Objectives: The purpose of this study was to monitor the antimicrobial role of Spirulina platensis (SP) and Chlorella vulgaris (CV) against induced endometritis using E. coli O157 in Albino rats. Materials and Methods: After preparation of encapsulated flavoured microalgae, they were mixed into the animal diet at 1%. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the algae was studied. 45 adult female rats were classified into 3 groups (G1, G2, and G3) where each group had 15 rats in number. The first group ate a control basal diet (CD), the second group received CD mixed with SP, and G3 received CD mixed with CV. After 20 days of supplementation, animals were infected with an intravaginal injection of a pathogenic strain of E. coli O157 to induce endometritis. Vaginal swabs were collected for colony count estimation and to monitor recovery rate. Heparinized blood samples were collected for analysis of plasma chemistry. Samples of the uterus and spleen were taken for histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression analysis. Results: SP and CV exhibit strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, and a high rate of uterine clearance, as indicated by downregulation of target cytokine genes used as indicators of the inflammatory process. Significant elevation in plasma cytokines (TNF-α, INFγ, IL1β), especially those administered SP and CV. Group treated with Microalgae showed a high recovery rate, including increased mature ovarian follicles, few follicular cysts, and moderate infiltration of endometrial inflammatory cells. Conclusions: The study paved the way for the prospective pharmaceutical use of microalgae as an antibiotic replacement therapy or for the extraction of active antimicrobial components.
Understanding reproductive strategies is essential for the biological conservation and management of hill-stream fishes in dynamic freshwater ecosystems. The present study investigated the reproductive biology of Barilius bendelisis (Hamilton, 1807), a key cyprinid species inhabiting three different streams and tributaries of the Ganga River viz.: the Song River, Sahastradhara, and Henval River in the Garhwal Himalayan region. The study was conducted from September 2023 to May 2025, covering all major seasons. Key reproductive parameters, including sex ratio, gonadosomatic index (GSI), Dobriyal index (DI), fecundity, and sexual dimorphism, were examined to determine spawning periodicity and reproductive potential. A female-biased sex ratio was consistently observed across all sites, with overall sex ratios of 1:1.14, 1:1.1, and 1:1.45 in the Song, Sahastradhara, and Henval Rivers, respectively. Peak GSI and DI values were recorded during the summer and monsoon seasons, indicating these seasons as the primary spawning period, with DI showing greater precision in identifying spawning periods. Fecundity varied among sites and showed a strong positive correlation with gonad weight, reflecting site-specific reproductive investment. Notably, males displayed prominent breeding tubercles during the spawning phase, serving as markers for sexual dimorphism. Overall, the findings reveal spatial variation in reproductive traits and highlight adaptive strategies of B. bendelisis in Himalayan hill-stream ecosystems. These insights offer a scientific foundation for developing season-specific conservation strategies, regulating fishing pressure during peak breeding periods, promoting the sustainable management of freshwater biodiversity in the Garhwal Himalayas.
In this study, cellulose acetate (CA) membranes were fabricated and modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) to enhance their performance in wastewater treatment. Membranes with PEG concentrations of 0–20 wt
Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a monoecious and dichogamous species in which asynchrony between male catkin dehiscence and female stigma receptivity frequently limits pollination efficiency, fruit set, and yield. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of three pre-flowering chemical treatments gibberellic acid (GA3, 150 ppm), thiourea (0.5%), and potassium nitrate (KNO3, 5%) on flowering synchrony of walnut selection SKUAW-15. Treatments were applied as a single foliar spray four weeks before expected flowering in a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments and three replications. Flowering synchrony was assessed using the dichogamy gap (days between peak male and peak female flowering) as a measure of synchrony. Bud-level biochemical markers soluble sugars, starch, proline, and total protein were quantified to characterize treatment-induced changes during dormancy release. GA3 at 150 ppm was the most effective treatment overall, recording the highest bud break percentage (88.26% male; 84.65% vegetative), lowest days to bud break (16.57 days male; 20.48 days vegetative), and earliest flowering (24.00 days male; 27.00 days vegetative). Biochemically, GA3 produced the highest elevation in soluble sugar content (82.68 mg/g DW male; 80.43 mg/g DW vegetative), the highest reduction in starch (39.63 mg/g male; 41.42 mg/g vegetative) and total protein (0.176 µg/mg DW male; 0.180 µg/mg DW vegetative), and the lowest proline concentrations (0.100 mg/g male; 0.093 mg/g vegetative), collectively indicating accelerated and more complete dormancy release. Thiourea ranked second across all parameters, followed by KNO3. All three treatments successfully advanced the flowering dates of both male and vegetative buds into an earlier, more predictable seasonal window relative to the untreated control, improving flowering synchrony and crosspollination prospects. GA3 achieved the highest advancement of 6 days in both bud types (male: 30.00 → 24.00 days; vegetative: 33.00 → 27.00 days), with thiourea (4 days) and KNO3 (3 days) following in efficacy. The intrinsic 3-day protandrous offset between male and vegetative flowering was maintained uniformly across all treatments, indicating that these chemicals act on shared dormancy-release pathways that advance both bud types simultaneously.
