Randhir Kumar

Impact of Sodium Arsenite on Certain Biomolecules of Nutritional Importance of the Edible Components of the Economically Important Catfish C. batrachus (Linn.)

The toxicity of sublethal concentration (1 mg/L; 5% of 96hLC50 value) of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) for 60 days on certain biomolecules (proteins, lipids, and water) of five vital organ systems (muscles, liver, brain, skin, and gills) of Clarias batrachus were analyzed to evaluate the damage rendered to the food value of the fish. Arsenic disturbs the equilibrium existing between these nutritionally important macromolecules in all the organ systems. These tissues showed marked fluctuations in their protein (1.56 ± 0.79% in gills to 4.46 ± 1.54% in muscles), lipid (1.79 ± 0.89% in skins to 4.81 ± 1.15% in brain tissue) and water contents (65.84 ± 1.01% in brain to 78.66 ± 0.37% in gills).

Arsenic induced hematological and biochemical responses in nutritionally important catfish Clarias batrachus (L.)

The impact of sublethal toxicity of sodium arsenite on hematological and certain biochemical parameters of the fresh water catfish Clarias batrachus has been analyzed following exposure of sublethal concentration (1 mg/L; 5% of LC50 value) of sodium arsenite for 10, 30, 45, and 60 days. Arsenic bioaccumulation in the blood tissue of the fish increased progressively with increased period of exposure. The values of total erythrocyte count (TECs), total leucocytes count (TLCs), hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume (PCV) 1.40 ± 0.03 × 106/mm3, 174.83 ± 2.74 × 103/mm3, 5.01 ± 0.26 g/100 ml, 25.00 ± 1.06 were observed respectively at the end of 60 days of exposure. The results of hematological indices were found to be 179.23 ± 8.81fl/cell for mean corpuscular volume (MCV), 35.92 ± 1.89 pg/cell for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and 20.17 ± 1.12 g/dl for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The present findings are clearly indicating severe fish anemia due to the arsenic salt exposure. The continued arsenic toxicity results in decreased serum protein concentration that might be a cause for the loss of weight as well as weakness in the fish.

Study of sodium arsenite induced biochemical changes on certain biomolecules of the freshwater catfish Clarias batrachus

Toxic impact of sublethal concentration (1 mg/L; 5% of 96h LC50 value) of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) on certain biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and glycogen) of five tissue components (muscles, liver, brain, skin, and gills) of the freshwater catfish Clarias batrachus was analysed. The important toxic manifestations include marked decrease in the concentration of proteins (21.72-45.42% in muscles; 3.42-53.94% in liver; 15.39-45.42% in brain; 15.40-4.00% in skin and 11.35-64.13% in gills), DNA (0.55-22.95% in muscles; 8.33-14.06% in liver; 5.30-18.40% in brain; 13.57-52.80% in skin; and 12.38-31.01% in gills), RNA (42.68-76.16% in muscles; 10.68-39.75% in liver; 5.66-29.05% in brain; 7.72-27.93% in skin and 21.47-44.38% in gills) and glycogen (24.00-51.72% in muscles; 49.11-72.45% in liver; 11.49-26.03% in brain; 26.13-38.05% in skin and 17.80-37.97% in gills). Excepting liver where the lipid content increases (15.82-24.13%), the fat content also showed depletion in their concentration (10.40-29.83% in muscles; 8.30-34.45% in brain; 8.94-31.47% in skin and 12.75-28.86% in gills), in the rest of the organ systems.

Evaluation of the antidiabetic properties of S-1708 mulberry variety

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disease prevalent worldwide in all age group of people. The source of diabetes is due to an oxidation process that can produce free radicals. An increase in oxidative free radicals in the body is reported to be one of the several causes of diabetes. The best remedy to combat oxidative stress is the use of antioxidants, which inhibit and scavenge free radicals. Aim: This study has been undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant activity and antidiabetic effect of mulberry leaf extract in diabetic mice. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Antidiabetic assay of mulberry leaf extract was analyzed by oral administration of leaf extract up to 3 weeks in diabetic mice induced by streptozotocin. Results: In vitro antioxidant activity in both DPPH and FRAP assays showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher inhibition of free radicals than that with ascorbic acid. Diabetic mice fed with mulberry leaf extract showed increment (+25.88%) in body weight and a significant reduction in blood glucose concentration (−71.58%). Further, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity was significantly (P < 0.05) increased, whereas activities of other enzymes particularly catalase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase were decreased in diabetic mice after oral administration of mulberry leaf extracts. Histology of liver revealed regeneration of hepatocytes, central vein, and nucleus. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that S-1708 mulberry variety has a potential therapeutic value in diabetes and related complications. Abbreviations used: S-1708, DPPH, FRAP.

Expression of ER-α and ER-β during peri-implantation period in uterus is essential for implantation and decidualization in golden hamster

Aims The role of estrogen in embryo implantation in golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is still ambiguous. In order to clarify it, we investigated the spatial distribution and expression of estrogen receptors, ER‐&agr; and ER‐&bgr; in the uterus of pregnant hamster during peri‐implantation period and identified the effect of estrogen receptor antagonist ICI‐182,780 on the embryo implantation. Main methods We performed in vivo experiments on early pregnant hamsters involving treatment with ICI‐182,780, an estrogen receptor antagonist. Immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis and quantitative PCR were employed to evaluate the spatio‐temporal distribution and expression of ER‐&agr; and ER‐&bgr; in the uterus of normal early pregnant and treated hamsters. Key findings Results showed that embryo implantation was completely absent in ICI‐182,780 treated uterine horn while, normal implantation occurred in control and vehicle treated horns. Both the receptors were differentially expressed in the uterus of hamster from day 1 (D1) to day7 (D7). In contrast, treated horns without any implantation site showed no trace of any receptors. Protein and mRNA expression of both the receptors were high around the day of implantation while, ER‐&bgr; expression was up‐regulated on D7 of embryo implantation. P value < 0.05 is considered significant. Significance Spatio‐temporal expression of ERs in the uterus during peri‐implantation period have crucial role for endometrium receptivity and implantation in hamster. Recurrent implantation failure is the devastating problem among the desirable couple and is mainly due to defect in endometrium receptivity. This study may provide a new insight to manage the problem of idiopathic infertility.

Evaluation of recovery in certain hematological and biochemical parameters of the economically important catfish C. batrachus (L.) following withdrawal of arsenic exposure

To evaluate the extent of recovery of arsenic stress in specimens of Clarias batrachus pre-exposed to 1.0 mg L−1 sodium arsenite for 60 days were returned to clean tap water for another period of 90 days. The quantity of arsenic accumulation in the blood became almost half and recovery in hematological parameters was slow but extensive. Activities of four different biomarker enzymes alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid peroxidase (LPO) were substantially above the untreated control levels perhaps due to partial recovery and significant regeneration of the vital organs systems due to withdrawal of the arsenic stress. Eventhough the amounts of different serum biomolecules also showed significant restoration they could not reach the levels of untreated control fish. Incomplete revival was also indicated by three other marker enzymes (glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase) which although showed increased activities but were substantially below the untreated control levels.