The present study describes the fabrication of polyaniline-silk fibroin (PASF) nanocomposite-based nerve conduits and their subsequent implantation in a rat sciatic nerve injury model for peripheral nerve regeneration. This is the first in vivo study of polyaniline-based nerve conduits describing the safety and efficacy of the conduits in treating peripheral nerve injuries. The nanocomposite was synthesized by electrospinning a mixture of silk fibroin protein and polyaniline wherein the silk nanofibers were observed to be uniformly coated with polyaniline nanoparticles. Tubular shaped nerve conduits were subsequently formed by multiple rolling of the electrospun sheet over a stainless steel mandrel. The conduits were characterized in vitro for their physico-chemical properties as well as their compatibility with rat Schwann cells. Upon implantation in a 10 mm sciatic nerve injury model, the conduits were evaluated for their neuro-regenerative potential through extensive electrophysiological studies and monitoring of gait pattern over a course of 12 months. Gross examination, histological and ultra-structure analyses of the conduits and the regenerated nerve were also performed to evaluate morphological regeneration of transected nerve. PASF nanocomposite conduits seeded with Schwann cell (cell seeded PASF) exhibited excellent nerve conduction velocity (NCV) (50 m s), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) (12.8 mV), motor unit potential (MUP) (124 μV), growth of healthy tissue along the nerve gap and thick myelination of axons 12 months after implantation indicating enhanced neuro-regeneration. The excellent functional recovery achieved by animals implanted with cell seeded PASF conduits (86.2% NCV; 80.00% CMAP; 76.07% MUP) are superior to outcomes achieved previously with similar electrically conductive conduits. We believe that the present study would encourage further research in developing electrically active neural implants using synthetic conducting polymers and the in vivo applications of the same.
Glycogen content and metabolic enzyme activities viz. lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) in Indian major carps, Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus mrigala, were investigated after a 6 h transportation trial to compare the species‐specific variation and the effect of increased packing density on the metabolism. Fish (45±5 mm, 0.5±0.1 g) were packed in three densities (100, 150 and 200 L−1) for the experiment, and 12 specimens of each species were randomly sampled from all the treatments at the end of transportation. The glycogen content of L. rohita ingerlings decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing packing density. The activities of enzymes LDH, MDH, AST and ALT showed a rising trend with increasing packing density in all the three species. Species‐specific differences were observed in various tested parameters at the lowest packing density (100 fry L−1). Alanine amino transferase and LDH activities were significantly (P<0.05) lower in C. mrigala as compared with the other two species. However, glycogen reserves and MDH activity were not significantly different (P>0.05) among the species. The present study reveals that the optimum packing density for Indian major carp fry (100 fry L−1) for transportation up to 6 h and metabolic regimes are species specific during transportation.
Teleost fish have developed their own specific adaptive mechanism, both behavioral and physiological, to maintain homeostasis in response to unfavorable temperatures. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the critical thermal maxima (CT(Max)), critical thermal minima (CT(Min)), and oxygen consumption rate of Anabas testudineus (17.03 +/- 1.2 g) after acclimating to three preset temperatures (25, 30, and 35 degrees C) for 30 days. The CT(Max) and CT(Min) were 40.15, 41.40, 41.88 degrees C and 12.43, 13.06, 13.94 degrees C, respectively, and were significantly different (P < 0.05). The thermal tolerance polygon for the specified temperatures was 278.30 degrees C(2). The oxygen consumption rate (117.03, 125.70, 198.48 mg O(2) kg(-1) h(-1), respectively) increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing acclimation temperatures. The overall results indicate that the thermal tolerance and oxygen consumption of A. testudineus are dependent on acclimation.
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