Water re-use system for smolt production

A recirculation unit for salmon smolt production is described. The preliminary results for growth rate and viability of the fry were satisfactory.     

Weak activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase toward Bisphenol analogs in mouse perinatal development

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial chemical that disrupts endocrine function. BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that has been demonstrated to affect reproductive organ development, brain development, metabolic disease and post-natal behavior. Accordingly, Bisphenol analogs, Bisphenol F (BPF, bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) methane) and Bisphenol AF (BPAF, 4,4-hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol) are used as replacements for BPA. BPA is mainly metabolized by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), UGT2B1, but this effective metabolizing system is weak in the fetus. In the present study, we demonstrated that hepatic UGT activity toward BPAF was very weak, in comparison with BPA and BPF, in the fetus, pups and dams. Conversely, hepatic UGT activity toward BPF was very weak in the fetus and newborn pups, and was increased to the same level as BPA post-partum. In conclusion, BPAF possibly tends to accumulate in the fetus, because of weak metabolism during the perinatal period, suggesting that the metabolism of individual Bisphenol analogs requires assessment to properly gauge their risks.     

Kazakhstani native cattle reveal highly divergent mtDNA from Bos taurus and Bos indicus lineages with an absence of Bos indicus Y chromosome

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country and contains two important propagation routes for livestock from the Fertile Crescent to Asia. Therefore, genetic information about Kazakhstani cattle can be important for understanding the propagation history and the genetic admixture in Central Asian cattle. In the present study, we analyzed the complete mtDNA D‐loop sequence and SRY gene polymorphism in 122 Kazakhstani native cattle. The D‐loop sequences revealed 79 mitochondrial haplotypes, with the major haplogroups T and I. The Bos taurus subhaplogroups consisted of T (3.3%), T1 (2.5%), T2 (2.5%), and T4 (0.8%) in addition to the predominant subhaplogroup T3 (86.9%), and the Bos indicus subhaplogroup of I1 (4.1%). Subsequently, we investigated the paternal lineages of Bos taurus and Bos indicus, however, all Kazakhstani cattle were shown to have Y chromosome of Bos taurus origin. While highly divergent mtDNA subhaplogroups in Kazakhstani cattle could be due to the geographical proximity of Kazakhstan with the domestication center of the Fertile Crescent, the absence of Bos indicus Y chromosomes could be explained by a decoupling of the introgression dynamics of maternal and paternal lineages. This genetic information would contribute to understanding the genetic diversity and propagation history of cattle in Central Asia.     

The Eurasian Steppe is an important goat propagation route: A phylogeographic analysis using mitochondrial DNA and Y‐chromosome sequences of Kazakhstani goats

Goats (Capra hircus) were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent and propagated all over the world. The Silk Road through the Eurasian Steppe belt is a possible propagation route for domestic goats to Central Asia. Kazakhstan is in close geographical proximity to domestication centers and covers the majority of the Eurasian Steppe belt. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of Kazakhstani goats. The mtDNA sequences of 141 Kazakhstani goats were categorized into haplogroups A, C, and D, of which haplogroup A was predominant (97%), whereas haplogroups C and D were detected at low frequencies (1.4% each). The Kazakhstani haplotypes C were thzen categorized into Asian mtDNA type. Sequence analysis of the SRY gene on the Y‐chromosome in 67 male Kazakhstani goats revealed two haplotypes: Y1A (64%) and Y2A (36%). Analysis of the distribution of mtDNA haplogroups and SRY haplotypes from Eurasia and Africa demonstrated genetic similarity among animals from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Northwest China located on the Eurasian Steppe belt. These phylogeographic results suggested that the Eurasian Steppe belt was an important propagation route for goats to Central Asia.     

Clinical,histopathological, and immunohistochemical studies of histiocytic sarcoma in four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris): A retrospective study

Histiocytic sarcoma was investigated histopathologically and immunohistochemically in 17 four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), along with a review of their clinical data. Cases were histopathologically classified into two types: round-polygonal cell type (6 cases) and spindle cell type (11 cases). Round-polygonal cell type was found in visceral organs such as the spleen, lymph nodes, and more, and most cases of this type were consistent with disseminated histiocytic sarcoma. On the other hand, spindle cell type occurred mainly in skin, and almost all cases were consistent with localized histiocytic sarcoma. The prognosis of patients with round-polygonal cell type appeared worse than that of spindle cell type. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells of spindle cell type showed stronger reactivity against human leukocyte antigen-DR than round-polygonal cell type. Neoplastic cells of all cases showed strong reactivity against ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1) and various reactivities against cluster of differentiation (CD) 204. Regardless of morphological classification, most tumor cells were negative for CD163, suggesting that this marker is less effective for the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma. The results of this study suggest that Iba-1 is the most effective marker for histiocytic sarcoma.     

Antihypertensive effect of Narezushi, a fermented mackerel product, on spontaneously hypertensive rats

ABSTRACT:   During the fermentation of mackerel to narezushi , the concentration of peptides required to inhibit 50% of the ACE activity in the assay media (IC₅₀), as an index of the angiotensin  I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, was remarkably decreased with a rapid increase in peptide contents. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) decreased between 2 and 4 h after the single oral administration of greater than 10 mg peptide/kg narezushi extract, and recovered to the initial level by 8 h thereafter. The SBP decreased at seven successive daily doses of 10 mg/kg of narezushi extract and then recovered to the initial level 5 days after stopping a total of 10 daily administrations. The extract was administered to five-week-old SHR rats for 70 days and SBP decreased 21 days after starting and continued for 28 days after the end of administration. The peptide-rich fraction from narezushi extract had a powerful antihypertensive effect, whereas the other fraction had a similar, but weak effect.     

Determination of peroxyl radical scavenging activity of flavonoids and plant extracts using an automatic potentiometric titrator

A novel potentiometric method for evaluation of peroxyl radical scavenging activity of flavonoids and plant extracts was developed. The oxidation of potassium iodide (KI) was performed in acetonitrilephosphate buffer (1:1) containing antioxidant using 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride as a peroxyl radical generator. The amount of iodine released from KI during a 20-min free radical oxidation was determined quantitatively using an automatic potentiometric titrator with sodium thiosulfate. The radical scavenging activity of the sample was expressed as the inhibition ratio for iodine release of the control group mediated by the radical. The results obtained from some authentic polyphenols correlated well with those of previous reports. This is a simple, time-saving method requiring less than 30 min and is useful in assessing the radical scavenging activity of antioxidants in plant extracts. We describe the radical scavenging activities of various flavonoids including 21 kinds of tea catechins and vegetable extracts by this method.     

A surge-like increase in luteinizing hormone preceding musth in a captive bull African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

This study was conducted to determine the correlation between reproductive hormones and musth in a male African elephant. Changes in circulating luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and immunoreactive (ir-) inhibin and the degree of musth were evaluated for 4 years. LH increased 4 weeks before musth began. The highest concentrations of testosterone and ir-inhibin were observed from April to October. There were positive correlations among testosterone, ir-inhibin and musth behavior. These findings suggested that the surge-like LH in the pre-musth period might stimulate secretion of testosterone and ir-inhibin and thus initiate the musth behavior. This study also suggested that the high LH level before musth might be a useful biomarker for the beginning of the musth season.     

Identification of Dynamic Changes in Proteins Associated with the Cellular Cytoskeleton after Exposure to Okadaic Acid

Exposure of cells to the diarrhetic shellfish poison, okadaic acid, leads to a dramatic reorganization of cytoskeletal architecture and loss of cell-cell contact. When cells are exposed to high concentrations of okadaic acid (100–500 nM), the morphological rearrangement is followed by apoptotic cell death. Okadaic acid inhibits the broad acting Ser/Thr protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, which results in hyperphosphorylation of a large number of proteins. Some of these hyperphosphorylated proteins are most likely key players in the reorganization of the cell morphology induced by okadaic acid. We wanted to identify these phosphoproteins and searched for them in the cellular lipid rafts, which have been found to contain proteins that regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion. By using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture cells treated with okadaic acid (400 nM) could be combined with control cells before the isolation of lipid rafts. Protein phosphorylation events and translocations induced by okadaic acid were identified by mass spectrometry. Okadaic acid was shown to regulate the phosphorylation status and location of proteins associated with the actin cytoskeleton, microtubules and cell adhesion structures. A large number of these okadaic acid-regulated proteins have previously also been shown to be similarly regulated prior to cell proliferation and migration. Our results suggest that okadaic acid activates general cell signaling pathways that induce breakdown of the cortical actin cytoskeleton and cell detachment.