Prolactin signaling and Stat5: going their own separate ways?

Miyoshi et al. compared the role of the prolactin receptor (PrlR) and its downstream mediator, the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5), in mammary epithelial cells in vivo by studying PrlR(-/-) and Stat5ab(-/-) mouse mammary epithelial transplants during pregnancy. At first glance, the two mutant epithelia appear to have similar defects in the differentiation of the alveolar epithelium. However, a closer examination by Miyoshi et al. revealed defects in the epithelial architecture of the smallest ducts of Stat5ab(-/-) transplants not apparent in the PrlR(-/-) transplants, suggesting that Stat5 is more than a simple mediator of PrlR action

Antimicrobial activity of some marine algae of Porto Novo and Pondicherry Waters, East coast of India

187-188Toluene-methanol extracts of 15 species of marine algae were screened for their antimicrobial property against 6 bacterial and 2 fungal pathogens. Significant activity was recorded in 6 of the 15 algal extracts assayed. Of these Ulva lactuca, G. verrucosa and Polysiphonia sp. possessed high antibacterial activity. G. verrucosa inhibited the growth of fungus Aspergillus fumigatus at higher concentrations

Studies on the ecology of phytoplankton in Cuddalore Uppanar backwater, southeast coast of India

135-137Salinity was observed as an important controlling factor in determining the species composition and succession. Temperature was found to be a co-variate with other factors and was not having direct influence on phytoplankton abundance. The population density showed marked seasonal variations. Diatoms were dominant followed by dinoflagellates. The genus Chaetoceros was represented with a maximum number of 17 species. Asterionella japonica, Coscinodiscus marginatus, Nitzschia closterium, Thalassiothrix frauenfeldii, Skeletonema costatum Ceratium furca and Peridinium depressum occurred almost all through the year and contributed substantially to the phytoplankton density

Seasonal variation of benthic fauna in marine zone of Coleroon estuary and inshore waters, south east coast of India

67-69The occurrence and abundance of benthic fauna in the marine zone of Coleroon estuary (st 1) and inshore waters (st 2) have been studied for a year. The maximum density of fauna were recorded at st 1 and st 2 during premonsoon and summer respectively. In both stations polychaetes were the dominant taxa and followed by crustacea. In st 2, the population density was lower (1325.m-2) than st 1 (2788.m-2). The nature of the bottom sediment and organic carbon in st 1 were favourable for higher density of fauna

Ecology of benthic macrofauna in Cuddalore-Uppanar backwater, southeast coast of India

200-203Benthic fauna were mainly represented by polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and 'others'. Faunal density was more in st I than at the other station. Polychaetes were found dominant in st I whereas the dominance of crustaceans at st II was due to the tanaid Apseudes chilkensis and accordingly lower faunal diversity than at st I. Highly significant correlation was observed between benthic fauna and organic carbon. Station II showed higher organic carbon content owing to the addition of organic substances from sewage outlets and wastes from coconut husk retting grounds

Food preference, consumption and feeding behavior of scavenging gastropod Babylonina spirata (Neogastropoda, Buccinidae)

104-106The present study of food preference, consumption rate, time spent on food and the perception distance of Babylonia spirata was made with various food organisms like Meretrix meretrix, Perna viridis, Crassostrea madmsensis, Loligo sp., Penaeus indicus, Oratosquilla sp. and Portunus pelagicus as feed. Among the various food offered, B. spirata fed on oyster (1.22 g/day) and less on crab (0.05 g/day). Larger snails spent 7.2 min to consume 2 g of food, smaller snails took as much as 13.4 min to consume the same quantity. The snails took less time to locate oyster meat (7.2 min) and more time to locate crab meat

An artificial prawn feed formulation with non-edible meat of gastropods Chicoreus virgineus and Rapana rapiformis

248-252The non-edible meat of gastropods Chicoreus virgineus and Rapana rapiformis were used in formulated diets as a major source of protein for the prawn Penaeus indicus. Higher growth rate and best conversion efficiency were observed in the prawns fed with the diet F-1 which contained C. virgineus meat. The biochemical composition of the F-1 fed prawns were increased and this can be used in the aquaculture industry with further modification to lower the FCR value

Monitoring of a shrimp culture system with special reference to Vibrio and fungi

253-258Microbiological studies in a modified extensive shrimp culture system was done for a period of 105 days. Periodical monitoring was carried out to assess the total heterotrophic bacteria and fungal counts both in sediment and water from the culture pond and also from the source (Uppanar estuary). The species of Vibrio and fungi encountered were also determined. The nutrient enriched aquaculture system supported higher microbial population than the open estuarine system. Potential shrimp pathogens like Vibrio alginolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus and Vibrio anguillarum were found to be in a considerable percentage in the aquaculture system. Of the fungal strains Aspergillus sp. was dominant both in the pond and in the source. Fusarium sp. which is a potential pathogen was absent during the course of this study