CLINICAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE VOLUMETRY OF THE HIPPOCAMPUS IN 58 EPILEPTIC DOGS*

Hippocampal atrophy, which is a component of hippocampal sclerosis and recognized commonly in human intractable epilepsy, is controversial in canine epilepsy. We examined the hippocampal volume in 58 epileptic dogs and 35 control dogs using magnetic resonance (MR) images, and calculated the relative hippocampal volume asymmetry of the right and left hippocampus. Subjectively, there were visible MR imaging abnormalities in seven of the 58 epileptic dogs (12%). The hippocampel volume asymmetric ratio of epileptic dogs (5.84±4.47%) was significantly greater than that of control dogs (1.62±0.88%). Using a cutoff threshold asymmetric ratio of 6% that is indicated in human epilepsy, 28 epileptic dogs (48%) were characterized as having unilateral hippocampus atrophy. The hippocampal volume asymmetry ratio cannot be used to detect bilateral atrophy. In conclusion, although less frequent than that observed in human epilepsy patients, hippocampal atrophy may occur in canine epilepsy.     

Influences of Northern Leaf Blight on corn silage fermentation quality,nutritive value and feed intake by sheep

This study examined the differences between non‐inoculated (control) corn and Northern Leaf Blight (NLB)‐damaged corn (inoculated corn); dry matter (DM) yield, silage fermentation quality, nutritive value and feed intake by sheep were compared. Leaf, stem and grain dry weights and gross yield of inoculated corn were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased compared with control corn. The contents of water‐soluble carbohydrate and nitrogen‐free extract (NFE) were decreased in inoculated corn compared with control corn. Silage made from both inoculated and control corn showed good fermentation quality. The digestibility of DM, organic matter, ether extract, NFE, and energy of silage made from inoculated corn were significantly (P < 0.05) lower, and contents of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible energy (DE) were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with silage made from the control corn. DM intake showed no significant discrepancy between the two types of silage. TDN and DE intakes from inoculated silage were significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with control silage. From the above results it was shown that NLB caused a decrease in DM yield and NFE content in corn and a decrease in the nutritive value and feed intake of silage.     

Somatic embryogenesis and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) using immature cotyledons

This study describes a successful method of somatic embryogenesis and genetic transformation using immature cotyledons of Prunus mume. Immature cotyledons from four different developmental stages of eight different P. mume cultivars were used for the experiments to optimize somatic embryogenesis and genetic transformation protocols. Somatic embryogenesis was induced when the explants were cultured on somatic embryo inducing medium consisting of MS basic medium supplemented with 1 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA). They were cultured for 30 days and then transferred to somatic embryo propagation medium containing 0.1 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 5 μM BA. It appeared that the developmental stage of the immature cotyledons used as explants was the most important factor for somatic embryogenesis; higher frequencies of somatic embryogenesis were observed when the immature cotyledons were less than 5 mm in length regardless of cultivars. For genetic transformation, the immature cotyledons were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA101 harbouring a binary plasmid vector with neomycin phosphotransferase II and an intron-interrupted β-glucuronidase gene under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, and three transgenic plant lines were obtained from inoculated “Sirakaga” immature cotyledons. Transgenic somatic embryos and shoots were selected using 25 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin. Integration of transgenes in the genome of GUS-positive putative transgenic shoots was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses.     

Triterpenoids isolated from Zizyphus jujuba inhibit foam cell formation in macrophages

Because foam cell formation in macrophages is believed to play an essential role in the progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in vivo, prevention of foam cell formation is considered to be one of the major targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The present study examined the inhibitory effect of 50 crude plant extracts on foam cell formation. Among those crude extracts, Zizyphi Fructus (ZF) and Zizyphi Semen (ZS) extracts significantly inhibited the foam cell formation induced by acetylated LDL. Furthermore, triterpenoids such as oleanonic acid, pomolic acid, and pomonic acid were the major active compounds, and triterpenoids containing a carboxylic acid at C-28 play an important role in the inhibitory effect on foam cell formation in human macrophages. These data suggest that triterpenoids in Zizyphus jujuba , the plant source of ZF and ZS, may therefore be useful for the prevention of atherosclerosis.     

Aluminum oxyhydroxide polymorphs and some micromorphological characteristics in sclerotium grains

The presence of aluminum oxyhydroxide and its micromorphological characteristics in sclerotium grains were examined by SEM, TEM, and EDX analyses. A spherical fraction with a diameter of 100 nm, which contained C and Al as the predominant elements, was recognized as the unit particle of the matrix of sclerotium grains. The Al polymorphs and the Si spherical structures found in the ignited grains were assumed to correspond to boehmite and opaline silica particles, respectively. SEMI analysis revealed the presence of a needle ball structure inside the hollow part of sclerotium grains. The relationship between the inner structure of sclerotium and biochemical processes of the host fungi was discussed.     

Saccharides of ectomycorrhizal fungal sclerotia as sources of forest soil polysaccharides

ABSTRACT

The neutral monosaccharide composition of forest soils differs from that of non-forest soils suggesting there is an accumulation of microbial saccharides. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can be responsible as the fungi are typical in forest soils. We investigated neutral saccharides of ECM fungal sclerotia to determine what part it might play in the origin of forest soil polysaccarides. Sclerotial grain (SG) was collected from the O, A1 and A2 horizons of a soil of subalpine forest of Mt. Ontake, central Japan. Neutral saccharides in soil and SG were analyzed by two step hydrolysis with sulfuric acid and gas-chromatography of alditol acetate derivatives. Saccharides accounted for 6.0?16% of the SG by carbon content. The SG contained predominantly easily hydrolysable (EH)-glucose, which accounted for 75–85% of the composition depending on grain size and the soil horizon, followed by mannose (7.7?15%), galactose (2.2?4.8%) and non-easily hydrolysable (NEH)-glucose (1.7?6.1%). The SG contained all of these sugars irrespective of its size. The SG collected from the A1 and A2 horizons contained all sugar components found in that from the O horizon, except for fucose in that from A2 horizon. The monosaccharide composition of SG indicates that accumulation of ECM fungal sclerotial polysaccharides might have been responsible for enlarging the molar ratios of (galactose + mannose) /(arabinose + xylose) and EH-glucose/NEH-glucose of forest soils. The proportions of SG saccharides relative to soil saccharides were 3.6, 1.2, and 0.83% for the O, A1 and A2 horizons, respectively. These levels of the proportion are considerable as ECM fugal sclerotia are the products of a limited species among hundreds and thousands of microbial species inhabiting forest soils. The sclerotia forming ECM fungal species such as Cenococcum geophilum may be key sources of forest soil polysaccharides.     

日本奶农生产经营的改善及其对我国奶业发展的启示

日本奶牛的饲养主要依赖于国外饲料的进口,国际饲料价格的上涨使得日本奶业陷入了危机,奶农的生产经营状况直接关系到奶业产业的发展。本研究基于日本社团法人中央畜产会实施的全国农户生产经营指导项目中所调查的294个奶农农户的生产经营相关数据,采用因子分析、多元线性回归分析、聚类分析方法,对影响奶农经营收入的因素进行了分析。结果表明,奶牛饲养的收益、奶牛饲养的劳动效率、饲养规模这三个因素对奶农的生产影响最大;阐明了奶农生产中存在的问题;提出了奶农生产经营的改善应该着重于适度扩大生产规模;合理进行投资,并且均衡大型机器设备和小农器具投资的比例以改善奶农饲养效率以及饲料生产效率,提高奶农的收入。最后,借鉴日本奶业生产经营中存在的问题,总结了对我国奶业发展的启示。     

Squamous cell carcinoma in a digit of the hind limb with systemic metastasis in a 17-year-old female koala

We encountered a case of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a 17-year-old female koala at a zoo. A fragile, papillary, elevated mass was found on the third digit of the right hind limb. SCC was identified histopathologically: squamous cell-like polygonal tumor cells showed a nest-like growth pattern with epidermal down growth, central keratinization and necrotic foci, and invaded dermal connective tissues. Metastatic lesions were observed in various organs, including the lung and axillary lymph node: in the lung, multiple metastatic foci similar to the primary lesion, and in the axillary lymph node, individual polygonal tumor cells infiltrated the sinusoids. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, which exhibited 32–33% of labeling indices in the tumor cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of SCC in a digit of a koala.     

Two Types of Grapevine Yellow Speckle Viroid 1 Isolated from Commercial Grapevine Had the Nucleotide Sequence of Yellow Speckle Symptom-inducing Type

Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1 (GYSVd 1) was first detected in Japan from commercial grapevines. The viroid seems to be spreading in Japanese commercial vineyards but without causing noticeable disease symptoms. Two Japanese GYSVd 1 isolates from the cultivars Campbell and Steuben were sequenced. The Campbell isolate is included in the type 2 variant of GYSVd 1, and the Steuben isolate is included in the type 3. Both of the isolates were grouped into the yellow speckle-inducing variants in the nucleotide sequence ; however, the etiological importance of this viroid on the viticulture of Japan has not yet been determined. Received 14 June 1999/ Accepted in revised form 25 August 1999     

Reduced dietary lysine enhances proportion of oxidative fibers in porcine skeletal muscle

The present study was conducted to elucidate the effects of dietary lysine levels on the proportion of oxidative muscle fibers in porcine muscle. Two 6-week-old barrows from each of five litters were used. Each littermate was assigned to one of two diets, control (lysine content: 1.16%) or low lysine (LL) diet (lysine content: 0.73%). The diets were iso-energetic and iso-protein, and contained all essential amino acids (apart from lysine) in the recommended amounts. The pigs were fed these diets for 3 weeks. Citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.4) activity in longissimus dorsi and rhomboideus muscles was higher in the LL group ( P  < 0.05). In both muscles, pigs fed the LL diet had a higher proportion of muscle fiber with activities of reduced nicotinic amide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.5.3, P  < 0.01). The abundance of mRNA of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α in rhomboideus muscle was higher in the LL group ( P  < 0.05), and those of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 were higher in both longissimus dorsi and rhomboideus muscles in the LL group ( P  < 0.05). We conclude that reduced intake of dietary lysine enhances proportion of oxidative muscle fiber, and hence oxidative capacity of porcine muscle.