Venkata Ramana Vollala

Bacopa monniera (BM)—a small, creeping herb—has been classified under Medhya rasayana (medicinal plants rejuvenating intellect and memory) in the ancient Indian system of medicine, viz., Ayurveda. Therefore, this plant has been investigated in several laboratories in India for its neuropharmacological effects. Here, we investigated the role of BM standardized extract on the dendritic morphology of amygdaloid neurons—one of the regions concerned with learning and memory. The rat pups (10 days old) were fed standardized extract of BM (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. After the treatment period, the rats were killed by decapitation, the brains were removed and amygdaloid neurons were impregnated with silver nitrate (Golgi staining). Amygdaloid neurons were traced using camera lucida. Dendritic branching points (a measure of dendritic arborization) and dendritic intersections (a measure of dendritic length) were quantified. These data were compared with control rats. The results showed a significant increase in dendritic length and dendritic branching points along the length of dendrites of the amygdaloid neurons of rats treated with all doses of BM for longer periods of time (i.e., 4 and 6 weeks). We conclude that constituents present in BM extract have neuronal dendritic growth stimulating properties.

Bacopa monniera (BM), a traditional Ayurvedic medicine has been used in treatment for a number of disorders, particularly those involving anxiety, intellect and poor memory. The current study examined the effects of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera on the dendritic morphology in adult rats of hippocampal CA3 neurons, one of the regions concerned with learning and memory. Adult Wistar (2.5-month-old) rats were designated into 2-, 4- and 6-week treatment groups. Rats in each of these groups were divided into 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg dose groups (n=8 for each dose). These rats along with age-matched control rats were then subjected to spatial learning (T-maze) and passive avoidance tests. Subsequent to the T-maze and passive avoidance tests, these rats were killed by decapitation, brains were removed and hippocampal neurons were impregnated with silver nitrate (Golgi staining). Hippocampal CA3 neurons were traced using camera lucida. Dendritic branching points (a measure of dendritic arborization) and dendritic intersections (a measure of dendritic length) were quantified. These data were compared with control rats. The results showed improvement in spatial learning performance and enhanced memory retention in rats treated with BM extract. There was a significant increase in the dendritic intersections and dendritic branching points along the length of both apical and basal dendrites in rats treated with BM extract for four and six weeks. However, the rats treated with BM extract for two weeks did not show any significant change in hippocampal CA3 neuronal dendritic arborization. We conclude that constituents present in BM extract have neuronal dendritic growth stimulating properties.

Abnormalities of the kidney and/or urinary tract are common, and are more common in males than females. We present a case of unilateral pelvic kidney on the left side in a 26-year-old man. A pelvic kidney is a rare entity with a low clinical incidence. An ectopic kidney is often associated with an increased incidence of stone formation as a result of stasis caused by the altered geometry of urinary drainage.

Variations in the main arteries of the upper limb are common and these anomalies can be of substantial interest to orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists and anatomists. We present here a case of a high origin of the ulnar artery from the brachial artery found during anatomical dissection of a right upper limb of a 50-year-old man. This superficial ulnar artery, after running over the bicipital aponeurosis in the cubital fossa superficial to the flexor muscles in the forearm terminated as the superficial palmar arch in the hand. The embryological and clinical importance of the anomalous ulnar artery is discussed.

Hepatic, splenic and left gastric arteries are the "classical branches" of celiac trunk. The authors report a rare variation, hepato-spleno-mesenteric trunk with two classical branches of celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery having common origin from the abdominal aorta. The third classical branch of the celiac trunk (left gastric artery) was directly arising from the abdominal aorta. Knowledge of variations concerning the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric arteries are of great important for both surgical approaches and angiographic examinations.

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery is an open access publication of Association of Plastic surgeons of India

During routine dissection for the undergraduate medical students, we encountered an unusual, additional muscle in the anterior compartment of the forearm. This muscle took origin from the anterior surface of the radius in common with the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. It had a tendon of origin and a tendon of insertion. Its fleshy radial belly and the tendon of insertion, crossed superficial to the median nerve. The muscle was inserted partly to the flexor retinaculum and partly to the undersurface of palmar aponeurosis. The observations made by us in the present case will supplement our knowledge of variations of the muscles in this region which could be useful for hand surgeons as it could possibly compress the median nerve because of its close relationship to it.