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The present study was carried out to elucidate the castration effects of immunization against GnRH (Gonadotropin releasing hormone) in Black Bengal bucks. Thirty (30) Black Bengal bucks under study were divided into three groups, viz. Group I (control animals), Group II (surgical castrates) and Group III (immunized bucks). Anti-GnRH antibody titer was measured from the blood samples collected from Group III animals on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 85, 100, 115. Plasma testosterone and cortisol level were also measured for all blood samples collected (during the said period) from all the animals. The increased antibody titer in bucks about 45-50 days after primary immunization coincided with the decreasing plasma testosterone level during the same period. No significant anti-GnRH activity was observed in the control as well as surgically castrated bucks. Plasma testosterone level increased progressively during the experimental period in the control group, whereas surgical castrates showed a marked reduction in testosterone level soon after the castration. The immunized bucks were under less stress condition than the surgically castrated ones as indicated by their plasma cortisol concentration. Both the surgical and immuno-castrates were easily handled and managed during the experimental period due to a marked reduction in sexual behavioral measures than the control group. So, the immunization against GnRH may be a non-invasive, convenient alternative to the surgical castration.

Andrographis paniculata (king of bitters), commonly known as Kalmegh is used both in Ayurvedic and Unani system of medicines for a number of ailments related to digestion, hepatoprotection, hypoglycemic, and as anti-bacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, vermicidal and antipyretic. A. paniculata collected from five locations of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were studies for their morphological characteristics and diterpene contents to find out superior genotype. The average amount of dry weight per individual was between 16.58 to 18.92 g. The average andrographolide content varied from 1.07 to 2.24 percent in dried leaves. The differences in growth characteristics among the plants collected from different locations were not significant. However, andrographolide content among the plants from different locations were statistically significant. The results indicated that those populations are potentially important sources for breeding, improvement of cultivars and best sources for obtaining higher drug yield.