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Biomedical subjects

R Mathur

Publications and source records attributed to R Mathur.

143 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-hormonal post-coital contraceptive action of neem oil in rats.

Neem oil, a natural product of Azadirachta indica was investigated for various hormonal properties in relation to its post-coital contraceptive action. At subcutaneous doses up to 0.3 ml/rat, neem oil did not possess any estrogenic, anti-estrogenic or progestational activity and appeared not to interfere with the action of progesterone. These findings were confirmed using the histo-architecture of the uterus of treated rats. Since the post-coital contraceptive effect of neem oil seems to be non-hormonal, neem oil would be expected to elicit less side effects than the steroidal contraceptives.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gametogenic count and histopathological effect of thorium nitrate and uranyl nitrate on mice testes.

Daily intraperitoneal administration of aqueous solution of 0.05 m mole/100 g b. wt. of uranyl nitrate and thorium nitrate has been observed for 7 days. Marked reduction in the seminiferous tubule diameter and gametogenic count was observed. Signs of testicular necrosis, exfoliation of germ cells, and karyolysis and karyorrhexis were seen in most of the tutubles. Mononucleate and polynucleate giant cells were also observed indicating prolonged pathological condition.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antifertility effects of embelin in male rats.

Embelin, extracted from Embelia ribes Burm. berries, altered the testicular histology and glycogen, gametogenic counts and accessory sex gland fructose at the dose levels 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mg/kg body weight administered subcutaneously for 35 days. The compound is suggested to possess antiandrogenic activity.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adenosinergic and dopaminergic interaction in nigrostriatum in FeCl3-induced model of parkinsonism in rats.

The effect of adenosine modulating drugs was studied in the FeCl3-induced model of parkinsonism in rats. In rats bearing unilateral FeCl3 induced lesion of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway, stimulation of adenosine receptors with adenosine, dose-dependently reduced the ipsilateral rotations induced by apomorphine. A specific agonist of adenosine A2A receptor, CGS-21680, also completely blocked the rotations while the specific A2 receptor antagonist, CGS-15943A, potentiated rotations induced by apomorphine. The nonspecific adenosine antagonist, theophylline (50 mg/kg i.p.) potentiated stereotype behavior although blocking rotations. This study provides evidence for a negative postsynaptic interaction between dopamine and adenosine receptors.

Adenosine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis and management of congenital adrenal hyperplasia: clinical, molecular and prenatal aspects.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is the most common cause of female pseudohermaphroditism in Indian children. It is caused by enzymatic defects in the steroidogenic pathway of the adrenal glands and is characterized by impaired cortisol and aldosterone synthesis and overproduction of androgens. The disease usually presents with life-threatening problems and virilization, with long term physical and psychological effects. The clinical and laboratory diagnoses play an important role in deciding the course of treatment, which continues lifelong. To ensure proper growth and development of the patient, optimized disease management and treatment with steroids is required. Often the patient also requires surgical correction. Recent developments in molecular genetics have greatly helped in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. The gene encoding for steroid 21-hydroxylase, CYP21, is located on the short arm of chromosome 6 in the HLA region and is amplified for genetic diagnosis. Rapid characterization of point mutations is possible using the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction technique in affected children. Counselling, prenatal diagnosis and treatment are recommended in all pregnant women with a positive family history to reduce or eliminate the effects in affected foetuses. This spares the female newborn the consequences of genital ambiguity and problems of gender identity.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mitochondrial diseases: an overview of genetics, pathogenesis, clinical features and an approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Defects in structures or functions of mitochondria, mainly involving the oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial biogenesis and other metabolic pathways have been shown to be associated with a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes. The ubiquitous nature of mitochondria and their unique genetic features contribute to the clinical, biochemical and genetic heterogenecity of mitochondrial diseases. This article focuses on the recent advances in the field of mitochondrial disorders with respect to the consequences for an advanced clinical and genetic diagnostics. In addition, an overview on recently identified genetic defects and their pathogenic molecular mechanisms are given.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical and physiological alterations in female reproductive organs of cyclic rats treated with aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam.

Biochemical and physiological alterations have been observed in the genital tract of female cyclic rats treated with aqueous extract of M. oleifera Lam. Its administration caused a significant increase in the glycogen contents, protein concentration, activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase and the level of total cholesterol in all the organs at initial days of treatment. However, at longer days of treatment the values revealed a significant depletion. Initially its administration stimulated the uterine structures, caused metaplastic changes in the cervical epithelium and provoked considerable cornification in the vaginal epithelium. At later durations significant inhibition in the histoarchitecture was observed. Biochemical observations supplemented with the histological findings have been correlated with the anti-implantation action of the aqueous extract in the light of its hormonal properties.

Abortifacient Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Histochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase in the uterus of rats: response to a few indigenous plant extracts.

Localization of alkaline phosphatase in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium of rats under the influence of 50% ethanolic and benzene extracts of three indigenous plants viz. Embelia ribes Burm. (dried berries), Artobotrys odoratissimus Linn. (fresh green leaves) and Hibiscus rosasinensis Linn. (flowers) has been studied histochemically. 75 and 150 mg/kg doses of 50% ethanolic extracts of E. ribes increased the intensity of reaction for alkaline phosphatase in both luminal and glandular epithelium, whereas extracts of A. odorantissimus and H. rosa-sinensis could not elicit any significant positive staining in luminal and glandular epithelium for alkaline phosphatase. Intense positive reaction for alkaline phosphatase due to E. ribes extract has been correlated with its estrogenic mode of action.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Uterine histoarchitecture during pre and post-implantation periods of rats treated with aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam.

The effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (roots) has been studied on histoarchitecture of the uterus during pre and post-implantation stages in rats so as to elucidate its antifertility mode of action. The histoarchitecture of the uterus of control pregnant rat had revealed a clear-cut close apposition of the uterine endometrium with reduced lumen and loose stroma. There was a prominent appearance of deciduoma and the uterine glands were enlarged. Glandular cells showed hypertrophy and in the endometrium the leucocytic infiltration was increased. When the aqueous extract of M. oleifera Lam. was administered, no deciduoma was observed on day 5th of pregnancy and the luminal epithelium remained unstimulated. The lumen was enlarged and the uterus was non-oedematous. It has been concluded that the administration of aqueous extract of M. oleifera Lam. to pregnant rats could not stimulate the uterus which remained non-receptive throughout the period of treatment, therefore, the fertilized eggs may not be welcomed by the unprepared uterus.

Abortifacient Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-implantation activity of some indigenous plants in rats.

Various extracts of one hundred and eight medicinal plants were screened for their anti-implantation activity in female albino rats. Out of these, 50% ethanolic extract of Codonospis ovata Benth (PL); 50% ethanolic, acetone and benzene extracts of Puararia tuberosa DC (TUB); aqueous and methanolic extracts of Punica granatum Linn. (PX) and ethanolic and acetone extracts of Rubus ellipiticus Smith (PX) inhibited pregnancy in 70-90% of rats. Similarly ethanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica Nees (LF) and Kigelia pinnata DC (PL); ethanolic and acetone extracts of Acrostichum aureum Linn. (PL), Juniperus communis Linn. (SD), Lepidium capitatum H.f. & T. (PL); ethanolic and benzene extracts of Citrulus colocynthus Schrad (LF) and acetone extract of Codonopsis ovata Benth (PL) showed 60-70% anti-implantation activity. Extracts of a few plants VIZ. Dolichos biflorus Linn. (SD), Ferule orientalis Linn. (PL), Nerium odoratum Lamk (RT), Randia dumetorum Lamk (SD) and Ruta graveolens Linn. (PL) could inhibit pregnancy in 50-60% of rats. The rest of the plants were either inactive or showed insignificant antifertility activity.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Contraceptive potency of Pueraria tuberosa D.C. and its hormonal status.

A medicinal plant, Pueraria tuberosa D.C. has been thoroughly investigated for its contraceptive potency in various animals viz. rats, mice and hamsters. The activity has been further confirmed with respect to its habitat and seasonal variations. The potent fractions have been studied for their biological properties so as to elucidate its exact hormonal status. The observations suggest that tubers of P. tuberosa D.C. possess significant antifertility activity. The contraceptive efficacy does not alter significantly with respect to the change in time and place of collection. Its crude powder, ethanolic aand butanolic extracts evoke a significant antifertility activity in rats, mice and hamsters whereas hexane, chloroform, methanol, petroleum ether and benzene extracts are significantly effective to prevent implantation only in rats and mice. Aqueous extract does not show any significant antifertility activity in all these three animal species. The studies on its biological properties suggest that all the fractions of P. tuberosa D.C. possess significant estrogenic activity. In addition to this activity, the crude powder also shows significant progestational and mild antiprogestational activity whereas ethanolic and butanolic extracts show significant progestational activity. Petroleum ether and benzene extracts show only the estrogenic activity. The biological properties and their differences in activity have been discussed in relation to antifertility mode of action of P. tuberosa.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antifertility efficacy of Catharanthus roseus Linn: a biochemical and histological study.

Oral administration of Catharanthus roseus Linn, leaf extract caused widespread testicular necrosis, hyalinization of tubules and Sertoli cell-only-Syndrome. Biochemical studies revealing notable reduction in glycogen and fructose levels in reproductive tissues support the histological observations and confirm the antifertility properties of C. roseus extract.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of Pueraria tuberosa DC on the oestrous cycle of adult rats.

The effect of extracts of Pueraria tuberosa DC has been studied on the oestrous cycle of adult rats. It is found that when petroleum ether and benzene extracts are given orally to normal cyclic rats, within 3-4 days the diestrus phase is transformed into a prolonged cornified stage, which persisted till the last day of treatment indicating thereby the estrogenic nature of the extracts. The administration of crude powder and ethanolic extract also induced cornification but after the 13th day, the cornified stage changed into the diestrus stage which continued till the last day of treatment. This type of change is thought to be due to the multiple hormonal properties of the crude powder and ethanolic extract.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cholinesterase activity in the great blood vessels of the heart of Pteropus giganteus.

The great thoracic blood vessels associated with the heart of the Indian flying fox -- Pteropus giganteus were studied histochemically. Acetylcholinesterase was used as a histochemical tool for studying the pattern of distribution of ganglia, nerve plexuses, nerve fibres and nerve endings innervating the various layers of the blood vessels. Their role in the regulation of vasodilation and vasoconstriction is discussed.

Acetylcholinesterase↗