Insect System for Toxicology Studies - Current and Future Perspectives.

cell culture practices are valuable techniques to understand the mechanisms behind vital biological processes. cells have helped us to attain a deeper understanding of functions and mechanisms conserved in the course of evolution. Toxicology studies are inevitable in drug discovery, pesticide development, and many other fields that directly interact with human beings.

An insight into the skin glands, dermal scales and secretions of the caecilian amphibian .

The caecilian amphibians are richly endowed with cutaneous glands, which produce secretory materials that facilitate survival in the hostile subterranean environment. Although India has a fairly abundant distribution of caecilians, there are only very few studies on their skin and secretion. In this background, the skin of from the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, was subjected to light and electron microscopic analyses.

Influence of environmental factors on macrofoulant assemblages on moored buoys in the eastern Arabian Sea.

Factors governing the distribution of organisms in the pelagic ocean are understudied. In this paper we describe environmental parameters and macrofouling assemblages on 11 buoys deployed in the Arabian Sea for an average duration of 322 days. Macrofoulants on all the mooring components extending from the sea-surface to a depth of 1800-4300 m were documented.

Light and transmission electron microscopic structure of skin glands and dermal scales of a caecilian amphibian Gegeneophis ramaswamii, with a note on antimicrobial property of skin gland secretion.

Amphibian skin secretions contain a variety of bioactive compounds that are involved in diverse roles such as communication, homeostasis, defence against predators, pathogens, and so on. Especially, the caecilian amphibians possess numerous cutaneous glands that produce the secretory material, which facilitate survival in their harsh subterranean environment. Inspite of the fact that India has a fairly abundant distribution of caecilian amphibians, there has hardly been any study on their skin and its secretion.

Caste-Specific Expression of Na/K-ATPase in the Asian Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius, 1775).

Social insect colonies adopt different levels of survival strategies and exhibit well-defined reproductive division of labour. Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius, 1775) has physiological and behavioral adaptations that enable them to forage at extreme environmental conditions and are lethal to most other insects. Ion homeostasis is the key process in an organism's survival mechanism.

Trichoderma viride Laccase Plays a Crucial Role in Defense Mechanism against Antagonistic Organisms.

Fungal laccases are involved in a variety of physiological functions such as delignification, morphogenesis, and parasitism. In addition to these functions, we suggest that fungal laccases are involved in defense mechanisms. When the laccase secreting Trichoderma viride was grown in the presence of a range of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi, laccase secretion was enhanced in response to antagonistic organisms alone.

Isolation of a salt tolerant laccase secreting strain of Trichoderma sp. NFCCI-2745 and optimization of culture conditions and assessing its effectiveness in treating saline phenolic effluents.

Most of the hazardous pollutants are phenolic in nature and persists in the environment. The ability of laccases to oxidize phenolic compounds and reduce molecular oxygen to water has led to intensive studies of these enzymes. Therefore the fungal strains with high laccase activity and substrate affinity that can tolerate harsh environmental conditions have a potential for biotechnological applications.

Potential of the salt-tolerant laccase-producing strain Trichoderma viride Pers. NFCCI-2745 from an estuary in the bioremediation of phenol-polluted environments.

Industrialization causes the generation of phenolic pollutants in the environment. The ability of laccases to oxidize phenolic compounds and reduce molecular oxygen to water has led to intensive studies on these enzymes. Although salt-tolerant fungi are potential sources of enzymes for industrial applications, they have been inadequately explored for laccase production.

Elimination of estrogenic activity of thermal paper using laccase from Trichoderma sp NFCCI-2745.

In thermal printing, bisphenol A (BPA) functions chemically as a developer and reacts with white or colorless dyes in the presence of heat, converting them to a dark color. BPA can transfer readily to skin in small amounts from these papers. Its damage to environment and organisms has caused an extensive concern.

Bisphenol-A can bind to human glucocorticoid receptor as an agonist: an in silico study.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a primary monomer in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA may be released into the environment following its formation via hydrolysis of ester bonds of the polymers. It has been detected in human plasma, placenta, amniotic fluid, amniotic chord, urine and saliva.

Skeletal muscle-melanocyte association during tadpole tail resorption in a tropical frog, Clinotarsus curtipes Jerdon (Anura, Ranoidea).

We tested the hypothesis that melanin has a role as a molecule within the thyroid-mediated cascade. Light microscopic and ultrastructural changes in the skeletal muscle during tail resorption in tadpoles of the tropical frog Clinotarsus curtipes Jerdon (Anura: Ranoidea) were observed. Light microscopic analysis at metamorphic stage XVIII showed a melanized epidermis.

Adsorption characteristics of cadmium(II) onto functionalized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-grafted coconut coir pith.

This study explored the feasibility of utilizing a novel adsorbent, poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-grafted coconut coir pith with carboxyl functionality (PGCP-COOH) for the removal of cadmium(II) from water and wastewater. Maximum removal of 99.9% was observed for an initial concentration of 25 mg/L at pH 6.

Effects of mono and di(n-butyl) phthalate on superoxide dismutase.

Di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) is a plasticizer used in the manufacture of several industrial and household articles. They get easily released to the environment and may cause adverse effects to living organisms. Effects of DBP and its metabolite monobutyl phthalate (MBP) on superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme, have been studied.

Accumulation of yolk in a caecilian (Gegeneophis ramaswamii) oocyte: a light and transmission electron microscopic study.

There is a paucity of information on the female reproductive biology of the caecilian amphibians when compared with the other vertebrate groups. Hence, the accumulation of nutrient reserves in the form of yolk and formation of yolk platelets were studied in Gegeneophis ramaswamii, adopting light microscopic histological and transmission electron microscopy analysis. Previtellogenic as well as vitellogenic follicles were observed in appropriate preparations.

Mercury(II) removal from aqueous solutions and wastewaters using a novel cation exchanger derived from coconut coir pith and its recovery.

A new adsorbent (PGCP-COOH) having carboxylate functional group at the chain end was synthesized by grafting poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) onto coconut coir pith, CP (a coir industry-based lignocellulosic residue), using potassium peroxydisulphate as an initiator and in the presence of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linking agent. The adsorbent was characterized with the help of infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and potentiometric titrations. The ability of PGCP-COOH to remove Hg(II) from aqueous solutions was assessed using batch adsorption technique under kinetic and equilibrium conditions.

Kinetic and equilibrium characterization of uranium(VI) adsorption onto carboxylate-functionalized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-grafted lignocellulosics.

This study investigated the feasibility of using a new adsorbent prepared from coconut coir pith, CP (a coir industry-based lignocellulosic residue), for the removal of uranium [U(VI)] from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent (PGCP-COOH) having a carboxylate functional group at the chain end was synthesized by grafting poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) onto CP using potassium peroxydisulphate-sodium thiosulphite as a redox initiator and in the presence of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent. IR spectroscopy results confirm the graft copolymer formation and carboxylate functionalization.

Stages in follicle cell/oocyte interface during vitellogenesis in caecilians Ichthyophis tricolor and Gegeneophis ramaswamii: a transmission electron-microscopic study.

We describe the ultrastructural organization of the vitellogenic follicle stages in two caecilian species. Monthly samples of slices of ovary of Ichthyophis tricolor and Gegeneophis ramaswamii from the Western Ghats of India were subjected to transmission electron-microscopic analysis, with special attention to the follicle cell/oocyte interface. In order to maintain uniformity of the stages among the amphibians, all the stages in the caecilian follicles were assigned to stages I-VI, the vitellogenic and post-vitellogenic follicles being assigned to stages III-VI.

Triiodothyronine and melatonin influence antioxidant defense mechanism in a teleost Anabas testudineus (Bloch): in vitro study.

The effect of the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and melatonin on antioxidant defense system was studied in 6-propyl thiouracil (6-PTU)-treated or photoperiod-exposed teleost Anabas testudineus. 6-PTU (2 microg/g) treatment or photoperiod exposure (24 h) increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes (CD) concentrations, indicating increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the experimental conditions. T3 or melatonin (10(-6) M) treatment for 15 min in vitro in PTU-treated fish reversed the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione content.

Assembly of ovarian follicles in the caecilians Ichthyophis tricolor and Gegeneophis ramaswamii: light and transmission electron microscopic study.

Though much is known about various aspects of reproductive biology of amphibia, there is little information on the cellular and mechanistic basis of assembly of ovarian follicles in this group. This is especially true of the caecilians. Therefore, taking advantage of the abundant distribution of caecilians in the Western Ghats of India, two species of caecilians, Ichthyophis tricolor and Gegeneophis ramaswamii, were subjected to light and transmission electron microscopic analysis to trace the sequential changes during the assembly of ovarian follicles.

Ultrastructural observations of previtellogenic ovarian follicles of the caecilians Ichthyophis tricolor and Gegeneophis ramaswamii.

The ultrastructural organization of the previtellogenic follicles of the caecilians Ichthyophis tricolor and Gegeneophis ramaswamii, of the Western Ghats of India, were observed. Both species follow a similar seasonal reproductive pattern. The ovaries contain primordial follicles throughout the year with previtellogenic, vitellogenic, or postvitellogenic follicles, depending upon the reproductive status.

Tri-iodo thyronine regulates antioxidant enzyme activities in different cell fractions through a mechanism sensitive to actinomycin D in a teleost, Anabas testudineus (Bloch).

The present study evaluated the effects of hyperthyroid state on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in the crude (CF), post nuclear (PNF) and mitochondrial fractions (MF) of the fish liver. The in vivo injection of T3 (200ng) did not change the lipid peroxidation products, malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes (CD), while actinomycin D (10microg), a potent mRNA inhibitor when administered with T3 increased them. The antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) had an increased activity in CF and MF of hyperthyroid group to compete the increased oxidative stress, but actinomycin D partially inhibited the T3-induced activity.

Does melatonin have a time-dependent effect on brain and gill ionic metabolism in a teleost, Anabas testudineus (Bloch)?

Exogenous administration of 0.20, 0.40 and 0.

Insulin regulates ionic metabolism in a fresh water teleost, anabas testudineus (bloch).

Short term effects of insulin on total brain and branchial Na+K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase and Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ions were investigated in A. testudineus. The increase in brain Ca2+ ATPase after alloxan treatment may account for an increased amount of intracellular calcium required for biochemical events taking place inside the cells.