NOPR Collection:

Identification of glandular (preputial and clitoral) proteins in house rat (Rattus rattus) involved in pheromonal communication

2004-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Identification of glandular (preputial and clitoral) proteins in house rat (Rattus rattus) involved in pheromonal communication Authors: Archunan, G; Kamalakkannan, S; Achiraman, S; Rajkumar, R Abstract: Proteins (18-20 kDa) belonging to lipocalin family have been reported to act as carriers for ligands binding to pheromones in mouse urine, pig saliva, hamster vaginal fluid and human sweat, that are involved in pheromonal communication. As the preputial gland is a major pheromonal source, the present study was aimed to detect the specific protein bands (around 18-20 kDa) in the preputial and clitoral glands of the house rat, R. rattus. The amount of protein was higher in preputial gland of the male than that of female (clitoral) gland. A 20 kDa protein was noted in male and female glands; however, the intensity of the band was much higher in male than in female. In addition, 70, 60, 35 kDa bands, identified in male preputial gland, were absent in females. The presence of higher concentration of glandular proteins in the male preputial gland suggests that male rats may depend more on these glandular proteins for the maintenance of reproductive and dominance behaviours. The results further suggest that these glandular proteins (20 kDa) may act as a carrier for ligand binding. Page(s): 1032-1035

Mini transposon vector mediated foreign gene expression in Mesorhizobium huakuii subsp. rengei

2004-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Mini transposon vector mediated foreign gene expression in Mesorhizobium huakuii subsp. rengei Authors: Balachandar, D; Kannaiyan, S; Ono, H; Murooka, Y Abstract: Among the transposable elements, mini-Tn5 transposon vector has proven to be of greater utility for insertion mutagenesis of variety of Gram negative bacteria. The mini-Tn5 vector containing promoter less egfp gene and gentamycin resistant gene was used for the present study. The transposon vector was introduced to M. huakuii from E. coli S17 by conjugation. The conjugants were screened for stable expression of egfp both in free-living and in nodules of Astragalus sinicus. The result showed that the conjugant #3 showed stable expression of green fluorescent both in free-living and bacteroid stage. The visualization of sym plasmid of wild strain and conjugants showed that conjugant #3 had a fragmentation of large sized plasmid into two but without affecting the nodulating ability. These results clearly indicated that mini-Tn5 vectors (Transposon vectors) the best alternate tools for plasmid vectors for integration of foreign genes in chromosomal DNA or symbiotic plasmid and expression, both in free-living and bacteroid stage of Rhizobium. Page(s): 1028-1031

Protective effect of vilva juice on glycoconjugate levels in experimentally induced constipation in rats

2004-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Protective effect of vilva juice on glycoconjugate levels in experimentally induced constipation in rats Authors: Padmini, R; Sabitha, K E; Devi, C S Shyamala Abstract: Efficacy of vilva, a polyherbal formulation was evaluated in morphine induced constipated rats. Vilva juice, at a dose of 1.5 ml/100 g body wt was given orally for a period of 7 days. Morphine sulfate was injected to induce constipation on 8th day, 45 mm before the experiments. Protein bound glycoconjungates were estimated in intestinal tissue. Altered levels of glycoconjugates were maintained at near normalcy when pretreated with vilva juice in morphine induced rats. Histological changes were observed in the colon tissue. The damage to crypts of Liberkunn in constipated rats were found to be reduced in vilva pretreated rats. Vilva, thus, offered significant protection against morphine induced constipation by way of augmenting mucus secretion. Page(s): 1024-1027

Production of solasodine by Solanum laciniatum using plant tissue culture technique

2004-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Production of solasodine by Solanum laciniatum using plant tissue culture technique Authors: Bhatnagar, Pooja; Bhatnagar, Madhurima; Nath, Amarjit K; Sharma, D R Abstract: Leaf and hypocotyl explants of 15 days old aseptically grown seedlings of Solanum laciniatum were cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA (2 mg/l) and kinetin (0.5 mg/l) for callus initiation. For maintenance and proliferation of callus MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (1 mg/l) and kinetin (0.5 mg/l) was used. The growth of the calli derived from hypocotyls increased with time of incubation and remained almost constant after 45 days. The solasodine content in callus culture was maximum after 30 days of incubation. Addition of L-arginine in the medium (50-150 mg/l) increased growth as well as chlorophyll content in the callus culture. The solasodine content also increased up to 1.2 to 1.4 times in these cultures. High frequency shoot regeneration was obtained in MS medium having BA (4 mg/l) and IBA (0.25 mg/l). For shoot multiplication, MS medium having BA (4mg/l) was used. Shoots rooted on the same medium. Organogenesis promoted solasodine accumulation in the cultures. Regenerated shoots yielded higher solasodine content than undifferentiated as well as organogenic callus. Solasodine contents in the regenerated shoots was found to be 10 times higher than the callus culture and approached towards the field grown plants. Thin layer chromatography revealed the presence of three compounds. The most predominant spot (R_f 0.789) corresponded to the reference solasodine. Page(s): 1020-1023