Purification, characterization and antigenic species-specific reactivity of vitellogenin of rosy barb (Puntius conchonius Hamilton)

Vitellogenin (Vg) was isolated using gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography from plasma of rosy barb (Puntius conchonius) treated with estrogen (estradiol-17beta). The purified Vg was stained positive for carbohydrate, lipid and phosphorus and was rich in Ala (10.58%), Asp (8.46%), Glu (10.30%), Leu (11.23%), Lys (7.22%) and Val (7.49%). It appeared as a single band of approximately 450 kDa in native PAGE and was reduced to a single band of approximately 167 kDa under SDS-PAGE, suggesting that it is probably composed of three identical polypeptide subunits. Double-immunodiffusion assay showed that the plasma from female rosy barb reacted with the mouse antisera against rosy barb Vg, forming a single immunoprecipitin line, while the plasma from male rosy barb or female zebrafish showed no such reactivity, confirming the existence of the sex- and species-specific reactivity for rosy barb Vg antisera.

Production of interspecies chimeras by transplanting rosy barb (Puntius conchonius) embryonic cells to zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Establishment of a cell-mediated gene transfer system has potential as a new breeding technique for commercially valuable fishes. As an important step toward developing an inter-species chimera, cells from blastula-stage embryos of rosy barb (Puntius conchonius) were transplanted into zebrafish (Danio rerio) blastula-stage embryos to observe the development of the recipient. From the total of 473 transplants obtained only a fraction of 13 chimeras appeared perfectly normal after one month. Over two in normal 13 chimeras showed some characters from the donor cells with scarce pigmentation. This is the first successful inter-species study on zebrafish by using blastula cell transplants from rosy barb both belonging to the same family cyprinidae.

Cryopreservation of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) sperm with a practical methodology

A simple and convenient protocol for the cryopreservation of the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) sperm was established for "on the spot" cryopreservation of large quantities of semen. The use of three cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), glycerol (Gly) and methanol was tested in the method. The percentage of motile sperm present in semen after it had been frozen and thawed in the presence of DMSO, Gly or methanol was 60.5+/-3.6, 79.17+/-4.5 and 13.25+/-4.7%, respectively. The fertilization rates of this sperm were 67.06+/-15.1, 76.20+/-10.0 and 44.93+/-22.6%, while the hatching rates of eggs fertilized with this sperm were 37.40+/-8.3, 48.18+/-25.7 and 23.35+/-10.8%, respectively. It was found that Gly and DMSO were better cryoprotectants than methanol, with Gly giving the best overall results. Under scanning electron microscopy, it could be seen that while the majority of the frozen-thawed sperm remained morphologically normal, some exhibited lost or dilated mitochondria, swollen mid-pieces, broken tails, or damaged cell membrane, which probably caused the decrease in motility and fertility of the frozen-thawed sperm.

Levels of lactic acid, normal level & its relation to food, glucose, cholesterol, raised blood urea and phenformin therapy

1. The level of lactic acid was found to be 25 mg percent in 95 percent of 186 normal Indians. There was no difference due to sex and age. 2. Level of lactic acid was estimated in blood of normal persons and diabetics Type II patients to observe the effects of food and glucose. There was no change except the level of lactic acid was in higher but in normal range. 3. Hyperglycemia of over 300 mg raised the blood lactic acid in 25 percent of patients. 4. Lactic acid was not affected by hypercholesteremia but was raised in 60 percent of cases with raised blood urea. 5. Lactic acid was found to remain within normal limits in 48 type II diabetics treated with phenformin dose varying from 50 mg to 225 mg per day. The duration of treatment varied from one year to seven years.

Levels of lactic acid in normal Indians & its relation to food, glucose, cholesterol, raised blood urea

1. The level of lactic acid was found to be between 5mg 25mg percent in 95 percent in 186 normal Indias. There was no difference due to sex and age. 2. Level of lactic acid was estimated in blood of normal persons and diabetes type II patients to observe the effects of food and glucose. The effect of food and and glucose was to take the levels of lactic acid to higher level than normal in about 25 percent of persons examined. 3. Hyperglycemia of over 300 mg raised the blood lactic acid in 25 percent of patients. 4. Lactic acid was not affected by hypercholereteremia but was raised in 60 percent of cases with high blood urea.