Exposure of taste buds to potassium permanganate and formalin suppresses the gustatory neural response in the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus)

Abstract The effects of exposing the taste receptors to two common aquaculture therapeutants, potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) and formalin, on the gustatory responses in the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) were studied using an electrophysiological approach. Electrical responses to the stimuli before and after perfusing the receptors with the toxicants were compared. Responses to 1.0 mM l ‐methionine (l ‐met) were significantly reduced when the receptors were perfused with 2.0 mg L^?1 KMnO₄ or 200.0 mg L^?1 formalin. KMnO₄ suppressed the responses to 56%, whereas formalin reduced them to 83%. Both toxicants reduced the responses to l ‐arginine to a similar extent to that of l ‐met, indicating that the action of the toxicants is not specific for the receptor sites for amino acids. On the other hand, the toxicants suppressed the responses to quinine significantly more than those to amino acids, which indicates that the transduction pathways for bitter substances are much more sensitive. The suppressions were reversible, suggesting that these toxicants do not cause any permanent damage to the physiological features of the taste receptors, but only interfere with their normal functioning. The possible mechanisms of suppression and their consequences on the feeding process are discussed.     

Importance of the Shatsky Rise Area in the Kuroshio Extension as an offshore nursery ground for Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and sardine (Sardinops melanostictus)

Recent findings suggest that recruitment of Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) depends on survival during not only the first feeding larval stage in the Japanese coastal waters and the Kuroshio front but also during the post‐larval and juvenile stages in the Kuroshio Extension. Spatial distributions of juvenile anchovy and sardine around the Shatsky Rise area in the Kuroshio Extension region and the Kuroshio–Oyashio transition region are described, based on a field survey in the late spring using a newly developed mid‐water trawl for sampling juveniles. All stages of anchovy from post‐larvae to juveniles were obtained in the northern Shatsky Rise area. The Kuroshio Extension bifurcates west of the Shatsky Rise area and eddies are generated, leading to higher chlorophyll concentrations than in the surrounding regions in April and May. When Japanese anchovy and sardine spawn near the Kuroshio front or the coastal waters south‐east of Japan, their larvae are transported by the Kuroshio Extension and are retained in the Shatsky Rise area, which forms an important offshore nursery ground, especially during periods of high stock abundance.     

Photodynamic hyperthermal chemotherapy with indocyanine green: a novel cancer therapy for 16 cases of malignant soft tissue sarcoma

Sixteen cases of malignant soft tissue sarcoma (STS; 10 canines and six felines) were treated with a novel triple therapy that combined photodynamic therapy, hyperthermia using indocyanine green with a broadband light source, and local chemotherapy after surgical tumor resection. This triple therapy was called photodynamic hyperthermal chemotherapy (PHCT). In all cases, the surgical margin was insufficient. In one feline case, PHCT was performed without surgical resection. PHCT was performed over an interval of 1 to 2 weeks and was repeated three to 21 times. No severe side effects, including severe skin burns, necrosis, or skin suture rupture, were observed in any of the animals. No disease recurrence was observed in seven out of 10 (70.0%) dogs and three out of six (50.0%) cats over the follow-up periods ranging from 238 to 1901 days. These results suggest that PHCT decreases the risk of STS recurrence. PHCT should therefore be considered an adjuvant therapy for treating companion animals with STS in veterinary medicine.     

Biocontrol of Pythium root rot on lisianthus using a new dark septate endophytic fungus Hyaloscypha variabilis J1PC1

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Pythium root rot is one of the most destructive diseases on lisianthus in Japan. Current management strategies against Pythium root rot are insufficient in...     

Quantification of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) cytokine expression in response to inactivated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine

This study describes the quantification of cytokine expression of vaccinated water buffaloes with FMD inactivated vaccine. Using real-time PCR quantification assay, expression of Th1 (IL-2, IL-12p40, IFNγ); Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) and inflammatory (IL-6, TNFα) cytokines were quantified weekly for the entire three-week duration of the experiment. It was noted that IFNγ, IL-10 and TNFα had peaked on week three post-vaccination while the remaining cytokines peaked on the second week and decreased by the third week. The counteraction between IFNγ and IL-4 was noted as well as the possible suppressive action of IL-10 to that of IL-2 and IL-12, which is a common phenomenon between Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Synergy between TNFa and IL-6 was also observed. These findings suggest that within the immune system of water buffalo there is a dynamic cell-mediated and humoral interaction in response to immunogen. This assessment of the cytokine expressions is vital for the study of water buffalo disease progression and concurring protective immune responses.     

Non-random gametoclonal variation in rice regenerants from callus subcultured for a prolonged period under high osmotic stress

Gametoclonal variations were investigated in rice plants regenerated from anther-derived callus after subculture for two different periods (4–6 and 20 weeks) in medium with two levels (292 and 438 mM) of mannitol. A high osmotic stress by mannitol in subculture medium contributed to the maintenance of high regeneration ability. The frequency of diploid regenerants (R₀ plants) increased and that of haploids decreased from callus subcultured for the longer period in medium with the higher concentration of mannitol. R₁ regenerant lines displayed variations in all six agronomical traits studied at the frequencies of 63% and 88% after subculture for 4–6 weeks and 20 weeks, respectively. High homozygosity was suggested in most of the R₁ lines for these traits by the similar levels of variance to those in the control variety. A principal component analysis showed a skewed distribution of variants towards dwarfness and less panicle weight in the regenerants from callus subcultured for 20 weeks with 438 mM mannitol. Two short culmn variants were shown to be due to single or double recessive mutations. The results suggested that prolonged subculture under high osmotic stress causes non-random selection of homozygous gametoclonal variations in rice anther culture. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Selection of plant population of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) as a papermaking raw material on arid hillside land in China

Agronomic properties (whole stalk yield, fiber length distribution, chemical composition) and whole stalk kraft pulp characteristics (total pulp yield, pulp fiber length distribution, pulp sheet strengths) were examined for kenaf (variety Zhehong 8310) at four plant populations, ranging from 135 000 to 405 000 plants/ha on arid hillside land at Anji, Zhejiang, China. For agronomic properties, the final whole stalk yield was higher as the plant population increased and as the altitude of the location on the slope decreased. Average fiber lengths of bast and core showed maxima at 225 000 plants/ha. Cellulose content increased as the plant population increased. For the kraft pulp characteristics of kenaf whole stalk, the total pulp yield was lower as the plant population increased, with the maximum difference about 1.3%. Sheet strengths and average fiber length attained maxima at around 225000–315000 plants/ha. The largest pulp strengths (breaking length, burst index, and folding endurance) were seen at a plant population of 225000 plants/ha, and the largest tear index was seen at a plant population of 315 000 plants/ha. When the agronomic properties and whole stalk kraft pulp characteristics were combined, a plant population between 225 000 and 315 000 plants/ha, which is a little higher than that of kenaf bast production for textiles, was selected as the optimum cultivated kenaf plant population for whole stalk kraft pulp and papermaking on arid hillside land in China.     

Effect of dietary glucosylceramide from sea cucumber on plasma and liver lipids in cholesterol-fed mice

Various physiological functions of dietary glucosylceramides (GlcCer) have been reported, such as preventing colon cancer and improving skin barrier function. One potential GlcCer source used as a foodstuff is sea cucumber. In this study, our objective was to determine the effect of dietary GlcCer prepared from sea cucumber on plasma and liver lipids in cholesterol-fed mice. ICR mice were fed four different diets (control diet, sea cucumber GlcCer supplemented diet, high cholesterol supplemented diet, and high cholesterol + sea cucumber GlcCer supplemented diet). Dietary GlcCer decreased total cholesterol significantly in ICR mice. The mRNA expression of LDL receptor was increased significantly, while the expression of the gene CYP7A1, which is involved in bile acid formation, was decreased significantly compared with the control (diet without cholesterol). These results suggest that the expression of the cholesterol homeostasis gene in liver is modulated due to the cholesterol lowering effect of dietary GlcCer.