Antioxidant and immune potential marker enzymes assessment in the various tissues of rats exposed to indoleacetic acid and kinetin: A drinking water study

In the present study, the influence of two different PGRs, indoleacetic acid (IAA) and kinetin (Kn) on immune potential enzymes, adenosine deaminase (ADA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), and antioxidant defense enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in various tissues of rats were investigated during the treatment as a drinking water model. 100 ppm of IAA and Kn as drinking water were administered orally to rats (Sprague-Dawley albino) ad libitum for 21 days continuously. The PGRs treatments caused different effects on the immune potential and antioxidant defense enzymes of experimented rats compared to controls. Results show that IAA caused a significant decrease in GR activity in the lungs and liver and an increase in the spleen. Also, IAA caused a significant decline in GPx activity in the lungs and an increase in the heart. SOD was significantly reduced in the heart, while increased in the lungs. Furthermore, IAA caused a significant decrease in ADA activity in the heart and blood whereas an increase in the kidney and spleen. MPO activity was also significantly increased in the heart by IAA treatment. The activity of enzymes were also seriously affected by Kn; GR activity decreased in the lungs, brain, and blood while GPx activity decreased in the spleen, brain, and heart. ADA activity was also significantly reduced in the blood whereas MPO activity rose in the spleen. In addition, SOD activity lowered in all tissues except for lungs where a significant increment was determined. As a conclusion, the results indicate that PGRs might affect on antioxidant and immune potential enzymes. These data, along with the determined changes suggest that PGRs produced substantial systemic organ toxicity in the erythrocyte, liver, brain, heart, lungs, spleen, and kidney during the period of a 21-day subacute exposure.     

Synergism of teflubenzuron and chlorfluazuron in an acylurea-resistant field strain of Plutella xylostella L. (lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

Topical application of the synergists piperonyl butoxide (PB) and S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) to second-instar larvae of a standard laboratory strain (FS) and an unselected Malaysian field strain (CH) of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella had no significant effect on the toxicity of the acylurea insecticides, chlorfluazuron and teflubenzuron, in a subsequent leafdip bioassay. In contrast, pre-treatment with PB or DEF in acylurea-selected subpopulations of the CH strain with varying levels of cross-resistance to chlorfluazuron and teflubenzuron significantly increased (up to 34-fold and 28-fold, respectively) the toxicity of both compounds, suggesting that microsomal monooxygenases and esterases may be involved in resistance. The addition of a mineral oil, ‘Sunspray 6E’, to topically-applied chlorfluazuron consistently reduced its LD₅₀ value, and the effect of the oil appeared to be greatest on the most resistant population of P. xylostella. However, the effects of the oil were not significant (P > 0·05) and further studies are necessary to determine whether a penetration factor is present in the CH strain.     

Influence of some hardwood barks as soil amendments onRotylenchulus reniformis reproduction and growth response of sunflower

Four hardwood barks (HWB) i. e.Acacia arabica (AA),Ficus sycomorus (FS),Morus alba (MA) andZiziphus spinachristi (ZS) were tried as soil amendments at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% rates w/w for control ofRotylenchulus reniformis and improvement of cv. Giza 1 sunflower growth under greenhouse conditions. All HWB with various concentrations significantly (P≤0.01) reduced numbers of larvae in soil, both females and eggmasses on roots, total final nematode population as well as the nematode build-up as compared to control. 1.5% rate of ZS, AA and MA barks were most effective in reducing numbers of larvae in soil, total final nematode population and the nematode build-up. Also, 1.5% rate of each of FS and AA barks were most effective in reducing numbers of females or eggmasses, respectively. On the other hand, the least reduction in the previous nematode stages and rate of build-up was observed with 0.5% dose of FS bark. Shoot weights were increased significantly with both of 1.0% and 1.5% doses of each of FS and ZS barks and only with 1.5% dose of MA bark. Both shoot lengths and root weights increased significantly with 1.5% dose of all HWB or with 1.0% dose of each of AA and ZS barks as compared to control. No significant increase in root lengths was observed. Generally, there were positive significant correlations between doses of HWB, each of the reductions in the previous nematode stages and increases in sunflower growth criteria.     

Impact of glucosinolate in relation to leafminer,Liriomyza brassicae Riley (Diptera: Agromyzidae) infestation in crucifers

Eight species belonging to the Family Cruciferae were classified to lafminer resistant, tolerant and susceptible on the basis of leafminer infestation. They were analyzed for the glucosinolate content and correlated with leafminer infestation. Total glucosinolate content in general and sinigrin content in particular appeared to have the ability to repel the attack ofLiriomyza brassicae, while gluconapin appeared to attract them. The percentage of infestation, the number of mines and the number of living larvae were estimated for evaluating the glucosinolate efficacy againstL. brassicae on cabbage.     

Effects of herbage intake on goat performance in the mediterranean type natural pastures

This study aimed at identifying changes in natural pastures during the grazing season and investigating the effects of these changes on pasture feeding potential for high yielding dairy goats. During the study, 12 dairy goats were grazed on a 1.5 ha natural pasture for three months from April to June in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The goats were fed 0.5 kg/day of concentrate as a supplement during the grazing season. Botanical composition, herbage production and intake, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of the pasture were determined. Live weight, milk yield, milk dry matter (DM) and fat content of the goats were monitored. The data were analyzed using a linear model, which evaluated the effects of grazing seasons in each year. Based on the three-year average, 87% of pasture was herbaceous plants and the remaining was shrubs in DM basis with Cistus creticus , Quercus ithaburensis , Pistacia atlantica and Asparagus acutifolius being the major shrub species. The herbage yield in June was significantly lower than in other months in all years ( P  = 0.001). In all experimental years, the CP content of the pasture decreased but the structural carbohydrates increased as the grazing season proceeded. While live weight was not affected by grazing periods except for 2004 ( P  = 0.001), milk yield significantly decreased with advancing grazing period ( P  = 0.001). The results of the present study indicate that natural pasture has a supportive effect in April and May on the milk yield of lactating goats which are in mid-lactation, and suggested that supplementary feeding is required in consecutive grazing periods.     

A DGGE-cloning method to characterize arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure in soil

Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial for ecosystem functioning, characterizing AMF community structure in soil is challenging. In this study, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were combined with cloning of fungal 18S ribosomal gene fragments for the rapid comparison of AMF community structure in soil. Reference AMF isolates, representing four major genera of AMF, were used to develop the method. Sequential amplification of 18S rDNA fragments by nested PCR using primer pairs AM1-NS31 and Glo1-NS31GC followed by DGGE analysis yielded a high-resolution band profile. In parallel, 18S rDNA fragment clone libraries were constructed and clones screened by DGGE. Sequence identity was inferred by matching the electrophoretic mobility of the sample fingerprint bands to that of bands from individual clones. The effectiveness of this approach was tested on soil samples from different ecosystems, yielding reproducible, complex DGGE band patterns specific to each site. The coupling of PCR–DGGE with clone library analysis provides a robust, reliable, and precise means to characterize AMF community structure in soils.     

Effect of pH-shifting on the gel forming characteristics of salt-ground meat from walleye pollack

ABSTRACT:   In order to elucidate the mechanism of the changes in gel forming characteristics of fish meat by pH-lowering, the gelation-temperature curve and the gelation-moisture content curve were examined using the acidified walleye pollack surimi or neutralized one after acidification. In the gelation-temperature curve, the gel strength was highest at 30°C and lowest at approximately 50–60°C, irrespective of pH shifting. The gel strength at 30°C and 80°C decreased with the decrease in pH value. The neutralization of acidified surimi improved the gel strength, but it was considerably lower than the original gel strength. The gel strength at 50–60°C was not affected by pH lowering. The gel strength at 80°C could not be revived to the original by pH readjustment, either in the presence or in the absence of EDTA. These results suggest that irreversible changes of meat protein take place under the low pH, and the oxidation ability of sulfhydryl (SH) groups of protein molecule is not affected by pH-shifting.     

The isolation of lumpy skin disease virus and bovine herpesvirus-4 from cattle in Egypt

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) virus (LSDV) was isolated for the first time from cattle in Egypt in 2 disease outbreaks. Bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) and LSDV were detected in a pooled sample from the first outbreak (Suez). Only LSDV was isolated from the second outbreak (Ismalia). The capripoxviruses were identified as LSDV by neutralization with specific antiserum and by their ability to produce generalized LSD in experimentally inoculated cattle.     

Optimal set of microsatellite markers required to detect illegitimate progenies in selected oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) breeding crosses

Oil palm is continually being improved via controlled crossing of selected palms to ensure sustainable yields and productivity. As such, correct parental assignment is important as the presence of illegitimates will compromise the progress of improvement. In the present study, we determined the optimal number of microsatellite (SSR) markers for detection of illegitimates in selected oil palm crosses with high confidence. Determining the optimal number of markers to assign parentage will ensure that the DNA fingerprinting will be cost effective for routine use as a quality control tool in oil palm improvement programs. Here, we evaluated a wide range of crosses that included a cross derived from wild germplasm palm. The results revealed that markers with high PIC are informative and detect most of the alleles present in a cross, including those exhibited by the illegitimates. A larger number of optimum sets of markers are needed to detect all illegitimates for crosses with higher levels of genetic diversity. The optimal number of polymorphic SSR markers determined in the present study can ensure that appropriate quality control is implemented for oil palm improvement programs.