Effects of atherosclerosis on mean and daily variation of arterial pressure in conscious WHHL rabbits.

Effects of atherosclerosis on the mean value and daily variation of arterial pressure were studied in 12 Watanabe-heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits aged 12 to 35 months and 25 normal Japanese white rabbits aged 6 to 30 months. A pressure catheter was inserted through the left subclavian artery under pentobarbital anesthesia. A few days after the catheterization, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the rabbits, which were active and in a good state of appetite, was recorded by an analogue-to-digital converter every second for about 6 hrs and stored in a computer. The mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) in the WHHL rabbit, calculated from each successive MAP record, ranged widely from 85.8 to 131.4 mmHg and 5.6 to 12.6 mmHg, respectively. There was no significant correlation between M and SD in the WHHL rabbit. M and variance (V) of MAP in the WHHL rabbit were significantly higher than those in the normal rabbit. M did not show any significant change with increasing ages, whereas SD increased significantly with aging in the WHHL rabbit. Concentrations of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride in the WHHL rabbit were 475 and 328 mg/dl, which were about nine and seven times as high as those in the normal rabbit, respectively. Macroscopic and histopathological examinations of the aorta revealed development and spread of sclerotic lesions with aging in the WHHL rabbit. We can conclude that development of atherosclerosis with aging in the WHHL rabbit causes malfunction of the baroreceptors, which contributes to hypertension and lability of arterial pressure.     

Reproductive biology of the female Japanese mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria (Stomatopoda) in relation to changes in the seasonal pattern of larval occurrence in Tokyo Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The reproductive traits and the monthly larval abundance of the mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, in 2002. The goal of the study was to elucidate the cause of changes in the monthly pattern of larval abundance from the 1980s to the 1990s as these changes relate to variation in the stock size of the adult shrimp. Oogenesis was divided into 10 stages by histological observation. The developmental stage of oocytes in an individual's ovary was synchronous, suggesting that almost all the oocytes in an ovary are spawned at the same time. The size at first maturity was estimated to be 7 ≤ body length ( BL ) < 8 cm. Fecundity was expressed as a function of BL , ranging from 19 300 eggs for 8 cm BL to 92 100 eggs for 14 cm BL . Small female shrimps (<10 cm BL ) spawned around August. Most large female shrimps (≥10 cm BL ) spawned around May, and some large female shrimps also spawned until September. Although most large female shrimps spawned in spring, the larval abundance was low before July and high from August onwards. The results suggest that a substantial decrease in the stock size of large individuals causes the low larval abundance before July.     

The use of ultrasonography in the reproductive evaluation of boars

The objective was to study the use of ultrasound as a complementary test in the breeding soundness evaluation in male pigs and study the pattern of echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma in boars of different racial groups. Twenty‐six adult boars from four different racial groups were used, 10 from the Piau breed (group 1), four from the commercial and finishing group (group 2), six Pietrain breed (group 3) and six from the Duroc breed (group 4). All animals were evaluated for breeding soundness evaluation and the ultrasound examination of the testicles. The groups of animals that were evaluated showed no difference in the main semen parameters that were evaluated, except for the sperm volume, concentration of the ejaculated sperm and the supravital staining; the lowest figures were for the animals from the Piau breed (group 1). In relation to the testicular biometrics, Duroc animals (group 4) had a greater scrotal width compared to the other groups. But when we assessed the intensity of pixels of the testicles, there was a difference between groups. The groups 2 (finishing animals), 3 (Pietrain) and 4 had no difference between themselves. Group 3 had greater pixel intensity in relation to group 1. Of the 26 animals studied, five showed an abnormality during ultrasound evaluation, like hydrocele, hyperechoic mass in the testicular parenchyma, cyst in the head of the epididymis and the presence of fluid in the head and tail of the epididymis. The various animal groups studied did not differ in the principal reproductive parameters evaluated, showing that despite the great variability of reproductive traits between breeds and within the same breed, the breeding soundness evaluation, the more complete it is, is essential for the selection of breeders and the ultrasonography of the reproductive system becomes an important addition in this examination.     

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG SpaC pilin subunit binds to the carbohydrate moieties of intestinal glycoconjugates

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a well‐established probiotic strain. The beneficial properties of this strain are partially dependent on its prolonged residence in the gastrointestinal tract, and are likely influenced by its adhesion to the intestinal mucosa. The pilin SpaC subunit, located within the Spa pili structure, is the most well studied LGG adhesion factor. However, the binding epitopes of SpaC remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the binding properties of SpaC to the carbohydrate moieties of intestinal glycoconjugates using a recombinant SpaC protein. In a competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, SpaC binding was markedly reduced by addition of purified mucin and the mucin oligosaccharide fraction. Histochemical staining revealed that the binding of SpaC was drastically reduced by periodic acid treatment. Moreover, in the surface plasmon resonance‐based Biacore assay, SpaC bound strongly to the carbohydrate moieties containing β‐galactoside at the non‐reducing terminus of glycolipids. We here provide the first demonstration that SpaC binds to the oligosaccharide chains of mucins, and that the carbohydrate moieties containing β‐galactoside at the non‐reducing termini of glycoconjugates play a crucial role in this binding. Our results demonstrate the importance of carbohydrates of SpaC for mucus interactions.     

Isolation and Characterization of Derivative Lines of the Onion Yellows Phytoplasma that Do Not Cause Stunting or Phloem Hyperplasia

ABSTRACT Two lines of onion yellows phytoplasma producing milder symptoms were isolated from the original line (OY-W). One has an additional characteristic, non-insect-transmissibility (OY-NIM), compared with the other (OY-M). OY-M was established after maintaining OY-W for 11 years on a plant host (Chrysanthemum coronarium) with an insect vector (Macrosteles striifrons), and OY-NIM was isolated after subsequent maintenance of OY-M in plants by periodic grafting. Polymerase chain analysis suggested that OY-NIM cannot traverse the gut or survive in the hemolymph of the leafhopper. OY-W results in witches'-broom formation and stunted growth in the host plant. In contrast, OY-M and OY-NIM do not cause stunting in the host plant, although they result in witches'-broom. Histopathological analysis of these lines revealed that the hyperplastic phloem tissue and severe phloem necrosis seen in OY-W did not exist in OY-M and OY-NIM. This was attributed to a reduction in the population of phytoplasma in tissues in both OY-M- and OY-NIM-infected plants. The results suggest that the cause of stunting and phloem hyperplasia may be genetically different from the cause of witches'-broom. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis analysis showed that OY-M had a smaller genome size ( approximately 870 kbp) than OY-W ( approximately 1,000 kbp). Thus, some of the OY-W genes responsible for pathogenicity may not be present in OY-M.     

A pollen extender medium technology for seedless watermelon production by pollination with soft X-ray irradiated pollen

The inactivation of pollen by soft X-ray irradiation and subsequent artificial pollination are time-intensive practices used in the production of seedless watermelons (Citrullus lanatus L.). Watermelon generally has a lot of staminate flowers; however, they only have a small amount of pollen. Watermelon pollen cannot be used in pollination under the present situation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine which is the most effective pollen extender medium for cultivation of watermelon with soft X-ray irradiated pollen. In this experiment, ‘Agar,’ ‘Marriage powder,’ and ‘Sekishoshi’ (Lycopodium dyed red with safflower pigment) were used as extender media with soft X-ray irradiated pollen at equal or twice the weight of the pollen. When ‘Sekishoshi’ was used as an extender medium, fruit set was very low. A lot of deformed fruit was produced when agar was used with the pollen. On the other hand, when ‘Marriage powder’ was used in equal proportions with the pollen, fruit set was about 70% and, moreover, Brix was high. Thus, the mixture of ‘Marriage powder’ with an equal amount of pollen was the best for use in actual cultivation. We conclude, then, that soft X-ray irradiated pollen in an extender medium can be effectively adapted for producing seedless watermelons.     

Effects of acorn attack by curculio weevils on the germination and early growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pasania edulis</Emphasis> (Makino) seedlings

We conducted field studies to evaluate the impact that curculio weevil attacks on Pasania edulis (Fagacea) acorns have on the regeneration of this tree. The germination ratio of weevil-attacked acorns was significantly lower than that of sound acorns. The number and position of the attacks on acorns affected the germination ratio. The seedlings from weevil-attacked acorns were shorter and had a smaller leaf area than those from sound acorns. The negative effects on seedling height lasted for at least three years after germination. We also studied the handling of the two types of acorns by granivorous Apodemus mice in a broad-leaved forest dominated by P. edulis. The mice picked up, transported, hoarded, and recovered sound and weevil-attacked acorns similarly. In the study site, the seedlings from weevil-attacked acorns were estimated to account for 1.5–20.4 % of the total seedlings for cohorts of mast years and 0–3.7 % for those of poor or medium acorn production. From these results, we conclude that acorns with the lower part of their cotyledons slightly damaged by weevil larvae might still be able to contribute to the regeneration of P. edulis in the field but that their contribution would be negligible or small even in mast years in this study site.     

Cryopreservation of Piau‐Breed Wild Boar Sperm: Assessment of Cooling Curves and Centrifugation Regimes

This study aimed to assess the effects of different cooling curves and centrifugation regimes used in cryopreservation protocols on the post‐thaw viability of Piau‐breed wild boar (Sus scrofa) sperm using in vitro assessment tests. Two centrifugations (800  g for 10 min and 2400  g for 3 min) and two cooling curves (conventional cooling using nitrogen vapour – freezing 1 and automated cooling using a programmed freezing machine – freezing 2) were tested. Therefore, the treatments were divided into M3 – centrifugation at 2400  g for 3 min and freezing 2; M10 – centrifugation at 800  g for 10 min and freezing 2; R3 – centrifugation at 2400  g for 3 min and freezing 1; and R10 – centrifugation at 800  g for 10 min and freezing 1. No significant differences (p > 0.05) between treatments occurred post‐thawing regarding the total sperm motility means recorded. The mean values of the different treatments were not different from each other regarding the supravital staining (SV), hypo‐osmotic test (HO), sperm–egg binding assay or sperm morphology. This study showed that both the cooling curve and the centrifugation regime affected the quality of post‐thaw sperm, and centrifugation for shorter times and cooling curves using automated cooling are the most suitable for minimizing sperm injury.     

Age estimation of the wild population of Japanese mantis shrimp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oratosquilla oratoria</Emphasis> (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) in Tokyo Bay,Japan, using lipofuscin as an age marker

ABSTRACT:   In this study, the age composition of the Japanese mantis shrimp, Oratosquilla oratoria , in Tokyo Bay, central Japan, was investigated using lipofuscin, an autofluorescent pigment, as an age marker. Lipofuscin in a histological section of protocerebral bridge cell mass (PBCM) in the brain was identified by confocal microscopy, and its concentration was quantified by image analysis. Modal analysis of the lipofuscin concentration showed four regularly-spaced modes that could each be regarded as a distinct age group. This implied a constant lipofuscin accumulation in PBCM at a 6.5 × 10⁻²% volume fraction per year; it also implied the existence of individuals that are at least 4 years old. The lipofuscin concentration was found to be a more appropriate index than body length for estimating the age of O. oratoria , because the modal analysis on the body–length histogram failed to detect apparent age groups. This was probably a result of the declining growth rate with age and the individual variations in growth through molting leading to considerable overlap in the size between different age groups. The lipofuscin analysis suggested that fast-growing individuals in each cohort are recruited to the fishery, and most individuals attain the exploitable size between 2 and 3 years of age.