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The present study was done to evaluate the pituitary-testicular activities of rats subjected to chronic nicotine treatment. The testicular key androgenic enzymes activities, plasma and intratesticular testosterone (ITT) concentrations, and plasma concentration of gonadotropin were significantly reduced by nicotine treatment along with the decreased sperm counts and the disruption of spermatogenesis indicated by significant reduction in the number of different generations of germ cells at stage VII of the spermatogenesis cycle with increased sperm head abnormalities. The Western blot and the reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis revealed that the nicotine induced a marked decrease in the expression of testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, which helps in the transfer of cholesterol in mitochondria for the testosterone biosynthesis. The increased testicular lipid peroxidation, plasma concentration of corticosterone, with enhanced hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical generations, as well as decreased glutathione level, reduced antioxidant enzymes activities, and mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi(m)) of testis, were noted after nicotine treatment in rats. Human chorionic gonadotropin or taurine supplementation with nicotine prevented the degeneration of germ cells to some extent, restored spermatogenesis moderately with decreased sperm head abnormalities, and enhanced sperm counts, accompanied with increase in plasma and ITT concentrations, testicular StAR gene expression, and key androgenic enzymes activities. Moreover, taurine supplementation to nicotine-treated animals resulted in the diminution of testicular lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical generations, with the elevation in glutathione level as well as different antioxidant enzymes activities and Deltapsi(m) in testis. The results indicated that nicotine caused testicular toxicity by germ cell degeneration, inhibition of StAR gene expression along with androgen production in adult male rats probably by affecting pituitary gonadotropin, and/or modulating the extent of testicular antioxidant status.

Pure hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a biphasic calcium phosphate [containing 90% of beta-tri-calcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and 10% HAp] were tailored through an aqueous solution combustion synthesis. Porous struts were prepared using all the powders along with bioglass, a known bioactive material, and subsequently characterized. Sterilized struts were implanted to the lateral side of radius bone of 24 black Bengal goats of either sex, in which a blank hole was left unfilled in a group of six specimens to act as control. The bone formation response of the three implanting materials in vivo has been studied using scanning electron microscope and histological analysis in contrast with positive controls. Push-out tests were used to assess the mechanical strength at the bone-biomaterial interface. It was observed that interfacial response was strongly dependent on combinations of different physical and chemical parameters. The surface of beta-TCP exhibited similar characteristics of bone and was distinct from those of intervening apatite layer of bioglass. Lower bone ingrowth and reduced strength was observed with HAp compared to beta-TCP/bioglass-based implants. Bone formation response of the Ca-P material varied according to the composition of the implanting material, which could be tailored through this novel synthesis.

Although it has been well established that spermatogenic cells undergo apoptosis when treated with ethanol, the molecular mechanisms behind it remain to be investigated. Adult male mice were given intra-peritoneal injection (IP) of ethanol at a dose of 3 g (15%, v/v) per kg body weight per day during the period of 14 days. Testicular androgenesis and apoptotic germ cell death, along with different interrelated proteins expression, were evaluated. Ethanol treatment induced apoptotic spermatogenic cell death with a decrease in the plasma and intra-testicular testosterone concentration. Western blot analysis revealed that repeated ethanol treatment decreased the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD); increased the expression of active caspase-3, p53, Fas and Fas-L; and led to up-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol in testis. It has also been shown in our study that repeated ethanol treatment led to up-regulation of caspase-3, p53, Fas, Fas-L transcripts; increase in caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities; diminution of 3beta-HSD, 17beta-HSD, and GPx activities; decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential along with ROS generation and depletion of glutathione pool in the testicular tissue. The present study has indicated that the ethanol treatment induced apoptosis in the mouse testis through the increased expression of Fas/Fas-L and p53, up-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytosolic translocation of cytochrome c along with caspase-3 activation and glutathione depletion.

To compare the production and economic performance of two polyculture systems with different species combinations in brackishwater tide-fed ponds, a 180-day trial was carried out. In the first combination (T1), mullets (Mugil cephalus, Liza tade and L. parsia at 3 : 1 : 1.3 ratio) and tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and in the second (T2), milkfish (Chanos chanos) and tiger shrimp were stocked keeping the fishes and shrimp at 8000 and 20 000 numbers ha )1 , respectively, in both treatments with duplicate ponds. Since shrimp was an important component of these two systems with open water exchange, the dynamics of heterotrophic bacteria (THB) including Vibrio spp. (TVC) and the occurrence of viral infection agents were studied to understand the disease risks. Among the fishes in T1, M. cephalus attained the highest final weight of 92.29 ± 4.36 g followed by L. tade and L. parsia with 80.40 ± 4.02 and 54.02 ± 2.11 g, respectively. C. chanos in T2 had the highest net weight gain (127.85 g) and daily weight gain (0.71 g day )1 ), while M. cephalus in T1 attained the highest specific growth rate (1.60% day )1 ). Growth parameters of tiger shrimp were almost similar in both treatments, with no significant differences (P > 0.05). Though total production of fishes and shrimp was lower in T1 (689 kg ha )1 180 day )1 ), it was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from T2 (721 kg ha )1 180 day )1 ). Monthly THB and TVC were not alarming and the absence of viral infections in shrimp indicated no disease risk. Total income from T1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of T2, but net income and benefit-cost ratio were insignificantly different between the treatments (P > 0.05). The present findings indicate that upon availability of stocking materials, both polyculture systems would be suitable farming options.

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Phacoemulsification was successfully performed with this anesthetic regimen without encountering major intraoperative or anesthetic complications.

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