Modulation of Ovarian Function in Female Dogs Immunized with Bovine Luteinizing Hormone Receptor

Adult female dogs were immunized with 0.5 mg bovine luteinizing hormone receptor (LH-R) encapsulated in a silastic subdermal implant and subsequently with four intramuscular booster injections of 0.1 mg LH-R each. Circulating LH-R antibody was detected in the sera 3 weeks post-implant. The appearance of LH-R antibody was associated with a decline in the serum progesterone concentrations to a range of 0–0.5 ng/ml until day 365 in the immunized dogs in comparison with a range of 5–10 ng in the control animals, suggesting a lack of ovulation and corpus luteum function in immunized dogs. The immunized dogs did not show signs of `standing heat' and failed to ovulate when induced by LH-RH challenge. Serum oestradiol levels, however, remained in the range of 30–40 pg/ml in both the immunized and the control dogs. With the decline in the antibody titres, the hormonal profile and vaginal cytology returned to a fertile state and the dogs exhibited signs of `standing heat', as well as vaginal bleeding. Dogs immunized with LH-R did not show any serious metabolic, local or systemic adverse effects. The hypothalamic–pituitary gonadal axis remained intact as indicated by little difference in pituitary LH levels between control and immunized animals, and by the release of LH by LH-RH challenge. These studies demonstrate that active immunization of female dogs with LH-R could immunomodulate ovarian function to cause a reversible state of infertility. It may be postulated that, due to extensive interspecies homology, a recombinant LH receptor-based immunocontraceptive vaccine may also be effective in other vertebrates.     

Assessment of Genetic Variability in the Coding Sequence of Melatonin Receptor Gene (MTNR1A) in Tropical Arid Sheep Breeds of India

Seasonal behaviour in sheep, which varies in tropical and temperate environmental conditions, is a matter of study, because it can provide a clue to address the problem of seasonality in sheep. Melatonin receptor is the membrane‐bound G‐coupled receptor, sensing the message of photoperiodic cues thorough melatonin. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) studies were carried out to assess the variability of gene at G612A and C606T SNPs in MTNR1A gene, which have been studied to be markers for out‐of‐season breeding. Allelic frequency distribution corresponded to higher frequency of GG and CC genotype, in tropical arid sheep breed in comparison with temperate region sheep breed. PCR amplification of MTNR1A gene of 30 animals was performed and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identification was carried out using Lasergene software. Seven SNPs/mutations were identified, but most of them were synonymous, except the one G706A, leading to substitution of valine by isoleucine. Polyphen‐2 analysis of G706A mutation revealed that it is a benign mutation. Two important SNPs C426T and G555A, which were identified in temperate sheep breeds, could not be traced in Magra and Marwari breeds of sheep. Thus, the Magra and Marwari breeds of tropical, arid region demonstrated the presence of both polymorphic SNPs markers G612A and C606T, associated with out‐of‐season breeding. GG and CC genotypes were having a higher prevalence in the studied population.     

Sialylation of Helicobacter bizzozeronii lipopolysaccharides modulates Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 mediated response

Sialic acid in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of mucosal pathogens is known to be an important virulence factor. Few strains of Helicobacter pylori express sialyl-Lewis-X and we have reported that human and canine Helicobacter bizzozeronii strains express sialyl-lactoseamine in their LPS. However, the role of sialyation of Helicobacter LPS in the interaction with the host cells is still unknown. In this study H. bizzozeronii LPS is shown to activate the TLR2 in a dose and strain dependent manner in the in vitro HEK-293 cells model expressing TLR2, but not the cells expressing TLR4. These results indicate that TLR2 is the specific receptor for H. bizzozzeronii LPS, as previously described for H. pylori. To further explore the role of sialylation of H. bizzozeronii LPS on TLR2 response, H. bizzozeronii Δhbs2 mutant strains deficient in sialyltransferase activity were constructed by homologous recombination. LPS from H. bizzozeronii Δhbs2 strains enhanced the NF-ĸB induction via TLR2 compared to the respective wild types, leading to the conclusion that the sialylation of H. bizzozeronii LPS in wild-type strains may modulate host immune response.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0133-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Variation and Correlation of Properties in Different Grades of Maple Syrup

Thirty five commercial maple syrups from twelve producers in Southern Ontario were evaluated for properties including light transmittance, autofluorescence, density, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), glucose and fructose content, total phenol content, antioxidant potential and mineral content (Mg, Mn, P, Zn, Ca, K, Fe and Pb). A high degree of variability was found in many characteristics, often exceeding an order of magnitude. Syrups were categorized based on light transmission at 560 nm into amber (12), dark (13) and very dark (10) using International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI) guidelines. No statistical differences were found among grades of syrup for density, pH, TSS, glucose, fructose, total reducing sugars, glucose:fructose ratio, magnesium, manganese or potassium. Darker syrups showed significantly higher autofluorescence, total phenol content, antioxidant potential, phosphorous, calcium and total mineral content. Significant negative correlations of percent transmission with total phenol content, antioxidant potential and total mineral content are reported. Significant positive correlations among total phenol content, antioxidant potential and total mineral content are also described. The results from this study suggest that darker syrups tend to contain more beneficial traits and may be applied in developing functional foods and value added products.     

Integrated control of root-knot disease in three crop plants using chitin and Paecilomyces lilacinus

Paedlomyces lilacinus, a rhizospherc inhabiting nematophagous fungus, along with chitin was evaluated in sterilized soil for the suppression of Meloidogyne incognita, causal agent of root-knot disease in Solanum melongena, Lycopersicon esculentum and Cicer arietinum. The soil was subjected to various treatments. The plant growth after 30, 60 and 90 days was assessed in terms of shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh and dry wt. and number of galls/g root fresh wt. Combination of fungus with chitin enhanced suppression of Meloidogyne incognita more than using them alone.     

Insect antifeedant activity of tetranortriterpenoids from the Rutales. A perusal of structural relations

Structure-related insect antifeedant relationship of 56 limonoids (both natural and modified) from the plants belonging to the order Rutales was attempted considering substitution patterns, oxidation states, and hydrophobicity, as well as distant geometry derived through conformational analysis on molecular modeling. Orientation of the furan and hydroxylation at specific carbon sites have been shown to influence the antifeedancy against the fall armyworm, Spodoptera litura.     

Sulfur dioxide resistance of Indian trees I. Experimental evaluation of visible symptoms and SO 2 sorption

Saplings of 12 species of common Indian trees were exposed to varying concentration of SO₂ to determine the level of SO₂ causing no injury, mild injury and severe injury in plants. The following order of sensitivity was emerged, T. indica > P. dulce > M. indica > F. rumphii > H. integrifolia > B. ceiba > F. bengalensis > A. indica > F. religiosa > S. cuminii > P. guajava > F. racemosa. SO₂ sorption was extremely low in T. indica and M. indica while F. religiosa and F. racemosa exhibited best efficiency of SO₂ Aorption. A correlation was found between the efficiency of SO₂ sorption and alkalinity of cytoplasmic pH. Similarly plants rich in sulfite oxidase, in general, exhibited a better resistance. No single intrinsic factor could be held responsible for the manifested response of a tree towards SO₂.     

Influence of spices on protein utilisation of winged bean (Prophocarpus tetragonolobus) and horsegram (Dolichos biflorus)

The influence of a mixture of eleven spices commonly consumed in India on the utilisation of protein from boiled winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and horsegram (Dolichos biflorus) was studied at 10 and 20 percent level of protein intake in experimental rats. Spices used in the mixture include red chillies (Capsicum annum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), garlic (Allium sativum), ajowan (Carum copticum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), caraway seeds (Carum carui) and fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare). Addition of this spice mixture at 1.5% level of the diet decreased the TD of both legumes, significantly only in the case of horsegram. A significant increase was observed in the BV of both the legumes at both levels of protein tested.     

HPTLC analysis of guggulsterone isomers in Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari: an endangered oleo-gum resin species heading towards extinction

The oleo-gum resin of Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari, a pharmacologically important balsamiferous woody shrub, has been used in treating various ailments and disorders since ancient times (2000 B.C.) due to the presence of steroidal compound guggulsterone. Two bioactive isomers of guggulsterone, E and Z, are responsible for lipid- and cholesterol-lowering and anti-cancerous activities. Further, guggul has been approved as food supplement by US-FDA as well as Council of Europe. Indiscriminate harvest of C. wightii from wild with negligible conservation efforts has lead to its inclusion in IUCN assemblage of endangered plant species. For identification of high guggulsterone yielding ecotypes of C. wightii, using high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) analysis, stem samples were collected from 50 plants from eleven locations in arid tracts of Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Dried, powdered material was subjected to extraction with petroleum ether using soxhlet apparatus. Samples were spotted on precoated activated silica plates (60F-254) and were developed using toluene–acetone (9:1 v/v) as mobile phase. The analysis was carried out in the absorbance mode at 250 nm using HPTLC scanner. The regression analysis data for the calibration plots for E and Z guggulsterone showed good linear relationship with R² = 1 and 0.9897, respectively. Highest concentration of guggulsterone E (284 μg/g dry wt) was found in the accession collected from Palana, Bikaner whereas highest guggulsterone Z concentration (89.5 μg/g dry wt) was found in the accession collected from CAZRI, Jodhpur.     

Performance of mango based agri-horticultural models under rainfed situation of Western Himalaya, India

A total of 15 years of experimentation period (1995–2010) was divided into two phases. In the first phase (1995–2005), five mango based agri-horticultural models (AHM) viz. Mango + cowpea–toria, mango + cluster bean/okra–toria, mango + sesame–toria, mango + black gram–toria and mango + pigeon pea in addition to sole mango plantation (no intercrop) and in second phase (2005–2010), two mango based AHM (mango + colocasia and mango + turmeric) in addition to sole mango (no intercrop) were studied. The mean maximum cowpea equivalent yield (t ha^?1) was harvested from cowpea (1.84) followed by okra (1.21), black gram (1.11), sesame (0.68) and mean minimum with pigeon pea (0.58). The crop yield reduction among the mango based AHM was observed from third year to tenth year. The positive correlation was found between light transmission and intercrops yields amongst all models during both phases. However, the correlation between mango canopy spread and intercrop yields shown negative trends. The yield reduction in intercrops varied from 37.0–52.6 % during first phase and 20.6–23.5 % during second phase of experimentation compared to sole crop. The results revealed that the fruit based AHM were effective in improving fruit yields of the mango. The mean maximum fruit yield of mango (7.02 t ha^?1) was harvested with cowpea–toria crop rotation followed by black gram–toria (6.59 t ha^?1) and minimum fruit yield (5.76 t ha^?1) realized with sole mango tree during first phase (1999–2005). Likewise, mean maximum fruit yield (13.71 t ha^?1) from mango tree was obtained in the turmeric block followed by (13.00 t ha^?1) in colocasia block and minimum fruit yield with sole mango tree (11.86 t ha^?1). All the treatments of AHM recorded higher soil moisture as compared to sole mango plantation during both phases. The moisture retention under different AHM was in the order of cowpea (13.32 cm) > black gram (13.29 cm) > pigeon pea (13.27 cm) > okra (12.42 cm) > sesame (12.17 cm) > sole mango (11.62 cm) during first phase, whereas moisture retention was observed in the order of turmeric (14.20 cm) > colocasia (14.01 cm) > sole mango (12.60 cm) during second phase. The cowpea–toria crop rotation with mango gave maximum benefit: cost ratio followed by okra–toria under rainfed conditions. Besides economic viability of cowpea–toria with mango, this system had improved tree growth as well as fruit yield of mango. In the second phase, mango + turmeric yielded more benefit than mango + colocasia system. In the first phase, the mango + cowpea–toria system improved organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and reduced pH by 49.0, 56.3, 48.6, 58.5 and 11.6 %, respectively as compared to initial values whereas mango + turmeric system increased organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and reduction in pH by 51.0, 45.0, 29.7, 29.0 and 3.4 %, respectively over initial values within soil depths of 0–30 cm during second phased. Mango based AHM is recommended for adoption with selective intercrops up to 15 years of age of mango plantation for multiple outputs and good economic viability without impairing site fertility.