Investigation of porous silica nanostructures in diatoms isolated from Kurichi and Sulur lakes of Coimbatore, India using field emission scanning electron microscopy.

Diatoms are unicellular algae that possess cell wall made of silica. These diatoms play a pivotal role in synthesis of variety of silica nanostructures and have adorning morphology in nature. In the present study, we have used field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to investigate their morphological features like pore size, shape, and porous pattern in various diatoms isolated from Kurichi and Sulur fresh water lakes, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Inhibin interaction with LHRH receptors at the pituitary level.

In order to investigate whether inhibin could modulate the action of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), the in vitro effect of inhibin of LHRH bindings to the pituitaries from intact adult male rats was studied. The inhibin preparations suppressed the binding of labeled LHRH to pituitary receptors in a dose-related manner. In vivo administration of inhibin decreased the pituitary LHRH receptor concentration, with an apparent increase in the affinity of these receptors.

Occurrence of bio-immuno active inhibin in rat spermatids.

Levels of inhibin in the spermatocyte and spermatid enriched fractions of rat testicular extract were estimated using a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay. The fraction enriched in spermatids had the highest amounts of inhibin activity. The results of the study indicate that the spermatids may be likely source of inhibin.