Flounder metamorphosis: its regulation by various hormones

Metamorphosis in the flounder has often been compared with the transition of tadpoles into frogs. The dorsal fin rays of the Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) elongate during prometamorphosis when thyroid hormone levels are low, and are resorbed during metamorphic climax when thyroid hormone levels are high. Using an in vitro system for the culture of the flounder fin rays, we have examined how various hormones affect the resorption process. Both thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃) directly stimulated fin ray shortening, T₃ being more potent than T₄. Other hormones, such as prolactin, cortisol and sex steroids, did not directly affect the resorption process but modified the tissue's response to thyroid hormones. Similar observations were obtained from in vivo studies. We also monitored the changes in the whole body concentrations of various hormones during early development and metamorphosis, and related these with the thyroid hormone profiles in order to get a better picture of their interactions. The gaps in the present status of research on the role of thyroid hormones during metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder are also discussed.     

Osmoregulatory actions of growth hormone and its mode of action in salmonids: A review

Osmoregulatory actions of growth hormone (GH) and its mode of action in salmonids are reviewed. We present evidence suggesting that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mediates some of the actions of GH on seawater acclimation. Plasma concentration and turnover of GH rise following exposure to seawater. Exogenous GH (in vivo) increases gill Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity and the number of gill chloride cells, and inhibits an increase in plasma osmolarity and ions following transfer of fish to seawater. A single class of high affinity GH receptors is present in the liver, gill, intestine, and kidney. The levels of IGF-I mRNA in the liver, gill and kidney increased after GH-injection. After transfer to seawater, IGF-I mRNA increased in the gill and kidney following the rise in plasma GH, although no significant change was seen in the liver. Injection of IGF-I improved the ability of the fish to maintain plasma sodium levels after transfer to seawater. GH treatment also sensitizes the interrenal to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), increasing cortisol secretion. Both cortisol and IGF-I may be involved in mediating the action of GH in seawater adaptation, although studies on the effect of GH on osmoregulatory physiology of non-salmonid species are limited. An integrated model of the osmoregulatory actions of GH is presented, and areas in need of research are outlined.

---

Résumé Cet article est une revue des effets osmorégulateurs de l'hormone de croissance et de son mode d'action. Nous présentons des résultats qui suggèrent que le facteur de croissance de type insuline (IGF-I) est un médiateur de certaines des actions de la GH sur l'adaptation à l'eau de mer. Les concentrations plasmatiques et le renouvellement de la GH augmentent après transfert en eau de mer. La GH exogène stimule (in vivo) l'activité Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase et le nombre de cellules à chlorure branchialeset inhibe les augmentations de l'osmolarité et des concentrations ioniques du plasma observées après transfert en eau de mer. Une seule classe de récepteurs à haute affinité pour la GH est présent dans le foie, les branchies, l'intestin et le rein. Les niveaux d'ARNm d'IGF dans le foie, les branchies et le rein augmentent après injection de la GH. Après transfert en eau de mer, les ARNm de l'IGF augmentent dans les branchies et dans le rein en suivant l'augmentation de GH plasmatique, bien qu'aucune modification ne soit observée au niveau du foie. L'injection d'IGF augmente la capacité du poisson à maintenir ses niveaux de sodium plasmatique après transfert en eau de mer. Le traitement à la GH augmente la sensibilité à l'adrenocorticotropine (ACTH) et stimule donc les niveaux de cortisol. A la fois le cortisol et l'IGF-I semblent impliqués comme médiateurs des effets de la GH dans l'adaptation à l'eau de mer, bien que les études sur les effets de la GH sur la physiologie de l'osmorégulation chez les espèces non-salmonidés restent encore limitées. Un modèle intégré des actions de la GH sur l'osmorégulation est présenté et les domaines de recherche à développer sont soulignés.

     

Climatic controls of a keystone understory species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sasamorpha borealis</Emphasis>, and an impact assessment of climate change in Japan

Introduction   

The aims of this study were to identify the climatic conditions controlling the distribution of Sasamorpha borealis and to assess the impact of climate change on the species in Japan.     

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein is present in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with encephalitis

Many cases of encephalitic disease with unknown etiologies have been reported in specific breeds of small dogs. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in neuronal cells was recently found to be a novel cytokine-like mediator that is a marker of neuronal necrosis and inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine whether HMGB1 levels are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs suspected of having encephalitis. CSF was obtained from 31 dogs that were diagnosed with an encephalitic disease by clinical examinations and magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanning. The CSF samples were analyzed via western blotting (WB) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a polyclonal antibody against HMGB1. The mean HMGB1 concentration was significantly higher in the encephalitic dogs than that in the healthy controls. The concentrations of HMGB1 were correlated with the cell counts and total protein concentrations, which are known CSF indicators of the neuronal inflammation associated with encephalitis. These results suggest that HMGB1 protein in CSF confirms the presence of necrosis and inflammation in most cases of canine encephalitis and that HMGB1 will be a new indicator of encephalitis.     

Effect of calcitonin on adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion stimulated by corticotropin‐releasing hormone in the hen anterior pituitary

The presence of a receptor for calcitonin (CT) and the effect of chicken CT (cCT) on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion stimulated by rat/human corticotropin‐releasing hormone (rhCRH) in the hen anterior pituitary were studied. The specific [¹²⁵I]cCT binding component was present in the plasma membrane of hen anterior pituitary and this binding component had properties of a receptor which has binding specificity to cCT, reversibility, saturable binding, high affinity and limited capacity. When anterior pituitary cells were incubated in vitro, cCT increased the maximal secretion of chicken ACTH stimulated by rhCRH. These results suggest that CT may act directly on the anterior pituitary via its receptor binding and enhances the ACTH secretion by CRH.     

Changes in ghrelin levels of plasma and proventriculus and ghrelin mRNA of proventriculus in fasted and refed layer chicks

This is a test-report of ghrelin levels in plasma and proventriculus, the glandular portion of the avian stomach, by using a specific radioimmunoassay for acylated ghrelin, as well as the expression of the ghrelin gene in the proventriculus after a 12-h fasting period followed by a 6-h feeding period with 6-day-old layer chicks. After fasting, the plasma ghrelin levels increased from 21.3 ± 4.5 to 32.9 ± 5.0 fmol/ml, but once refed it returned to the control value. After fasting, the ghrelin mRNA and the peptide levels in the proventriculus increased, and ghrelin mRNA levels remained high but once refed the ghrelin content returned to the control level. Furthermore, in order to examine the effect of increased circulating ghrelin on food intake, a bolus intravenous injection of 500 pmol of chicken ghrelin was given to 8-day-old chicks. The ghrelin injection did not cause any significant changes in food intake. These results indicate that the levels of ghrelin and its mRNA with layer chicks are altered according to the feeding state and this in a similar manner as has been observed in mammals. Unlike in mammals, an increase in circulating ghrelin does not cause the promotion of food intake in chicks.     

Metabolic pathway of cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside in rats

For better understanding of the physiological function of anthocyanins, the absorption and metabolism of cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (Cy3G), which is one of the major anthocyanins in colored food materials, were precisely investigated. Combining two modalities newly developed, that is, highly sensitive semi-micro-HPLC and vein cannulation, Cy3G and its four major metabolites (M1-M4) were detected in the blood plasma of rats after oral administration of Cy3G (100 mg/kg of body mass). The plasma concentration of Cy3G reached its maximum at 15 min after the ingestion. Metabolite 2 (M2) and metabolite 3 (M3) showed their maximum plasma levels at 15 and 30 min, respectively, whereas metabolite 1 (M1) and metabolite 4 (M4) showed their maximum levels at 60 and 120 min, respectively. The maximum plasma concentrations of the four metabolites were in the following order: M3 (21 nM) > M4 (20 nM) > M1 (8.5 nM) > M2 (5 nM). When Cy3G was directly injected into the neck vein, only M2 and M3 were detected in the plasma, indicating that both M1 and M4 were produced during absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Tandem MS analysis of the metabolites showed that M2 and M3 were monomethylated Cy3G, while M1 and M4 were glucuronides of Cy and methylated Cy, respectively. M3 was assigned as peonidin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (Pn3G) from the comparison of the retention time of authentic Pn3G.     

Characterization of Andosols in Yakushima Island

We examined soils derived from volcanic ash of Kikai-Akahoya tephra on Yakushima Island, Japan, and classified them according to the Unified Soil Classification System of Japan, 2nd Approximation (USCSJ 2nd) and the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). Five pedons with horizons showing high (>20%) volcanic glass content were investigated. Soils developed under evergreen broad-leaved forests had high acid oxalate-extractable aluminum (Alo) and acid oxalate-extractable silicon (Sio) concentrations, and low acid oxalate-extractable iron (Fe)/dithionite-citrate-extractable Fe ratio. This indicates a warmer climate and less severe leaching conditions compared with soils developed under coniferous forests dominated by Cryptomeria japonica and grasslands dominated by Pseudosasa owatarii. All soils contained considerable amount of hydroxyl-Al-interlayered 2:1 clay minerals. The surface horizons of the pedons developed under the cool-temperate C. japonica forests contained smectite as a result of podzolization. However, the surface horizon of the pedon developed under cool-temperate P. owatarii grasslands did not contain smectite. All pedons belonged to the Kuroboku soils great group (USCSJ 2nd) and Andosols (WRB). Pedons in mountainous areas did not contain horizons with more than 6?g?kg^?1 of Sio and hence were classified as non-allophanic Andosols. In mountainous areas, it was observed that allophane formation was inhibited by Al leaching due to intense rainfall (>10,000?mm year^?1); Al consumption due to the formation of the Al-humus complex; and Al incorporation into the interlayers of vermiculite. The low soil water pH [pH(H₂O)] and leaching of silicon (Si) in mountainous areas would support these anti-allophanic effects.     

Benzpyrimoxan: Design,synthesis, and biological activity of a novel insecticide

Benzpyrimoxan (5-(1,3-dioxan-2-yl)-4-{[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methoxy}pyrimidine, NNI-1501) was discovered as a novel insecticide structurally characterized by a pyrimidine derivative substituted with 1,3-dioxanyl and 4-trifluoromethylbenzyloxy groups. The compound showed remarkable activity against nymphs of rice planthoppers, including strains resistant to existing insecticides. Furthermore, benzpyrimoxan had low adverse effects on pollinators and beneficial arthropods. Because of these features, benzpyrimoxan is expected to be a suitable part of an integrated pest management strategy. In this report, the history of the discovery to reach benzpyrimoxan and details of the structure–activity relationships are described.