Persistence of Acetamiprid in/on Mustard (Brassica juncea L.).
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P K Dey.
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Extractive fermentation in aqueous two-phase systems is a meaningful approach to overcome low product yield in a conventional fermentation process, and by proper design of the two-phase system it is possible to obtain the product in a cell-free stream. The characteristics of an aqueous two-phase system, various polymers used for forming an aqueous two-phase system, the physicochemical parameters of the aqueous two-phase system, partitioning of biomolecules and cell mass and the effect of individual phase forming polymers on cell growth and product formation are reviewed in this article. The various extractive fermentation processes are also summarised here. At the end, the economic viability and scope of aqueous two-phase fermentation are briefly discussed in relation to the wider application of this topic.
Blood lead levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in 82 children suffering from various neurological disorders (cerebral palsy 42, seizure disorders 35, acute encephalopathy of unknown origin 5) and in 28 healthy children, aged 1 to 12 years. Mean blood lead levels were 11.96 +/- 10.97 micrograms/dl in control children and 19.30 +/- 17.65 micrograms/dl in children with neurological disorders. A significant number of control children as well as those who had neurological disorders were found to have blood lead concentrations of > or = 10 micrograms/dl and > or = 20 micrograms/dl, the cut-off limits for lead poisoning and medical evaluation, respectively. Blood lead levels were, statistically, elevated in children with cerebral palsy compared to controls. Children with pica behaviour exhibited higher blood lead concentrations.
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The possibility that endogenous serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) participates in alteration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) following short-term forced swimming (FS) exercise was examined in a rat model. Subjection of conscious young (age 8-9 weeks, 80-90 g) animals to continuous FS (at a water temperature of 30 +/- 1 degrees C) for 30 min, increased the permeability of the BBB to Evans blue albumin (EBA) and 131I-sodium in six and nine brain regions, respectively. The EBA staining was noted in posterior cingulate cortex, parietal, occipital cortices, cerebellar vermis, medial lateral cerebellar cortices and dorsal surface of hippocampus. In addition to these brain regions, the BBB permeability to 131I-sodium was further extended to caudate nucleus, thalamus and hypothalamus. This effect of FS on the BBB permeability was absent in adult (age 24-30 weeks, 300-400 g) animals. Measurement of 5-HT showed a profound increase of plasma and brain in young rats by 180% and 250%, respectively, from the control group. Adult animals showed only a minor increase in brain and plasma 5-HT levels. In young animals, pretreatment with p-CPA (a 5-HT synthesis inhibitor) and indomethacin (a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor) prevented the FS induced increase in BBB permeability and 5-HT levels. Destruction of serotonergic neurons with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) reduced the breakdown of the BBB and attenuated the brain 5-HT level without affecting the plasma 5-HT. Cyproheptadine, ketanserin (5-HT2 receptor antagonists) and vinblastine (a vesicular transport inhibitor) prevented the increased permeability of the BBB alone. The plasma and brain 5-HT continued to remain high. These observations suggest that (i) 5-HT plays an important role in the breakdown of BBB permeability in FS, (ii) this effect of 5-HT on BBB permeability is mediated by 5-HT2 receptors, and (iii) FS induced increase in BBB permeability is age dependent.
The possibility that elevation of serotonin in the circulation, which is found in various pathological states, influences the spontaneous cerebral cortical activity was examined in a rat model. The electroencephalogram was recorded using bipolar epidural electrodes placed over the frontal and parietal cerebral cortex. Intravenous infusion of serotonin (10 micrograms/kg per min for 10 min) decreased the electroencephalogram amplitude in both frontal and parietal recordings within 4 min of infusion. This decrease in amplitude was reversible, Pretreatment with cyproheptadine (a potent serotonin2 receptor antagonist) prevented the serotonin-induced decrease of the electroencephalogram amplitude. The blood-brain barrier permeability to Evans Blue and [131I]sodium was increased in frontal and parietal cortex. This increase in blood-brain barrier permeability was absent in animals pretreated with cyproheptadine. These results provide direct evidence that an elevated level of serotonin in blood has the capacity to influence spontaneous cortical electrical activity. This effect of serotonin on electroencephalogram appears to be due to its ability to enter into the brain parenchyma by inducing a short-term breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, probably via serotonin2 receptors.
H-reflex latency (H-RL) and H/M ratio were measured in normal children and children with paralytic poliomyelitis of 1-3 years of age. The H-RL was considerably increased in both the involved and uninvolved limbs of the patients, whereas the H/M ratio did not differ. The Mmax value in the involved limb was very low, and therefore, a corrected H/M ratio was calculated for that side only. The corrected H/M ratio was significantly less than the H/M ratio observed in the uninvolved and control limbs. The distal motor latency was also increased in the involved side.
The possibility that serotonin and prostaglandins participate in edema formation following heat stress (HS) was examined in young rats. Exposure of conscious young animals (8-9 weeks old) to heat at 38 degrees C in a biological oxygen demand (BOD) incubator (relative humidity 50-55%; wind velocity 20-25 cm/s) for 4 h resulted in marked increase in the whole brain water content (about 3%) as compared to animals kept at room temperature (21 degrees C). A marked extravasation of Evans blue and 131I-sodium occurred in the brain of heat exposed animals as compared to normal animals. Morphological examination using electron microscopy of selected brain regions of heat stressed animals showed profound cell changes. Thus perivascular edema, swollen neuronal and glial cells, membrane damage, vesiculation of myelin, axonal swelling and synaptic damage was frequent in this group of untreated animals. Pretreatment with ketanserin (a selective serotonin2 receptor antagonist) or indomethacin (an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis) markedly reduced edema formation after 4 h HS in young animals. These heat stressed animals had considerably less extravasation of protein tracers as compared to the untreated group. Cell changes and edema at the ultrastructural level were mainly absent. Our results suggest that serotonin and prostaglandins are involved in heat stress induced breakdown of the BBB permeability, edema formation, and cell damage.
The possibility that prostaglandins influence edema formation, microvascular permeability increase and reduction of blood flow following spinal cord trauma was examined in a rat model. In addition, the influence of prostaglandins on serotonin metabolism of the traumatized spinal cord was evaluated. Trauma to spinal cord (2-mm-deep and 5-mm-long incision in the right dorsal horn of T10-11 segments) resulted in a profound increase of the water content 5 h after injury. At this time, the microvascular permeability to Evans Blue and [131I]sodium was increased by 457 and 394%, respectively. The blood flow was reduced by 30%. The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) content of the spinal cord increased by 205%. The plasma serotonin level rose by 152% in the injured group of rats. Pretreatment with indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before trauma significantly reduced the edema and microvascular permeability increase. The local spinal cord blood flow of traumatized animals was partially restored. The increases of serotonin levels of the spinal cord and plasma were significantly attenuated. These beneficial effects of indomethacin were not present in rats given a lower dose (5 mg/kg). Indomethacin in either dose did not influence these parameters of control rats without trauma to the cord. Since indomethacin is a potential inhibitor of prostaglandins synthesis our observations indicate: (i) that prostaglandins participate in many microvascular responses (permeability changes, edema, blood flow) occurring after a trauma to the spinal cord; (ii) that these effects of the drug seem to be dose dependent, and (iii) that the prostaglandins may influence the serotonin metabolism following trauma to the spinal cord.
The metabolic alteration of 5-HT in four different regions of rat brain and plasma was studied under acute and chronic heat stress. A generalised elevation of 5-HT in all the brain regions along with high plasma level was observed in animals subjected to 4 hour heat stress at 38 degrees C. Such elevation of brain 5-HT may be due to entry of plasma 5-HT into the brain owing to breakdown of blood-brain barrier (BBB). In heat adapted rats, where BBB remained unaffected, no increase in brain 5-HT was observed, rather a significantly low level was maintained both in plasma and brain tissue.
Alterations of 5HT and its chief metabolite 5HIAA were studied in four regions of the rat brain following acute 1-h swim exercise and 4 week chronic swim exercise (30 min/day, 6 days per week). Acute exercise significantly increased the synthesis and metabolism of 5HT in brain stem. Hypothalamus also showed increased levels of 5HT. However, no changes were observed in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Chronic exercise activated not only the synthesis but also the metabolism of 5HT in the cerebral cortex; this neuronal adaptation was sustained even 1 week after the termination of training. In brain stem, increased 5HT turnover was observed immediately after training. In hypothalamus, decrease in 5HT and 5HIAA levels occurred immediately after training, followed by a rebound increase in their levels after 1 week posttraining rest. In hippocampus, a delayed effect was observed, because 5HT level was unaltered immediately after the training, but its turnover decreased after 1 week rest. These findings have been discussed in an attempt to explain the antidepressant effect of exercise based on the 5HT deficiency theory of endogenous depression.
The possibility that endogenous histamine plays an important role in modulating the pathophysiology of heat stress was examined in young rats using a pharmacological approach. Subjection of young animals (six to seven weeks old) to heat stress at 38 degrees C for 4 h in a biological oxygen demand incubator (relative humidity 47-50%, wind velocity 20-25 cm/s) resulted in a profound increase in blood-brain barrier permeability to Evans Blue albumin (whole brain 375%) and [131I]sodium (whole brain 478%) along with a significant reduction in the cerebral blood flow (mean 34%). The water content of the whole brain was elevated by 4.5% (about 19% volume swelling) from the control. At this time-period, the plasma and whole brain 5-hydroxytryptamine levels were elevated by 656% and 328%, respectively, from the control group. Pretreatment with cimetidine (a histamine H2 receptor antagonist) significantly thwarted the increases in the brain water content and the blood-brain barrier permeability. In cimetidine-pretreated animals, the cerebral blood flow was significantly elevated and the plasma and brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) levels were slightly but significantly reduced as compared with the untreated stressed group. However, prior treatment with mepyramine (a histamine H1 receptor antagonist) neither attenuated the changes in water content and the blood-brain barrier permeability nor altered the cerebral blood flow and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels. In fact, there was a significantly higher permeation of the tracers across the cerebral vessels in these drug-treated animals along with a greater accumulation of the brain water content as compared with the untreated stressed group. The cerebral blood flow and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels showed only minor changes from the untreated stressed group. These results show, probably for the first time, that (i) the endogenous histamine plays an important role in the pathophysiology of heat stress, and (ii) this effect appears to be mediated via specific histamine H2 receptors.
The possibility that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) might play an important role in the pathophysiology of heat stress (HS) has been examined in young (age 8-9 weeks) and adult (age 24-32 weeks) rats. Exposure of young rats to 4 h HS at 38 degrees C in a biological oxygen demand (BOD) incubator (relative humidity 47-50%, wind velocity 20-26 cm/sec, simulating the environmental conditions of Varanasi, India, during the month of June) resulted in a marked hyperthermia (41.7 +/- 0.23 degrees C) and behavioral symptoms. In these animals there was a profound increase in the permeability of the BBB to Evans blue-albumin (EBA) (464%) and to 131I-sodium iodide (515%), accompanied by a marked increase in the brain water content (4%), of the levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in plasma (687%) and in brain (267%) and a pronounced reduction (30%) in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Morphological examination using light- and electron-microscopy revealed profound neuronal changes associated with a marked increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and in vimentin immunoreactivities, together with a substantial reduction in myelin basic protein (MBP) immunostaining in the brain. These changes were more pronounced in the brain-stem reticular formation, pons and medulla region. On the other hand, exposure of adult animals to the same intensity of HS resulted in mild or no changes in BBB permeability, content of brain water and 5-HT in the plasma and brain, CBF or other cellular changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The possibility that serotonin may play a role in heat adaptation was examined in a rat model of heat stress (HS). Subjection of animals to acute 4 h HS (but not to 1 h and 2 h duration) in a biological oxygen demand (BOD) incubator (relative humidity 50-55%, wind velocity 20-25 cm/s) resulted in profound hyperthermia (41.68 +/- 0.25 degrees C) associated with behavioural salivation and prostration. This experimental condition simulates the out door environmental conditions of Varanasi, India during the month of June. Measurement of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) content in the plasma and brain showed a profound increase of the amine by 462% and 187% respectively from the control group. Morphological examination in these animals revealed marked cell changes in the brain at both light and electron microscopic level. Thus chromatolysis, shrunken and dark neurons along with a general sponginess of the gray and white matter was quite frequent in all the brain regions. At ultrastructural level, perivascular edema, damage to pre- and postsynaptic terminals, swollen neurons and glial cells, splitting of myelin and vacuolation was very common throughout the whole brain. The microvessels were mainly collapsed and a diffuse infiltration of lanthanum ion within the endothelium was common. Occasionally, lanthanum could also be seen within the basement membrane. However, the tight junctions were mainly intact. On the other hand, when animals exposed to chronic heat stress of 1 h duration at the same intensity for 7 days and then subjected to a 4 h HS on the 8th day, resulted in only minor symptoms. Thus these 4 h heat stressed animals did not exhibit hyperthermia or increased serotonin levels in plasma and brain as compared to the animals exposed to chronic HS of 1 h duration until alone 7th day. These heat adapted animals did not show any marked cell changes in the brain. However, the values of circulating 5-HT level and rectal temperature of these chronically heat stressed animals (for 1 h daily) were mild but significantly elevated on the 7th day as compared to the intact control animals. These results show that: 1. chronic HS of short duration induces heat tolerance; 2. the circulating 5-HT level some how appears to play an important role in the pathophysiology of HS; hand in the physiological mechanism(s) of secondary heat adaptation.
Spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEP) elicited by simultaneous distal tibial and sural nerve stimulation were continuously recorded from the epidural space at the T9 and T12 levels of urethane anaesthetized rats before and after a unilateral incision (about 3 mm deep and 5 mm long) in the right dorsal horn of the T10-11 segments. The changes in SCEP were correlated with the increase in spinal cord water content measured 5 h after injury. In addition, the influence of serotonin (5-HT) in mediating such changes was explored using a pharmacological approach. The changes in SCEP immediately after injury correlated well with development of spinal cord edema measured 5 h after injury. Thus, the maximal negative peak (MNP) amplitude of SCEP decreased by an average of 64.0% immediately after injury and the water content of the spinal cord was increased from 71.6% (controls) to 77.6% 5 h after injury. Pretreatment with p-CPA (a serotonin synthesis inhibitor) prevented the initial decrease of the MNP amplitude and also the increase of water content (72.5%). On the other hand, pretreatment with cyproheptadine (a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist) enhanced both the initial decrease of the MNP amplitude as well as the increase of water content (81.3%). The results show a good correlation between changes of SCEP immediately after injury and the magnitude of spinal cord edema (r = 0.9) measured 5 h after injury. The findings reveal a major role of serotonin in mediating early changes of SCEP and later development of spinal cord edema and demonstrate a prognostic value of early SCEP recordings in predicting the final outcome of traumatic spinal cord injuries.
The status of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was examined following short-term forced swimming (FS) exercise in younger rats (age 8-9 wks, 80-90 g). Subjection of animals to continuous FS for 30 min duration increased the permeability of the BBB to Evans blue albumin (EBA) and 131I-sodium in 5 and 8 brain regions, respectively. Extravasation of the tracers was markedly pronounced in the cerebellum followed by the cerebral cortex. EBA staining was confined mainly to the posterior cingulate cortex, parietal and occipital cortices, whole cerebellar vermis and the mediolateral cerebellar cortices as well as the dorsal surface of the hippocampus. In addition to the above brain regions. BBB permeability to 131I-sodium extended to the caudate nucleus, thalamus and hypothalamus. At this time period, the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) content showed a profound increase in plasma and brain of about 150% and 250% respectively from the control value. Pretreatment with p-CPA (p-chlorophenylalanine, a serotonin synthesis inhibitor) prevented both the increased permeability of the BBB and the rise in plasma and brain 5-HT level. However, prior treatment with cyproheptadine (a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist) prevented the increased permeability alone. The 5-HT level continued to remain high. These results suggest that short-term FS increases BBB permeability in specific brain regions. This increased permeability appears to be mediated through serotonin via 5-HT2 receptors.