Effects of Melanin-Induced Free Radicals on the Isolated Rat Peritoneal Mast Cells

Pheomelanin from human red hair (RHM) produces considerably more cellular damage in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells when subjected to radiations of wavelength 320-700nm than eumelanin from black hair (BHM). Irradiation of RHM generated large amounts of superoxide while BHM did not produce detectable amounts of superoxide. The present investigations describe the effects of irradiation of mast cells in the presence of various natural and synthetic melanins. Irradiation of mast cells in the presence of RHM and red hair melanoprotein released large amounts of histamine while BHM and synthetic melanins prepared from dopa, cysteinyldopa, or a mixture of dopa and cysteinyldopa did not release histamine. The release of histamine at lower concentrations of RHM was not accompanied by the release of 51Cr from chromium-loaded cells, suggesting that this release was of noncytotoxic nature. On the other hand, the release of histamine at higher concentrations of RHM was due to cell lysis since both histamine and cytoplasmic marker 51Cr were released to the same extent. The release evoked by large concentration RHM was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase or catalase. This suggests that the cell lysis under these conditions was not due to H2O2 or O2-. The finding that mast cells release histamine when irradiated in the presence of RHM suggests that the immediate and late-phase reactions seen in sunburn may in part be due to the release of mediators from these cells

Effect of potassium and zinc on growth, yield and economics of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cv. CO-34

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of potassium and zinc on growth, yield and economics of sweet potato. The experiment was laid out on clay and loam soil by adopting randomized block design with factorial technique (FRBD). The sixteen treatments consisted of combination of four levels of po-tassium (0, 80, 100 and 120 kg/ha through muriate of potash and four levels of foliar zinc (control i.e. water spray, 10, 20 and 30ppm) through zinc sulphate. The individual application of potassium 120 kg K2O/ha significantly in-creased the number of tubers per plant (4.60), average weight of tuber (275.31 g), length of tuber (16.77 cm), diam-eter of tuber (5.69 cm), tuber yield per plot (9.71 kg), tuber yield per hectare (49.04 t) respectively as compared to control. With the foliar application of zinc (30 ppm) significant increase in number of tubers per plant (4.18), average weight of tuber (234.73 g), length of tuber (18.12 cm), diameter of tuber (5.16 cm), tuber yield per plot (8.33 kg) and tuber yield per hectare (42.05 t) was recordedas compared to control. The treatment combination (120 kg K2O+30ppm Zn) recorded the maximum yield parameters i.e. chlorophyll content (37.00 mg/100 g), average weight of tuber (302.17 g), length of tuber (19.82 cm), diameter of tuber (5.97 cm), maximum tuber yield per plot (11.02 kg), tuber yield per hectare (55.67 t) and benefit-cost ratio (B: C ratio) of 4.22:1.While, the treatment (120 kg K2O+30ppm Zn) had the maximum number of tuber (4.86), minimum number of tuber was recorded in control. From the experi-ment, it appeared that application of potassium and zinc can be used to improve yield and higher net monetary re-turns of sweet potato

Povezanost novog polimorfizma pojedinačnog nukleotida u eksonu 2 gena za inzulinu sličan faktor rasta 1 (IGF1) s fenotipskim varijantama u koza

The Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 plays a key role in foetal development and post natal growth. The objectives of this study were to characterise the complete coding sequence of caprine IGF1 gene in two indigenous goat breeds of India: Malabari and Attappady Black, to detect polymorphisms of IGF1 gene, to investigate their effects on body size traits and to ascertain the relative expression of IGF1 mRNA in muscle tissues of goats belonging to low and high body weight groups. All the four exons of caprine IGF1 gene were amplified and characterized by PCR-SSCP in 298 goats, revealing two genotypes (CC and CT) at exon 2. Sequencing of the PCR products from each genotype revealed a novel SNP, g.80C>T (GenBank accession No. KM974180), which caused a non-synonymous mutation (Thr48Met),causing differences in IGF1 protein structure. Association analysis of the loci indicated CT genotypes have higher body length (P0.05). The results of the present study suggest that the alleles of the IGF1 gene could be considered as strong targets for improvement of growth traits in goats.Inzulinu sličan faktor rasta 1 (IGF1) ima ključnu ulogu u razvoju ploda i postnatalnom rastu. Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio okarakterizirati cijelu kodirajuću sekvenciju IGF1 gena koza u dvije autohtone pasmine iz Indije: malabari i crna atapadi. S tim u vezi željelo se utvrditi polimorfizme IGF1 gena i istražiti njihove učinke na obilježja tjelesne razvijenosti, te ustanoviti relativnu ekspresiju IGF1 mRNA u mišićnom tkivu koza s malom i velikom tjelesnom masom. Kod 298 koza umnožena su sva 4 eksona IGF1 gena i okarakterizirana uz pomoć PCR-SSCP. Na eksonu 2 utvrđena su dva genotipa (CC i CT). Analiza sekvencije PCR produkata od svakog genotipa pokazala je novi polimorfizam pojedinačnog nukleotida, g. 80C>T (GenBank No. KM974180) koja je uzrokovala neistovjetnu mutaciju (Thr48Met) i razlike u strukturi proteina IGF1. Analiza povezanosti lokusa pokazala je da CT genotipovi imaju u odnosu na CC genotipove veću dužinu tijela (P0,05) u ekspresiji IGF1 mRNA u mišićnom tkivu koza s malim i velikim tjelesnim masama. Rezultati istraživanja upućuju da bi alele IGF1 gena mogli smatrati ciljanom skupinom za unaprjeđenju obilježja rasta u koza

Animal models for aberrations of gonadotropin action

During the last two decades a large number of genetically modified mouse lines with altered gonadotropin action have been generated. These mouse lines fall into three categories: the lack-of-function mice, gain-of-function mice, and the mice generated by breeding the abovementioned lines with other disease model lines. The mouse strains lacking gonadotropin action have elucidated the necessity of the pituitary hormones in pubertal development and function of gonads, and revealed the processes from the original genetic defect to the pathological phenotype such as hypo- or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Conversely, the strains of the second group depict consequences of chronic gonadotropin action. The lines vary from those expressing constitutively active receptors and those secreting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with slowly increasing amounts to those producing human choriogonadotropin (hCG), amount of which corresponds to 2000-fold luteinizing hormone (LH)/hCG biological activity. Accordingly, the phenotypes diverge from mild anomalies and enhanced fertility to disrupted gametogenesis, but eventually chronic, enhanced and non-pulsatile action of both FSH and LH leads to female and male infertility and/or hyper- and neoplasias in most of the gonadotropin gain-of-function mice. Elevated gonadotropin levels also alter the function of several extra-gonadal tissues either directly or indirectly via increased sex steroid production. These effects include promotion of tumorigenesis in tissues such as the pituitary, mammary and adrenal glands. Finally, the crossbreedings of the current mouse strains with other disease models are likely to uncover the contribution of gonadotropins in novel biological systems, as exemplified by the recent crossbreed of LHCG receptor deficient mice with Alzheimer disease mice

Baseline factors associated with early and late death in intracerebral haemorrhage survivors

Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether early and late death are associated with different baseline factors in intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) survivors. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the multicentre prospective observational CROMIS‐2 ICH study. Death was defined as ‘early’ if occurring within 6 months of study entry and ‘late’ if occurring after this time point. Results: In our cohort (n = 1094), there were 306 deaths (per 100 patient‐years: absolute event rate, 11.7; 95% confidence intervals, 10.5–13.1); 156 were ‘early’ and 150 ‘late’. In multivariable analyses, early death was independently associated with age [per year increase; hazard ratio (HR), 1.05, P = 0.003], history of hypertension (HR, 1.89, P = 0.038), pre‐event modified Rankin scale score (per point increase; HR, 1.41, P < 0.0001), admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (per point increase; HR, 1.11, P < 0.0001) and haemorrhage volume >60 mL (HR, 4.08, P < 0.0001). Late death showed independent associations with age (per year increase; HR, 1.04, P = 0.003), pre‐event modified Rankin scale score (per point increase; HR, 1.42, P = 0.001), prior anticoagulant use (HR, 2.13, P = 0.028) and the presence of intraventricular extension (HR, 1.73, P = 0.033) in multivariable analyses. In further analyses where time was treated as continuous (rather than dichotomized), the HR of previous cerebral ischaemic events increased with time, whereas HRs for Glasgow Coma Scale score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and ICH volume decreased over time. Conclusions: We provide new evidence that not all baseline factors associated with early mortality after ICH are associated with mortality after 6 months and that the effects of baseline variables change over time. Our findings could help design better prognostic scores for later death after ICH

Association of a novel single nucleotide polymorphism at the exon‑2 of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) gene with phenotypic variants in goats

The Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 plays a key role in foetal development and post natal growth. The objectives of this study were to characterise the complete coding sequence of caprine IGF1 gene in two indigenous goat breeds of India: Malabari and Attappady Black, to detect polymorphisms of IGF1 gene, to investigate their effects on body size traits and to ascertain the relative expression of IGF1 mRNA in muscle tissues of goats belonging to low and high body weight groups. All the four exons of caprine IGF1 gene were amplified and characterized by PCR-SSCP in 298 goats, revealing two genotypes (CC and CT) at exon 2. Sequencing of the PCR products from each genotype revealed a novel SNP, g.80C>T (GenBank accession No. KM974180), which caused a non-synonymous mutation (Thr48Met),causing differences in IGF1 protein structure. Association analysis of the loci indicated CT genotypes have higher body length (P0.05). The results of the present study suggest that the alleles of the IGF1 gene could be considered as strong targets for improvement of growth traits in goats.Inzulinu sličan faktor rasta 1 (IGF1) ima ključnu ulogu u razvoju ploda i postnatalnom rastu. Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio okarakterizirati cijelu kodirajuću sekvenciju IGF1 gena koza u dvije autohtone pasmine iz Indije: malabari i crna atapadi. S tim u vezi željelo se utvrditi polimorfizme IGF1 gena i istražiti njihove učinke na obilježja tjelesne razvijenosti, te ustanoviti relativnu ekspresiju IGF1 mRNA u mišićnom tkivu koza s malom i velikom tjelesnom masom. Kod 298 koza umnožena su sva 4 eksona IGF1 gena i okarakterizirana uz pomoć PCR-SSCP. Na eksonu 2 utvrđena su dva genotipa (CC i CT). Analiza sekvencije PCR produkata od svakog genotipa pokazala je novi polimorfizam pojedinačnog nukleotida, g. 80C>T (GenBank No. KM974180) koja je uzrokovala neistovjetnu mutaciju (Thr48Met) i razlike u strukturi proteina IGF1. Analiza povezanosti lokusa pokazala je da CT genotipovi imaju u odnosu na CC genotipove veću dužinu tijela (P0,05) u ekspresiji IGF1 mRNA u mišićnom tkivu koza s malim i velikim tjelesnim masama. Rezultati istraživanja upućuju da bi alele IGF1 gena mogli smatrati ciljanom skupinom za unaprjeđenju obilježja rasta u koza