Captive Breeding and Nursery Rearing of the Indian Seahorse, Hippocampus kuda (Teleostei: Syngnathidae)

Breeding of laboratory-reared 21 pairs of broodstock Hippocampus kuda (Bleeker 1852) and rearing of their young ones indicated that 262.00 ± 59.00 offsprings were released during each spawning. A newly born seahorse was (mean ± SE) 7.83 ± 0.11 mm in length with a weight of 1.17 ± 0.009 mg. It could attain a mean length of 31.14 ± 0.66 mm with a mean weight of 16.13 ± 0.60 mg in 30 days when fed ad libitum with Artemia nauplii. The mean survival per brood cycle was enhanced to 65.22 ± 1.87% from almost less than 1.0% by improving the rearing conditions

A bovine lymphosarcoma cell line infected with theileria annulata exhibits an irreversible reconfiguration of host cell gene expression

Theileria annulata, an intracellular parasite of bovine lymphoid cells, induces substantial phenotypic alterations to its host cell including continuous proliferation, cytoskeletal changes and resistance to apoptosis. While parasite induced modulation of host cell signal transduction pathways and NFκB activation are established, there remains considerable speculation on the complexities of the parasite directed control mechanisms that govern these radical changes to the host cell. Our objectives in this study were to provide a comprehensive analysis of the global changes to host cell gene expression with emphasis on those that result from direct intervention by the parasite. By using comparative microarray analysis of an uninfected bovine cell line and its Theileria infected counterpart, in conjunction with use of the specific parasitacidal agent, buparvaquone, we have identified a large number of host cell gene expression changes that result from parasite infection. Our results indicate that the viable parasite can irreversibly modify the transformed phenotype of a bovine cell line. Fifty percent of genes with altered expression failed to show a reversible response to parasite death, a possible contributing factor to initiation of host cell apoptosis. The genes that did show an early predicted response to loss of parasite viability highlighted a sub-group of genes that are likely to be under direct control by parasite infection. Network and pathway analysis demonstrated that this sub-group is significantly enriched for genes involved in regulation of chromatin modification and gene expression. The results provide evidence that the Theileria parasite has the regulatory capacity to generate widespread change to host cell gene expression in a complex and largely irreversible manner

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Not AvailableBeing a natural biopolymer having excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, chitosan and its derivatives are extensively used for biomedical, agricultural and other healthcare applications. Chemical modifications made to chitosan can make it more or less toxic and can modulate biodegradation rate. In this study, composite polymeric films of chitosan were made by conventional solvent casting method followed by vacuum drying. In vivo biocompatibility and biodegradation were evaluated by subcutaneous implantation of the developed polymeric films in experimental rats. Briefly, the animals were divided into five groups of two animals each, namely, chitosan, chitosan/chondroitin sulfate, CZC chitosan/ zinc acetate/chondroitin sulfate, chitosan/zinc acetate and polypropylene control. Subcutaneous incision of 1 cm2 was made on the dorsal side of rats and the developed films were inserted in respective groups under sterile conditions after giving proper anesthesia. The wounds were sutured and animals were carefully monitored for any adverse pathological changes. No visible signs of tissue damage or inflammation were observed during the evaluation period. Body weight was monitored on weekly basis, and the animals were sacrificed after two months. The implanted material along with the surrounding tissue was excised and evaluated. Gross observation and histopathological evaluation of the excised tissue along with the implanted film showed absence of inflammatory cells and non- toxic nature of the biomaterial in all experimental groups except in polypropylene control. Masson’s trichrome staining exhibited collagen deposition around the implanted material which indicates favorable tissue response and biocompatibility. Better tissue biocompatibility was observed for composite polymeric films compared to bare chitosan film. It was interesting to note that the architecture of implanted chitosan-zinc acetate-Chondroitin sulphate film showed enhanced biodegradation during the course of tissue regeneration.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA fish species belongs to Bembrops family (Perciforms: Perchophidae) with unique fluorescence is reported for the first time from Arabian Sea, India. DNA barcoding performed using NCBI database has confirmed that it is a new species in Bembrops genus. This species may be considered as new introduction to the Arabian Sea. This record explains the exclusivity of the species.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableOur previous studies have demonstrated that the physico-chemical and structural properties of encapsulated anthocyanin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ACNPs) have potential in vitro antioxidant properties. The study explores the hypolipidemic effect and mechanism of dietary supplementation of ACNPs in male Wistar rats, fed on experimental high fat-alcohol diets. The ACNPs treated group has significantly higher catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity levels (p > 0.05). The supplementation with ACNPs significantly reduced the serum total cholesterol and triglycerides levels. The lipid-mediated oxidative stress and lipid levels in serum and liver were reduced too. The western blotting experiments revealed normalization of the fatty acid synthase (FAS), and HMGCR (Hydroxymethylglutaryl Co-A reductase) activities after supplementation with ACNPs. The study concludes that the ACNPs are promising functional dietary supplement with definite hypolipidemic activity.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBACKGROUND: Anthocyanins are flavonoids that are potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and anticarcinogenic nutraceutical ingredients. However, low chemical stability and low bioavailability limit the use of anthocyanins in food. Nanoencapsulation using biopolymers is a recent successful strategy for stabilization of anthocyanins. This study reports the development, characterization, and antioxidant activity of black carrot anthocyanin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ACNPs). RESULTS: The ionic gelation technique yielded the ACNPs. The mean hydrodynamic diameter d and polydispersity index PDI of chitosan nanoparticles and ACNPs were found to be d = 455 nm and PDI = 0.542 respectively for chitosan nanoparticles and d = 274 nm and PDI = 0.376 respectively for ACNPs. The size distribution was bimodal. The surface topography revealed that the ACNPs are spherical and display a coacervate structure. Fourier transforminfrared analysis revealed physicochemical interactions of anthocyanins with chitosan. The loading process could achieve an encapsulation efficiency of 70%. The flow behavior index η of encapsulated ACNPs samples revealed Newtonian and shear thickening characteristics. There was a marginal reduction in the in vitro antioxidant potential of anthocyanins after nanoencapsulation, as evidenced from 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and 2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. Interestingly, the in vivo antioxidant potential of anthocyanins improved following nanoencapsulation, as observed in the serum antioxidant assays. CONCLUSION: The optimized nanoencapsulation process resulted in spherical nanoparticles with appreciable encapsulation efficiency. The nanoencapsulation process improved the in vivo antioxidant activity of anthocyanins, indicating enhanced stability and bioavailability. The promising antioxidant activity of the ACNPs suggests a potential for utilization as a nutraceutical supplement.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableFish oil has been widely recognized as an excellent dietary source of polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA. However, it can undergo oxidation easily resulting in the formation of toxic off flavor compounds such as hydroperoxides. These compounds adversely affect the nutritional quality and may induce several stress reactions in body. To solve this problem, a new antioxidant bio-material, vanillic acid-grafted chitosan (Va-g-Ch), was synthesized and used as a wall material for microencapsulation of fish oil. The sardine oil loaded Va-g-Ch microparticles could be a potential functional food ingredient considering the numerous health benefits of fish oil, chitosan, and vanillic acid. The current study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of sardine oil-loaded Va-g-Ch microparticles against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation was conducted using H9c2 cardiomyocytes. MTT assay revealed that effective cytoprotective effect was induced by a sample concentration of 12.5 μg/mL. Results of apoptosis by double fluorescent staining with acridine orange/ethidium bromide and caspase-3 evaluation by ELISA substantiated the above findings. Further, flow cytometric determination of membrane potential, relative expression of NF-κB by PCR, and ROS determination using DCFH-DA also confirmed the protective effect of encapsulated sardine oil against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. NF-κB expression was down-regulated nearly by 50% on cells treated with encapsulated sardine oil. Altogether, the results revealed that sardine oil-loaded Va-g-Ch microparticles demonstrated potential cell protection against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stressNot Availabl

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Not AvailableQuality and nutritional value of food are important, since there is an increasing awareness on the need for consumption of healthy diet among the public. Fish and fishery products are vital constituents of a healthy diet as it includes essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other functional nutritional components. Although there is an increased awareness on the importance of exploring nutritive significance of fish in human nutrition, there is little information on the biochemical composition and nutritive values of fishes available in Gujarat coast. In the present study, four marine fishes of Gujarat coast such as dagger-tooth pike conger (Muraenesox cinereus), large scale tongue sole (Cynoglossus arel), goldband goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis) and saddle grunt (Pomadasys maculatus), which are abundantly available in West coast of Indian waters, were evaluated for their proximate composition and fatty acid content.Not Availabl