Protective role of Taurine against mercuric chloride intoxicated rats

            The present study has been designed to investigate the influence of taurine on mercury intoxicated kidney tissue of rats (Rattus norvegicus). At sub-lethal dose of mercuric chloride (2mg/kg body weight) treatment,  creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) contents were significantly increased in serum and kidney tissues respectively. And simultaneously, reduced glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly decreased due to rupture of kidney tissue caused by mercury poison. During the recovery period, mercury chloride intoxicated rats were again treated with taurine (50mg/kg body weight) for another 15 days. It shows the remarkable recovery of the animal from the adverse effect of mercury toxicity. An enhanced level of LPO content and altered level of antioxidant system were restored to near normal level in mercury intoxicated animals. The result suggested that taurine play a vital role to reduce the toxic effect of mercury in the kidney tissue of rats. ÂÂ

High Throughput DNA-DNA Microarray Chip Strategy for Detection and Identification of Enteropathogenic bacteria

The usability of the DNA microarray system for the specific detection of bacteria based on their unique genes was systematically evaluated with a model system composed of two pathogenic strains and two species specific oligonucleotide probes. Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Salmonella enterica are pathogens which have very low infectious doses (as low as 10 cells), and these bacteria often exist within complex biological matrixes. Detection and identification of these pathogenic bacteria in less number was achieved. Bacteria was subjected to whole genome multiplication and labeled while amplifying the specific partial target gene sequence itself. Microarry chips were printed by free hand method and used for hybridization. This culture independent detection method could be fastening the diagnosis term for the swift food material quality control and therapeutic purpose too

Habitat diversity of hermit crab Clibanarius longitarsus (de haan) in vellar estuary, Southeast coast of India

The habitat diversity of hermit crab Clibanarius longitarsus was studied in 5 stations of Vellar estuary.  This hermit crab was found to occupy the shells of as many as 44 species of gastropods. The abundance of this hermit crab (144/m2- 41/m2) so also the number species of gastropod shells it occupied decreased from the mouth to the upper reaches of estuary (39-11 species).  The Shannon diversity (H’log2) was in the range of 4.08-2.64 in stations 1-5. The Margalef species richness showed clear differences between the stations and it varied from 7.52 in station 1 to 2.69 in station 5. The evenness was more in station 1 (0.77) and decreased to 0.65 in station 2 and thereafter it increased in stations 3 and 4 to reach 0.76 in station 5. The taxonomic diversity index decreased from station 1 (75.48) to station 4 (58.59) and increased in station 5 (62.2). The total phylogenetic diversity index which was more in station 1 (1840) decreased through stations 2-5 to reach 660 in station 5. The variation in taxonomic distinctness index increased from station 1 (362.67) to station 3 (468.78).  The similarity in species composition of gastropod shells among the stations was in the range of 50.55%-81.73%. In cluster analysis the grouping was quite clear with stations in the lower reaches (stations 1 and 2) forming a group and stations in the middle of the estuary (stations 3 and 4) forming a group to which the station in the upper reaches (station 5) got linked. The cluster analysis and MDS clearly showed the variation in species composition between the stations. The average dissimilarity in species composition between stations 1 and 5 was 63.61%. Gastropod species which contributed to greater percentage of dissimilarity were Cerithidea fluviatilis, Umbonium vestiarium, Pila globosa, Babylonia spirata and Turritella acutangula. The abundance shown as bubble plot clearly showed the decreasing abundance of Cerithidea cingulata, Babylonia spirata and Turritella acutancula from the mouth to the upstream stations. The taxonomic relatedness tests carried out (95% funnel and 95% ellipse) also clearly showed the differences in the habitat diversity of the hermit crab in different stations of Vellar estuary

Arsenic-induced oxidative stress in fresh water catfish Tilapia mossambica

An experiment was conducted to investigate bioaccumulation potential of arsenic and changes in oxidative stress indices in liver tissue from arsenic exposed fish Tilapia mossambica were used for the present investigation. The Tilapia mossambica were exposed to two non lethal doses of arsenic for 10 days, which induced tissue lipid peroxidation, increased the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione and produced excess H2O2 within 1–2 days of exposure. Furthermore, arsenic treatment increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase but decreased glutathione reductase (GR) activity within a day of exposure, indicating the generation of oxidative stress in fish at an early stage. It is therefore concluded that peroxisomal H2O2 metabolizing enzymes are potential targets of arsenic toxicity in Tilapia mossambica

Effect of Taurine and Glutathione on Mercury Toxicity in Liver Tissue of Rats

The present investigation examined the ability of taurine and glutathione as an antioxidant to protect against mercury induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. Mercury hepatotoxicity was induced by oral administration of mercury at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight daily for 30 days. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by reduced serum total protein level and increased serum levels alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total protein. Mercury treatment increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration and decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) content in the rat liver.  Again taurine and glutathione is administrated for 15 days. During this period, taurine improved liver functions, as indicated by decline of serum transaminases and ALP levels and elevation of serum total protein. Moreover, taurine significantly reduced AST, ALT, ALP and hepatic TBARS and increased GSH content and total protein in the hepatic tissue. These results indicate that taurine has a protective action against mercury induced hepatic damage in rats than glutathione

Tribulus terrestris extract protects against mercury-induced

Mercury is a highly toxic metal which induces oxidative stress in the body. In this study we aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of Tribulus terrestris, an antioxidant agent, against experimental mercury toxicity in rat model. Following a single dose of 2 mg/kg mercuric chloride (HgCl2; Hg group) either saline or Tribulus terrestris (50 mg/kg) was administered for 15 days. After decapitation of the rats trunk blood was obtained and the tissue samples from the liver and kidney were taken for the determination of Lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) levels. AST, ALT, BUN and  Creatinine levels were assayed in serum samples. The results revealed that HgCl2 induced oxidative damage caused significant decrease in GSH level, significant increase in LPO activity content of the tissues. Treatment of rats with Tribulus terrestris significantly increased the GSH level and decreased the LPO. Similarly, serum ALT, AST and BUN and Creatinine levels were elevated in the mercury  group as compared to control group. On the other hand, Tribulus terrestris treatment reversed all these biochemical indices. Our results implicate that mercury-induced oxidative damage in liver, and kidney tissues protected by Tribulus terrestris extract, with its antioxidant effects