Bioactivity of epidermal secretion of two marine catfish from Mumbai

Crude mucus and its partially purified fractions from two marine catfish from Mumbai, Arius dussumieri and Osteogeneiosus militaris were assayed for their crinotoxicity through assays for hemolysis and haemagglutination of chicken erythrocytes, formation of paw edema in mice, and antibacterial activity against one gram-positive and four gram-negative bacteria. Assays were also done to block the edema using Phineramine maleate, Piroxicam, and Atropine sulfate. Crude toxin as well as their fractions from both the fishes exhibited haemolytic and haemagglutinating activities on chicken blood, besides edematous activity in mice models. The edematous activity was blocked by Phineramine maleate and Piroxicam but enhanced by Atropine sulfate; however, all these activities, either blocking or enhancing, were statistically insignificant. Antibacterial activity was absent in all the extracts tested.

Histological distribution and ultrastructure of exocrine pancreas in Indian major carp (Labeo rohita Ham.) and its alteration in aflatoxicosis

The distribution pattern of exocrine pancreas in Labeo rohita besides its general location along the course of intestinal mesentery was studied. It is evenly distributed within the liver around portal vessels and also within the spleen near a blood vessel. On ultrastructure, two cell types of different degrees of staining intensities containing abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, pre-zymogen and zymogen granules were marked. During aflatoxicosis, the mesenteric pancreas and hepatic pancreas were mostly affected revealing necrotic changes to acini. The zymogen granular activities were markedly reduced. Ultra structurally, the rough endoplasmic reticulum was fully dilated and formed whorled pattern. The damage to the exocrine pancreas might be affecting digestive enzymes' secretion which may be one of the causes of aflatoxin-induced anorexia in fish.