Sperm whales associated with Gulf Stream features off the north-eastern USA shelf

Marine mammal surveys were conducted during sum Mer 1990 and 1991 in shelf-edge and off-shelf waters between Cape Hatteras and Georges Bank. Sperm whales were the most frequently sighted large whale in both years, constituting 27.9% and 12.7% of total sightings in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Sighting rates of sperm whales that were within a 9.3 km buffer (5 n.m.) of the Gulf Stream north wall were not significantly different (x²= 2.86, P > 0.05) from those within the Gulf Stream during 1990. In 1991, however, significantly more (x²= 51.0, P < 0.05) sightings were associated with shelf-edge areas where warm core rings were located.     

Polymerase chain reaction detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the chicken mitochondrial D-loop region

The D‐loop region in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced and compared among six chickens. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were observed. For six of the SNP sites, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that had each base (A, C, G and T) as the penultimate base at the 3′ end (N2 base) and bases specific to both alleles at the 3′ end were produced to type the polymorphisms. Twenty‐one out of 96 primers succeeded in distinguishing the SNP by the presence or absence of PCR product. This method provides an easy way to discriminate SNP in chicken mtDNA.     

The luteotrophic function of galectin-1 by binding to the glycans on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in bovine luteal cells

The corpus luteum (CL) is a temporary endocrine gland producing a large amount of progesterone, which is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Galectin-1 is a β-galactose-binding protein that can modify functions of membrane glycoproteins and is expressed in the CL of mice and women. However, the physiological role of galectin-1 in the CL is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the expression and localization of galectin-1 in the bovine CL and the effect of galectin-1 on cultured luteal steroidogenic cells (LSCs) with special reference to its binding to the glycans on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Galectin-1 protein was highly expressed at the mid and late luteal stages in the membrane fraction of bovine CL tissue and was localized to the surface of LSCs in a carbohydrate-dependent manner. Galectin-1 increased the viability in cultured LSCs. However, the viability of LSCs was decreased by addition of β-lactose, a competitive carbohydrate inhibitor of galectin-1 binding activity. VEGFR-2 protein, like galectin-1, is also highly expressed in the mid CL, and it was modified by multi-antennary glycans, which can be recognized by galectin-1. An overlay assay using biotinylated galectin-1 revealed that galectin-1 directly binds to asparagine-linked glycans (N-glycans) on VEGFR-2. Enhancement of LSC viability by galectin-1 was suppressed by a selective inhibitor of VEGFR-2. The overall findings suggest that galectin-1 plays a role as a survival factor in the bovine CL, possibly by binding to N-glycans on VEGFR-2.     

Comparison of the bioactive components of the ecotypes and cultivars of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) herbs

The concentrations of the bioactive components, acteoside, aucubin and catalpol, and the production yield, crude protein (CP) and crude ash contents in 25 ecotypes (Et) of plantain (PL, Plantago lanceolata L.), found in northern Japan, and commercial cultivars, Grasslands Lancelot (GL) and Ceres Tonic (CT), were investigated. The quantitative determination of bioactive components was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. The acteoside content of some of the 25 Et was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than CT and numerically higher than GL and other Et. Most of the Et had numerically higher concentrations of catalpol and aucubin than the GL and CT. The CP and crude ash content of the Et were comparable with those of the GL and CT. The dry matter (DM) yields of some of the Et was numerically greater than that of the cultivars. The present data suggest that most of the Et are comparable to the cultivars in respect to the concentration of bioactive components and DM yield as well as CP and crude ash contents and could be used as pasture like GL and CT.     

Systemic Mycobacteriosis in an Aborted Thoroughbred Fetus in Japan

A male Thoroughbred fetus was aborted on day 251 of pregnancy. Gross and histological examinations detected systemic granulomatous lesions in many superficial and visceral lymph nodes and organs including the liver, tonsils, lungs, thymus, spleen, right thyroid gland and gastrointestinal tract, and suppurative placentitis, pyogranulomatous amnionitis and intralesional acid-fast bacilli were also detected. An examination of the DNA base sequence of the β subunit of RNA polymerase demonstrated that Mycobacterium avium strain 104 had infected several organs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of equine fetal mycobacterial infection in Japan.     

Overlaps in habitat use of fishes between a seagrass bed and adjacent coral and sand areas at Amitori Bay, Iriomote Island, Japan: Importance of the seagrass bed as juvenile habitat

ABSTRACT:   To clarify faunal overlap between a seagrass bed and adjacent coral and sand areas, and the number of reef fishes utilizing the seagrass bed as juvenile habitat, visual censuses were conducted at Amitori Bay, Iriomote Island, Japan. The numbers of species and individuals of fishes were significantly higher in the coral area than in the seagrass bed and sand area. Cluster and ordination analyses based on the number of individuals of each species demonstrated that the fish assemblage structure differed among the three habitats in each season, but with some overlaps. Approximately half the seagrass bed fishes occurred in the adjacent coral area (coral–seagrass species). Dominant species of coral–seagrass species utilized the seagrass bed as an important juvenile habitat. Thus, some overlaps in habitat use were present between the seagrass bed and adjacent coral area. Despite such overlaps, however, coral–seagrass species accounted for only approximately 15% of coral reef fishes overall, indicating that most of the latter hardly utilize the seagrass bed directly in the study area.     

Herpesvirus cyprini: detection of the viral genome by in situ hybridization

Abstract. A method of in situ hybridization with biotinylated probes is described for the spceific detection of the Herpesvirus cyprini (CHV) genome, both in CHV infected cell cultures and tissue specimens prepared from carp fry infected with the same virus. From molecularly cloned PstI-fragments of CHV DNA, two fragments were selected as probes for in situ hybridization which had no detectable homology, either with DNA of fathead minnow (FHM) cells used for virus propagation, or with the DNA of several fish herpes-viruses. The method of in situ hybridization was based on a system using streptavidin-biotinylated alkaline phosphatase for the detection of hybridization.