North Eastern Hill University

About: North Eastern Hill University is a education organization based out in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Ruthenium. The organization has 2318 authors who have published 4476 publications receiving 48894 citations.

Air-breathing catfish, Clarias batrachus upregulates glutamine synthetase and carbamyl phosphate synthetase III during exposure to high external ammonia

Abstract: We assessed the possible upregulation of glutamine synthetase (GS) and typical ‘fish type’ carbamyl phosphate synthetase III (CPS III) in detoxification of ammonia in different tissues of the walking catfish ( Clarias batrachus ) during exposure to 25 mM NH 4 Cl for 7 days. Exogenous ammonia led to an increase in ammonia and urea concentrations in different tissues. The results revealed the presence of relatively high levels of GS activity in the brain, liver and kidney, unexpectedly, also in the muscle, and even higher levels in the intestine and stomach. Exposure to high external ammonia (HEA) caused significant increase of activities of GS, CPS III and CPS I-like enzymes, accompanied with the upregulation of GS and CPS III enzyme proteins in different tissues. Exposure to HEA also led to a sharp rise of plasma cortisol level, suggesting being one of the primary causes of upregulation of GS and CPS III enzymes activity. Liver perfusion experiments further revealed that exposure to HEA enhances the capacity of trapping ammonia to glutamine and urea by the liver of walking catfish. These results suggest that the upregulation of GS and CPS III activity in walking catfish during exposure to HEA plays critical roles to ameliorate the toxic ammonia to glutamine, and also to urea via the induced ornithine–urea cycle possibly through the involvement of cortisol.

Ultrastructural observations on tegumental surface of Raillietina echinobothrida and its alterations caused by root-peel extract of Millettia pachycarpa.

Abstract: Millettia pachycarpa Benth (Leguminosae) has a usage in traditional medicine system practiced among the Lushai tribes of Mizoram, a state in North East India, who customarily consume the aqueous extract of the root peel of the plant to get rid of intestinal worm infections. The crude ethanol, methanol, and acetone fractions of the plant were assayed against Raillietina echinobothrida, the intestinal cestode parasite of domestic fowl, to authenticate the putative anthelmintic efficacy and cestocidal potential in particular of the plants. In vitro exposure of the worm to the extract at a concentration of 25 mg/mL phosphate buffered saline (at 37 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C) revealed distortion and disruption of mitochondria, nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear membrane, basal lamina, and tegumental vacuolization in the distal cytoplasm leading to scar formation in the surface. The possible use of the plant as a potential anthelmintic against cestode parasite is discussed.