2-arylalkanoates,a new group of synthetic pyrethroid esters not containing cyclopropanecarboxylates

Although structure modifications of natural pyrethrin constituents have disclosed a variety of potent synthetic analogues, all known examples are cyclopropanecarboxylate esters, a grouping that appeared to be essential for insecticidal activity. Some new substituted 2-phenylalkanoates, whose biological activities are of a similar nature and potency to those of conventional pyrethroids, are now reported. 5-Benzyl-3-furylmethyl and 3-phenoxybenzyl 3-methyl-2-phenylbutyrates and their analogues are potent insecticides. Activity is increased on the introduction of appropriate groups into the 3 and/or 4-positions of the aryl ring and the (S)-2-phenylalkanoates are far more active than their (R)-enantiomorphs. Structure/activity relationships are compared with those for conventional pyrethroids. Some of the new series compare favourably with typical insecticides in tests against Musca domestica, Spodoptera litura and Plutella xylostella.     

Desiccation-tolerance ofFagus crenata blume seeds from localities of different snowfall regime in central Japan

In beech (Fagus crenata Blume) forests on the Pacific Ocean side in Central Japan, snowpack depth is little and xeric conditions may prevail in winter, in contrast to heavy snow in beech forests on the Japan Sea side. The effects of such conditions during winter on the viability of beech seeds were studied at a beech forest on the Pacific Ocean side. Thickness and weight ratio of pericarp of beech seeds were significantly greater in populations on the Pacific Ocean side compared to the Japan Sea side, this apparently being related to snowpack depth in winter. During the initial stage of seed drying, the drying rate of seeds from the Fuji population (the Pacific Ocean side) was less than that from the Sumon population (the Japan Sea side), possibly due to the thicker pericarp. Germination percentage of seeds which dried to a water content as low as 7% d.w. did not decrease for either population, indicating desiccation tolerance of beech seeds. In the beech forest (University Forest at Yamanaka) on the Pacific Ocean side, water content of seeds sown below litter from both populations remained sufficient for viability during winter. Germinating seeds from the populations on the Japan Sea side were more desiccation-sensitive in early spring, compared to those from the Fuji population, partially due possibly to differences in pericarp thickness.     

Measurement of intestinal mucosal permeability in dogs with lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis

Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (LPE) is a type of canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One of its most probable causes is a defect in the mucosal permeability barrier. In the present study, intestinal permeability in LPE dogs was examinated to evaluate its clinical value. Twenty-nine dogs with LPE diagnosed by clinical and histological examinations were included in this study. Intestinal permeability was evaluated by measuring the ratio of the concentrations of two sugars (lactulose (L) and rhamnose (R)) with different molecular weights in urine samples after oral administration of a solution containing them. Biopsy specimens of duodenum were evaluated according to histological criteria. The urinary L:R ratio in the 29 LPE dogs (1.68 +/- 1.17, mean +/- SD) was significantly higher than that in the 10 healthy control dogs (0.75 +/- 0.38, P<0.01). In the LPE dogs, a weak correlation was observed between the histopathological grading score of the duodenum and the urinary L:R ratio (r=0.408, P<0.05). The urinary L:R ratio in the 20 dogs showing hypoalbuminemia (< 2.5 g/dl) was significantly higher than that in the 9 dogs with normal serum albumin levels > 2.5 g/dl (P<0.01). In conclusion, permeability of the intestinal mucosa as determined by the urinary L:R ratio could be a useful laboratory parameter for evaluating intestinal damage in LPE dogs.     

Expression of LacZ gene in canine muscle by intramuscular inoculation of a plasmid DNA

DNA immunization induces systemic humoral and cellular immune responses to the antigen encoded by cDNA in a plasmid DNA. In the present study, a plasmid DNA encoding cDNA of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal), pCAGGS-lacZ, was inoculated intramuscularly to a healthy dog in order to evaluate location and duration of the gene expression. On day 7, the plasmid DNA was found by PCR in the muscle where the plasmid was injected. Furthermore, beta-gal expression was detected in the same muscle sample by beta-gal staining. However, the plasmid DNA was not detected in any samples collected on days 14, 21 and 28. The present results suggest that duration of the gene expression of beta-gal by the plasmid DNA is limited in the muscle in dogs and an efficacy for a gene expression should be evaluated depending on the gene inserted in the plasmid DNA for immunotherapy.     

Immunological findings in 3 dogs clinically diagnosed with allergic rhinitis

Three dogs clinically diagnosed with allergic rhinitis (AR) were examined for their immunological findings. House dust mites (HDM) such as Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) and D. pteronyssinus (DP) were identified as positive allergens in the 3 dogs with both intradermal skin test and serum antigen-specific IgE test. Lymphocyte blastogenic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) under stimulation with DF antigen in dogs with AR was higher than that in 4 healthy control dogs. Expression level of IL-4 mRNA in PBMCs obtained from the 3 AR dogs was higher than that in PBMCs obtained from 4 healthy control dogs before and after stimulation with DF antigen. Expression level of IFN-gamma mRNA in PBMCs was not different between the AR and control dogs before and after stimulation with DF antigen. These results suggested that allergic reaction to HDM antigen and T(H)2-type immune response were associated with the development of AR in 3 dogs examined in this study.     

Molecular cloning of the canine c-Met/HGF receptor and its expression in normal and regenerated liver

The c-Met proto-oncogene is the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which is a member of the tyrosine kinase family. Activation of the HGF/c-Met signal pathway leads to cell proliferation, motility, regeneration, and morphogenesis. In this study, the complete nucleotide sequence of complementary DNA (cDNA) of canine c-Met was cloned, and its distribution was determined in tissues. The canine c-Met cDNA clone had an open reading frame of 4419 bp that encoded a putative polypeptide of 1383 amino acids. The c-Met mRNA was expressed in a variety of canine tissues including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), bone marrow, liver, kidney, lung, stomach, uterus, testis, thymus, lymph node, small intestine, colon, adrenal gland, thyroid gland, heart, muscle, skin, pancreas, ovary, prostate, spleen, fat, cerebrum, and cerebellum. In addition, the c-Met mRNA expression in normal and regenerated liver was examined. The levels of the mRNA increased 2-fold in regenerated liver compared to that found in normal liver, indicating that c-Met is involved in various functions including remodeling of canine hepatocytes.     

C-reactive protein concentration in dogs with various diseases

To investigate the clinical utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) determination in dogs, its plasma concentration was measured by a laser nephelometric method in 928 dogs with various diseases, and was compared with other inflammatory parameters. CRP concentration was elevated in various inflammatory diseases, this was most frequently observed in cases with neoplastic and immune-mediated diseases. All cases of pyometra, panniculitis, acute pancreatitis, polyarthritis, and hemangiosarcoma showed significantly elevated CRP concentrations. On the other hand, the CRP concentration was elevated only in few cases of neurological diseases such as epilepsy, meningoencephalitis, and hydrocephalus and endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, and diabetes mellitus. Only a weak correlation was observed between the CRP concentration and white blood cell (WBC) counts (r=0.44) but no correlation with band neutrophil counts. There was no correlation between the CRP and albumin concentrations, but a weak negative correlation (r=-0.40) when excluding chronic intestinal diseases and nephrotic syndrome, which can cause protein loss. Thus, CRP can be useful to detect inflammations that cannot be detected by WBC and, or band neutrophil counts, suggesting that the examination of CRP concentration is essential as routine diagnostic test.     

利用ISSR标记进行菜用大豆和普通大豆的分类

ISSR标记技术因具有很高的多肽性而被广泛应用于遗传多样性研究.进行菜用大豆品种多样性研究将有助于育种家进行杂交亲本的合理选配.采用ISSR标记技术对37个菜用大豆品种(系)和13个普通大豆品种(系)进行了分类研究.结果表明:50个ISSR引物中有11个引物没有多肽性,其他39个引物共产生132条谱带,其中81条多肽性谱带,占61.4%.引物扩增的谱带数在l～7条之间,大小为830～3530 bp.每个引物平均扩增的谱带数和多肽性带数分别为3.3和2.1.聚类分析结果表明,可将供试的50个品种划分为3个类组,扁茎大豆Taikadai-zu单独一组,7个普通大豆(多数为中国选育)划归为B组,C组由日本菜用大豆和4个普通大豆组成.C组还可以划分成若干亚组,同一亚组的品种具有相似的性状,比如有一亚组的品种均是褐脐、茶色种皮、白花、不易炸荚.系选的品种和原始品种在分类图中也显示出其密切的亲缘关系.基于ISSR标记的分类可以反映菜用大豆的遗传关系,菜用大豆和普通大豆之间存在遗传多样性,合理保存菜用大豆种质将有助于未来大豆品质改良计划.