A new season for experimental neuroembryology: The mysterious history of Marian Lydia Shorey

At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the landscape of emerging experimental embryology in the United States was dominated by the Canadian Frank Rattray Lillie, who combined his qualities as scientist and director with those of teacher at the University of Chicago. In the context of his research on chick development, he encouraged the young Marian Lydia Shorey to investigate the interactions between the central nervous system and the peripheral structures. The results were published in two papers which marked the beginning of a new branch of embryology, namely neuroembryology. These papers inspired ground-breaking enquiry by Viktor Hamburger which opened a new area of the research by Rita Levi-Montalcini, in turn leading to the discovery of the nerve growth factor, NGF.     

Protective effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacopa monniera L.</Emphasis> on cytarabine induced biochemical changes in chick embryo

Bacopa monniera, a medicinal plant distributed throughout India. Cytosine arabinoside (1-β-arabinofuranosylcytosine; Ara-C) is the most important antimetabolite chemotherapeutic drug used for acute leukemia. In this study we examined the chemoprotective property of an ethanolic extract of Bacopa monniera on biochemical changes in chick embryo. CA caused biochemical changes in a concentration and time dependent manner in amniotic fluid, liver and heart tissues. Ethanolic extract of BM given to chick embryo at doses of 2, 4, 6 mg per egg. There is significant decrease in biochemical levels of glucose, protein, urea, uric acid, creatinine and inorganic phosphorus. Enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and malatedehydrogenase were also decreased with dose dependent manner in amniotic fluid, liver and heart tissues.     

黄芪多糖对雏鸡传染性法氏囊病预防效果的观察

本试验研究了黄芪多糖对雏鸡法氏囊病的免疫效果.试验先用1日龄雏鸡280羽,随机分成Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ组和对照组,每组40羽.分别注射2.0%黄芪多糖注射液0.1mL/羽、0.2mL/羽、0.3mL/羽、0.4mL/羽、0.0mL/羽和生理盐水.每天注射一次,连续7天.在15日龄时,用IBDV强毒株对试验各组雏鸡进行滴鼻滴眼人工攻毒试验.结果显示黄芪工多糖注射组雏鸡死亡率显著低于VI组(P＜0.01).黄芪多糖注射组残废率较对照组低,差异显著(P＜0.05).说明黄芪多糖能显著降低传染性法氏囊疾病的发病率和死亡率,表明黄芪多糖能发挥免疫促进剂作用,提高机体的免疫功能,对传染性法氏囊病的防治有积极的意义.