Downregulation of male-specific cytochrome P450 by profenofos

The health hazards of individual organophosphorus insecticides have been characterized by their acute toxicity, mainly by investigating their cholinesterase inhibition. However, the chronic effects of most of these toxicants on the drug-metabolizing enzymes have not been investigated. Profenofos (O-4-bromo-2-chlorophenyl O-ethyl S-propyl phosphorothioate) is an organophosphorus pesticide widely used in cotton cultivation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of profenofos on male-specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in adult Wistar rats. We orally administered 17.8 mg/kg body weight, twice weekly for 65 days. Profenofos downregulated levels of hepatic and testicular CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 mRNA and protein expression. Testicular aromatase (CYP19A) mRNA was decreased in the profenofos-treated rats compared to controls. Overall, the present study suggests that profenofos acts as an endocrine disruptor of male-specific CYP enzymes and affects testosterone concentration, which implicates its deleterious effects on animal or human males chronically exposed to organophosphorus pesticide.     

Pharmacokinetics and toxicity of zonisamide in cats

With the eventual goal of making zonisamide (ZNS), a relatively new antiepileptic drug, available for the treatment of epilepsy in cats, the pharmacokinetics after a single oral administration at 10mg/kg and the toxicity after 9-week daily administration of 20mg/kg/day of ZNS were studied in healthy cats. Pharmacokinetic parameters obtained with a single administration of ZNS at 10mg/day were as follows: Cmax=13.1microg/ml; Tmax=4.0h; T(1/2)=33.0h; areas under the curves (AUCs)=720.3microg/mlh (values represent the medians). The study with daily administrations revealed that the toxicity of ZNS was comparatively low in cats, suggesting that it may be an available drug for cats. However, half of the cats that were administered 20mg/kg/day daily showed adverse reactions such as anorexia, diarrhoea, vomiting, somnolence and locomotor ataxia.     

Insecticidal and neuroexciting actions of DDT analogs

The neuroexciting activity of DDT and its analogs to produce repetitive responses on the nerve cord of Periplaneta americana was determined using the extracellular electrode method. The convulsive activity on P. americana and the insecticidal effect on Callosobruchus chinensis were also examined. It was found that the convulsive and insecticidal activities increase almost proportionally with increase in the neuroexciting activity within a set of p,p′-substituted DDT analogs. The intimate connections among these biological effects suggest that symptoms such as convulsion and death caused by DDT analogs are closely related with their neuroexcitory effect and there is a common mode of action in spite of differences in insect species.     

Effect of culling age of does on milk and meat production in Japanese-Saanen goats

A functional herd dynamics model was developed to estimate the effect of culling age on milk and meat production for Japanese-Saanen goats in relation to changes in prices of milk and meat. The model simulates life cycle production of bucks and does and their kids. Every production trait is first modelled as an individual trait and thereafter as a trait in the herd using a herd dynamics model. At the individual level, the survival curve function, the litter size function and the production traits function are combined. Data on growth and lactation were used to fit growth and lactation curves to estimated parameters using non-linear least squares regression technique and used in the production traits function. Using herd dynamics, the individual level functions are combined with the total number of animals function to estimate the total herd output and income efficiency at the herd level. Here, variables of culling days including the effect of difference in meat price value among goat categories (bucks, does, male kids and female kids) are used. Analysis of interrelations among the culling days of does, the price ratio and the income efficiency indicated that optimal culling days of does was shortened with an increase in the price ratio of meat to milk. However, when meat price value was different among goat categories according to actual situation of Japanese goat production, the optimal culling days of does could be fixed regardless of the change in price ratio and was calculated as 1730 days. This functional herd dynamics model can aid in decision-making regarding culling under several situations especially when there is a wide fluctuation in prices at local markets.     

Linkage analysis of RFLP markers for clubroot resistance and pigmentation in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis)

A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) – based linkage map of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) (2n=20) including two agronomic traits, clubroot resistance and orange-yellow pigmentation, was constructed using doubled haploid parents. The total linkage distance was 735 cM; 63 loci were distributed into ten linkage groups. Clubroot resistance of the parental line T136-8 to the current pathotype, race 2, was predominantly controlled by a single dominant gene that originated from European turnip. The locus for clubroot resistance by the dominant major gene (CRa) was mapped on linkage group 3, and RFLP loci HC352b and HC181 were located 3 cM and 12 cM from it, respectively. The locus HC352b was identified by a 4.4 Kb Eco R I fragment, which segregated for null allele. The absence of an allelic fragment in HC352b could be interpreted by deletion in the resistance source; homozygotes for CRa could be efficiently selected by detecting null types for the marker. Orange-yellow pigmentation expressed in head inner leaves and petals was governed by a single recessive gene. The locus (Oy) for the pigmentation was mapped on linkage group 1, being located 17–19 cM from three RFLP loci that were closely linked to each other. The linkage analysis for clubroot resistance and unique pigmentation revealed some informative RFLP markers. Identification of molecular markers for clubroot resistance and other agronomically important traits would provide useful information in breeding programs of Chinese cabbage. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of feed restriction and cold exposure on glucose metabolism in response to feeding and insulin in sheep.

The effects of feed restriction, cold exposure, and the initiation of feeding on blood glucose metabolism, other blood metabolites, hormones, and tissue responsiveness and sensitivity to insulin were measured in sheep. The sheep consumed orchardgrass hay ad libitum (AL) or were restricted to 82% of the ME requirement for maintenance (RE) and were exposed to a thermoneutral (20 degrees C) or a cold environment (2 degrees C). An isotope dilution method and a glucose clamp approach were applied to determine blood glucose metabolism and insulin action, respectively. Plasma NEFA and insulin concentrations were influenced by feed restriction. Concentrations of plasma glucose, NEFA, insulin, and glucagon were influenced by cold exposure. Plasma NEFA concentration for RE decreased after the initiation of feeding and plasma insulin concentration increased transiently for all treatments. [U-13C]Glucose was continuously infused for 8 or 7 h after a priming injection starting 3 h before the initiation of either feeding or insulin infusion, respectively. When responses to feeding were studied, blood glucose turnover rate was less (P < .001) for RE than for AL, and it was greater (P < .001) during cold exposure than in the thermoneutral environment. The rate changed little after the initiation of feeding. For the glucose clamp approach, insulin was infused over four sequential 1-h periods at rates from .64 to 10 mU x kg BW(-1) x min(-1), with concomitant glucose infusion to maintain preinfusion plasma glucose concentrations. The rates of glucose infusion and blood glucose turnover increased (P < .001) dose-dependently with insulin infusion rate. The maximal glucose infusion rate was greater (P < .05) for RE than for AL and was greater (P < .001) during cold exposure than in the thermoneutral environment. The plasma insulin concentration at half-maximal glucose infusion rate was lower (P < .1) during cold exposure. Blood glucose turnover rate tended to be greater (P = .10) for RE than for AL, and it was greater (P < .001) during cold exposure than in the thermoneutral environment. The ratio of endogenous production to utilization of glucose was suppressed by insulin infusion. In sheep fed a roughage diet, blood glucose turnover rate seems to be influenced by both intake level and environmental temperature, but not by the act of feeding. Moreover, the action of insulin on glucose metabolism is enhanced during cold exposure, and the effect of feed restriction is somewhat enhanced.     

A transdisciplinary research of coastal fisheries co-management: the case of the hairtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichiurus japonicus</Emphasis> trolling line fishery around the Bungo Channel,Japan

Under the coastal fisheries co-management regime in Japan, local fishers play important roles in deciding on and implementing local management measures. Therefore, using the case study of a hairtail trolling line fishery, we conducted a transdisciplinary research with fishers, processors, government officers, etc. Taking social and biological factors into account, we defined management criteria and targets (resource, economic, human community, and local food culture) in collaboration with local fishers. We chartered local fishing vessels to determine parameters that were easily understood by local fishers. We established a local consultative committee comprising fishers, processors, and distributors, and developed a fish distribution strategy to nurture the local hairtail food culture. The integrated effects of various management scenarios were evaluated by the operating model. We found that co-ordinated management by both the trolling line fishery and purse seiners in the neighbouring prefecture was required to achieve targets. Two realistic scenarios are recommended: a conservative scenario that could achieve targets even with few strong year classes, and an adaptive scenario that protects strong year classes, but relies on a higher frequency of these. We shared these results with the local fishers and government officers, which led to actual improvements in management measures.     

Conservation of small hairtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichiurus japonicas</Emphasis> by using hooks with large artificial bait: effect on the trolling line fishery

Overfishing has reduced the stock of hairtail Trichiurus japonicus around the Bungo Channel, Japan. To determine whether using larger bait in the trolling line fishery could avoid catching small/undersize hairtail, we developed and trialled a new large artificial bait (a soft plastic bait, 6 inches long). A traditional lure with natural bait (type-1), a new lure of the new artificial bait hook without natural bait (type-2), and a new lure with natural bait (type-3) were tested in fishing operations around the Bungo Channel. Compared with type-1, type-2 and type-3 caught fewer undersized and immature female individuals. The number of fish caught, yield, and composition of commercial size grades per recruitment were calculated from field data for each lure and compared. The catch sizes (number of fish per recruitment) were smaller for type-2 and type-3 than for type-1, but yield per recruitment was higher for type-3 than for type-1. Compared with type-1, type-2 and type-3 caught more large individuals, which are more valuable. The newly developed artificial bait conserves hairtail stocks by targeting larger fish, which is economically beneficial for the hairtail trolling line fishery.     

Production of a desirable Brassica oleracea CMS line using an alloplasmic B. rapa CMS line carrying Diplotaxis erucoides cytoplasm as a bridge plant

In Brassica oleracea, production of F₁ hybrid seeds mainly makes use of the improved Ogura cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line. However, reliance on one particular line is a risk, and it would be advantageous to develop other CMS lines. In this study, we transferred Diplotaxis erucoides cytoplasm to B. oleracea cultivars using an alloplasmic B. rapaCMS line as a bridge plant to avoid incompatibility between donor and recipient plants. The new B. oleraceaCMS lines, which were derived by four generations of backcrossing, had small rudimentary anthers with no pollen grain and showed complete male sterility. There was no functional defect in other floral organs, and the ability to receive normal pollen did not appear to be impaired. Moreover, the B. oleraceaCMS lines carrying D. erucoides cytoplasm had larger leaf areas and a normal plastochron. As a consequence, the B. oleraceaCMS lines carrying D. erucoides cytoplasm have the potential to be valuable alternatives for use in commercial B. oleracea hybrid seed production.