A male CD-1 mouse from a segment I reproduction toxicity study died at the age of fifteen weeks. At necropsy, the thymus was abnormally enlarged and virtually obliterated the thoracic cavity. Histopathological examination of thymus revealed abundant cell population consisting of mature lymphocytes and few lymphoblasts arranged in cords and sheets. Neoplastic cells completely obliterated the thymic architecture, and loss of corticomedullary junction was evident. Microscopically, neoplastic cells were round with moderate cytoplasm. Nuclei were spherical and hyperchromatic with centrally placed nucleoli. Mitotic figures and tingible body macrophages imparting "starry sky appearance" were seen. Multifocal necrotic areas were also observed. Proliferating neoplastic cells invaded the thymic capsule, surrounding adipose tissue and neighboring organs such as lungs, heart and fat pad of aorta, esophagus, trachea, and thoracic vertebrae. No evidence of systemic metastasis was observed in other organs. Immunostained neoplastic cells were positive for CD3 antigen. Gross, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry results were suggestive of thymic T-cell lymphoma.

Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2003 and 2004 seasons to study the effect of seed hardening in groundnut (0.5% CaCl(2) and normal seed) and weed management practices (unweeded check, hoeing and weeding on 20 and 40 DAS, weeding with star type weeder on 20 DAS+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS, pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a. i./ha+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS and pre-emergence application of metolachlor @ 1.0 kg a. i./ha+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS) for productivity enhancement in groundnut+castor intercropping system under rained conditions. The results revealed that seed hardening with 0.5% CaCl(2) treatment recorded the highest speed of emergence, field emergence, vigour index, plant height, LAI, CGR, RGR, DMP, number of matured pods, pod yield and haulm yield of groundnut. The chlorophyll content, soluble protein, 100-kernel weight and oil content were, however, not influenced by CaCl(2) seed hardening. Among the weed management practices studied, pre-emergence application of metolachlor @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS recorded the highest weed control efficiency and lowest weed dry matter production at 20 DAS, while at 40 DAS hoeing and weeding on 20 and 40 DAS recorded the highest weed control efficiency. In the overall experimental results, it was concluded that groundnut seeds treated with 0.5% CaCl(2) and pre-emergence application of metolachlor @ 1.0 kg a. i. ha followed by one hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS increased the yields of groundnut and castor crops during kharif season.

Field experiments were conducted at North-West and Western Zones of Tamil Nadu during kharif season to study the seed hardening techniques and weed management for productivity enhancement in groundnut+castor intercropping system under rainfed conditions. In kharif 2003 and 2004 the effect of seed hardening in groundnut (0.5% CaCl(2) and normal seed) and weed management practices (unweeded check, hoeing and weeding on 20 and 40 DAS, weeding with star type weeder on 20 DAS+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS, pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a. i./ha+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS and pre-emergence application of metolachlor @ 1.0 kg a. i. ha+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS) in groundnut+castor intercropping system. In respect of groundnut, seed hardening with 0.5% CaCl(2) treatment recorded the highest speed of emergence, field emergence, vigour index, plant height, LAI, CGR, RGR, DMP, number of matured pods, pod yield and haulm yield. Irrespective of the locations chlorophyll content, soluble protein, 100-kernel weight and oil content were, however, not influenced by CaCl(2) seed hardening. Among the weed management practices studied, pre-emergence application of metolachlor @ 1.0 kg a. i./ha+hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS recorded the highest weed control efficiency and lowest weed dry matter production at 20 DAS, while at 40 DAS hoeing and weeding on 20 and 40 DAS recorded the highest weed control efficiency. In the overall experimental results, it was concluded that groundnut seeds treated with 0.5% CaCl(2) and pre-emergence application of metolachlor @ 1.0 kg a. i. / ha followed by one hoeing and weeding on 40 DAS increased the yields of groundnut and castor crops during kharif season.

A rare case of true hermaphroditism was observed in a 9-week-old presumed female Wistar rat. This rat did not reveal any untoward clinical signs, food consumption, body weight gain and changes in haemato-biochemical parameters. Grossly, rat showed reduced size of the left ovary and shortened uterine horn. Microscopically, ovotestis was observed in the left ovarian tissue. Ovary consisted of numerous developing follicles at different stages of development with absence of corpora lutea. Developing testis contained seminiferous tubules lined with sertoli cells and sparse spermatogonial population. Left oviduct resembling developing epididymis consisting of tubules embedded in proliferating fibrous connective tissue, lined with multilayered ciliated columnar epithelial cells. Most of them were empty but, few had eosinophilic secretion and some of them contained exfoliated germ cells. Left uterine horn showed increased stromal connective tissue without proliferation of endometrial glands. A histopathological examination of left ovarian tissue implies a case of true hermaphroditism.

Spontaneous tumors of mammary gland are infrequent in male rats. A spontaneous adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland was observed in a 37-week-old male WNIN (Wistar/NIN) rat from the breeding colony of IIBAT. The rat had a subcutaneous mass at the left lateral aspect of neck measuring approximately 4 cm in diameter. In our literature search, we did not find any reports of spontaneous malignant neoplasms of the male mammary gland in this age group. The histological features of this neoplasm are similar to those described in female rats, with the exception of a lack of functional differentiation. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor for smooth muscle actin and cytokeratin 14 was positive, which is consistent with a neoplasm of mammary origin.

Intralobar nephroblastematosis (ILNB) is a precursor lesion to the development of nephroblastoma (NB) in rats. Unilateral ILNB was observed in the kidney of a nine-week-old female Wistar rat (Crl:WI) from a short-term toxicity study. Clinical pathology and urinalysis did not reveal altered renal function. This microscopic, unencapsulated lesion consisted of basophilic sheets of blastemal cells that did not include a prominent mesenchymal component. These cells expanded in the interstitium, which trapped and compressed few normal renal tubules. The blastemal cells moderately differentiated to form rosettes, primitive tubules, and a glomeruloid body. Multifocally, the lumen of primitive tubules contained eosinophilic secretions with basophilic material in the center. The diagnostic criteria used were compared and differentiated with renal dysplasia, nephrogenic rest, NB in rats, and with that of the identical lesion in children.

Background: The Ascensia ENTRUST blood glucose meter is intended for self‐monitoring of blood glucose by diabetic patients. Use of such a glucometer would minimize blood volume requirements for the measurement of glucose in small laboratory animals. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of the Ascensia ENTRUST for measuring glucose in whole blood from Wistar rats by evaluating the effect of anticoagulant and sample processing delay and comparing normalized results with plasma glucose concentration. Methods: Blood samples were collected from the retroorbital sinus of 30 male Wistar rats with a wide range of blood glucose concentrations. Glucose concentration was measured with the Ascensia ENTRUST in nonheparinized (NH) and heparinized samples immediately after collection (Hep‐0) and in heparinized samples after a 15 min delay at 23–28°C (Hep‐15). Heparinized samples were centrifuged and glucose concentration was determined in plasma using an automated chemistry analyzer. Results were compared to assess the effect of anticoagulant (NH vs Hep‐0) and time (Hep 0 vs Hep 15), and to compare normalized Hep‐15 results with plasma glucose concentration. Results: Glucose concentration was not significantly different between NH and Hep‐0 samples. Glucose concentration was lower in Hep‐15 (77±36.9 mg/dL) than Hep‐0 (88±39.7 mg/dL) samples, but the difference was not significant. With normalization, Hep‐15 glucose concentration correlated well ( r ≥.98) with plasma glucose concentration but was lower by 6.0±16.7 mg/dL, with a positive bias at low glucose concentrations and a negative bias at high concentrations. Conclusion: The Ascensia ENTRUST may be adequate for repeated blood glucose measurements in rats, but its results do not accurately predict plasma glucose concentrations measured by an automated clinical chemistry analyzer.

Experiments were conducted over 2 years during the dry season of 2002 (June-September) and wet season of 2002-2003 (December-March) at Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vridhachalam, India, to study the influence of two colors of polyethylene film mulch (black and white polyethylene film mulch), herbicides (Fluchloralin at 1.0 kg/ha and no herbicide application), and three plant geometries [30 x 10 cm, 20 x 20 cm (two seeds/hill), and 20 x 15 cm] on soil properties, growth, and yield of groundnut. Results indicated that the soil physical properties such as rate of water loss/day was highest with white polyethylene film mulch, the hydraulic conductivity of the soil was significantly more with black polyethylene film mulch, and soil bulk density and percentage of pore space did not differ between the two colors of polyethylene films. The rate of water loss was highest with plots with no herbicide, whereas the hydraulic conductivity of the soil was more with herbicide-applied treatments. However, the bulk density and pore space did not differ significantly. The plant geometry did not have any significant influence on any of the soil physical properties. With regard to soil microorganisms, the bacterial and fungal population was significantly higher in black polyethylene film mulch at all the three stages of observation, whereas no significant difference between the colors of polyethylene film mulch was observed for actinomycetes at all the stages of observations. Interestingly, no variation in the population of soil microflora was observed between the herbicide and no-herbicide treatments. The soil-available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), at harvest, was significantly higher with white polyethylene film mulch, whereas crop NPK uptake was higher with black polyethylene film mulch. The soil-available NPK and crop uptake was higher with herbicide application. The evolution of carbon dioxide (CO2; soil respiration) was significantly influenced by polyethylene film mulch and herbicides, and the evolution of CO2 was altered by the plant geometry. The crop dry-matter production, pegging percentage, pod setting ratio number of matured pods/plant, and pod yield were significantly higher under black polyethylene mulch. Herbicide application significantly improved the majority of the growth and yield attributes and significantly higher pod yield was obtained with herbicide application. However, most of the yield and growth attributes and pod yield were not significantly influenced by the different plant geometries studied.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 1999–00 and kharif 2000 to evaluate the performance of two large seeded groundnut varieties (B95 and GG5) under two land configuration systems (broad bed and furrows and flat bed) and four nutrient management practices (recommended dose of NP, recommended dose of NPK, recommended dose of NPK + gypsum @ 500 kg/ha, recommended dose of NPK + gypsum @ 500 kg/ha + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg/ha). The results revealed that there was no significant variation in pod yield between these two varieties though the two varieties differed significantly in respect of yield attributes. Flat bed system of configuration registered the maximum values of yield attributes and pod yield as compared to broad bed and furrows. Among the different nutrients, application of recommended dose of NPK + gypsum @ 500 kg/ha + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg/ha had higher pod yield which was comparable with the yield obtained under recommended dose of NPK + gypsum @ 500 kg/ha. However the BCR was highest with application of recommended dose of NPK + gypsum @ 500 kg/ha.

Field experiments were conducted at Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vridhachalam, India, during autumn 1999 and winter 2000 using groundnut to examine the effect of different colours of polyethylene film mulch on crop yield and soil properties. The results of the experiment conducted with different colours of polyethylene film mulch (black, transparent white and non-mulched control) and three land configurations (flat bed, ridges and furrows and broad bed and furrows) indicated that irrespective of the colours, polyethylene film mulch significantly increased the soil micro-organisms at all stages of observation during both seasons except for bacterial population, which was significantly higher under non-mulched control during the winter season. The soil physical properties such as rate of water loss/day, soil bulk density, percentage of pore space and hydraulic conductivity were also favourably influenced by the polyethylene film mulch. The data on soil available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), showed that effect of polyethylene film mulch was significant at 30 DAS and not during later stages during both the seasons. Similarly the evolution of carbon dioxide (CO2) (soil respiration) was also significantly improved by polyethylene film mulch. The effect of land configuration was not significant for most of the parameters observed except for bulk density and pore space during winter seasons. With regard to yield parameters and yield, in both the seasons, white polyethylene film mulch out yielded other treatments in terms of groundnut pod yield. However the performance of white polyethylene film mulch was comparable with black polyethylene film mulch during winter 2001 – 2002 seasons. Among the land configurations, the results of yield components and yield were in favour of flat bed during both the seasons of study.

Crop parameters, namely, dry matter production (DMP), mature pods/plant, pod yield and harvest index (HI) were recorded in a field experiment repeated in the autumn of 2001 and in the winter of 2001 – 2002 and in another set of experiments repeated in autumn 2002 and winter 2002 – 2003 to study the crop-weather relationship in polyethylene film mulched groundnut. The crop parameters were correlated with derived weather parameters, namely, Growing Degree Days (GDD), Heat Unit Efficiency (HUE), Relative Temperature Disparity (RTD), Relative Humidity Disparity (RHD) and with soil temperatures recorded at three depths (10, 20 and 30 cm). The correlations and regressions obtained in the first experiment revealed that soil temperatures in the 10 cm depth layer are ineffective to groundnut production in the autumn, while they are advantageous in winter. In the second experiment, a lower soil temperature up to 20 cm depth resulted favorable for autumn groundnut, while for the winter crop a better production is obtained with higher soil temperatures in the first 10 cm of depth. In the autumn 2001, except HI, all other crop parameters were positively correlated with weather parameters, while during winter 2002, on the contrary, all crop parameters were negatively influenced by GDD, RTD and RHD, and positively by HUE. In the second experiment, HI showed a significant positive correlation with HUE during winter 2002 – 2003, but it was negative in autumn 2002.

An analytical study was made to identify the efficient groundnut cropping zone for Tamil Nadu. For computing Relative Spread Index (RSI) and Relative Yield Index (RVI) components of analysis, data on groundnut area and its productivity for each district of Tamil Nadu were collected for ten years (1989–90 to 1998–99). The results indicated that among the different climatic zones in Tamil Nadu, North Eastern Zone, North Western Zone and Western Zone were efficient cropping zones with little year to year variation. The North Eastern Zone had a higher RSI (107.67) and RVI (187.92). Among the different districts of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvannamalai district had a higher RSI (292.80), while the RVI was highest ugder Chengalpattu district (130.60). Out of the eighteen erstwhile districts in Tamil Nadu, only one district (Chengalpattu) was under most efficient cropping zone (MECZ), while seven districts were categorized as efficient cropping zone with little variation, three districts came under efficient cropping zone with medium year to year variation, four districts were under efficient cropping zone with greater variation and three districts were categorized as not efficient cropping zone.

Studies conducted during the winters of 1997-98 and 1998-99 (December-March) at the Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vridhachalam, India, revealed the usefulness of polyethylene film mulching in arresting weed growth and maximizing pod yield in groundnut. Among the various treatments, two (1) crop grown under polyethylene film mulching and (2) pre-planting incorporation of fluchloralin in the flat-bed system of sowing registered the lowest weed numbers at harvest (106.7 and 113.7/plot of 27 m(-2) in 1997-98 and 1998-99 respectively), the lowest weed dry-matter production (51.2 and 54.5 g/plot of 27 m(2)), maximum weed control efficiency (62.1 and 57.4%) and weed control index (83.0 and 81.1%), the highest number of matured pods/plant (17.6 and 18.0), 100 kernel weight (48.6 and 48.7 g), percentage shelling (72.6 and 72.8) and a dry pod yield of 2451 and 2468 kg ha(-1) when compared with non-mulched plots. The net return and benefit: cost ratio was also highest with the same treatment in both the study periods.