Mapping the inhomogeneity of the U and Th distributions –using sample size concept in the field conditions

Indigenously fabricated portable gamma-ray spectrometer (PGRS) is used for the measurement of gamma activity of 214Bi (1.76 MeV) and 208TI (2.62 MeV), under field conditions in Mohar area, Shivpuri Distt. (MP). The energies are discriminated by using a Nal (TI) crystal of size 1.75" × 2". PGRS used to map the primordial elemental distributions shows reversals of concentration of thorium and uranium (represented by radium group) in field and lab analysis in many samples, which is attributed to the inhomogenity of distribution of these elements in the area. The concept of difference in the volume of dish shaped field sample and the randomly picked up sample from the field grid point (400 gm in lab analysis) is utilized to interpret the inhomogenity of these elements. However interpretations are based on the assumption that these primordial elements (U, Th) are in secular equilibrium and the terrain has low topographic relief.Madhulika Pathak, Shaibal Gupta, Debashis Bhattacharya, M K Rao and B K Bhaumik* Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, West Block VII, R K Puram, New Delhi-110 066, India E-mail : [email protected] Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, West Block VII, R K Puram, New Delhi-110 066, Indi

Cytokines and Blastocyst Hatching

Blastocyst implantation into the uterine endometrium establishes early pregnancy. This event is regulated by blastocyst- and/or endometrium-derived molecular factors which include hormones, growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, cytokines and proteases. Their coordinated expression and function are critical for a viable pregnancy. A rate-limiting event that immediately precedes implantation is the hatching of blastocyst. Ironically, blastocyst hatching is tacitly linked to peri-implantation events, although it is a distinct developmental phenomenon. The exact molecular network regulating hatching is still unclear. A number of implantation-associated molecular factors are expressed in the pre-implanting blastocyst. Among others, cytokines, expressed by peri-implantation blastocysts, are thought to be important for hatching, making blastocysts implantation competent. Pro-inflammatory (IL-6, LIF, GM-CSF) and anti-inflammatory (IL-11, CSF-1) cytokines improve hatching rates; they modulate proteases (MMPs, tPAs, cathepsins and ISP1). However, functional involvement of cytokines and their specific mediation of hatching-associated proteases are unclear. There is a need to understand mechanistic roles of cytokines and proteases in blastocyst hatching. This review will assess the available knowledge on blastocyst-derived pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and their role in potentially regulating blastocyst hatching. They have implications in our understanding of early embryonic loss and infertility in mammals, including humans

Transcriptional status of known and novel genes tagged with consensus of 33.15 repeat loci employing minisatellite-associated sequence amplification (MASA) and real-time PCR in water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis

We conducted minisatellite-associated sequence amplification (MASA) with an oligo (5' CACCTCTCCACCTGCC 3') based on consensus of 33.15 repeat loci using cDNA from the testis, ovary, spleen, kidney, heart, liver, and lung of water buffalo Bubalus bubalis and uncovered 25 amplicons of six different sizes (1263, 846/847, 602, 576, 487, and 324 base pairs). These fragments, cloned and sequenced, were found to represent several functional, regulatory, and structural genes. Blast search of all the 25 amplicons showed homologies with 43 transcribing genes across the species. Of these, the 846/847-bp fragment, having homology with the adenylate kinase gene, showed nucleotide changes at six identical places in the ovary and testis. The 1263; 324; and 487-bp fragments showed homology with the secreted modular calcium binding protein (SMOC-1), leucine-rich repeat neuronal 6A (LRRN6A) mRNA, and human TTTY5 mRNA, respectively. Real-time PCR showed maximum expression of AKL, LRRN6A, and T-cell receptor gamma (TCR-γ)-like genes in the testis, SMOC-1 in the liver, and the T-cell receptor-like (TCRL) gene in the spleen compared to those used as endogenous control. We construe that these genes have evolved from a common progenitor and conformed to various biological functions during the course of evolution. MASA approach coupled with real-time PCR has potentials to uncover accurate expression of a large number of genes within and across the species circumventing the screening of cDNA library