Dietary administration of androgens induces sterility in the female-heterogametic black molly, Poecilia sphenops (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846)

Treatment of newly born Poecilia sphenops (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846) with 50 mg 17α-methyl-testosterone or 200 mg androstenedione per kg diet for 30 days induced a maximum of 59% males; attempts to increase masculinization by increasing dose or treatment duration resulted in higher mortality. The growth of the treated males was significantly (25-53% retarded. Anabolic enhancement of relative growth (percentage of control) of the treated males and females was apparent in juveniles but not in adults. Hormonal induction of masculinization impaired the gonadal development and courtship activity, and led to the production of sterile males and females.     

Effect of Incorporation and Unincorporation of Azolla Biofertilizer on the Grain Yield of Rice

Azolla pinnata R. Brown was used as a biofertilizer for rice crop in early and late wet seasons of 1985–86. Azolla as dual crop with rice increased the grain yield significantly over uninoculated control. Incorporation of Azolla increased the yield components and grain yield higher than leaving Azolla on water surface without incorporation. Azolla incorporation with 90 kg nitrogen/ha recorded the highest plant height, tiller numbers/ hill, panicles/m² and 1000 grain weight and grain yield of rice.     

Expression analysis of melatonin receptor subtypes in the ovary of domestic chicken

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), an indole hormone, regulates various biological functions through three different receptor subtypes (Mel-1a, Mel-1b, and Mel-1c). However, the distribution of different melatonin receptor subtypes in chicken reproductive tissues was not known. In the present investigation, the partial sequences of ovarian melatonin receptor subtypes (Mel-1a, Mel-1b, and Mel-1c) were characterized. Further, the expression profile of melatonin receptor subtypes in the granulosa and theca layers of different preovulatory and postovulatory follicles (POF) were studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of all three subtypes of melatonin receptors were observed in the ovary of domestic chicken. Analysis of partial sequences of ovarian melatonin receptors revealed that the melatonin subtypes were identical to the brain receptors. In small white ovary follicles, we observed only the expression of mel-1b receptors, but not mel-1a or mel-1c receptors. In yellow follicles, all the three subtypes of receptors expression were noticed. Interestingly, we observed the expression of mel-1a receptor only in thecal layer, but not in granulosa layer. In contrast, mel-1b and -1c receptors were expressed in both granulosa and thecal layer. During the regression of POF, we observed significant upregulation of melatonin receptors (mel-1a and 1c) expression, that downregulated in the later stages of regression. We assume that the expression of melatonin receptors might have been influenced by the atresia or apoptosis of different follicular layers in POF. Our findings suggest that the differential distribution of melatonin receptor subtypes might have distinct downstream cellular functions in the ovarian tissues.     

Phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of muscadine grapes

Fruits of 10 cultivars of muscadine grapes (five bronze skin and five purple skin) grown in southern Georgia were separated into skin, seed, and pulp. Each fruit part and the leaves from the corresponding varieties were extracted for HPLC analysis of major phenolics. Total phenolics were determined colorimetrically using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Total anthocyanins were determined according to a pH-differential method, using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Gallic acid, (+)-catechin, and epicatechin were the major phenolics in seeds, with average values of 6.9, 558.4, and 1299.4 mg/100 g of fresh weight (FW), respectively. In the skins, ellagic acid, myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, and trans-resveratrol were the major phenolics, with respective average values of 16.5, 8.4, 1.8, 0.6, and 0.1 mg/100 g of FW. Contrary to previous results, ellagic acid and not resveratrol was the major phenolic in muscadine grapes. The HPLC solvent system used coupled with fluorescence detection allowed separation of ellagic acid from resveratrol and detection of resveratrol. Reported here for the first time are the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of muscadine leaves. Major phenolics in muscadine leaves were myricetin, ellagic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and gallic acid, with average concentrations of 157.6, 66.7, 8.9, 9.8, and 8.6, respectively. Average total phenolics were 2178.8, 374.6, 23.8, and 351.6 mg/g gallic acid equivalent in seed, skin, pulp, and leaves, respectively. Total anthocyanin contents were 2.1 and 132.1 mg/100 g of FW in the skins of bronze and purple grapes, respectively, and 4.3 and 4.6 mg/100 g of FW in seeds and pulps, in that order. Antioxidant capacity values were, on average, 2.4, 12.8, 281.3, and 236.1 microM TEAC/g of FW for pulps, skins, seeds, and leaves, respectively.