NOPR Collection:

Wound healing potential of ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe pinnata Lam. leaf—A preliminary study

2010-05-29T16:30:29Z

Title: Wound healing potential of ethanolic extract of Kalanchoe pinnata Lam. leaf—A preliminary study Authors: Nayak, B Shivananda; Marshall, Julien R; Isitor, Godwin Abstract: The extract of K. pinnata was evaluated for its wound healing activity by using excision wound model in rats. On day 11, animals treated with the ethanolic leaf extract exhibited 86.33 % reduction in the wound area, compared to petroleum jelly treated control (69.36%) and the mupirocin treated standard (85.49%). The hydroxyproline content of extract treated animals was higher, as compared to control and the standard groups. Histological analysis was also consistent with the proposal that K. pinnata leaf extract exhibits significant wound healing potential. The increased rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content in the extract treated animals supports the claims made by traditional healers of the benefits obtained from the medicinal use of K. pinnata. Page(s): 572-576

Galanin regulation of LH release in male rats

2010-05-30T16:30:33Z

Title: Galanin regulation of LH release in male rats Authors: Pandit, Manisha Arora; Saxena, R N Abstract: The present study examines the role of cerebroventricular administered (III^rd ventricle) galanin on LHRH and LH release in adult and immature male rats. In both age groups, galanin stimulated LHRH synthesis and release from the hypothalamus, leading to a higher release of pituitary LH which in turn increased plasma LH levels. Galantide, a galanin receptor blocker, on the other hand, drastically reduced hypothalamic LHRH and plasma LH while increasing pituitary LH. In vitro incubation of anterior pituitary cells with galanin followed by LHRH resulted in increased release of pituitary LH but not by galanin alone. Galantide exhibited no such effect either alone or with LHRH. These results indicate that galanin is an important regulator for both hypothalamic LHRH and hypophysial LH and its role is independent of age in the case of male rats. Page(s): 544-548

Evaluation of genotoxic effects in male Wistar rats following microwave exposure

2010-05-30T16:30:34Z

Title: Evaluation of genotoxic effects in male Wistar rats following microwave exposure Authors: Kumar, Sanjay; Kesari, Kavindra Kumar; Behari, Jitendra Abstract: Wistar rats (70 days old) were exposed for 2 h a day for 45 days continuously at 10 GHz [power density 0.214 mW/cm², specific absorption rate (SAR) 0.014 W/kg] and 50 GHz (power density 0.86 μW/cm², SAR 8.0 ×10^-4 W/kg). Micronuclei (MN), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidant enzymes activity were estimated in the blood cells and serum. These radiations induce micronuclei formation and significant increase in ROS production. Significant changes in the level of serum glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were observed in exposed group as compared with control group. It is concluded that microwave exposure can be affective at genetic level. This may be an indication of tumor promotion, which comes through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Page(s): 586-592

Small-sized neurons of trigeminal ganglia express multiple voltage-sensitive calcium channels: A qualitative immunohistochemical study

2010-05-30T16:30:28Z

Title: Small-sized neurons of trigeminal ganglia express multiple voltage-sensitive calcium channels: A qualitative immunohistochemical study Authors: Ray, Subrata Basu; Singh, Sagolshem S; Mehra, R D Abstract: The cell bodies of pseudounipolar neurons of the trigeminal ganglia have been presumed to play a supportive role to neurites, which transmit various sensations like pain from the periphery to the brain stem. However, several studies have recently shown that these neuronal cell bodies could modulate the afferent stimuli by up-regulating various ion channels and also by increasing the synthesis of neuropeptides like calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Since voltage-sensitive calcium ion channels (VSCCs) determine neuropeptides/ neurotransmitters released by neurons, the aim of the present study was to localize the various VSCCs (N-, P/Q-, L-, T- and R-types) in the trigeminal ganglia neurons by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that all the VSCCs are expressed by the cell bodies of neurons though the small-sized neurons showed higher expression of these channels. The small-sized neurons were identified by immunohistochemical localization of CGRP, the most common neuropeptide for pain transmission in the trigeminal ganglia neurons. Some of these channels (N, P/Q and T types) were also expressed on the cell surface though previous electrophysiological studies have shown the expression of all the channels on the cell surface. It is suggested that the cell bodies could play a more active role than hereto ascribed to these, in the modulation of sensory stimuli. Page(s): 538-543