enhance chitinase production in Pantoea dispersa Authors: Gohel, Vipul; Trivedi, Smita; Vyas, Pranav; Chhatpar, H S Abstract: In the present study, a high chitinase producing strain Pantoea dispersa was isolated from the sea dumps at Bhavnagar, India. Chitin, urea, CaCl₂ and MgSO₄.7H₂O were variables used in central composite design for chitinase production. Chitinase, biomass and pH were the responses used in different models to evaluate individually fit ones. Quadratic model was found to be fit for chitinase response whereas in the case of biomass and pH, linear model was found to be fit without the effect of others. Chitinase production was optimized with respect to other responses such as biomass and pH in multiresponse analysis of response surface design by using desirability approach. In multiresponse analysis, following medium formulation (g/l), chitin, 15; urea, 0.32; CaCl₂, 0.10 and MgSO₄.7H₂O, 0.08 was found to predict optimum chitinase production of 482.77 units/ml with overall highest desirability of 0.854 as compared to other formulation s. The selection of model was done on the basis of hi gh Adjusted R-squared value and lowered p-value for each model in individual analysis of each response. In multiresponse experiment, it was found that for response chitinase quadratic model and for responses pH and biomass linear models were well fit. Through desirability analysis, it was found that in the chitinase production, pH was essential as compared to biomass in P. dispersa. Endochitinase and chitobiase actvities were also studied. Page(s): 1123-1131