http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/5170 Search the Channel search http://nopr.niscair.res.in/simple-search http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/5527 Title: Thyroid dysfunction modulates glucoregulatory mechanism in rat <br/> <br/>Authors: Chakrabarti, Sudipta; Guria, Srikanta; Samanta, Ipsita; Das, Madhusudan <br/> <br/>Abstract: The role of the thyroid gland in glucose homeostasis remains incompletely understood. To get a better insight hypo- and hyperthyroid conditions were experimentally induced in rat and found severe defects in glucose homeostasis. While blood glucose level returned to normal level after 2.5 hr of oral glucose challenge in control rats the blood glucose level remained high even after 24 hr of glucose load in both hypo- and hyperthyroid rats. These experimentally manipulated rats displayed higher levels of liver glycogen (10.45-22.8-fold) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (1.48-9.8-fold). Liver histology of hyperthyroid treated rats revealed hepatotoxicity. From the results it can be concluded that thyroid gland plays an important role in glucose homeostasis. <br/> <br/>Page(s): 549-553 http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/5279 Title: Effect of Bt-cotton on chrysopids, ladybird beetles and their prey: Aphids and whiteflies <br/> <br/>Authors: Mellet, M A; Schoeman, A S <br/> <br/>Abstract: The effect of Bt-cotton, i.e. genetically modified cotton that contain genes expressing <img src='/image/spc_char/delta1.gif'>-endotoxin, on aphid, whitefly, chrysopid and coccinellid populations was determined with a two-year field study at a cotton farm near Marble Hall, South Africa. Although Bt-cotton is lepidopteran specific, non-lepidopteran arthropod populations may be indirectly influenced by the endotoxin. Abundance of aphid, whitefly, chrysopid and coccinellid populations and predator-prey interactions were used as measures to determine possible effects on the populations under investigation. The cultivation of Bt-cotton had no effect on aphid, whitefly, chrysopid or coccinellid abundance. Positive density dependent interactions occurred between aphids and coccinellids which were not influenced by Bt-cotton. A significant relationship between whitefly and coccinellid abundance, i.e. predator-prey reaction, occurred in the control and sprayed non-Bt cotton fields but was absent from the Bt-cotton fields. <br/> <br/>Page(s): 554-562 http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/5278 Title: Influence of kynurenines in pathogenesis of cataract formation in tryptophan-deficient regimen in Wistar rats <br/> <br/>Authors: Raju, T N; Kanth, V Rajani; Reddy, P Uma Maheswara; Srinivas, J; Sobhanaditya, J <br/> <br/>Abstract: L-Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid and its deficiency is involved in various pathologies. In this present investigation an attempt was made to study the role of tryptophan and its metabolites in cataract formation in wistar rats. Rats were divided and maintained in 3 groups, Group A- control; Group B-marginal-tryptophan and Group C- Tryptophan-deficient diet for 3 months. Slit lamp microscope observations indicated lenticular opacities in Group-C (tryptophan-deficient) rats. In the rats that were maintained on tryptophan deficient diet, a decrease in protein content, kynurenines, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-s-tranferase (GSTs) and tryptophan-fluorescence intensities and an increase in lipid peroxidation indicative of oxidative stress have been observed. The above changes were normalized in the rats on supplementation of 0.05% tryptophan (Group-B) in their diets. These results suggest that tryptophan-deficiency in the diet leads to an overall significant decrease in kynurenines and levels of antioxidant enzymes (except SOD) in ocular tissue with a concomitant lenticular opacification. The results suggest that diet with adequate tryptophan has protective influence and is of immense benefit in mitigating the changes that may otherwise contribute to the lenticular opacities. <br/> <br/>Page(s): 543-548 http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/5277 Title: Antinociceptive effect of amitriptyline in mice of acute pain models <br/> <br/>Authors: Paudel, Keshab Raj; Das, Balbhadra Prasad; Rauniar, G P; Sangraula, Himal; Deo, Satish; Bhattacharya, S K <br/> <br/>Abstract: Tricyclic antidepressant drugs induce antinociceptive effect and suggest that their analgesic action could be related to the monoaminergic activity of the drugs. The analgesic activity of amitriptyline was observed in mouse models of acute pain. Mice were divided into different groups and were given amitriptyline in different doses alone and in combination with morphine. Reaction time in Hot-Plate and Tail-Flick tests was observed. Results showed that amitriptyline had antinociceptive effect in acute pain state in experimental models. Amitriptyline in combination with morphine had better analgesic effect than the morphine alone in Hot-Plate test. <br/> <br/>Page(s): 529-531