Cochin University of Science and Technology

About: Cochin University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Natural rubber. The organization has 5382 authors who have published 7690 publications receiving 103827 citations. The organization is also known as: CUSAT & Cochin University.

Dopaminergic regulation of glucose-induced insulin secretion through dopamine D2 receptors in the pancreatic islets in vitro.

Abstract: The stimulatory effect of dopamine through dopamine D2 receptor on glucose-induced insulin secretion was studied in the pancreatic islets in vitro. Dopamine significantly stimulated insulin secretion at a concentration of 10-8 M in the presence of high glucose (20 mM). The higher concentrations of dopamine (10(-7)-10(-4)) inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion in the presence of both 4 mM and 20 mM glucose. Stimulatory and inhibitory effect of dopamine on glucose-induced insulin secretion was reverted by the addition of dopamine D2 receptor antagonists such as butaclamol and sulpiride. Norepinephrine (NE) at 10(-4) M concentration inhibited the dopamine uptake as well as its stimulatory effect at 10(-8) M concentration on glucose induced insulin secretion. Our results suggest that dopamine exerts a differential effect on glucose-induced insulin secretion through dopamine D2 receptor and it is essential for the regulation of glucose-induced insulin secretion by pancreatic islets.

Interannual variability of upwelling indices in the Southeastern Arabian Sea: A satellite based study

Abstract: Increase in sea surface temperature with global warming has an impact on coastal upwelling. Past two decades (1988 to 2007) of satellite observed sea surface temperatures and space borne scatterometer measured winds have provided an insight into the dynamics of coastal upwelling in the southeastern Arabian Sea, in the global warming scenario. These high resolution data products have shown inconsistent variability with a rapid rise in sea surface temperature between 1992 and 1998 and again from 2004 to 2007. The upwelling indices derived from both sea surface temperature and wind have shown that there is an increase in the intensity of upwelling during the period 1998 to 2004 than the previous decade. These indices have been modulated by the extreme climatic events like El-Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole that happened during 1991–92 and 1997–98. A considerable drop in the intensity of upwelling was observed concurrent with these events. Apart from the impact of global warming on the upwelling, the present study also provides an insight into spatial variability of upwelling along the coast. Noticeable fact is that the intensity of offshore Ekman transport off 8°N during the winter monsoon is as high as that during the usual upwelling season in summer monsoon. A drop in the meridional wind speed during the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 has resulted in extreme decrease in upwelling though the zonal wind and the total wind magnitude are a notch higher than the previous years. This decrease in upwelling strength has resulted in reduced productivity too.