Effects of Thiopental, Ketamine, Diazepam, Xylazine, and Nitrous Oxide on EEG Spike Activity and Convulsive Behavior During Enflurane Anesthesia in Atropinized Cats Effect of Increasing Inhalant Concentrations

The effects of thiopental, ketamine, diazepam, xylazine, and nitrous oxide, and the combinations of thiopental-nitrous oxide and ketamine-nitrous oxide, on both enflurane-induced electroencephalographic (EEG) spike activity and convulsive behavior were measured quantitatively in atropinized cats receiving enflurane with controlled ventilation. Pretreatments with thiopental, ketamine, and diazepam reduced both EEG spike frequency and amplitude at 2.5% to 4.5% inspired enflurane but did not abolish spike activity. Nitrous oxide (66% of inspired gas) did not significantly alter spike frequency or amplitude during 2.5% to 4.5% inspired enflurane, but the combination of thiopental-nitrous oxide or ketamine-nitrous oxide reduced EEG spike activity during 2.5% inspired enflurane. Enflurane-induced convulsive score was markedly suppressed by thiopental and ketamine and was significantly reduced by diazepam, xylazine and nitrous oxide. The combinations of thiopental-nitrous oxide and ketamine-nitrous oxide greatly reduced behavioral-convulsive responses induced by 2.5% to 4.5% inspired enflurane.     

Herbicidal and fungicidal activities and identification of potential phytotoxins from Bidens pilosa L. var. radiata Scherff

This study was carried out to examine the possibility of utilizing Bidens pilosa , a weed widely distributed in the subtropics and the tropics, for weed and plant fungus control. The extract of B. pilosa shows strong phytotoxic action against the growth of Raphanus sativus and Echinochloa crus-galli and antifungal activity against phytopathogens in bioassays. The extract of the roots exhibited plant growth inhibitory activity more than those of the leaves and stems. Fifteen phenolic compounds, including pyrocatechin, salicylic acid, p -vinylguaiacol, dimethoxyphenol, eugenol, 4-ethyl-1,2-benzenediol, iso- vanillin, 2-hydroxy-6-methylbenzaldehyde, vanillin, vanillic acid, p -hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, p -coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Caffeic acid was in the highest amount among the detected substances. Dimethoxyphenol and vanillic acid were found only in the roots of B. pilosa . Ferulic acid and p -hydroxybenzoic acid were higher in the roots than in the leaves and stems. These identified constituents might be responsible for the phytotoxic and fungitoxic activities of B. pilosa.     

Cytotoxicity of surfactants to the FHM-sp cell line

Cytotoxicity of eight surfactants was determined by the neutral red assay with the fathead minnow (FHM)-sp cell line, a cell line in suspension culture from fish. The toxicity ranking of the surfactants was benzalkonium chloride > benzethonium chloride > sodium linear - dodecylbenzene–sulfonate (LAS) > potassium laurate > sodium dodecylsulfate > polyoxyethylene(20)sorbitan monolaurate > polyoxyethylene(20)sorbitan monooleate > betaine. The toxicity ranking of the surfactants classified into four groups based on the ion of the hydrophilic group was cationic surfactants > anionic surfactants > non-ionic surfactants > amphipathic surfactants. The FHM-sp cells, as well as the chinook salmon embryo (CHSE)-sp cells, could be inoculated directly to the microplate wells without dispersion by trypsin treatment of cell sheets at room temperature. Therefore, the cytotoxicity assay of the surfactants could be carried out quickly by using the FHM-sp cell line. The FHM-sp cell line had similar or higher sensitivity to sodium dodecylsulfate compared with several cell lines from mammals. The cytotoxicity assay could be shortened by the procedure exposing the surfactants to the FHM-sp cells before the cell monolayer formation in the microplate wells. To use the FHM-sp cell line as a screening tool prior to in vivo testing, studies on the correlation between in vivo data and in vitro data on the toxicity of surfactants are necessary.     

Effects of ferrous iron (Fe) on the germination and root elongation of paddy rice and weeds

Laboratory experiments were conducted to analyze the iron (Fe) tolerance of paddy weeds and rice varieties (Oryza sativa) for germination and root elongation. Under a waterlogged soil condition, the Fe(II) content in a soil solution increased with an increase in the ratio of rice straw to the soil. In the presence of 0.9% (w/w) straw to soil, which corresponds approximately to 8 t of straw applied to an area of 1 ha × 10 cm depth in the field, ～80 mg L^?1 of Fe(II) was produced in the soil solution. Based on this result, the seeds of rice and the weeds were incubated in a solution with <100 mg L^?1 of Fe(II). The presence of 100 mg L^?1 of Fe(II) suppressed the germination of Echinochloa crus‐galli var. crus‐galli, Cyperus serotinus, Cyperus difformis, and Monochoria korsakowii. However, it had no effect on the germination of Echinochloa oryzicola, Schoenoplectus juncoides (= Scirpus juncoides var. ohwianus), and Monochoria vaginalis. This level of Fe tolerance was the same as that of rice. These findings suggest that E. oryzicola, S. juncoides, and M. vaginalis can grow under more severe conditions than E. crus‐galli, C. serotinus, C. difformis, and M. korsakowii. In relation to seminal root elongation, the order of tolerance of Fe toxicity was O. sativa cv. Dunghan Shali > O. sativa cv. Hoshinoyume > E. oryzicola > M. vaginalis > S. juncoides. Thus, the results show that the tolerance of rice is greater than that of E. oryzicola, which had a comparatively strong tolerance among the weeds examined, and also that there are differences in tolerance among the rice varieties. These findings suggest that the difference in Fe tolerance is involved in weed control systems when organic materials are applied. If this difference is an important factor in the weed control system, Fe‐tolerant rice varieties, like cv. D. Shali, could facilitate weed control systems due to their higher Fe tolerance ability.     

Precocious development of the digestive system in relation to early appearance of piscivory in striped bonito Sarda orientalis larvae

ABSTRACT: Striped bonito Sarda orientalis larvae and juveniles were reared in a laboratory from hatching to 14 days post hatching, and the development of their digestive system was investigated histologically. On day 2 (first feeding day), the larval-type digestive system was differentiated. On day 3, a blind sac with densely distributed gastric glands developed and pyloric ceca appeared, suggesting that the digestive system was attaining adult-type structure. The yolk was completely absorbed on day 4. Bonito larvae preyed on rotifers and/or Artemia nauplii on day 2, but almost the whole gut was occupied by fish larvae from day 4. In the striped bonito, the adult-type digestive system was established right after first feeding, and this precocious development was well synchronized with the appearance of piscivory.     

Mode of reproduction of Barbarea vulgaris in two different habitats in Tohoku, Japan

This study was conducted to determine the reproductive characteristics of Barbarea vulgaris under different disturbance regimes (mowing and tilling) in two different habitats: a levee and a wheat field. On the levee, 77 of the 114 individuals that had had their floral stalks removed by the first mowing produced new rosettes at the basal part of the stem during the same growing season. The plants that were mowed four times per year had a significantly greater survival rate than the plants that were mowed twice per year. The levee population that was mowed without tillage was largely maintained by vegetative reproduction. These results suggest that mowing the levees promotes the vegetative reproduction of B. vulgaris and helps it to compete with tall-growing plants, thus facilitating its survival as a perennial. In spite of the high sprouting ability of the plant's root fragments, most of the root fragments did not regenerate when buried or when exposed to high soil moisture conditions in tilled wheat fields. The population of B. vulgaris in tilled wheat fields was maintained almost entirely by sexual reproduction. Barbarea vulgaris can survive under two different management regimes by altering its mode of reproduction.