Relative potencies of natural estrogens on vitellogenin and choriogenin levels in the Indian freshwater spotted snakehead, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Channa punctata</Emphasis>: in vivo and in vitro studies

The relative efficacies of three natural estrogens viz., estrone (E₁), estradiol-17β (E₂) and estriol (E₃) to induce synthesis of vitellogenin (Vg) and choriogenin (Chg) were assessed in primary hepatocyte cultures of the Indian freshwater spotted snakehead, Channa punctata. Hepatocytes were isolated from the spotted snakehead liver by a non-enzymatic protocol. Optimum culture conditions were standardized for ensuring their viability and functioning. Isolated hepatocytes were cultured for 48 h for monolayer formation and then exposed to various concentrations (0.001–10 μM) of the three estrogens. Competitive homologous ELISAs, developed and validated for spotted snakehead Vg and Chg were employed to determine the amounts of these two proteins secreted into the culture medium after 48 h of incubation. The results reveal that although all the three estrogens were effective in inducing the production of Vg and Chg in a dose-dependent manner, there were differences in their relative potencies. Of three estrogens, E₁ was the least potent and could induce synthesis of Vg and Chg only at a minimum concentration of 0.5 μM; whereas significant levels of both the proteins were quantified in culture medium by exposing the hepatocytes to E₂ or E₃ even at a concentration of 0.001 μM. All three estrogens were effective in inducing synthesis of Vg and Chg in vivo also. These results suggest the possibility of employing the above in vitro experimental design to monitor the presence of estrogens/estrogen-like chemicals in natural waters, which could interfere with the estrogen receptor system of fish. This study further points to the possibility of using Chg, in addition to Vg, as a parameter for screening various chemicals for their estrogenic activity.     

Seasonal Differences in Growth Performance of Four Strains of Common Carp,Cyprinus carpio in India

To assess strain related differences in growth performance and growth patterns under the same culture environment, four strains of common carp, two each of the scale carp, Cyprinus carpio var. communis (Chinese big-belly carp and long bodied carp) and mirror carp, C. carpio var. specularis (scattered carp and linear carp) were communally stocked in three fertilized earthen ponds of 0.14 ha each at 5,000 fish ha^?1 in the ratio of 1:1:1:1 during an 11-month (February to December) culture cycle. Chinese big-belly carp grew larger than other groups, among which there were no significant differences. Scale carp strains performed relatively better than mirror carp at higher temperatures and then essentially stopped growing as temperatures declined into winter. The strains of mirror carp, on the other hand continued growing well later into the cold season.     

Genotypic variation for cellular thermotolerance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops tauschii</Emphasis> Coss., the D genome progenitor of wheat

Corn leaf aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch) are found throughout the year on maize in Hawaii and occasionally cause yield loss. Sweet corn inbred Hi38-71 was observed to have high field resistance to aphids and was chosen for this genetic study. An artificial infestation technique was developed using hair-pin clip cages (2.2 cm diameter) which we devised and built. The cages were applied to field-grown plants into which three wingless viviparous adults were placed. Aphid populations were classified on a 1–10 rating scale after about 2 weeks based on digital images of the cages. Mean aphid coverage ratings were 2.97 for the resistant parent and 7.28 for the susceptible parent (representing >200 insects per cage). The F₁ hybrids showed similar susceptibility (6.72), showing resistance to be recessive in nature. Six generations of the cross between Hi38-71 and susceptible inbred Hi27 were artificially infested to provide a generation mean analysis of 360 treated plants over two growing seasons. A joint scaling test showed that the fit to a 3-parameter additive-dominance model satisfactorily explained the observed variability with no assumed linkage or epistasis. We conclude that resistance to corn leaf aphid in Hi38-71 is conferred by a single recessive gene labeled aph. These results concur with a previous study under uncontrolled natural infestation in a single environment. The hair-pin clip cage method was most effective in distinguishing resistant and susceptible genotypes under diverse natural growing conditions in Hawaii.     

Understanding genetic diversity in blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] collections of Indian National Genebank

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is a protein rich pulse crop of Indian origin. The crop is cultivated in diverse range of agro-ecological regions,...     

Protein quality of weaning foods based on locally available cereal and pulse combination

Locally available cereals and pulses such as rice (Oryza sativa), kangini (Setaria italica), sanwak (Echinochloa frumentacea), green gram (Vigna radiata) and jaggery were used to formulate three weaning foods. Cereal, pulse and jaggery were mixed in the ratio of 70:30:25. Roasting was the main processing technique used in the formulation of these weaning foods. The developed weaning foods had 5.06 to 5.68 g moisture, 10.28 to 13.71 g protein, 2.91 to 3.77 g ash, 1.08 to 1.87 g fat, 14.42 to 14.98 mg iron, 1.03 to 1.27 g crude fibre, and 357 to 374 Kcal. The weaning foods had a nutrient composition within the range prescribed by the Indian Standard Institute for processed weaning foods. The study indicated that the weaning foods obtained from locally available food stuffs have the potential of being produced locally, adaptable for household consumption and can be good substitute for commercial formulae.     

Development,acceptability and nutritional value of weaning mixtures

Low cost weaning mixtures were prepared by mixing (i) malted pearl millet (Penicitum typhidium L), roasted amaranth (Amaranthus sp.); roasted green gram (Vigna radiata); jaggery and (ii) malted barley (Dehusked barley); roasted amaranth grain; roasted green gram; jaggery in proportion 60204045 wt/wt and were nutritionally evaluated. Both the blends had a nutrient composition within the range prescribed by the Indian Standard Institute (ISI) for processed weaning foods. The processing of grains resulted in lower levels of phytic acid, polyphenols and saponins and higher in vitro protein digestibility than those of the raw grains used for preparing mixtures. Both the mixtures were acceptable to trained panelists and children.     

Role of cathepsins B and D in proteolysis of yolk in the catfish Clarias gariepinus

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Yolk processing pathways vary in the oocytes of benthophil and pelagophil teleosts. The present study investigated the yolk processing pattern in the oocytes of...     

A circadian output in Drosophila mediated by neurofibromatosis-1 and Ras/MAPK

Output from the circadian clock controls rhythmic behavior through poorly understood mechanisms. In Drosophila, null mutations of the neurofibromatosis-1 (Nf1) gene produce abnormalities of circadian rhythms in locomotor activity. Mutant flies show normal oscillations of the clock genes period (per) and timeless (tim) and of their corresponding proteins, but altered oscillations and levels of a clock-controlled reporter. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity is increased in Nf1 mutants, and the circadian phenotype is rescued by loss-of-function mutations in the Ras/MAPK pathway. Thus, Nf1 signals through Ras/MAPK in Drosophila. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a circadian oscillation of phospho-MAPK in the vicinity of nerve terminals containing pigment-dispersing factor (PDF), a secreted output from clock cells, suggesting a coupling of PDF to Ras/MAPK signaling.