Juvenile hormone regulates butterfly larval pattern switches

Insect color patterns can be very diverse. This variation is also seen among many larval instar stages, which can take on vastly different phenotypes. Young caterpillars of the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus, are mimics of bird droppings, whereas the fifth larval instar is camouflaged among the leaves of host plants (cryptic pattern). We find that juvenile hormone (JH) titers decrease during the fourth larval instar. Furthermore, treatment with JH analog at the beginning of the fourth instar stage resulted in reproducing the mimetic pattern instead of the usual cryptic one and likewise altered gene expression patterns to that associated with the mimetic pattern. These findings suggest that JH regulates the progressive larval pattern switch of this insect.     

Endocrine mechanisms responsible for different follicular development during the estrous cycle in Hatano high- and low-avoidance rats

Hatano high- and low-avoidance rats (HAA and LAA strains, respectively) were selected and bred according to the avoidance rate in a shuttle-box task. Although they have clear strain differences in ovarian function, their endocrine mechanisms still remain to be clarified. Differences in female reproductive endocrinology between the strains were investigated by means of measuring the plasma concentration of reproductive hormones during the estrous cycle. LAA rats showed approximately threefold lower basal and surge levels of LH, a more than fourfold lower level of FSH surges and higher levels of inhibin A and inhibin B during the estrous cycle compared with the levels seen in HAA rats. The concentration of estradiol-17β in the proestrous stage was significantly lower in LAA rats than in HAA rats. Additionally, LH and FSH secretions from primary cultured anterior pituitary cells with or without in vitro GnRH stimulation were lower in the cells derived from LAA rats and, in terms of FSH secretion, were unresponsive to GnRH in contrast to cells derived from HAA rats. Although an increased number of preantral follicles in diestrus were observed in LAA rats, number of hCG-induced ovulation was lower in LAA rats. LAA rats may have much more follicle growth during the early stage of folliculogenesis, but most follicles might not grow into mature follicles. These results strongly suggest that the strain difference in ovarian function of these two Hatano rats is due to the difference in the regulation of hypothalamo-hypophyseal system for gonadotropins secretion.     

Evaluation of the heat‐killed and dried cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis against villous atrophy in early‐weaned mice and pigs

Early weaning induces villous atrophy in the small intestine (SI) of piglets. Oral administration of live lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can improve villous shortening. In this study, we evaluated the oral administration of a heat‐killed and dried cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis (a LAB) strain EC‐12 against villous atrophy in early‐weaned mice (Experiment 1) and pigs (Experiments 2 and 3). Twelve 16‐days‐old mice were divided into two groups in Experiment 1: gavage of EC‐12 (10 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day), or control. On day 21, SI was collected. Eighteen 21‐day‐old pigs were divided into two groups in Experiment 2: gavage of EC‐12 (10 mg/kg BW/day), or control. After 10 days, the villous height of jejunum was measured. Six 21‐day‐old pigs were divided into two groups in Experiment 3: the basal diet supplemented with EC‐12 at 0.05%‐fed group, or the basal diet‐fed group. After 10 days, the villous height of jejunum was measured. The villous heights in SI were significantly higher by EC‐12 administration in all experiments. EC‐12 successfully improved the villous atrophy in the early‐weaned mice and pigs when EC‐12 was administered orally.     

KIF1A alternately uses two loops to bind microtubules

The motor protein kinesin moves along microtubules, driven by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis. However, it remains unclear how kinesin converts the chemical energy into mechanical movement. We report crystal structures of monomeric kinesin KIF1A with three transition-state analogs: adenylyl imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-vanadate, and ADP-AlFx (aluminofluoride complexes). These structures, together with known structures of the ADP-bound state and the adenylyl-(beta,gamma-methylene) diphosphate (AMP-PCP)-bound state, show that kinesin uses two microtubule-binding loops in an alternating manner to change its interaction with microtubules during the ATP hydrolysis cycle; loop L11 is extended in the AMP-PNP structure, whereas loop L12 is extended in the ADP structure. ADP-vanadate displays an intermediate structure in which a conformational change in two switch regions causes both loops to be raised from the microtubule, thus actively detaching kinesin.     

Audiogram measurement based on the auditory brainstem response for juvenile Japanese sand lance <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ammodytes personatus</Emphasis>

In this study, the auditory thresholds for juvenile Japanese sand lance Ammodytes personatus were measured based on its auditory brainstem response (ABR). The amplitude of the ABR waveforms to a sound stimulus were larger than that of the electric background noise caused by general brainwaves and myogenic signals after the averaging procedure. Japanese sand lance responded to low frequency sounds between 128 Hz and 512 Hz with a sound pressure level of 115–125 dB. As the test frequency decreased, so did the auditory threshold level, and the level was about 116 dB at 128 Hz and 181 Hz. These results indicate that Japanese sand lance can detect low frequency sound but are less sensitive than other fish species. These high thresholds are probably caused by the lack of a swim bladder.     

Survival,growth and fertility of gynogenetic diploids induced in the cyprinid loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

Gynogenetic diploids were induced in the loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, by applying cold shock to the egg after fertilization with spermatozoa genetically inactivated by ultraviolet-ray irradiation, to examine their survival, growth and fertility. Eggs were obtained from orange phenotype loach (homozygous for a recessive demelanogenesis gene). Spermatozoa were obtained from black phenotype loach (homozygous for a dominant melanogenesis gene), and from common carp, Cyprinus carpio. All hybrids between loach and carp were inviably abnormal.Eggs fertilized with loach or carp spermatozoa irradiated at doses of 6000 and 12000 erg/mm ² and then treated with cold water (1°C for one hour 4 and 5 min after fertilization developed into embryos with 61–78% survival. About 70–87% of newly-hatched fry were normal in appearance. Gynogenetic fish induced by both loach and carp spermatozoa showed lower rates of survival and growth than did the normal diploid controls. All gynogenetic fish from carp spermatozoa were female and 94.9% of the gynogenetic fish from loach spermatozoa were female. The second gynogenetic offsprings were produced from females selected from both gynogenetic groups.     

Public Perceptions of Significant Wildlife in Hyogo,Japan

Public perceptions of wildlife vary by species, context, and culture. Understanding these perceptions helps managers understand how their decisions may generate conflict among stakeholders. We mailed questionnaires to residents in the northern region of Hyogo prefecture in Japan to examine their willingness to tolerate wildlife species of greatest concern to government officials, including: (a) native species frequently causing agricultural damage (wild boar [Sus scrofa], sika deer [Cervus nippon], Japanese macaque [Macaca fuscata]), (b) vulnerable species (Asiatic black bear [Ursus thibetanus]), (c) endangered species (reintroduced oriental white stork [Ciconia boyciana]), and (d) non-native, invasive species (nutria [Myocastor coypus]). We used the Potential for Conflict Index (PCI₂) to analyze our data, and found that respondents’ (n?=?868) acceptance was highest for the endangered oriental white stork and lowest for the non-native nutria. These perceptions also varied with sociodemographic characteristics, including a significant negative relationship between age and willingness to have boar, deer, macaque, bears, and nutria nearby.     

Distinguishing Cattle Foraging Activities Using an Accelerometry-Based Activity Monitor

Various sensors and analytic tools have been developed to assist with the collection and analysis of data regarding the activities of animals at pasture. We tested an accelerometry-based activity monitor, the Kenz Lifecorder EX (LCEX; Suzuken Co Ltd, Nagoya, Japan), to differentiate between foraging and other activities of beef cows in a steeply sloping pasture. Logistic regression (LR) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), two of the most widely used techniques for distinguishing animal activities based on sensing device information, were employed in the analysis. An LCEX device was worn on a collar by each of four cattle over the course of 4 d, during which time the activity (foraging, resting, ruminating, walking, and grooming) of each cow was recorded by trained observers at 1-min intervals for a total of 15 h. LR and LDA were applied to the LCEX and observer data to distinguish between foraging and other activities. Overall, a more accurate measure was obtained by LDA (90.6% to 94.6% correct discrimination among cows) than by LR (80.8% to 91.8% correct discrimination). The threshold LCEX value for distinguishing between foraging and other activities varied among cows, and the correct discrimination rate for the pooled data set was 92.4% for LDA and 85.6% for LR. Based on individual cow LDA, the time spent foraging averaged between 443 and 475 min · d^?1. Our results indicated that LCEX can be used to identify the foraging activity of cattle.