Effects of food enriched with egg yolk hydrolysate (bone peptide) on bone metabolism in orchidectomized dogs

We examined the effects of chicken egg hydrolysate (also known as “bone peptide” or BP) on bone metabolism in 5- to 8-month-old orchidectomized dogs. The bone formation marker serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and the bone resorption marker urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were used as indicators to measure changes in bone metabolism. The following results were observed that Serum BAP was higher in dogs fed BP-enriched food throughout the clinical investigation. Serum BAP was statistically significantly higher in dogs fed BP-enriched food than in dogs fed non-BP-enriched food at 2 months after orchidectomy. This suggests that BP promoted bone formation immediately after orchidectomy.     

Pits and rocky microsites in a subalpine forest stand facilitate regeneration of spruce saplings by suppressing dwarf bamboo growth inside a deer-proof fence

We determined patterns of microsite suppression in dwarf bamboo Sasa nipponica when grazing deer were absent. This bamboo species is able to outcompete Hondo spruce (Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis) saplings under many environmental circumstances. We set up two 10 × 100 m plots inside a deer-proof fence within a subalpine forest on Mt. Ohdaigahara, central Japan, and two similarly sized plots outside the fence. Within the plots, we surveyed microsites where spruce saplings grew. We measured height and shoot elongation of all spruce saplings, and culm height and cover ratios of dwarf bamboo growing around each spruce sapling. Spruce sapling density and average height were higher inside the deer-proof fence than outside, as were bamboo height and cover. Thus, there was a negative effect of deer browsing on vegetation parameters outside the fence and a suppression of the negative effect of bamboo on spruce sapling growth inside the fence. Spruce sapling height was higher in tree-fall pits than in other microsites inside the fence, whereas both dwarf bamboo height and cover were lower in pits and rocky sites than elsewhere. In soil and collar microsites, spruce sapling shoot growth was lower and bamboo height and cover were higher than in pits and rocky sites. Inside the fence, dwarf bamboo cover was high, but pits and rocks suppressed its growth, allowing spruce saplings to flourish. To restore heavily damaged spruce forests with advanced saplings, it will be necessary to construct deer-proof fences and create and maintain microsites with pits and rocks.     

The soil seed bank of the threatened plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Magnolia stellata</Emphasis> is subordinate to the emergence of current-year seedlings

We studied seed bank formation of the threatened star magnolia, Magnolia stellata, to examine the early stage of regeneration. Forty-five seedling plots (2 × 2 m), each including a soil-sampling quadrat (40 × 40 cm), were established randomly under or around the crowns of mature M. stellata trees. Seeds of M. stellata were collected from each quadrat to a depth of 5 cm. Only four seeds of M. stellata were found (0.56 seeds/m²) and all were located under mature crowns. Current-year seedlings were abundant in water channels, on moss, or under mature crowns, suggesting that the seeds may require wet soil conditions for germination. Magnolia stellata seeds show considerable germination below the crowns of mature trees in the year following masting, while some seeds remain dormant in the soil. Considering the soil seed bank and the current-year seedling bank of M. stellata, a frequent supply of seed is essential for the regeneration of this species. Thus, it is important to maintain mature trees in addition to promoting seed production.     

Rapid activation of Mac-1(CD11b/CD18) molecules on macrophages by a new chemotactic factor 'Gasserokine' produced by Lactobacillus gasseri JCM1131T

The chemoattractant activity of a new chemotactic factor, 'Gasserokine' produced by Lactobacillus gasseri JCM1131^T, has been proposed as a novel immunological function of probiotic lactic acid bacteria. The focus of the present study was to understand the mechanism of the chemotaxis induced by Gasserokine, using activation of an adhesion molecule, Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) on macrophages. The macrophage chemotaxis to Gasserokine was abolished by preincubation of macrophages with the anti-Mac-1 mAb. Gasserokine induced rapid serine phosphorylation of CD18 molecules within 1 min of stimulation, but the effect was short-lived. Substantial tyrosine phosphorylation was observed in CD18-associated protein of macrophages stimulated by Gasserokine. The tyrosine phosphorylation was confirmed in macrophages stimulated with Gasserokine and also serine/threonine phosphorylation was detected on CD18 molecules by laser microscopy using a double immunostaining method. These results suggest that selective activation of intracellular signaling cascades, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, are related to the macrophage chemotaxis induced by Gasserokine.     

Puerperal and parental experiences alter rat preferences for pup odors via changes in the oxytocin system

In the rat, induction of maternal behavior depends on the parity of the female. For example, nulliparous (NP) females need longer exposure to pups than multiparous (MP) or lactating (L) females to exhibit similar maternal behavior. In this study, we investigated the role of brain oxytocin in the approaching behavior of these female rats. Olfactory preferences for pup odors were examined for 8 consecutive days. Each preference test was followed by direct overnight exposure to pups. On the 8th day, MP and L, but not NP females showed robust pup-odor preferences. After the behavioral test, half of the females were exposed to pups for 2 h, whereas the other half were not. The females were then sacrificed to analyze brain oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) activities by cFos immunohistochemistry and to quantify their receptor mRNA expression using real-time PCR. In the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the percentage of cFos-positive OXT neurons was significantly larger in MP and L females than in NP females after pup exposure. No significant differences were found in cFos expression in OXT neurons of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) or in AVP neurons of either the PVN or SON. Expression of OXT receptor mRNA in the medial preoptic area and amygdala of the control groups was also higher in MP females than in NP females. Finally, we demonstrated that infusion of OXT into the lateral ventricle of NP females promoted preferences for pup odors. These results indicate that puerperal and parental experiences enhance the responsiveness of OXT neurons in the PVN to pup stimuli and establish olfactory preferences for these odors in a parity-dependent manner.     

Effect of inundation duration on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salix gracilistyla</Emphasis> density and size on a gravel bar

To clarify the effects of inundation on the establishment of Salix gracilistyla trees, the relationship between total inundation duration and the distribution and size of trees was examined on a gravel bar along the Miya River in central Japan. The density of S. gracilistyla was low at both low and high elevations on the gravel bar, but high at middle elevations. The density increased with up to 165 days of inundation and declined gradually with more than 165 days of inundation. Density had a negative effect on crown area, whereas inundation duration had a positive effect. At lower elevations, growth limitation of S. gracilistyla is mainly caused by inundation stress, whereas at higher elevations it seems to be primarily due to drought stress, although it depends on the total duration of inundation in a year (TDIY). Consequently, the density is highest at middle elevations where trees do not become too large. These results suggest that inundation duration is one factor determining the density of S. gracilistyla trees, which in turn affects the size of each tree.     

Effects of feeding high volumes of milk replacer on reproductive performance and on concentrations of metabolites and hormones in blood of Japanese black heifer calves

We evaluated the effects of feeding high volumes of milk replacer on growth and reproductive performances in Japanese black heifers. Fifty-one heifers were fed milk replacer at 9 L/day for 60 days (9 L × 60 days; n = 18) or 41 days (9 L × 41 days; n = 15), or at 7 L/day for 40 days (7 L × 40 days; n = 18). Artificial insemination (AI) was performed on heifers with ≥270 kg body weight and ≥116 cm body height at 300 days of age. The age at the first AI was 0.35 month later for 7 L × 40 days than the other groups (p < .01). However, age at calving did not differ among treatments (22.1 months). The interval from the first AI to pregnancy tended to be ~2 months longer for the 9 L × 60 days than the other groups (p = .07). Our results showed that feeding high volumes of milk replacer may reduce the age at calving via an improved rate of growth. In addition, we propose that feeding a maximum of 7 L milk replacer for 40 days may be the most appropriate rearing regime because the success of pregnancy per AI may be reduced in calves fed a maximum of 9 L for 41 and 60 days.     

Effects of models with finite loci, selection, dominance, epistasis and linkage on inbreeding coefficients based on pedigree and genotypic information

Considering the effects of selection, dominance, epistasis and linkage, a stochastic computer simulation was performed to study how well inbreeding coefficients calculated from pedigree (f_ped) and genotypic frequencies (f_het) correspond to the inbreeding coefficient that is defined as the proportion of autozygous loci in the modelled genome (i.e. the level of autozygosity, f_aut). Although in random mating populations all three inbreeding coefficients show almost (with slight deviations in models with two loci) the same expectation, they represent three separate variables. First, f_aut, f_ped and f_het responded differently to selection, dominance, epistasis and linkage. Second, they did not have the same standard deviations, which means that the effects of random drift, especially in models under selection, were not affecting all three coefficients in the same way. Finally, they were not always defined in the same domain. With selection as the most important factor responsible for the observed discrepancies, the bias (discrepancy) was present in both directions, thus leading to overestimation or underestimation of the observed level of autozygosity depending on the genetic model, linkage and initial gene frequency. Variation of the autozygosity level (between replicates) was increased notably in models with additive inheritance under selection and was an additional potential source of bias. Thus, when the trait is, to a large extent, controlled by a finite number of loci and when selection is present, the bias in the estimation of the autozygosity is likely to occur and caution is necessary whenever conclusions are based on inbreeding coefficients estimated from the pedigree or decrease in heterozygosity.     

The Use of Size Distributions of Spheroidal Carbonaceous Particles in Swimming Pool Deposits for Evaluating Atmospheric Particle Behaviour

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - To clarify the relationship between the transport distance of spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) and particle size, we investigated the spatial distribution...