Showing papers in "Indian Journal of Experimental Biology in 1971"

Hypocholesterolemic effect of Commiphora mukul resin (guggal).

Abstract: Alcohollc extract of C. mulnd resin (guggal) and one pure steroid isolated from this extract, when administered orally at a dose of 25-50 mgjkg body weight, reduced the serum cholesterol level in normal and triton-induced byperUpemlc rats and cholesterol-fed byperlipemIc rabbits. Both guggal extract and the steroid showed only slight inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesIs 85 compared to p_chlorophenoxy Isobutyrate (Atromid) studied. in liver slices by acetatE'-I-\"C incorporation. The hypocholesterolemIc activity of these extracts in relation to atherosclerosis is discussed.

Isolation of saponins with antifertility activity from Gleditschia horrida.

Abstract: 2 saponins isolated from the pods of the plant Gleditschia horrida and tested on female Swiss mice were found to have an antifertility effect. Only 7% of the mice treated with the crude extract and none of the mice treated with fraction III became pregnant after mating. Fractions D II and IV showed no antifertility effect. One of the saponins is described as a triterpenoid attached to more than one sugar.

Spermicidal activity of urea.

Abstract: The in-vitro effect of an aqueous solution of urea on sperm and eggs was studied. Urea caused inhibition of human and rat sperm motility and death. Time was dependent on concentration. At low concentrations of urea the zona pellucida of freshly recovered rabbit eggs became shrunken and dark. At higher concentrations the entire egg looked like a solid opaque degenerated mass. When urea in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was introduced into the vagina of 10 parous women shortly before coitus no live sperm were found 8-12 hours after coitus.

Antifertility activity of 34-trans-22-dimethyl-3-phenyl-4- (p-(beta-pyrrolidinoethoxy)-phenyl)-7-methoxychroman.

Abstract: The antifertility activity of 34-trans-22-dimethyl-3-phenyl-4- (p- (beta-pyrrolidinoethoxy)-phenyl) -7-methoxychroman administered postcoitally was evaluated at doses of 1.25 mg/kg body weight in female rats and mice and at 2.5 mg/kg body weight in female beagle dogs and rhesus monkeys. In all experiments pregnancy was prevented. The compound was also effective in rats when administered at a dose of .25 mg/kg body weight on Days 1-5 postcoitum. The compound possesses estrogenic (uterotrophic and vaginal cornification) and antiestrogenic a nd antiprogestational (delayed implantation and antideciduomagenic tests in rats; Clauberg assay in rabbits) activities. However it does not possess progestational androgenic or antiandrogenic properties. It is suggested that the site of action of the drug is both the fallopian tube and the uterus.

Factors inducing excystation in free-living amoebae.

Abstract: A method is described for obtaining viable sterile cysts of six species of amoebae (Schizopyrenus russelli, Didascalus thorntoni, Naegleria gruberi, Tetramitus rostratus, Hartmannella rhysodes and H. glebae), produced in monobacterial culture with Escherichia coli, free from living and dead bacteria. The method involved treatment of 5-7 days old cysts with dilute HC1 (1-5% wt/vol.) for 24 hr followed by treatment with sterile 10% (wt/vol.) trypsin in M/10 tris buffer (pH 7 6) for 10 min. Cysts of all species of amoebae excysted (92-100%) in aqueous extract of E. coli. There was practically no excystment in distilled water. Eosin staining showed that more than 90% cysts were viable. Dried extract of E. coli, when dissolved in distilled water, gave very good excystment up to a dilution of 1/400. Both dand L-forms of amino acids (2 0% wt/vol.) in distilled water (pH about 6*5) caused excystment of cysts of all the species of amoebae to varying degrees. At 2*0% (wt/vol.), L-isoleucine, L-arginine, L-alanine, L-serine and L-glutamic acids gave significantly higher percentage excystment of S. russelli cysts than at 0*25 or 0*125% (wt/vol.). When a mixture of all the amino acids at these concen­ trations was used, the percentage excystment was much higher than that obtained by indivi­ dual amino acids. Best excystment of S. russelli cysts was found in E. coli extract and L-glutamic acid at pH 6*5-10. There was hardly any excystment at pH 5. Phosphate, tris or carbonate-bicarbonate buffers caused excystment of about 10-30% of the cysts of some of the species of amoebae at alkaline pH (8*2 or 9*2). At acid pH (5*5), there was practically no ex­ cystment. Emetine hydrochloride (1/1000 wt/vol.) in most of the buffers at pH 8*2 or 9*2 killed cent per cent of the cysts of four species of amoebae. At pH 5*5, emetine in phosphate buffers had hardly any cysticidal effect, l-Glutamic acid (2*0% wt/vol., pH 6*0) and E. coli extract (pH 6*7) failed to cause excystment of S. russelli cysts in the presence of emetine (1/1000 wt/vol.). The treated cysts excysted readily in E. coli extract after the removal of emetine. Emetine in the presence of L-glutamic acid or in E. coli extract at pH 8-10 killed cent per cent of the cysts, as judged by excystment experiments in E. coli extract. In distilled water, emetine had no cysticidal effect at pH 5*8, but at pH 8-10 it killed cent per cent of the cysts of S. russelli. There was little or no excystment of S. russelli cysts in E. coli extract or amino acids when atmo­ spheric C02 was removed by KOH. Nearly all the unexcysted cysts excysted in E. coli extract in air, showing that they were viable.

Effect of some steroids on spermatogenesis & fertility of rats.

Abstract: To study the effect of a single dose of Depo-Provera Sustanon or Quinestrol on spermatogenesis groups of rats were treated with a single dose of 1 of the compounds. In addition rats were treated with daily administration of norethynodrel and ethynodiol diacetate for 30 days. All of the steroids caused a reduction of testicular weight (p<.01 in all cases). With Depo-Provera administration there were morphologically normal Leydig cells and uninterrupted spermatogenesis and a reduction in seminal vesicle and ventral prostate weights. Quinestrol treatment caused a reduction in tubular diamter with a thickening of the tunica propria and the arrest of spermatogenesis. Seminal vesicle and ventral prostate weight were reduced. 48 days after treatment the tubules showed normal activity. Sustanon norethynodrel and ethynodiol diacetate did not cause any apparent change in testicular morphology. Seminal vesicle and ventral prostate weights were decreased by all drugs. The 3 steroids tested inhibited libido.

Effect of melengestrol acetate on the organ weight & the mammary lobulo-alveolar development in rats.

Abstract: The effect of melengestrol acetate (MGA) on the organ weight and the mammary lobulo-alveolar development in rats was studied. 33 adult female rats were divided into 4 groups: 1) 5 mcg MGA/gm feed; 2) a normal diet; 3) ovariectomized and fed 5 mcg MGA/gm feed; and 4) ovairectomized and fed a normal diet for 30 days when the rats were sacrificed. In the second experiment 21 primiparous female rats were ovariectomized and 10 days later 1 group was injected with 2 mcg estradiol for 10 days while the 2nd group was injected with 50 mcg MGA/day and the 3rd group with estradiol plus MGA in the above doses. The animals were sacrificed after 10 days of treatment. MGA decreased anterior pituitary ovary uterus and adrenal weight but enhanced (p less than .01) mammary lobulo-alveolar development in intact rats. No effect on mammary development in ovariectomized rats was noticed whether the drug was given orally or by injection; however uterine and adrenal weights were reduced. MGA plus estradiol caused significant (p less than .01) mammary growth in ovariectomized rats as compared with that in rats given MGA or estradiol alone. Uterine weight was increased slightly after supplementation with estradiol but adrenal weight did not show improvement. It is suggested that MGA is without any estrogenic activity and therefore requires the presence of ovaries or estrogen to exhibit development of mammary growth.