Impaired female fertility in tubulointerstitial antigen-like 1-deficient mice

Tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (Tinagl1, also known as adrenocortical zonation factor 1 [AZ-1] or lipocalin 7) is a matricellular protein. Previously, we demonstrated that Tinagl1 expression was restricted to extraembryonic regions during the postimplantation period and detected marked expression in mouse Reichert’s membranes. In uteri, Tinagl1 is markedly expressed in the decidual endometrium during the postimplantation period, suggesting that it plays a physical and physiological role in embryo development and/or decidualization of the uterine endometrium during pregnancy. In the present study, in order to determine the role of Tinagl1 during embryonic development and pregnancy, we generated Tinagl1-deficient mice. Although Tinagl1^–/– embryos were not lethal during development to term, homologous matings of Tinagl1^–/– females and Tinagl1^–/– males showed impaired fertility during pregnancy, including failure to carry pregnancy to term and perinatal lethality. To examine ovarian function, ovulation was induced with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); the number of ovulated oocytes did not differ between Tinagl1^–/– and Tinagl1^flox/flox. In vitro fertilization followed by embryo culture also demonstrated the normal developmental potential of Tinagl1-null embryos during the preimplantation period. Our results demonstrate that Tinagl1 deficiency affects female mice and results in subfertility phenotypes, and they suggest that although the potential of Tinagl1^–/– oocytes is normal, Tinagl1 is related to fertility in adult females but is not essential for either fertilization or preimplantation development in vitro.     

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of benzoheterocyclic analogues of N'-benzoyl-N-(tert-butyl)benzohydrazide: Part 3. Modification of N-tert-butylhydrazine moiety

Nineteen analogues were synthesized by modifying the tert-butylhydrazine moieties of N'-tert-butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-5-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine-6-carbohydrazide and N'-tert-butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-5-methylchromane-6-carbohydrazide (chromafenozide), and the synthesized analogues were evaluated for their insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura F. While all of the synthesized analogues had insecticidal activity inferior to those of the lead compounds, several of the analogues nonetheless showed high insecticidal activity. Chromafenozide has shown very high selectivity toward lepidopteran species.     

Concentrations of toxic metals and essential minerals in the mane hair of healthy racing horses and their relation to age

Concentrations of trace elements (As, Al, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Si, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni and Mn) in the mane hair obtained from 9 female and 15 male healthy racing Thoroughbred horses aged 2-5 years were analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method. No significant differences between the female and male horses were observed in the mean concentrations of those minerals. Significantly positive correlations with age were observed in Cd (r=0.546, p<0.01) and Mo (r=0.733, p<0.001). Significantly negative correlations with age were observed in Hg (r= -0.726, p<0.001), Mn (r= -0.450, p<0.05) and Fe (r=-0.642, p<0.01). This reference range of trace elements in the mane hair of racing horses should be used to assess disease and the nutritional status in equine practice.     

Isolation of Salmonella from diarrheic feces of pigs

A survey of Salmonella was carried out in fecal samples of 887 pigs with diarrhea collected from 235 pig farms between April 1996 and March 2001. Salmonella was isolated from 84 feces (9.5%) of 887 pigs and from 45 (19.1%) of 235 farms. The higher prevalence was found in weaned pigs (12.4%) and fattening pigs (17.3%) than in sows (4.2%) and suckling pigs (4.5%). Isolation rates of S. Typhimurium were higher from weaned and fattening pigs than from the others. Therefore, risk of horizontal infection of S. Typhimurium will increase, if no adequate health managements are practiced when weaned and fattening pigs have diarrhea.     

Analysis of serum cytokine profile in a holstein heifer with leukocyte adhesion deficiency which survived for long period

Serum cytokine levels and their expression of mRNA on neutrophils from a bone marrow (BM) transplanted heifer with leukocyte adhesion deficiency were evaluated. The clinical condition of the affected heifer was relatively stable after BM-transplantation. Persistent hyper gamma-globulinemia and increased serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were monitored longitudinally. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-1beta in serum from the affected heifer ranged from 15.8 to 321.7 ng/ml, and maximum concentration occurred at the time which coincided with peak IL-6. Serum levels of IL-6 ranged from 0.32 to 27.9 ng/m l, and they appeared to be associated with the increment of serum IgG in the affected heifer. mRNAs for IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and granulocyte and macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were increased in neutrophils from the affected heifer compared to controls. Persistent hyper gamma-globulinemia of the affected heifer appeared to be associated with enhanced mRNA expression for IL-6 and its serum levels. These findings suggest that humoral immunity of the affected heifer is activated and the production of neutrophils appears to be enhanced under the incapability of beta(2) integrin-mediated functions of phagocytic cells.     

Sericin Accelerates the Production of Hyaluronan and Decreases the Incidence of Polyspermy Fertilization in Bovine Oocytes During In Vitro Maturation

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) has been widely used as a supplement in the maturation medium of bovine oocytes in vitro. However, serum contains many undefined factors and is potentially infectious to humans and animals. As a serum replacement, we evaluated the feasibility of using the silk protein, sericin, derived from the cocoons of silkworm. To examine the rates of oocyte maturation and fertilization, cumulus-oocyte complexes were cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1% or 0.15% sericin or 5% FBS. The sizes of the perivitelline space that might relate to polyspermy, the expressions of Has2 and CD44 mRNA, the amount of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid: HA) contained in the oocytes and the rates of blastocyst formation following insemination were then compared between the oocytes cultured with 0.05% sericin and 5% FBS, because the polyspermy rates in oocytes cultured with 0.05% sericin were significantly lower than in those cultured with 5% FBS. After in vitro maturation (IVM), the mean size of the perivitelline space was significantly greater in oocytes cultured with sericin than in those cultured with FBS, although the rates of nuclear maturation, fertilization and blastocyst formation of oocytes under both IVM conditions were not significantly different. The expression of HAS2 and CD44 mRNA and the amount of HA in the denuded oocytes cultured with 0.05% sericin were significantly greater than in those cultured with FBS. These results indicate the feasibility of sericin as an alternative protein supplement for IVM in bovine oocytes.     

Quantum state engineering and precision metrology using state-insensitive light traps

Precision metrology and quantum measurement often demand that matter be prepared in well-defined quantum states for both internal and external degrees of freedom. Laser-cooled neutral atoms localized in a deeply confining optical potential satisfy this requirement. With an appropriate choice of wavelength and polarization for the optical trap, two electronic states of an atom can experience the same trapping potential, permitting coherent control of electronic transitions independent of the atomic center-of-mass motion. Here, we review a number of recent experiments that use this approach to investigate precision quantum metrology for optical atomic clocks and coherent control of optical interactions of single atoms and photons within the context of cavity quantum electrodynamics. We also provide a brief survey of promising prospects for future work.     

Control of genic DNA methylation by a jmjC domain-containing protein in Arabidopsis thaliana

Differential cytosine methylation of repeats and genes is important for coordination of genome stability and proper gene expression. Through genetic screen of mutants showing ectopic cytosine methylation in a genic region, we identified a jmjC-domain gene, IBM1 (increase in bonsai methylation 1), in Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition to the ectopic cytosine methylation, the ibm1 mutations induced a variety of developmental phenotypes, which depend on methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9. Paradoxically, the developmental phenotypes of the ibm1 were enhanced by the mutation in the chromatin-remodeling gene DDM1 (decrease in DNA methylation 1), which is necessary for keeping methylation and silencing of repeated heterochromatin loci. Our results demonstrate the importance of chromatin remodeling and histone modifications in the differential epigenetic control of repeats and genes.     

Preparation of phytate-removed deamidated soybean globulins by ion exchangers and characterization of their calcium-binding ability.

Phytate-removed deamidated soybean globulins were prepared using ion-exchange resins to provide them with a functional property to enhance calcium absorption in the body. The phosphorus level was reduced from 45 to 20 micromol/g using 0.05 g/mL of AE-4, an anion-exchange resin with a (2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium group, in 0.2% soybean globulin solution for 1 h at 4 degrees C, and 90-92% of the phosphorus in defatted soybeans could be removed. As for deamidation, CE-4, a cation-exchange resin of the carboxylate type, showed a much higher deamidation activity than CE-1 and CE-2, cation-exchange resins of the sulfonate type. No peptide bond hydrolysis was observed for any cation-exchange resin treated at 4 degrees C. There was no significant difference in the amount of acid amide deamidated at temperatures between 4 and 50 degrees C. The deamidation level was able to increase to 73% using 0.10 g/mL of CE-4 in a 0.2% soybean globulin solution for 6 h at 4 degrees C. The amount of calcium bound to the soybean globulins decreased with removal of the phytate but increased with deamidation.