Effect of mixed rearing of barrows and gilts on backfat thickness and serum metabolite profiles of the Kagoshima-Kurobuta (Berkshire) pig

We investigated the effect of mixed rearing of barrows and gilts on the backfat thickness and the serum metabolite profiles of Kagoshima-Kurobuta (Berkshire) pigs. A total of 149 pigs with an average body weight of 35 kg were divided into the following groups: 100%, 90%, 70%, 50%, 30%, 10%, and 0% groups consisting of 10 barrows (1 pen), 9 barrows + 1 gilt (3 pens), 7 barrows + 3 gilts (2 pens), 5 barrows + 5 gilts (3 pens), 3 barrows + 7 gilts (2 pens), 1 barrow + 9 gilts (3 pens), and 9 gilts (1 pen), respectively. All pigs were raised to a shipping weight of 120 kg. Mixed rearing significantly reduced (p < 0.001) backfat thickness, and the optimum mixing ratio of barrows and gilts was 7:3 (the 70% group). Four types of circulating sex steroids were found in both the barrows and gilts in the 50% group but were not detected in barrows from the 100% group. These results indicated that mixed rearing of barrows and gilts was effective for reducing the backfat thickness of barrows, and induced sex steroid hormones may influence the backfat thickness of barrows in mixed-reared groups.     

Nickel-catalyzed carbonization of wood for coproduction of functional carbon and fluid fuels I: production of crystallized mesoporous carbon

Japanese larch wood loaded with nickel (1%–4%) alone or with nickel and calcium (0.25%–1.5%) was carbonized at 800°–900°C for 0–120min with a heating rate of 5°–20°C min⁻¹ in a helium flow of 5.8−46.4 ml STP cm⁻² min⁻¹ to examine the influence of these variables on the crystallization of carbon (the formation of T component) and the development of mesoporosity. From the obtained results, reaction conditions suitable for effective production of carbon with the dual functions of adequate electroconductivity and adsorption capacity in liquid phase were established, thereby explaining the factors that govern the process. It was also confirmed that mesopore having a diameter of about 4 nm was selectively produced at the cost of specific (BET) surface area in parallel with the formation of T component. This result provided good insight into how the simultaneous dual function could be realized.     

Differences in oxygen and carbon stable isotope ratios between hatchery and wild pink salmon fry

We examined differences in otolith oxygen (δ¹⁸O_otolith) and carbon (δ¹³C_otolith) stable isotope ratios between hatchery and wild pink salmon fry. The δ¹⁸O_otolith values of hatchery and wild fry were ?7.7 ± 0.2 ‰ and ?8.3 ± 0.3 ‰ (1σ), respectively. This difference reflected differences in temperature conditions experienced by each fry. The δ¹³C_otolith values of hatchery and wild fry were ?19.2 ± 0.3 ‰ and ?11.1 ± 1.8 ‰ (1σ), respectively. The lower δ¹³C_otolith values of hatchery fry were probably related to their intake of artificial diets. Discriminant analysis of δ¹⁸O_otolith and δ¹³C_otolith values demonstrated a highly significant difference between hatchery and wild fry with 95.8 % classification accuracy. Therefore, analysis of δ¹⁸O_otolith and δ¹³C_otolith precipitated in the fry stage may be useful for discriminating the origin of returning adult pink salmon. The discrimination method for returning adult fish would provide important information for evaluating the effect of hatchery release and their impact on the wild population.     

Relationship between antibacterial activity of (+)-catechin derivatives and their interaction with a model membrane

(+)-Catechin derivatives with different alkyl chain lengths were synthesized from (+)-catechin and various straight chain alkylaldehydes in the presence of methyl mercaptan, and their antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria were evaluated. The antibacterial activity increased markedly with elongation of the alkyl chain lengths of the derivatives and reached a maximum at a chain of four to seven carbons. Subsequently, interaction of the (+)-catechin derivatives with a model membrane using liposome was investigated. The derivatives with a chain of three carbons or more were found to have very strong affinity for the membrane. The injury action of the derivatives against the membrane was examined with liposome in which calcein was enclosed as a fluorescent indicator. The leakage was observed in the derivatives with chain lengths of four carbons or more. Particularly the derivatives with chains longer than five carbons are considered to destroy the liposome membrane judging from the degree of the fluorescent leakage. These results implied that the lipophilicity and disrupting ability of the (+)-catechin derivatives to the liposome membrane participate in their antibacterial activity.     

Distribution of photoperiod-insensitive allele Ppd-A1a and its effect on heading time in Japanese wheat cultivars

The Ppd-A1 genotype of 240 Japanese wheat cultivars and 40 foreign cultivars was determined using a PCR-based method. Among Japanese cultivars, only 12 cultivars, all of which were Hokkaido winter wheat, carried the Ppd-A1a allele, while this allele was not found in Hokkaido spring wheat cultivars or Tohoku-Kyushu cultivars. Cultivars with a photoperiod-insensitive allele headed 6.9–9.8 days earlier in Kanto and 2.5 days earlier in Hokkaido than photoperiod-sensitive cultivars. The lower effect of photoperiod-insensitive alleles observed in Hokkaido could be due to the longer day-length at the spike formation stage compared with that in Kanto. Pedigree analysis showed that ‘Purple Straw’ and ‘Tohoku 118’ were donors of Ppd-A1a and Ppd-D1a in Hokkaido wheat cultivars, respectively. Wheat cultivars recently developed in Hokkaido carry photoperiod-insensitive alleles at a high frequency. For efficient utilization of Ppd-1 alleles in the Hokkaido wheat-breeding program, the effect of Ppd-1 on growth pattern and grain yield should be investigated. Ppd-A1a may be useful as a unique gene source for fine tuning the heading time in the Tohoku-Kyushu region since the effect of Ppd-A1a on photoperiod insensitivity appears to differ from the effect of Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a.     

Ethanol-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration and fetal alcohol syndrome

The deleterious effects of ethanol on the developing human brain are poorly understood. Here it is reported that ethanol, acting by a dual mechanism [blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors and excessive activation of GABA(A) receptors], triggers widespread apoptotic neurodegeneration in the developing rat forebrain. Vulnerability coincides with the period of synaptogenesis, which in humans extends from the sixth month of gestation to several years after birth. During this period, transient ethanol exposure can delete millions of neurons from the developing brain. This can explain the reduced brain mass and neurobehavioral disturbances associated with human fetal alcohol syndrome.     

Successful induction of lactation in a barren thoroughbred mare: growth of a foal raised on induced lactation and the corresponding maternal hormone profiles

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that a barren parous Thoroughbred mare with lactation induced by hormonal treatment can be introduced to an orphan foal at the same farm and that the mare can become pregnant after the end of the hormonal treatment. An additional purpose was to investigate the changes in the plasma concentrations of prolactin, estradiol-17β, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone before, during, and after hormonal treatment. The difference in body weight between the adopted foal and the control foals, which were at the same farm and raised by their natural mothers, was 17 kg at 24 weeks old, when the foals were weaned. However, the adopted foal and the control foals had almost the same weight at 35 weeks old and later. The first ovulation after hormonal treatment was confirmed 10 days after the end of hormonal treatment and then the normal estrous cycle resumed. Furthermore, the changes in plasma progesterone, estradiol-17β, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone showed regular patterns after the first ovulation. Conception was confirmed in the fifth ovulation. Meanwhile, another study demonstrated that conception was confirmed in the first ovulation after hormonal treatment. The present study is the first to demonstrate the hormonal profiles during and after induction of lactation in a Thoroughbred mare. This approach is useful for solving the economic and epidemic problems of introducing a nurse mare to an orphan foal.