Toxicokinetics,recovery, and metabolism of triclopyr butotyl (ACTP) ester in goats

Toxicokinetic behavior, recovery, and metabolism studies of ACTP ester and its effect on cytochrome P(450) content of liver microsomal pellet were carried out in black Bengal goat after a single intravenous administration of 11.88 mg kg(-1) and consecutive oral administration of 79.22 mg kg(-1) for 7 days. ACTP ester achieved a maximum blood concentration of 42.64 +/- 4.26 microg mL(-1) at 0.08 h after intravenous administration followed by a sharp decline until 0.5 h, and the minimum blood concentration was recorded at 36 h (1.93 +/- 0.14 microg mL(-1)) postdosing. The kinetic behavior of ACTP ester followed a "two-compartment open model". Comparatively shorter alpha (0.81 +/- 0.02 h(-1)) and greater t1/2 (alpha) (0.86 +/- 0.03 h) indicated a slower rate of distribution of ACTP ester in goat. The t1/2(beta)()) (14.83 +/- 1.49 h) and V(d(area)) (0.91 +/- 0.19 L kg(-1)) suggested a longer elimination phase with general distribution in all compartments of the body. The higher T/B and K12/K21 values associated with a lower f(c) value suggested longer persistence in the tissue compartment at higher concentration. The higher Cl(R) compared to Cl(H) indicated the major amount was eliminated by the kidney. Maximum concentration of ACTP ester including its metabolites, triclopyr acid and trichloropyridinol, was excreted through urine at 48 h. The recovery of ACTP ester including metabolites after repeated nontoxic oral dose administration was 70.09%, of which recovery from feces was 4.45%, suggesting the major portion of administered ACTP ester was absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract of the goat. All of the tissues contained ACTP ester and its metabolites. ACTP ester did not alter the cytochrome P(450) content of the liver tissue following repeated nontoxic oral dose administration for 7 days.     

Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nano Particles and Their Effect on Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) Plant

In the current literature, the impact of nano-particles (NPs) on growth of higher plants has scantly been reported. An investigation was carried out to study the effect of zinc oxide nano-particles (<100 nm) on growth of maize (Zea mays L.) plant, as one of the major agricultural crops, in a solution culture system. Various concentrations of zinc (Zn) were applied through nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) particles (<100 nm) in suspension form and in ionic form through zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) salt in Hoagland solution culture. Experimental results showed that nano zinc oxide particles could enhance and maintain the growth of maize plant as well as conventional Zn fertilizer (as ZnSO₄). The plant parameters like plant height, root length, root volume, and dry matter weight were all improved due to application of zinc oxide nano-particle. These findings indicate that plant roots might have the unique mechanism of assimilating nano-Zn and using for its growth and development. Different enzymatic activities were also studied and experimental results revealed that nano-ZnO particles (<100 nm) also governed the enzymatic activity of maize plant. A separate laboratory experiment was also carried out to characterize the zinc oxide nano particle for its size, zeta potential, etc.     

Oocyte-specific deletion of Pten causes premature activation of the primordial follicle pool

In the mammalian ovary, progressive activation of primordial follicles from the dormant pool serves as the source of fertilizable ova. Menopause, or the end of female reproductive life, occurs when the primordial follicle pool is exhausted. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying follicle activation are poorly understood. We provide genetic evidence that in mice lacking PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) in oocytes, a major negative regulator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), the entire primordial follicle pool becomes activated. Subsequently, all primordial follicles become depleted in early adulthood, causing premature ovarian failure (POF). Our results show that the mammalian oocyte serves as the headquarters of programming of follicle activation and that the oocyte PTEN-PI3K pathway governs follicle activation through control of initiation of oocyte growth.     

Contribution of Homestead Forests to Rural Economy and Climate Change Mitigation: A Study from the Ecologically Critical Area of Cox’s Bazar—Teknaf Peninsula,Bangladesh

Small-scale Forestry - Homestead forests in the Teknaf Peninsula ecologically critical area of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh have not been widely studied. This paper explores floristic diversity...     

In vitro germination and viability of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) pollen

An in vitro method for the germination of common buckwheat pollen was developed. Pollen grains were successfully germinated in an artificial medium consisting of 0.2 g each of MnSO₄, Ca(NO₃)2.4H₂O and KNO₃, 0.04 g H₃BO₃, 15 g sucrose and 30 g polyethylene glycol (molecular weight approximately 20,000) dissolved in 100 ml of double distilled water. The viability of pollen was assessed by in vivo and in vitro germination tests at 20 °C and 25 °C over a 38 h time period. Pollen grains were collected and germinated at 4 h intervals from freshly harvested flowers grown under 16 h day length and a constant temperature. Maximum pollen viability was found 2 h and 6 h after first light when plants were maintained at 25 °C and 20 °C, respectively. Viability, as measured by germination percentage, was similar at both temperature regimes. Some pollen remained viable for approximately 34 to 38 h in intact flowers, but all pollen lost viability in less than an hour when stored at room temperature without humidity control. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Trichothecene profiling and population genetic analysis of Gibberella zeae from barley in North Dakota and Minnesota

Gibberella zeae, the principal cause of Fusarium head blight (FHB) of barley, contaminates grains with several mycotoxins, which creates a serious problem for the malting barley industry in the United States, China, and Europe. However, limited studies have been conducted on the trichothecene profiles and population genetic structure of G. zeae isolates collected from barley in the United States. Trichothecene biosynthesis gene (TRI)-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and 10 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) markers were used to determine the genetic diversity and compare the trichothecene profiles of an older population (n = 115 isolates) of G. zeae collected in 1997 to 2000 with a newer population (n = 147 isolates) collected in 2008. Samples were from across the major barley-growing regions in North Dakota and Minnesota. The results of TRI-based PCR assays were further validated using a subset of 32 and 28 isolates of G. zeae by sequence analysis and gas chromatography, respectively. TRI-based PCR assays revealed that all the G. zeae isolates in both populations had markers for deoxynivalenol (DON), and the frequencies of isolates with a 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON) marker in the newer population were ≈11-fold higher than those among isolates in the older population. G. zeae populations from barley in the Midwest of the United States showed no spatial structure, and all the isolates were solidly in clade 7 of G. zeae, which is quite different from other barley-growing areas of world, where multiple species of G. zeae are commonly found in close proximity and display spatial structure. VNTR analysis showed high gene diversity (H = 0.82 to 0.83) and genotypic diversity but low linkage disequilibrium (LD = 0.02 to 0.07) in both populations. Low genetic differentiation (F(ST) = 0.013) and high gene flow (Nm = 36.84) was observed between the two populations and among subpopulations within the same population (Nm = 12.77 to 29.97), suggesting that temporal and spatial variations had little influence on population differentiation in the Upper Midwest. Similarly, low F(ST) (0.02) was observed between 3-ADON and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol populations, indicating minor influence of the chemotype of G. zeae isolates on population subdivision, although there was a rapid increase in the frequencies of isolates with the 3-ADON marker in the Upper Midwest between the older collection made in 1997 to 2000 and the newer collection made in 2008. This study provides information to barley-breeding programs for their selection of isolates of G. zeae for evaluating barley genotypes for resistance to FHB and DON accumulation.     

A survey of gastro-intestinal parasitic infection in domestic and wild birds in Chittagong and Greater Sylhet,Bangladesh

A survey of gastrointestinal parasitic infection as determined by faecal examination was conducted among domestic and wild birds in Bangladesh. Birds were sampled from households, wet markets and wetlands in Chittagong and Greater Sylhet districts during April 2012 to February 2013. Mist nets were used to catch resident wild and migratory birds. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection ranged among locations from 25 to 55% in indigenous domestic ducks (live bird samples = 304), 20% in resident wild birds (environmental faecal samples = 40) and 40% in migratory birds (live bird samples = 35). The prevalence of parasitic infection was significantly higher in indigenous domestic ducks collected during summer (39%) than winter (22%) (p = 0.04). In domestic indigenous ducks and Muscovy ducks, both single and multiple types of parasitic infections were found. However, other domestic birds and wild birds often had a single type of parasitic infection. Ascaridia spp. with an average egg load of 50–900, was commonly detected in faecal samples of domestic and wild birds in this study. Other identified parasites were Capillaria spp. and Heterakis spp. both in domestic and wild birds. Improvement of biosecurity measures for household duck farms through educating and motivating household farmers could help mitigate the effects of parasitic infection on production.     

Seroprevalence of bluetongue and presence of viral antigen and type-specific neutralizing antibodies in goats in Tripura,a state at Indo-Bangladesh border of northeastern India

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Bluetongue (BT) is a notifiable multiple species transboundary viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants. Though the disease is enzootic in India, little...