Implications of ram sperm rheotaxis analysed by microfluidics for fertility

Rheotaxis of sperm using a microfluidic device was explored in human, mice and bull. However, the rheotaxis of ram sperm and its role in fertility are unknown. Herein, we described the sperm rheotaxis in ram using microfluidic devices and focused on rheotaxis as potential markers of in vivo fertility. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) with controlled flow velocity was used to explore the kinematic parameters of sperm, total motility and positive rheotaxis (PR). The percentage of PR was defined as the number of PR sperm cells over the number of motile sperm cells. Then, according to the percentage of PR sperm, rams were classified into two groups; sperm with ≥40% PR and <40% PR, although the two ram groups showed similar total motility and kinematic values of sperm evaluated by CASA (p > .05). Two groups of rams mated one hundred thirty ewes naturally (10 ewes/ram). In the results, the pregnancy rate was higher in ≥40% PR (94.4%) than in <40% PR (42.5%, p < .05) after natural mating. Besides, the pregnancy loss was higher in <40% PR (33.3%) than in >40% PR group (8.1%, p < .05). In conclusion, the PR examination in semen can contribute to evaluate the reproductive performance of ram that will provide valuable insights into the semen evaluation.     

Contents of heavy metal elements in copper mosses: Scopelophila ligulata,Scopelophila cataractae,and Mielichhoferia japonica and their substrates

Scopelophila ligulata (Spruce) Spruce, S. cataractae (Mitt.) Broth., and Mielichhoferia japonica Besch. (Mielichhoferia mielichhoferi (Hook.) Wijk et Marg. var. japonica (Besch.) Wijk et Marg.) are well known “copper mossess” which show peculiar ecological characteristics consisting of a preference for metal-rich soils, lithosols, rocks, etc. as their substrates. The total and water-soluble element contents in the substrates and heavy metal contents in the moss body were analyzed in this study. The results of these chemical analyses were as follows: The iron contents in the moss body and substrate of S. ligulata were higher than those of S. cataractae and M. japonica. On the contrary the copper contents of the former were lower than those of the latter. The pH values of substrate of S. ligulata were lower than those of S. cataractae and M. japonica. The concentrations of water-soluble iron and sulfate in the substrate of S. ligulata were higher than those of S. cataractae and M. japonica. On the contrary, the water-soluble copper concentrations in the substrate of S. ligulata were lower than those of the others. Although in the substrate of S. cataractae the iron content was several times higher than the copper content, in the moss body the copper content was higher than iron content.     

Carbon and nitrogen contents and greenhouse gas fluxes of the Eurasian steppe soils with different land-use histories located in the Arkaim museum reserve of South Ural,Russia

The effects of different land-use histories on contents of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and fluxes of greenhouse gases [carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O)] measured using the closed chamber method were investigated in the Arkaim museum reserve located in the South Ural of Russia. A natural forest site (NF) and two grassland sites that had different land-use histories (CL: cropland until 1991; PST: pasture until 1991; both sites have been fallow for 18 years) were selected for soil sampling and gas flux measurements. The vegetation in NF was mainly Betula pendula Roth. with steppe cherry and grassy cover. Perennial grasses (Stipa spp., Festuca spp. and others) have been planted in CL and PST since 1991 to establish reserve mode, and the projective cover of these plants were?>?90% in both sites in 2009. Soil samples were taken from the A horizon in the three sites, and additionally samples of the O horizon were taken from NF. The contents of soil C and N [total C, total N, soluble organic C, soluble N and microbial biomass C (MBC)] in the O horizon of NF were the largest among all investigated soils (p?p?2 fluxes (i.e., CO₂ efflux) in all three investigated sites were observed. The CO₂ efflux in NF was significantly larger than in CL and PST (129, 30 and 25?mg C m^?2 hour^?1, respectively, p?2 efflux between CL and PST. There were no significant differences in the fluxes of CH₄ and N₂O among NF, CL and PST (p?>?0.05). Our current research indicated that, in soils of the Eurasian steppe zone of Russia, total C, total N and MBC were affected not only by current land-use (i.e., fallow grassland vs. natural forest) but also by past (until 18 years ago) land-use.     

Effects of rearing water quality on expression of brain corticotropin-releasing hormone and gonadal development in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

The effects of changes in water quality in a recirculating system on brain corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene expression in goldfish were examined. In the experimental group, fish were reared without water change, while in the control group, 50% of water was changed everyday. In the experimental group, total ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate and phosphate were increased over the experimental period. Brain CRH mRNA levels in the control group seemed higher than those in the experimental group, but differences were confounded by variation among individuals. There were no differences in gonadal development between both groups.     

Early dispersal of ayu during marine stages as inferred from geographic variation in the number of vertebrae

ABSTRACT:   Marine environments often allow interbreeding of individuals over the species range, and analyses using neutral molecular markers may lose extant genetic boundaries laid between geographic majorities. Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis has a typical amphidromous life history, migrating between rivers and the sea. In order to clarify reproductive elements of the species, migrants from 64 rivers and streams sampled over a wide latitudinal range were examined for their vertebral number (VN) and dorsal pterygiophore number (DPN) as morphological markers to estimate the temperature history. The irregular variability in VN without a geographic cline suggests that the ascending schools of fish are composed of conspecifics sharing incubation temperature or hatching site. The intersample difference in DPN indicates that larvae and juveniles of ayu spend their marine life inside a water body with a distinct temperature. Site tenacity during the marine stage may be helpful to enhance the opportunity to return to the river where they hatched. Each assemblage of fish ascending to rivers and streams is deemed to mostly represent a reproductive element, and therefore, each acts as an evolutionarily significant unit within a metapopulational structure.     

Persorption of bovine lactoferrin from the intestinal lumen into the systemic circulation via the portal vein and the mesenteric lymphatics in growing pigs

The absorption and the transportation of intestinally administrated bovine lactoferrin (LF) were immunohistochemically and physiochemically investigated in the small intestine of growing pigs. At the apical halves of the small intestinal villi, bovine LF was absorbed by transcytosis as small vesicles through villous columnar epithelial cells. The presence of bovine LF-positive membranes of transcytotic vesicles suggests that the absorption was mediated by LF-binding factors on the epithelial cell membranes. Almost all of the absorbed bovine LF was demonstrated to be transported via the lymphatics and the portal vein into the systemic circulation. The LF-concentration in systemic circulation was significantly higher at 1 hr following intestinal administration of bovine LF. Bovine LF-positive lymphocytes also were transferred into the systemic circulation from intestine via the lymphatics and the portal vein.     

Expressions of VEGF,ANG-1,ANG-2 and TSP-1 in cholangiocellular carcinoma and relationship with tumor angiogenesis,differentiation,invasion and metastasis

AIM: To investigate the angiogenesis status,the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1),angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2),thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) and relationship with tumor angiogenesis,differentiation,invasion and metastasis.METHODS: 33 specimen of surgically resected CCC were investigated.Immunohistochemical staining of CD34,VEGF,ANG-1,ANG-2 and TSP-1 was carried out.RESULTS: The mean MVD was (87.2±52.6)/mm2.VEGF positive expression was found in 75.6% cases;ANG-1 positive expression was observed in 36% cases;ANG-2 positive was detected in 57.6% cases and 45.5% cases exhibited positive TSP-1 expression.VEGF and ANG-2 expressions were found to be associated with significant higher level of MVD (P<0.01 and P<0.05,respectively).TSP-1 expression was found to be associated with significant low level of MVD (P<0.01).Positive TSP-1 expression was also found to be associated with higher level of intrahepatic metastasis (46.7% vs 5.6%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Considerable angiogenesis compared to other solid tumors can be observed in CCC.VEGF and ANG-2 might play a proangiogenic role and TSP-1 may play an inhibitory role.Although TSP-1 may increase the intrahepatic metastasis of CCC,neither MVD levels nor the expression of VEGF,ANG-1,or ANG-2 is associated with tumor differentiation,invasion and metastasis.     

Effects of Observed Incubation Behavior on Egg Production in Laying Hens of a Commercial Chicken Breed and Detection of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with the Incubation Behavior

Upon contact with laid eggs, avians initiate incubation behavior and stop laying additional eggs. This phenomenon suggests that the productivity of laying hens in free-range facilities may decrease because of frequent contact with laid eggs. Here, we examined whether hens of a commercial breed exhibit incubation behavior in a free-range facility and whether egg productivity subsequently decreases. One-hour observations were performed twice weekly for 3 weeks, during which 9 of 129 hens (7.0%) exhibited incubation behavior (i.e., sitting on eggs) in the free-range facility and were defined as incubating hens. During 4 d of continuous behavioral observation, incubating and non-incubating hens laid the same number of eggs statistically (4.6 and 3.6, on average, respectively); however, incubating hens spent significantly more time on average incubating the eggs (2071.9 min) than did the non-incubating hens (20.9 min; P<0.05), indicating a clear behavioral difference. Subsequently, the incubation behavior and egg productivity of incubating hens and a Silkie Fowl breed hen, which is known to exhibit typical incubation behavior and cessation of laying, were continuously compared for 27 d. The average minutes spent incubating eggs during the observation period increased in both the incubating hens and Silkie Fowl hen and the total time was almost the same (18,088.5 and 23,092 min, respectively). However, the Silkie Fowl hen stopped laying on day 17 after laying 17 eggs, whereas the incubating hens continued laying throughout the observation period. Incubating hens laid an average of 24.5 eggs, indicating that some hens (at least those of the commercial breed used in our study) can continue laying while exhibiting incubation behavior. A single-nucleotide polymorphism associated with incubation behavior was detected on chromosome 4 through genome-wide association analysis.     

Effects of tall alleles SD1-in and SD1-ja to the dwarfing allele sd1-d originating from ‘Dee-geo-woo-gen’ on yield and related traits on the genetic background of indica IR36 in rice

sd1-d originating from ‘Dee-geo-woo-gen’ has been utilized to develop short-culmed indica varieties adaptable to higher fertilizer-application. Its tall alleles SD1-in and SD1-ja are harbored in indica and japonica subspecies, respectively. The sd1-d of indica IR36 was substituted with SD1-in or SD1-ja by recurrent backcrossing with IR36, and two tall isogenic lines (“5867-36” and “Koshi-36”) were developed. IR36, 5867-36 and Koshi-36 were grown in a paddy field in three years, and yield and related traits were measured, the effects of SD1-in and SD1-ja on yielding ability and related characteristics were examined on the genetic background of IR 36. SD1-in decreased panicle number per m² but increased spikelet number per panicle, ripened-grain percentage and 1000-grain weight, compared with sd1-d, resulting in the increase of yield. The increase of 1000-grain weight by SD1-in, caused by the increases of length, width and thickness of grain, was due to the increases of the length and width of lemma. SD1-ja did not significantly affect yield, mainly because the decrease of panicle number per m² was compensated by the enlarged 1000-grain weight owing to the increase of lemma length. Serious lodging was observed in long-culmed 5867-36, suggesting that sd1-d is indispensable for indica breeding programs.