The influence of rearing conditions on the physical growth of captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

To clarify the influence of rearing conditions on the growth of various body parts of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), two groups reared under different conditions, i.e., a group born and reared in open enclosures (Enclosure group) and another consisting of macaques born and reared in cages (Caged group), were somatometrically analyzed. Somatometric data on 36 measures of various body parts were collected from 77 males and 92 females. Growth in many body parts was smaller in the Caged group than in the Enclosure group. Body parts that exhibited large incremental increases were more sensitive to differences in rearing space at the infantile growth stage in both sexes. Recovery from delayed growth at the pubertal growth stage was found in many body parts. However, the size of some locomotor elements such as the wrist and hand, and ankle and foot strongly reflected limitations of space and changes due to this were irreversible. Females were more sensitive than males to such differences in rearing conditions. We conclude that open enclosures with ample rearing space are necessary for the innate growth of Japanese macaques to occur.     

Effects of estrous cycle on the mouse kidney morphology

Although mice kidney morphology shows various sexual dimorphisms, the effect of the estrous cycle has not previously been discussed. In this study, we investigated the effects of the estrous cycle on kidney morphology, including renin-positive areas, of female DBA/2 mice. No effects were confirmed in most of the histometrical parameters, however, the percentage of the renal corpuscles in which cuboidal epithelium covered under 50% of the parietal layer was significantly higher during estrus compared to that during anestrus.     

Isolation and purification of a protective protein antigen of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

The rapid growth and high survival rate of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was determined using a culture of the bacterium in tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.3% Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane and 0.1% Tween 80 (TT-TS broth). High concentrations of 64, 66 and 43 kDa proteins, which are associated with protection against E. rhusiopathiae infection in mice, were obtained by alkaline treatment of whole cells using 0.05-1 N NaOH. The supernatant of alkaline treated cells (alkaline extract; AE) was stable at alkaline or neutral pH. However, aggregates appeared at neutral pH in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). A high yield of 64, 66 and 43 kDa proteins was obtained from strain Agata (serovar 5). The proteins were eluted from gel bands following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the AE from strain Agata and designated P64 and P43. The amounts of P64 and P43 isolated were 0.7 and 0.3 mg/16 g of wet bacteria, respectively. In a mouse protection test, 50% protective doses (PD50) of P64 and P43 were 0.58 and 0.63 microgram, respectively. Upon Western blotting of the AE, both anti-P64 and anti-P43 antibodies reacted with the 64 and 43 kDa proteins. From these results, it is suggested that P64 is the most effective protective antigen and that P43 (43 kDa protein) is a degradation product of P64. Therefore, the 64 kDa structural proteins are associated with the induction of a protective activity against E. rhusiopathiae infection in mice.     

Ultrastructure of the thyroid gland of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Follicular epithelium of the thyroid gland of the one-humped camel was examined by light and electron microscopy. It consisted of a single type of epithelial cell which varied from flattened to columnar in shape. Follicular epithelial cells were characterized by the presence of markedly dilated cisternae of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, well developed Golgi apparatus, abundant small vesicles (150 nm to 200 nm in diameter) in the apical cytoplasm, and electron-dense colloid droplets measuring from 250 nm to 1600 nm. Follicular epithelial cells frequently showed apocrine secretion into colloidal lumens. Apocrine protrusions with smooth surface were dome-like or balloon-like structures and contained a fine granular matrix. These findings indicate that the morphological features of the follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid gland of the camel are essentially similar to those of mammals except for the presence of apocrine secretion, which is unique to the camel.     

Morphology and size of embryos recovered from superovulated cows.

A total of 691 normal embryos were recovered from 183 superovulated donor cows on the 5th and 6th days after the first insemination, and were examined for their morphology and size in relation to their developmental stage. There was no significant difference in the thickness of the zona pellucida, the diameter of the cell mass, and the overall diameter of the embryos among zygotes, 2-, 4-, 8- and 16-cell embryos, and morulae. In the blastocyst stage, however, the diameter of the cell mass and the overall embryo diameter were significantly greater and the zona pellucida was significantly thinner than in the earlier-stage embryos. The volume of the blastomere significantly decreased from zygote to morula in proportion to the increase in the number of blastomeres. The volume of the cell mass of 2-cell embryos was decreased by about 30% compared with that of zygotes and no increase in the volume of the cell mass was observed during the progression from 2-cell stage to morula. The diameter of the cell mass and the overall diameter of morulae recovered on the 6th day after the first insemination were significantly greater than those of morulae recovered on the 5th day.     

Fine structure of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP)-granules in the atrial cardiocytes in the pig, cattle and horse.

In the pig, cattle and horse, the right and left atria and ventricles were examined by immunohistochemistry, and the right atrial and auricular cardiocytes were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, ANP-granules in the cardiocytes were analyzed by ultrastructural morphometry. Immunohistochemically, the most intensely ANP-reacted cardiocytes were localized in the right auricle, particularly more prominent in the pig and cattle than in the horse. Ultrastructurally, ANP-granules were located principally in the perinuclear region associated with the Golgi apparatus and throughout the sarcoplasmic layers. They were classified into 2 types, A and B. A-granule had a conspicuous electron-dense core enveloped by a membrane. B-granule had a fibrillogranular core enveloped by an indistinct membrane. By TEM equipped with a goniometer stage, a part of the limiting membrane of B-granules became visible as the stage tilt progressed. By ultrastructural morphometry, the number of each type of granules was significantly greater in the pig and cattle than in the horse. In the pig and cattle, the total number of both types of granules in the auricular cardiocytes was significantly greater than that in the atrial ones. The diameter of each type of granules was significantly larger in the pig and cattle than in the horse. The diameter of A-granules was significantly larger than that of B-granules.