Pesticide residues in food and environment along with airborne contaminants like endotoxins pose a tangible threat to living beings. Fipronil, a broad-spectrum insecticide at acute doses in combination with endotoxin has been linked to airway inflammation. Wnt/PCP pathway plays important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory conditions by contributing to the release of downstream cytokines. However, there is no data on the PCP signaling pathway during fipronil-induced lung damage. This study aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the pulmonary toxicity induced by fipronil alone or in combination with endotoxin. We used a microarray approach to obtain a global view of the transcriptional responses of the lungs exposed to fipronil and endotoxin in a mice model. Lung tissues were harvested from male Swiss albino mice (n=42) following long term oral exposure to high and low doses of fipronil alone or in combination with endotoxin. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by Ingenuity pathway analysis software to predict the top canonical pathways. The microarray data for selected genes was validated using quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. Both BAL fluid and histopathology analysis suggested lung damage and altered transcriptomic profile of lung following exposure to high and low dose of fipronil with or without endotoxin. PCP pathway was among the top upregulated canonical pathways following exposure to both doses of fipronil individually or with LPS. Low dose of fipronil increased the expression of WNT-6, MAPK-8, IL-4 and IL-17C while higher dose decreased the expression of MAPK-8 and IL-17C. The expression data verified by realtime PCR was in concordance with microarray data. Long-term exposure to low (4.75 mg kg-1) and high (9.50 mg kg-1) dose of fipronil alone or in combination with endotoxins alters the histoarchitecture and transcriptome profile of lungs with the involvement of the PCP pathway. PCP pathway showed higher enrichment in low dose group of fipronil alone or in combination with LPS. The data from the study provides the insights of the potential damage on lungs caused by fipronil and endotoxin interaction and helps to better understand the mechanism of this complex relation.

In the Changthang region of Ladakh, India, pastoralism serves as the cornerstone of both the local economy and the local way of life. However, recent socioeconomic shifts and environmental constraints put this economic structure, which has been expertly adapted to the difficult trans-Himalayan geography, in danger of becoming unsustainable. To explore methods for balancing development, ecology, and Indigenous culture, this review analyzes pastoralism in Changthang. The sole dependable method of food production for generations has been mobile pastoralism, supported by high-elevation rangelands. Breeds of native livestock adapted to scant vegetation and seasonal variation have been selectively bred by generations of pastoralists. Sale of wool and cashmere provides financial stability for pastoralist families, mitigating income vulnerability to climate shocks and market fluctuations that would otherwise disrupt predominantly livestock-rearing livelihoods. However, traditional transhumance cycles and collective resource management have been hampered by sedentarization, population growth, conservation constraints, and market integration. Climate change and unrestricted grazing contribute to grassland degradation. Promising programs combine conventional methods with innovations like mobile veterinary services and satellite forecasting to preserve breeds and grazing resources while increasing productivity and climate resilience. These initiatives seek to support regulated grazing practices. Comanagement practices that involve communities in conservation planning are essential. This production system and culture can be maintained through integrated strategies respecting pastoralists' stewardship.

The present investigation was undertaken to explain the association of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in exon 6 and 3′-UTR of OLR 1 gene with milk traits in Sahiwal cattle. Milk traits were observed from 328 Sahiwal cows sired by 64 bulls viz: – First lactation 305 days milk yield (Kg) (FL305MY), Average test day milk yield (Kg) (ATDMY), Average test day fat percentage (%) (ATDFP) and Lactational fat yield (Kg) (LFY). The animal model was used to estimate the breeding values for FL305MY and LFY. The traits ATDMY and ATDFP were corrected for significant non-genetic factors by using LSML-Harvey and subsequently used for association studies. A total of 130 animals for PCR-RFLP and 103 for sequencing were screened through three sets of primers for the presence of polymorphisms in exon 6 and 3′-UTR of the OLR1 gene. The CC genotype of SNP C337A in the 3′-UTR of OLR1 gene had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on ATDFP and LFY. Allele combination CGC had a positive effect (p < 0.05) on ATDFP. Identified SNP C337A and CCGGCC haplotype can be used as potential markers for improving milk yield and composition traits in Sahiwal cattle.

With Indian pesticide industry touching new heights each year in terms of production and sale, its ill effects on health cannot just be ignored. Humans, as well as animals, are under the constant threat of being exposed to environmental pollutants like endotoxins and pesticides which are present ubiquitously in our surroundings. Phenylpyrazoles like fipronil were introduced into the Indian market with an aim to oversee the menace of insecticide resistance and public health hazards experienced with more commonly used pesticide but its adverse effects on the pulmonary system are now being reported globally. We reported first data that the Planar cell Polarity (PCP) pathway was the top dysregulated pathway during fipronil induced lung damage. In order to further elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we analysed the data generated by gene expression profiling in lung tissues using biocomputational approaches. We found Eicosanoid signalling as one of the top enriched pathways dysregulated during fipronil and or endotoxin-induced lung inflammation. Global view of genes showed Pla2g5 as top differentially expressed gene with 1.6, 3.9, 1.2, 3.1 and 4.3-folds expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS), high dose of fipronil (9.5mg/kg) alone or in combination with LPS and low dose of fipronil (4.75 mg/kg) alone or in combination with LPS, respectively which was validated using qPCR and immunohistochemistry. The data suggest a role Pla2g5 to activate eicosanoid signalling in fipronil and or LPS induced lung inflammation in mice.