Calcium ions regulate processes as diverse as cell motility, gene transcription, muscle contraction, and exocytosis (Berridge et al. 2000). The first realization that they are critical for cellular function is often attributed to Sydney Ringer, who discovered in 1883 that saline solution made up using London tap water (which contained calcium) supported the contraction of isolated frog hearts, ...

Besides other physiological functions, adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) is also a neurotransmitter that acts on purinergic receptors. In spite of the presence of purinergic receptors in forebrain areas involved with fluid-electrolyte balance, the effect of ATP on water intake has not been investigated. Therefore, we studied the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of ATP (100, 200...

Many researchers have advocated in recent times that antiseptic use in healing wounds should be discouraged. Antiseptics have been found to retard healing of wounds. Innocuous solutions like normal saline and tap water are being considered as better alternatives to antiseptics. Chlorhexidine, a commonly used antiseptic, is known to be less toxic on granulation cells. We decided to compare the e...

Salinity affects about one third of irrigated land, causing a significant reduction in crop productivity (Flowers & Yeo, 1995; Ravindran et al., 2007). For this reason researchers have paid considerable attention to this important environmental problem over the last decades. Few studies, however, have dealt specifically with ornamental plants used in landscapes, despite the fact that salt stres...

I. A study was made of the changes in electrolyte concentrations and ruminal function which resulted from the provision of 1.3 7; sodium chloride solutions instead of fresh water to sheep consuming roughage rations in chaffed and in ground pelleted forms. 2. Significantly higher osmotic pressures were observed in the rumen fluid of the sheep drinking saline water, the change being especially ma...

Current practices for handling drainage water in the western San Joaquin Valley (WSJV) are not sustainable. The soil quality of 300,000 ha of land in the WSJV is adversely affected by the presence of shallow or perched water (0 to 1.5 m). Without a means of disposing of drainage water, increasing amounts of farmland in the WSJV will become salt impaired, and will be removed from production. Usi...