Parentage assignment of stocked black sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopagrus schlegelii</Emphasis> in Hiroshima Bay using microsatellite DNA markers

The genetic contribution of 51 broodstock, comprising 29 females and 22 males, reared at Hiroshima City Marine Products Promotion Center for the production of stocked black sea bream was monitored during two consecutive years using seven microsatellite DNA loci. The high discrimination ability of these markers was reflected in the polymorphic identification content (PIC=0.831), the exclusion probability (Q≈1), and the low probability of identity index (I=3.635⁻¹⁰). The total number of breeders contributing to the mating process was estimated at 32 (62.7%) in 2000 and 30 (58.8%) in 2001. On pedigree reconstruction, 69.3% of the offspring were successfully assigned to a single broodstock pair. Loss of alleles accounted for 16.9% during seed production; nevertheless, 90.9% of males and 69.0% of females participated in the mating process. Based on microsatellite genetic tagging, 58.9% of the fish sampled during the two months after release were identified as hatchery stock, presenting no significant differences from wild conspecifics in either fork length or body weight.     

Regional variations in the distribution of small intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in three inbred strains of mice

The regional variation in the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the small intestine was examined in BALB/c male and female mice and C3H/He and C57BL/6 male mice. The small intestines were taken from 11 to 12-week-old mice and divided equally into 3 parts (the proximal, middle and distal parts). IELs were isolated from each part of the intestine and analyzed with flow cytometer. The number of IELs was highest in the proximal part and lowest in the distal part. The distribution of IEL subsets was markedly different between the proximal and the distal parts, and that in the middle part showed the intermediate pattern. The percentage of alphabeta T cells were higher in the distal part. In alphabeta T cell subset, the percentage of CD8alphaalpha T cells was higher in the proximal part, whereas those of CD4 and CD4CD8alphaalpha double positive T cells were higher in the distal part. In gammadelta T cell subset, no regional variations were found. The regional variations in the number and subsets of IELs showed almost the same patterns between male and female BALB/c mice and similar patterns among three strains of mice. This strongly suggests that the regional variations in the small intestinal IELs are common to mouse species.     

Influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitory activity of phlorotannins from the edible brown alga Ecklonia cava

Influenza A virus infections continue to pose a major threat to humans and several animal species. Neuraminidase (NA) is one of the most promising targets for the development of drugs against influenza viruses because of its critical role in the viral life cycle. During the course of a search for NA inhibitors from edible natural sources, we found that the ethyl acetate layer of ethanol extracts of Ecklonia cava showed extremely high NA-inhibitory activity (72.1% inhibition at 30 μg/mL). Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate layer yielded five phlorotannins, identified as phloroglucinol (1), eckol (2), 7-phloroeckol (3), phlorofucofuroeckol (4), and dieckol (5). The inhibitory activities of these compounds (1-5) against NAs from group-1 (A/Bervig_Mission/1/18 [H1N1], A/PR/8/34 [H1N1]) and group-2 (A/Hong Kong/8/68 [H3N2], A/Chicken/Korea/MS96/96 [H9N2]) influenza A were evaluated to determine potencies and kinetic behavior. Analyses using various in vitro influenza A virus NA assays showed that all five phlorotannin derivatives were selective NA inhibitors. Of the phlorotannins, phlorofucofuroeckol (4) exhibited the most potent inhibitory activities toward group-1 NAs (IC?? values, 4.5 and 14.7 μM), whereas dieckol (5) potently inhibited group-2 NAs. Kinetic analyses indicated that compounds 1-5 were all noncompetitive. Notably, these noncompetitive inhibitors synergized with oseltamivir to enhance the NA-inhibitory effects of oseltamivir.     

Cutaneous lymphoma in a juvenile dog

Abstract: An 18-month-old male Doberman Pinscher was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the College of Veterinary Medicine for an erythemic nodular mass on the right forelimb. The mass was diagnosed as cutaneous lymphoma, based on cytologic examination of a mass aspirate and histopathology. Using immunohistochemistry the neoplastic cells were positive for CD3 but negative for CD79a, E-cadherin, and pancytokeratin, confirming their origin as T lymphocytes. No tumor recurrence was noted 18 months after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a solitary nodular form of cutaneous lymphoma in a young dog.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of a Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract

Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract (HSE) were investigated in a carrageenan-air pouch model. HSE (200 mg/kg, oral) suppressed exudation and albumin leakage, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) only decreased exudation and cell infiltration, while indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced exudate volume and albumin content. HSE lowered tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO), as well as prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Dexamethasone only reduced TNF-α and NO, while indomethacin decreased TNF-α and PGE₂. The suppressive activity of HSE on NO and PGE₂ production was confirmed in RAW 264.7. These results demonstrate that HSE exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting both TNF-α-NO and cyclooxygenase II-PGE₂ pathways.     

Fatty acid composition in each structural part of soybean seed and sprout

Fatty acid composition and C_18:2:C_18:3 of soybean seed and sprout is important for soy-industries to manufacture quality products. Six soybean varieties were analyzed by gas chromatography to determine fatty acid composition and linoleic to linolenic acid ratio (C_18:2:C_18:3) in seed, sprout, and their structural parts. In the case of whole seed and its structural parts, significant variation in fatty acid composition and C_18:2:C_18:3 were observed between varieties except palmitic acid (C_16:0), while all the parameters were significantly different for seed parts. Significant interactions of variety with seed parts were observed for oleic acid (C_18:1), C_18:2 and C_18:2:C_18:3. The highest saturated fatty acid, C_18:1 and polyunsaturated fatty acid were recorded in seed coat, cotyledon, and seed axis, respectively. The lowest C_18:2:C_18:3 was found in seed axis. In the case of sprout study, variety had significant effect on all the parameters observed for whole sprout, cotyledon, root, and except C_18:3 for hypocotyl. Culture days had significant effect on C_16:0, C_18:2 and C_18:3 in whole sprouts, while only on C_18:3 and C_18:2:C_18:3 in cotyledon. For hypocotyl, culture days had significant effect on C_18:1, C_18:2 and C_18:2:C_18:3, however, C_16:0, C_18:1, C_18:3, and C_18:2:C_18:3 were significantly different in root. In sprout, days and variety interacted significantly for C_16:0, C_18:3 and C_18:2:C_18:3, and C_18:1, C_18:2, C_18:3, and C_18:2:C_18:3, respectively for whole, cotyledon, and root. The significantly lowest C_18:2:C_18:3 (1.1) was observed in hypocotyl and root of Hwangkeumkong in 5 days. Knowledge of fatty acid composition and C_18:2:C_18:3 of seed, sprout, and their parts could be applicable for oil and other soy-food industries to make quality products.