1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)
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Item Foliar uptake and accumulation of nanoplastics and its effect on growth and physiology in selected tree seedlings(Department of Forest Biology and Tree improvement, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2025-04-26) Archana Abraham; Delphy Rocha; Misha Davis, AThe persistent nature of plastics, combined with inadequate waste management practices, poses a significant and escalating threat to both terrestrial and marine ecosystems worldwide. This study investigated the foliar uptake, accumulation and physiological effects of nanoplastics (NP) in seedlings of Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea, and Macaranga peltata. Five-month-old seedlings were subjected to foliar application of NP solutions (0.1 mg L⁻¹ and 1 mg L⁻¹) for 21 days, with control plants serving as a baseline. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy confirmed the uptake and systemic transport of nanoplastics in leaves, stems, and roots of all species. Growth parameters, including height and collar diameter, showed significant reductions in Tectona grandis, while physiological parameters such as photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, and chlorophyll content declined across all species, with the most pronounced effects observed at higher nanoplastic concentrations. Biochemical analyses revealed reductions in total soluble sugars, proteins, and phenolic content, particularly in Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea, suggesting oxidative stress and metabolic disruptions. The results highlighted strong correlations between nanoplastic exposure and impaired physiological functions. These findings provide crucial insights into the species-specific responses of trees to airborne nanoplastic contamination, emphasizing the need for further research on the ecological consequences of nanoplastics in forest ecosystems. By examining these effects, the research aims to provide insights into the potential risks posed by airborne nanoplastics to plant health.Item Effect of induced stress and antistress agents on the physiological parameters in broiler chicken(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Srinivas Reddy Bellur; Philomina, P TItem Evaluation of certain metabolic and haematological parameters in crossbred calves fed with rumen undegradable soyabean meal(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2002) Yuvaraj, N; Ramnath, VItem Effect of blue green alga (Spirulina platensis) on haematological, biochemical and fertility parameters of egg type male chicken(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Sethu Nair, C; Girish Varma, GItem Lipid transfer in chicken ovary(Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1981) Mathew Thomas; Ramakrishnapillai, M GThe formation of an egg in the avian reproductive tract is a complex phenomenon. The exact mechanisms involved in the transfer of lipids synthesized in the liver and transported by blood to the ovary are not quite well understood. Hence this investigation was undertaken to study the various aspects of lipid transfer in relation to egg yolk formation. Ten numbers each of clinically healthy White Leghorn female birds of five different age groups (30 – 54- days, 70 – 74 – days, 100 – 104 – days, 129 – 133 – days and 223 – 227 – days – old) were selected at random, for the study and reared under standard farm conditions. Another group of 40 White Leghorn pullets (100 – 104 – days – old) were also selected at random and divided into four different groups of ten each. The first group of birds received stilbestrol dipropionate (SD), second group SD and progesterone (PG), the third group SD, PG, and testosterone dipropionate (TD) and the fourth group received olive oil alone for ten days consecutively. Blood serum, ovary and liver were collected from all the birds slaughtered by decapitation. Total lipid content in liver and ovary were determined by the method of Meynard and Joslyn (1970) and that in the serum, after extraction with ether and methyl alcohol. Phospholipid was estimated by adopting the method of King and Wootten (1959) and the total cholesterol by the method of Zak (1957). The growing birds recorded a progressive increase in phospholipids in the ovary, liver and blood serum. But the pullets treated with exogenous sex hormones did not show any significant increase in the level of phospholipids in the ovary while that in the liver and blood serum were high. The cholesterol level in the ovary, liver and bloods serum were high. The cholesterol level in the ovary, liver and blood serum were high in the different growing birds. But, here also, the cholesterol content in the ovary did not reveal any significant increase in level in pullets treated with different combinations of hormones, but that in the serum and liver were elevated. However, in the case of total lipids, the ovary, liver and blood serum in the case of all categories of birds showed a significantly higher content as age advanced and on the administration of hormones. The synthesis of lipids by the liver is increased in response to increasing levels of hormones as a result of growth and development of the birds. The lipids, synthesized in the liver, are distributed by the circulating blood to all the tissues, including the ovaries. The increase in concentration of lipids in the ovary as the birds grew older is due to the increased lipogenesis in the liver and their augmented transport by the blood. However, the pullets under the influence of exogenous sex hormones exhibited a different response. In the case of phospholipids and cholesterol the ovarian levels were low while in the liver and serum the values were high. The low levels of these components in the ovary may be due to the lesser ovarian activity induced by the operation of the negative feed – back mechanism between the pituitary and the sex steroids administered. But this does not hold good in the case of total lipids in the ovary of pullets receiving sex hormones. Here the level was high as in the case of liver and serum indicating a total absence of the operation of the negative feed – back mechanism. This calls forth further studies to enlighten the phenomenon.Item Effect of choline deficiency on the chemical composition of the skeletal muscles of chicks(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,mannuthy, 1976) Philomina, P T; Venugopal, GThe results and conclusions drawn from a study carried out to determine the effects of choline deficiency on the chemical composition of the skeletal muscles of chicks are presented. The levels of choline viz., 1500 mg. 75 mg and 100 mg per kg were added to a choline extracted but an otherwise normal ration and were fed to three groups. Twentyfour, one – day old chicks were allotted to each treatment. Data on growth rate, weight gains, and feed efficiency were significantly lower for choline deficient chicks, indicating the importance of choline in poultry. All the chicks on deficient diets exhibited typical symptoms of perosis, either unilateral or bilateral from 24 days of age. Creatine phosphate, phospholipids and cholesterol levels of gastronomius muscles of chicks affected by perosis were lowered either due to interference or impairment in their formation. Reduced SDH activity, observed might be due to the impared oxidative metabolism. Slight increase in lipid content might be due to the lowered SDH level. The reduced activity of GOT and GPT and total protein content probably attributed to the lowered growth rate in choline deficient chicks. ALP and ACF values were lowered which can be attributed to the interference in the synthesis of their prosthetic groups. Poor muscular efficiency was revealed by the affected muscles.Item Hypoglycaemic efficacy of scoparia dulcis and costus species in albino rats(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Balaji, S; Sreekumar, K PThe present study was undertaken to assess the hypoglycaemic activity of aqueous and alcoholic extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500mg/kg body weight orally in alloxan induced diabetic rats and also in combination and to compare their efficacy with a standard oral hypoglycaemic drug, glibenclamide. The experiment was conducted in seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats for a period of 60days, with eight animals in each group (Group I to IX). Group I served as normal control and Group II is diabetic control. Aqueous leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500 mg/kg b.w orally were given to Group III and IV, respectively for 60 days. Group V and VI were given alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500 mg/kg b.w orally, respectively for 60 days. Group VII and VIII received combination of aqueous and alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500 mg/kg b.w orally, respectively for 60 days. Glibenclamide @ 0.5mg/animal/day was fed to Group IX. Body weight was recorded and RBC, WBC, total haemoglobin and glycosylated haemoglobin content were estimated on zero day, 7th, 14th, 28th, 56th, and 60th day of the experiment. Plasma glucose, plasma total lipids, plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, plasma HDL-C, plasma total protein, plasma albumin, plasma ALT and AST were also estimated. The liver glycogen and plasma copper, iron and zinc content were estimated at the end of the experimental period. Body weight was gradually increased during the experimental period in all treated group except the diabetic control, which showed a significant (p0.001) reduction in body weight. The RBC and WBC values did not show any significant change during the entire course of the experiment and maintained a normal level. The total haemoglobin content was increased in the animals treated with combination of alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus by two months of experiment. Glycosylated haemoglobin level also significantly decreased in all the treatment groups, which is comparable to that of the animals treated with glibenclamide. The animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis produced a marked reduction in plasma glucose level, which was higher than the reduction produced by the animals treated with glibenclamide at the end of the experiment. The plasma total lipids and plasma total cholesterol content were markedly reduced in the animals treated with a combination of alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus, which is comparable to that produced by glibenclamide treated group. The plasma triglyceride, plasma LDL-C and VLDL-C level were markedly reduced in the animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis.. The HDL-C level was increased in the animals treated with combination of alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus than the animals treated with glibenclamide. The plasma total protein and albumin content was increased in the animals treated with aqueous leaf extract of Costus pictus. The globulin content and A/G ratio was increased in the animals treated with a combination of aqueous leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus. The liver enzymes such as ALT and AST were reduced in the animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis. The liver glycogen content was increased in animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Costus pictus, which is comparable to that of animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis. The plasma copper and iron content did not show any change but the zinc content was increased in all the treated groups than the diabetic control animals.Item Metabolic and endocrine profile of crossbred pre-ruminant calves under extended colostrum feeding(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Babitha, V; Philomina, P TItem Haematological studies of alpine crossbreds from birth to puberty(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Chitra Joseph; Sreekumar, K P