Punjab University Journal of Zoology

1-56

Authors: Syed Shahid Ali and Abdul Rauf Shakoori

Aldrin-mixed diet, fed to Sprague Dawley rats at a dose of 20 mg, 8 mg and 2.5 mg/kg body wt. /day for 48 hours, 15 days, and 18 months, respectively produced significant changes in the blood and liver. The haemoglobin content, red blood cells count and packed cell volume decreased, while the white blood cell count increased under all treatments. The serum glutamate oxaloacetate treansminase (GOT), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and isocitrate dehydrogenase increased 370, 141 and 135%, respectively in 48 hour treatment. The creatin phosphokinase activity increased (83%) in 15 day treatment. The acid phosphatase activity increased 97% after 6 months treatment. Bilirubin content increased in 15 day, urea in 15 day and 18 month and protein content under all experimental conditions. Cholesterol and free amino acids (FAA) contents decreased after aldrin feeding. In 48 hour experiment hyperglycemia was induced, while hypoglycemia was found in 15 day treatment. In liver, AP and GOT activities increased 171% and 28% respectively in 48 hour feeding, while lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) decreased (26%). In 15 day feeding experiment the glutamate pyruvate transminase (GPT) and LDH activities increased 186% and 23% after 9 and 15 days, respectively. This increase was more pronounced in 18 months treatment. The hepatic cholesterol generally decreased in 48 hour and 6 month treatments, while in 15 day feeding reverse pattern was obtained. Hepatic soluble proteins increased in 48 hours and 18 month feeding groups, DNA content remained unaltered, while RNA showed almost constant increase in 15 day treatment. Aldrin treatment produced hypertrophy of hepatic cells, nuclei and nucleoli. Fatty degeneration and extensive vacuolation was evident in 48 hour feeding. The vacuolation, granulation of hepatic tissue and prominent clear areas around nuclei was found in 15 day feeding. These changes, with distorted nuclei and enlarged kupffer cells, were also observed in 18 months feeding group.

81-88

Authors: Firdausia Azam Ali and Farrukh Naveed

The quantitative analysis of the lipid contents of the thoracic muscles of starved and differently fed female blowflies, Lucilia cuprina was carried out at 4 hourly intervals starting from 4-hour old flies. The maximum lipid contents were observed in the beef extract-fed flies (9.90 mg/100 mg) while the minimum were observed in the starved flies (9.85 mg/100mg). Except for minor fluctuations a consistent decrease was observed in all the categories of the flies. At the end of the experimental period the minimum amount was observed in the starved while the maximum amount noted in the mixed-fed flies.