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Biomedical subjects

C Gopalan

Publications and source records attributed to C Gopalan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Achieving household nutrition security in societies in transition: an overview.

The achievement of nutrition security at the household level involves adequacy of food supply at the national level and equitable distribution of food among the population in accordance with their physiological needs. The emergence of globalization and market liberalization and the increasing power of some transnational corporations that are advocating pharmaceutical shortcuts have raised concerns in many developing countries. In order to achieve adequacy of food production, earlier mistakes (such as a reliance on unsustainable new technologies) need to be corrected and the resultant imbalances with respect to food production need to be reversed. Emerging new technologies, including genetic modifications, need to be effectively harnessed and adapted with due consideration to safety and sustainability. There is a need to collect convincing evidence of the efficacy and safety of genetically modified foods before they can gain general public acceptance. Information technology will play an important role in future programmes of food production and developing countries must strive to achieve access to this technology. There is considerable scope and need for the expansion of agro-based industries in villages and townships. This could create job opportunities and could also lead to better production and more effective utilization of local food resources by the community and reduce the present considerable loss of perishable food items. Household nutrition security means more than avoidance of chronic starvation. Policy makers of developing countries should set, as their target in the next century, the achievement of adequate nutrition rather than mere survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Current food and nutrition situation in south Asian and south-east Asian countries.

Food production in the countries of South and South-East Asia has shown a general upward trend during the last decade. Despite the considerable increase in population in many of these countries, food production per capita in 1988-90 was significantly higher as compared to 1979-81 figures, the increase being specially marked in such countries as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Available daily calorie supply was adequate to meet the requirement. The overall pattern of food production however has shown little change, with cereal production continuing to account for a predominant part of food production. There is no evidence of a significant uptrend with respect to production of pulses, milk, horticultural products, poultry or meat production in most countries. A unique and unfortunate feature of the nutrition situation in South-Asian countries is that the incidence of low birth weight deliveries is as high as 34% (1990), ranging from 25% in Sri Lanka to 50% in Bangladesh (as against less than 7% in the countries of Europe and North America). Even in countries of Africa where the overall food and nutrition situation is worse than in South Asia, the incidence is well below 20%. This is a reflection of the poor state of maternal nutrition in pregnancy. Florid nutritional deficiency diseases have shown a steep decline over the last two decades, but goitre and iron deficiency anaemia continue to be major public health problems, though some headway has been made with regard to the control of the former. Severe forms of growth retardation in children have declined but the majority suffer from mild and moderate forms of growth retardation. Countries of the Region are in varying stages of developmental transition. Among the burgeoning middle classes in some of these countries there are evidences of escalation of degenerative diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. With increasing life expectancy, geriatric nutritional problems will demand increasing attention.

Asia↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of the effects of the dopamine D2 agonist quinelorane on tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neuronal activity in male and female rats.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of quinelorane (LY163502), a potent and selective D2 dopaminergic (DA) receptor agonist, on the activity of tuberoinfundibular DA neurons in male and female rats as estimated by determining the concentration of the primary metabolite of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), in terminals of these neurons in the median eminence (ME). In males, quinelorane produced dose- and time-related increases in the concentration of DOPAC in the Me which was blocked by the D2 receptor antagonist raclopride. The activity of tuberoinfundibular neurons in female rats is higher than it is in males because circulating levels of prolactin tonically stimulate these neurons in the female. In female rats, quinelorane markedly lowered plasma concentrations of prolactin but failed to alter DOPAC concentrations in the ME. Pretreatment of female rats with prolactin antiserum induced hypoprolactinemia and reduced DOPAC concentrations in the ME; in these animals quinelorane increased ME DOPAC concentrations. These results indicate that by acting on D2 receptors quinelorane is able to stimulate tuberoinfundibular DA neurons in both male and female rats, but in female rats the ability of quinelorane to reduce circulating levels of prolactin indirectly reduces the activity of tuberoinfundibular DA neurons and thereby masks the stimulatory action of this drug on these neurons.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1993

Neurochemical evidence that the inhibitory effect of galanin on tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons is activity dependent.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of galanin on the basal and stimulated activity of tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons in male and female rats. TIDA neuronal activity was estimated by measuring dopamine (DA) synthesis [accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine(DOPA) after administration of a decarboxylase inhibitor] and metabolism [ratio of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) to DA concentrations] in terminals of these neurons in the median eminence. Central administration of galanin (2 micrograms/rat, i.c.v.) produced a rapid (by 15 min) increase in plasma prolactin concentrations, but had no effect on the ratio of DOPAC to DA in the median eminence of either male or female rats. In contrast, galanin decreased the ratio of DOPAC to DA in the median eminence of both male and female rats whose TIDA neuronal activity was stimulated following administration of the DA antagonist haloperidol (1 mg/kg, s.c., 12 h). The galanin receptor antagonist galanin-(1-13)-bradykinin-(2-9)-amide had no effect on the accumulation of DOPA in the median eminence of male rats per se, but blocked the inhibitory effects of either exogenous or endogenous galanin on median eminence DOPA accumulation in haloperidol-treated rats. These results indicate that in both male and female rats, galanin-induced activation of prolactin secretion is not mediated by changes in tonic inhibition of hormone release by TIDA neurons, and that TIDA neurons are responsive to the inhibitory effects of galanin only under activated conditions.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1992

The contribution of nutrition research to the control of undernutrition: the Indian experience.

Since diseases directly related to undernutrition are the major public health problems of India, nutrition research in the country has been largely directed towards elucidating their causes and identifying the most feasible methods for their prevention and control. This effort is an interdisciplinary exercise carried out in the laboratory, the clinic, and the field, with close interaction among biochemists, clinicians, and epidemiologists. Some of the identified solutions have found practical application; but, as in other areas of scientific endeavor, a gap exists between the acquisition of knowledge in the laboratories and its application in the field. Today, thanks to research efforts of the last few decades, we have the knowledge with which most diseases related to undernutrition can be prevented. Unfortunately, however, we do not always have the means of applying this knowledge under real-life conditions in the field. Even so, nutrition research during the last few decades has contributed significantly to the amelioration of undernutrition among poor communities in India.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Effects of different opiates on hypothalamic monoamine turnover and on plasma LH levels in pro-oestrous rats.

Opiate inhibition of luteinizing hormone (LH) appears to involve changes in hypothalamic monoaminergic activity. Agonists of mu-, kappa- and sigma-opioid receptors and an opiate antagonist were administered at the onset of the preovulatory LH surge and their effects on hypothalamic monoamine turnover, and on plasma LH levels, investigated. The opiate antagonist, naloxone, significantly increased both noradrenaline (NA) turnover and plasma LH levels. Morphine (mu-agonist), significantly decreased NA concentration and plasma LH levels, but significantly increased dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) activity. Levorphanol (another mu-agonist) significantly decreased both NA and 5-HT concentrations and had no effect on circulating LH. Cyclazocine, ketocyclazocine and tifluadom (kappa-agonists) increased NA turnover but only tifluadom increased 5-HT turnover, also reducing LH levels significantly. N-Allylnormetazocine (SKF 10,047; sigma-agonist) increased 5-HT activity but did not alter LH levels. This study has confirmed the existence of a heterogenous group of opioid receptors within the hypothalamus which modulate monoamine neurotransmitters controlling LH release.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The role of the hypothalamic beta-adrenergic system in controlling the LH rise in short-term castrated rats.

Intraventricular infusions of adrenaline and various pharmacological agents acting on beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes were carried out in rats orchidectomized 16 h previously. Infusions (10 microliter) of solutions containing the drugs were administered under anaesthesia induced with alphaxalone and alphadolone. Levels of LH were measured in plasma collected immediately before and at predetermined intervals after the infusion. The acute rise in LH levels after castration was increased still further by isoprenaline (a mixed beta 1- and beta 2-agonist), fenoterol (a beta 2-agonist) and atenolol (a beta 1-antagonist). In contrast, prenalterol (a beta 1-agonist) and (2RS,3RS)-3-isopropylamino-1-(7-methylindan-4-yloxy)++ +butan-2-ol (ICI 118,551) (a selective beta 2-antagonist) were inhibitory to LH release. Adrenaline itself, salbutamol (another selective beta 2-agonist), propranolol (a mixed beta-antagonist) and metoprolol (a beta 1-antagonist) did not significantly alter plasma LH concentrations at the doses administered. The stimulatory effect of isoprenaline on LH release was partially reduced when given together with ICI 118,551, but was not affected when administered simultaneously with atenolol. The inhibitory effect of ICI 118,551 was, however, prevented by concomitant administration with fenoterol, as was that of prenalterol when infused with atenolol. The results suggest that the hypothalamic mediation of the short-term changes in LH release in response to castration is exerted, at least in part, through the activation of a beta 2-stimulatory component and the suppression of a beta 1-inhibitory component.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗