A plant species of suspected accumulator behaviour

Summary 17 plant species growing near Bombay, India, were analysed for 26 trace elements by neutron activation analysis. Out of these onlyAlternanthera sessilis was found to be an accumulator plant for Al, V, Ti and Sc.     

Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (LH-RH) on the pars distalis and testis of the Skipper frog,rana cyanophlyctis (Schn.)

Summary Administration of LH-RH to adult male Skipper frogs resulted in marked hypertrophy and degranulation of basophils-2 (B2) in the pars distalis of the pituitary and a significant increase in their nuclear and cellular area. Concomitantly, there is a significant increase in the relative weight of the testes, in the number of cell nests containing secondary spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, and in the nuclear diameter of the Leydig cells. There is also an increase in the ⁵-3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the Leydig cells. The results indicate that the B2 cells are gonadotrops and the hormone(s) secreted by B2 cells regulate the spermatogenetic and steroidogenic activity of the testis inR. cyanophlyctis.The free gift of LH-RH from NIH is gratefully acknowledged. Authors are grateful to CSIR, New Delhi, for the award of a SRF to the first author and to Karnatak University, Dharwad for providing laboratory facilities.     

Liver vitamin A stores in chronic alcoholism in rats: effect of propylthiouracil treatment

Administration of alcohol to rats through drinking water for 8 weeks produced a significant decrease in the liver vitamin A stores without causing any change in the plasma vitamin A levels. Treatment of the alcoholic rats with propylthiouracil for 2 weeks restored the liver vitamin A reserves to control levels.     

Induction of ovulation and spawning in the catfish,Clarias batrachus (L.) by prostaglandin F2α

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - Administration of low doses of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), i.e. 10 and 100 ng/g b.wt, was ineffective in inducing ovulation and spawning in mature...     

Liver ferritin synthesis following chronic alcohol administration to rats: Modulation by propylthiouracil

Summary Liver ferritin synthesis was inhibited by 22.3% in rats treated with alcohol (2 g/kg) for 45 days. This inhibition was prevented by simultaneous administration (5 mg/kg) of propylthiouracil during the last 15 days. There was no significant effect on liver ferritin concentration.     

Liver vitamin A stores in chronic alcoholism in rats: Effect of propylthiouracil treatment

Summary Administration of alcohol to rats through drinking water for 8 weeks produced a significant decrease in the liver vitamin A stores without causing any change in the plasma vitamin A levels. Treatment of the alcoholic rats with propylthiouracil for 2 weeks restored the liver vitamin A reserves to control levels.