Histopathological changes in the pancreas due to decreased pancreatic blood flow in a canine tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy model

In dogs, pancreatic acinar cell injury is thought to be caused by decreased pancreatic blood flow due to heart failure. In previous our report, it demonstrated that decreased heart function causes a significant decrease in pancreatic blood flow in heart failure dog model caused by rapid ventricular pacing (RVP). However, the types of histopathological changes remain unclear. We aimed to verify the types of histopathological changes occurring in the pancreatic tissue due to decreased heart function. After RVP for 4 weeks, atrophy of pancreatic acinar cells, characterized by a decrease in zymogen granules, was observed in all areas of the pancreas. In conclusion, the result of this study suggests that attention should be paid to ischemia/hypoperfusion injury in the pancreas.     

Seasonal fluctuations in the flux of particulate organic matter discharged from net pens for fish farming

ABSTRACT:   Fish farming using net pens consumes large amounts of food for the reared fish, resulting in organic enrichment of the sediment below the fish farm from organic discharge in the forms of fish feces and food residues. Sediment traps were set at a net pen within and outside a fish farm, and organic flux on the sea floor was compared. The year-mean organic flux to the sea floor caused by fish farming from September 2003 to September 2004 was estimated at 2.11 gC/m²/day in total organic carbon (TOC) and 0.26 gN/m²/day in total nitrogen (TN), which were 2.5 times (TOC flux) and 2.2 times (TN flux) larger than that for natural organic flux outside the fish farm. The seasonal fluctuation patterns of organic flux to the sea floor below the fish farm did not necessarily coincide with those for the amount of food spent for the fish farming. The largest organic flux to the sea floor occurred in the autumn, when the vertical mixing of the water had just started. Therefore, organic enrichment of the sediment on the sea floor of a fish farm proceeded during this season.     

Control of dissolved oxygen levels of water in net pens for fish farming by a microscopic bubble generating system

ABSTRACT:   A microscopic bubble generating system (MBGS) has been developed to control dissolved oxygen (DO) levels suitable for fish farming. The MBGS has been tested to confirm its capability in net pens. Water conditions in a fish farm were monitored every two hours from June to October 2004 by setting an online vertical profiling system (OVPS) close to the net pen. DO in the net pen water decreased to physiologically stressful levels for the fish during the night (4.84–5.51 mg/L), while the DO was kept in saturated conditions during the day, due to oxygen supply from phytoplankton. The MBGS was operated from the evening to the morning of the next day for 16 h, to successfully create DO-saturated conditions in the net pen water at night. By using microscopic bubbles during the warm seasons, DO levels in the net pen water could be improved to a level suitable for fish farming. However, the low DO levels (<5.0 mg/L) of the bottom water occasionally extended to the net pen layers, despite the supply of microscopic bubbles to the water. To maintain the DO of the net pen water at levels suitable for fish farming, DO supply to the net pen water and the bottom water needs to be increased, and the organically enriched sediment just below the net pens needs to be treated.     

Serotyping of Vibrio anguillarum isolated from diseased freshwater fish in Japan

Abstract. During the period from 1965 to 1980, 263 Vibrio anguillarum strains from ayu, Plecoglossiis altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel), two from rainbow trout. Salmo gairdneri Richardson, and two from eel, Anguilla japonica (Temminck & Schlegel), were collected from fish suffering from vibriosis in various parts of Japan. On the basis of cross-agglutination and cross-absorption tests with thermostable (O) antigens, six distinct serotypes (A, B, C, D, E and F) were established among 12 selected strains of V. anguillarum . 241 strains isolated from ayu and two strains from rainbow trout belonged to serotype A, six strains from ayu and one strain from eel to serotype B, 12 strains from ayu to serotype C, three strains from ayu to serotype D, one strain from ayu to serotype E, and one strain from eel to serotype F. V. anguillarum strains belonging to serotypes D, E and F have not been detected from ayu, rainbow trout and eel since 1973; these serotypes appear to be minor types. V. anguillarum strain NCMB 6 and 1669 belong to our serotype A and V. anguillarum 813 to our serotype C.     

Occurrence of metaxenia and false hybrids in Brassica juncea L. cv. Kikarashina × B. napus

Imported genetically modified (GM) canola (Brassica napus) is approved by Japanese law. Some GM canola varieties have been found around importation sites, and there is public concern that these may have any harmful effects on related species such as reduction of wild relatives. Because B. juncea is distributed throughout Japan and is known to be high crossability with B. napus, it is assumed to be a recipient of B. napus. However, there are few reports for introgression of cross-combination in B. juncea × B. napus. To assess crossability, we artificially pollinated B. juncea with B. napus. After harvesting a large number of progeny seeds, we observed false hybrids and metaxenia of seed coats. Seed coat color was classified into four categories and false hybrids were confirmed by morphological characteristics and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Furthermore, the occurrence of false hybrids was affected by varietal differences in B. napus, whereas that of metaxenia was related to hybridity. Therefore, we suggest that metaxenia can be used as a marker for hybrid identification in B. juncea L. cv. Kikarashina × B. napus. Our results suggest that hybrid productivity in B. juncea × B. napus should not be evaluated by only seed productivity, crossability ought to be assessed the detection of true hybrids.     

Genetic diversity of group A rotaviruses associated with repeated outbreaks of diarrhea in a farrow-to-finish farm: identification of a porcine rotavirus strain bearing a novel VP7 genotype, G26

ABSTRACT: Group A rotaviruses (GARs) are one of the most common causes of diarrhea in suckling pigs. Although a number of G and P genotypes have been identified in porcine GARs, few attempts have been made to study the molecular epidemiology of these viruses associated with diarrhea outbreaks within a farm over an extended period of time. Here, we investigated the molecular characteristics of GARs that caused four outbreaks of diarrhea among suckling pigs in a farrow-to-finish farm over the course of a year. G and P genotyping of GARs detected at each outbreak demonstrated genetic diversity in this farm as follows: G9P[23] was detected at the first outbreak, G9P[13]/[22] and G9P[23] at the second, G3P[7] at the third, and G9P[23], G5P[13]/[22], and P[7] combined with an untypeable G genotype at the fourth. Sequence analysis of the detected GARs revealed that such genetic diversity could have resulted not only from the introduction of new GAR strains, but also from gene reassortment between GAR strains within the farm. Further, the GAR strain carrying the untypeable G genotype was shown to be a novel porcine GAR bearing a new G26 genotype, as confirmed by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group.     

Expression analysis of the type I keratin protein keratin 33A in goat coat hair

The coat of a goat, like that of many mammalian species, consists of an outer coat of coarse hairs and an under coat of fine, downy hairs. The coarse guard hairs are produced by primary follicles and the finer cashmere hairs by secondary follicles. We previously reported that hair keratins are components of cashmere hair, and proteomic analysis revealed that their expression is elevated in winter coat hair. To determine detailed characterization, we have cloned keratin 33A gene, a major highly expressed keratin in winter, and then analyzed the expression of goat hair coat. By Western analysis, we detected that keratin 33A protein is expressed only in hair coat among the various goat tissues. Moreover, the expression level in winter has increased in cashmere high‐producing Korean native breed, whereas the expression levels between summer and winter had not changed in cashmere low‐producing Saanen. In addition, by immunohistochemistry we determined that keratin 33A is localized in the major cortex portion of cashmere fiber. These results confirm that keratin 33A is a structural protein of goat cashmere hair fiber.