Effect of the squid viscera hydrolysate on growth performance and digestion in the red sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagrus major</Emphasis>

The improvement in feed efficiency is one of the most important subjects in fish culture. The development of feed, in terms of good intake, high growth performance, and high feed efficiency is needed. Squid viscera are one of the candidates for alternative material in improving feed efficiency in fish culture. In the present study, we described the dietary effect of the squid viscera hydrolysate (SVH) on the growth performance of the red sea bream. The addition of SVH to feed caused significant increases in feed intake, fork length, and body weight and produced a marked improvement in feed conversion after 4 weeks of feeding. Furthermore, the results of this feeding revealed that low dietary levels of SVH promote growth performance in the red sea bream. We physiologically analyzed digestion and appetite in fish fed diet containing SVH. SVH promoted the activity of hepatic trypsin and lipase, gene expression of stomach pepsin, hepatic lipase, and pyloric caeca trypsin, thereby improving the nutrient availability in red sea bream. Moreover, the mRNA expression of appetite regulating factor, such as brain NPY and stomach ghrelin was significantly improved by dietary SVH. Our current results indicate that dietary SVH as alternative material produced excellent effects on growth performance, which is dependent on the promoting effect on digestion and appetite in red sea bream.     

Molecular detection and characterization of Haemobartonella felis in domestic cats in Japan employing sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (SS-PCR)

A novel PCR assay was developed in order to examine the prevalence of Haemobartonella felis (H. felis) in Japanese domestic cats and which was able to differentiate of the Ohio strain and the California strain of H. felis. Blood samples from a total of 21 cats suspected of having haemobartonellosis were examined employing a novel PCR assay and demonstrated positive results in 18 cats which was confirmed by cytological examination of blood smears. Four out of 18 positive cats (22%) were infected with the California strain, whilst the other 12 cats (67%) were infected with the Ohio strain and two animals (11%) were infected with both strains. As most of the cats with moderate to severe anemia were infected with the Ohio strain, it is suggested that the most prevalent strain of H. felis in Japanese domestic cats might be the Ohio strain. In the present study, it was thought that molecular detection and characterization of H. felis may provide valuable information regarding the severity and prognosis of this illness.     

Regulation of secondary follicle growth by theca cells and insulin-like growth factor 1

Ovaries contain follicles at various stages of development, including primordial, primary, secondary, antral and Graafian follicles. Although the growth of these follicles is controlled to maintain regular ovulation, the mechanism through which this occurs remains unclear. In our study, we found that the growth rate of cultured secondary follicles separated from mice ovaries differed between follicles. After 4 days of culture, the size of some secondary follicles was markedly increased, while that of others had either slightly increased, remained unchanged or shrunk. We compared the expression levels of growth factors between these secondary follicles and found that the growth rate of cultured secondary follicles correlated with the expression level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1) mRNA. Igf1 mRNA expression level in secondary follicles containing theca cells was higher than that in secondary follicles without theca cells, and the granulosa cell proliferation around follicles containing theca cells was increased. Furthermore, an IGF1 inhibitor also inhibited the granulosa cell proliferation, and administration of IGF1 to secondary follicles without growth promoted granulosa cell proliferation. These results indicated that the theca cells of secondary follicles induced the expression of IGF1 and promoted the follicle growth.     

Sooty spot caused by Cladosporium cladosporioides in postharvest Satsuma mandarin grown in heated greenhouses

In June 2006, a large number of small black spots containing a branching network of black hyphae developed on shipped Satsuma mandarin fruits grown in greenhouses, which markedly decreased their commercial value. The fungus that was frequently isolated from the damaged fruits was identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides. Inoculation of fruits with the fungus caused the same symptoms, and the fungus was reisolated from the diseased fruits. The disease caused by this fungus has not been previously documented in citrus fruits; we name this new disease “sooty spot” on the basis of its symptoms.     

Forest fires and vegetation during the Holocene in central Yakutia, eastern Siberia

In order to investigate the relationship between vegetation change and fire history in the Siberian boreal forest, fossil pollen and charcoal from two lakes in central Yakutia, eastern Siberia, were analyzed. The vegetation change inferred from the pollen analysis was similar to that found in previous research in the region. Open larch forest covered this region during the late Glacial and early Holocene periods. Later, during the mid-Holocene, Scots pine expanded its range. The low levels of charcoal in the lake deposits represent surface forest fires, suggesting that the present-day surface fire regime has been taking place since at least 6,500 calibrated years before the present (cal yr BP) and that stand-replacing fire has not occurred during the Holocene. Larch and Scots pine forests, which are characterized by surface fire regimes, have been predominant since the early Holocene.     

A trial of intrauterine insemination using a fiberscope in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

An intrauterine insemination technique using a fiberscope was investigated in the giant panda. A septal wall was present about 5 cm from the vulva, the external urethral orifice was present in the ventral region, and the entrance (pseudocervix) to the vagina was present in the dorsal region. The uterovaginal region protruded in the dorsal region about 15 cm from the pseudocervix. The external uterine orifice was present in the uterovaginal region, revealing that intrauterine insemination can be easily performed. This technique may greatly contribute to artificial reproduction of the giant panda.     

Morphological analysis on comparison of organic and chemical fertilizers on grain quality of rice at different planting densities

ABSTRACT

Effects of organic (Italian ryegrass and Bokashi) and chemical fertilizer on growth, yield, and grain quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were compared under different planting densities in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Italian ryegrass was incorporated into the soil as green manure. Bokashi (a mixture of organic materials) was applied as basal dressing. To measure yield and its components, 30 hills were chosen for each treatment. Rice grains were harvested from each treatment to assess the grain quality and to evaluate accumulation structures using a scanning electron microscope. Bokashi treatment increased panicle number per hill, ripened grain percentage, panicle number per m², and grain yield compared to no fertilizer treatment at normal planting density. Chemical fertilizer treatment increased plant length at high planting density. Italian ryegrass and Bokashi treatments promoted the taste point (taste score as reference) by reduction of amylose and protein contents at normal planting density in contrast to chemical fertilizer. 1000-grain weight, panicle number per m², and grain yield were higher at high planting density than at normal planting density. However, high planting density decreased panicle number per hill and spikelet number per panicle. It also enhanced the amylose content of rice grain. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that chemical fertilizer treatment marked up protein bodies and their traces on amyloplasts. However, Bokashi treatment produced large amyloplasts, which included many starch granules. These results show that Italian ryegrass and Bokashi can offset reductions of chemical fertilizer and can lead to sufficient starch accumulation structures in rice grains.     

Establishment and characterization of primary canine hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines producing alpha-fetoprotein

A primary cultured cell line named CHKS was established from a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of a dog showing a high level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). CHKS secreted a 66 KDD AFP into the growth medium regardless of the presence or absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Cloning CHKS with limiting dilution produced 4 clones, CHKS-1, -2, -3, and -4, which secreted 826, 471, 70, and less than 10 ng/ml, respectively, of AFP into the culture medium. In culture, these cell lines were similar in morphology and proliferation pattern to epithelial cells and positive to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. The presence of mRNA for canine albumin was demonstrated by nested PCR. The doubling times of the clone cell lines were 21, 45, 36, and 35 h, saturation densities 34, 18, 22, and 24 x 10(4)/cm(2), and plating efficiencies 18, 45, 46, and 45%, respectively. Chromosome analysis of these cell lines showed near triploidy. These results show that CHKS and its clones have hepatic cell functions and are useful for carcinogenetic and clinical studies of canine HCC.     

Antioxidant activities of black and yellow soybeans against low density lipoprotein oxidation

Several studies have demonstrated that the daily intakes of soy foods were associated with a reduced cardiovascular risk. The aim of our study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of black soybeans on low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in comparison to yellow soybeans. The extract from black soybean had a longer LDL oxidation lag time than that from yellow soybean (205 +/- 16 and 65 +/- 3 min, respectively). When both soybeans were divided into the seed coat and the mixture of the germ and cotyledon, the diluted extract solution from the black soybean seed coat prolonged the lag time significantly more than the original extract of the yellow soybean seed coat. On the other hand, antioxidant effects of the extract from the mixture of germs and cotyledons were similar in both soybeans. Regarding total polyphenol contents, the seed coat of black soybean had a higher polyphenol content than that of yellow soybean (29.0 +/- 0.56 and 0.45 +/- 0.02 mg/g, respectively). Interestingly, the mixture of the germ and cotyledon hydrolyzed by beta-glucosidase in both soybeans showed a stronger inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation than that before being hydrolyzed by beta-glucosidase. These results suggest that black soybeans may be more effective in inhibiting LDL oxidation than yellow soybeans because of total polyphenols contents in its seed coat. In addition, aglycones, which are rich in soybeans fermented or hydrolyzed by beta-glucosidase, may play a crucial role in the prevention of oxidation-related diseases.