Punjab University Journal of Zoology

1-7

Authors: Nabil Roohi, Abdul Majeed Cheema, Saima Munir and Muhammad Waheed Akhtar

Serum samples of healthy women and hyperthyroid patients were obtained alongwith the radioimmunoassay values of triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone. Samples were diluted in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) and proteins denatured by heating with loading dye. SDS-PAGE was employed for studying the protein profile of healthy and hyper thyroid subjects. Gels were photographed and their images were stored for quantification of protein fractions by UVP Gel Base Software Programme that provides the data of molecular weights and percent areas covered by each of the fractions. Data was employed in finding the enhancement or reduction and the appearance of disappearance of particular protein fractions for comparison between healthy and hyperthyroid groups. A total of 21 fractions were detected in normal subjects, all of which were expressed in hyperthyroid group. Most of the fractions in hyperthyroid group were found to be markedly reduced when compared to healthy group. No new fractions were encountered in hyperthyroid compared to healthy group.

27-31

Authors: Muhammad Akhtar

A well preserved part of a skull with M1-3 of both sides and portions of palate and frontals is described from Dhok Pathan (Middle Siwaliks), Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan. The medium basal pillar of the molars is an important feature of the species Cervus triplidens Lydekker. It is quite prominent in all the teeth and all show an advanced stage of wear in the specimen under study.

41-54

Authors: Azra Yasmin and Shahid Hasnain

Seven isolated from the histoplane (Cs-1, Cs-2, Cs-3, Cs-4) and rhizoplane (RCs-1, RCs-2, RCs-3) of Convolvulus arvensis, growing in saline area were obtained. They were gram-negative motile rods (except Cs-2 which was gram negative motile cocci) and could tolerate 2.0-3.0M NaCl in the medium. Optimal salt concentration for their growth was 0.5M (Cs-2, Cs-3, RCs-1, Rcs-3), 1.0M (Cs-4, RCs-3) and 1.5M (Cs-1), hence all of them were moderately halophilic bacteria. Strains Cs-4 and RCs-2 shared characters with genus Halomonas, while others belonged to group gram-negative facultative anaerobic rods (except Cs-2). Tolerance level to salts such as NaHCO3, Na2SO4, KNO3 and KCl varies for different strains. Depending uon the strain temperature for maximum growth of these bacteria was 28oC (Cs-4, RCs-2), 32oC (RCs-1, RCs-3), 37oC (Cs-2, Cs-3) or 42oC (Cs-1). They exhibited wide pH range with optimal pH 8 (except for Cs-2 where it was 9) in the presence of 1M NaCl, thus belonging to moderately alkaliphilic bacteria. However their pH optima varied from 5-10 in the absence of NaCl. These strains confer resistance to kanamycin in the presence of 1M NaCl but not in its absence. Whereas resistance behavior to ampicilline was different for different strains. They also exhibited multiple resistance to differet metallic salts. Apart from Cs-2, other strains harbor plasmid/s.

59-63

Authors: Firdausia Azam Ali and Tahira Nasreen Akhtar

The toxic effect of Acetellic was tested against adults of Callosobruchus chinensis. LD50 for Acetellic was found to be 0.5559 ppm while 0.9 ppm caused 100% mortality after 48 hours. No treatment resulted in no mortality. There was a significant reduction in number of eggs between the treated and the control insects. The number of the eggs deposited decreased with the incrdase in the concentration of the insecticide.

79-87

Authors: Shahbaz Khan, Daler Khan and Akhtar Tanveer

Two basic types of haemocytes i.e., granulocytes and hyalinocytes were present in the blood of snail, Bensonies jacquemonti. Most of the haemocytes observed (97.2%) were granulocytes. Their diameter varies from 18-36 µm. Ectoplasm was not very distinct. The endoplasm have granules of various sizes. The pseudopodia are either filopodia or lobopodia. Each granulocyte forms 2-17 filopodia which are upto 12-62 µm long. Terminal or basal webs showed dichotomous branching or branches on one side. Granulocytes can merge with each other or with hyalinocytes thus loosing their cytoplasmic identity and form large aggregates of cells. The nucleus of granulocytes was rounded to oval, kidney-shaped or lobulated, 9-12 µm in size. Hyalinocytes (2.8%) were rounded cells, without pseudopodia, have diameter 13-42 µm. They differed from granulocytes in the presence of few granules, in having hyaline ectoplasm. The nucleus of hyalinocytes was rounded to oval or somewhat oblong with diameter 9-12 µm. A few spent granulocytes and hyahnocytes were also present. Some haemocytes (2-3%) of B. jacquemonti were found binucleated.

99-113

Authors: Akhtar Tanveer, Riffat Mustafa and Zaheer Anwar

Out of twenty-six healthy rabbits acclimatized to the optimal laboratory conditions for fifteen days, 4 were considered as normal control and twenty-two were inoculated (intraperitoneally and subcutaneously) with 45000 protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus of sheep origin. They were at random divided into 4 groups. Groups 1-3 were orally given (2g/day) mashed leaves of Aloe vera, powdered Punica granatum (unripped ovary part) and fruit of Azadirachta indica respectively. Group 4 was considered as infected control. All the rabbits were fed on seasonal green fodder and ordinary tap water ad libitum. Their blood samples were pooled after every 10 days upto 70 days for biochemical analyses. Increased (P<0.001) body weight was noted in experimental rabbits. It was clear from the biochemical results that activities o9++f acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and glucose decreased (P<0.001) in rabbits treated with A. vera, P. granatum and A. indica as compared to normal control and the values of glutamic oxaloacetic transminase, glutamic pyruvic transminase, cholesterol and total protein improved (P<0.001) as a result of herbal treatment. The bilirubin value improved only in rabbits treated with A. vera and A. indica (P<0.001). The results of our present investigation showed that alterations in different enzymes and biochemical metabolites induced by liver protoscoleces were improved in the rabbits orally given A. vera, P. granatum and A. indica. Although the extent of improvement varies in these plants, even then the present results are promising and it is suggested that the active ingredients of these plants should be checked for further use.

123-126

Authors: M. Yasser Mustafa Butt

The prevalence of Gastro-intestinal parasites of both sheep and goats brought for slaughtering at Lahore abattoir was studied. The overall prevalence was recorded to be 92.35% including 28.13% infected with one species while 64.22% infected with more than one species of parasites. During this study Haemonchus contortus (39.41%). Trichostrongylus spp. (22.94) and Fasciola hepatica (14.11) were found major parasites in these animals. The effect on various blood parameters showed a decrease in total leukocytic count, haemoglobin level and increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate values in infected sheep and goats.

135-147

Authors: Javed I. Qazi and Shahzad A. Mufti

Exogenous administration of testosterone propionate to normal male rats accelerated the process of skeletal muscle fibre’s regeneration following orthotopic transplantations of extensor digitorum longus muscles. At one-week postgrafting period the hormone supplemented muscle grafts were found to attain significantly higher average cross-sectional area of the regenerated muscle fibres than those in the control transplants. The steroid exerted its pronounced anabolic effects during the early phase of muscle regeneration and the experimental grafts looked also better in terms of less deposition of connective tissue and earlier completion of degeneration-regeneration course than the control regenerates. In the later stages of regeneration corss-sectional areas of the regenerated muscle fibres were comparable in both categories of the grafts, however, number of the regenerated muscle fibres appeared higher in the hormone supplied transplants accompanied with little connective tissue deposition.

167-178

Authors: Zomra Ilyas, Fouzia Qamar, Firdausia Azam Ali

The toxic effect of Bacillus thuringiensis on the haemolymph of adult Lucilia cuprina was observed, LD50 was calculated. The treatment resulted in the destruction and vacuolization of plasma and haemocytes. Differential haemocyte counting of the treated flies showed quantitative changes in the haemocytes as compared to the control ones.

191-194

Authors: Kausar Malik, Abida Butt and S. Riazuddin

Mortality bioassays were used to investigate the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis strains against cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii. These strains were isolated from samples collected from different localities of Pakistan. Of the total isolates screened, nine strains showed activity against cotton aphids. Two isolates viz., Fic 16.15 and Ins 2.13 gave the lowest LC50 values.