The effect of sodium butyrate supplementation on ruminal and fecal pH and serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein after ruminal acidosis challenge in nonlactating cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of sodium-butyrate supplementation on gastrointestinal function and the inflammatory response to ruminal acidosis (RA) challenge in cows. Four nonlactating cows with a rumen cannula were assigned to two treatments in a crossover design. Treatments were ruminal administration of sodium-butyrate (BUT) or control (CON). Sodium-butyrate was provided as Gustor BP70 and administered at a butyrate dose of 0.04% per kg body weight. The CON premix was made by replacing sodium-butyrate with wheat bran. Experimental periods were 28 days long with 21-day washout period separating the treatments. On Day 25 of each period, corn starch was ruminally administered at 0.7% per kg body weight as RA challenge. After RA challenge, ruminal pH was lower, and endotoxin concentration was higher for cows provided with BUT than those with CON, but the increase in fecal starch and the decrease in fecal pH were attenuated by BUT. The effect of butyrate supplementation on serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein after RA challenge was not found. From these findings, butyrate supplementation mitigated rectal acidosis by reducing the flux of fermentable carbohydrate into the large intestine. An anti-inflammatory effect of butyrate was not observed, possibly due to lower pH and higher endotoxin concentration in the rumen.     

A mixed green vegetable and fruit beverage decreased the serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients

The effects of a canned mixed green vegetable and fruit beverage, containing broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.) as main materials, on serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic patients were investigated. Thirty-one adult subjects were administered two cans of the beverage (160 g/can) per day for 3 weeks. Their serum total cholesterol (TC) levels significantly decreased from 6.7 +/- 0.8 to 6.1 +/- 0.6 mmol/L, and, more strikingly, the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) significantly decreased from 4.4 +/- 0.8 to 3.8 +/- 0.7 mmol/L. At 9 weeks after the cessation of the administration, these levels had returned to the preadministration levels. Furthermore, 14 other subjects who were administered one can of the sample for 12 weeks also showed a significant reduction in the levels of serum TC and LDL-C. Thus, daily consumption of this mixed green vegetable and fruit beverage may be useful in lowering serum TC and LDL-C levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.     

Behaviors of D- and L-lactic acids during the brewing process of sake (Japanese rice wine)

The amounts of D- and L-lactic acids during the brewing process of sake were determined by capillary electrophoresis using 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector. Because L-lactic acid, which prevents the growth of nonuseful microorganisms, is a raw material of sake, the ratio of L-lactic acid to total lactic acid is almost 1.0 at the initial stage of sake brewing. During brewing, the ratio decreased gradually and finally reached 0.39. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for sake brewing produced D-lactic acid, but not L-lactic acid in a culture medium. These results suggest that the decrease in the ratio of L-lactic acid to total lactic acid during sake brewing resulted in D-lactic acid production by yeast. The ratios in 18 brands of sake obtained commercially ranged from 0.23 to 0.78. The levels of D-lactic acid in sake (140-274 mg/L) were in a narrower range than those of L-lactic acid (61-461 mg/L). Although the D-lactic acid level in sake did not correspond to total lactic acid level, the L-lactic acid level correlated well with total lactic acid level (R(2) = 0.867). These results suggest that the ratio of L-lactic acid to total lactic acid in sake reflected the amount of L-lactic acid added at the initial stage of sake brewing.     

Stress wave velocity,basic density,and compressive strength in 34-year-old <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus merkusii</Emphasis> planted in Indonesia

The relationship between the growth speed and wood properties of Pinus merkusii was investigated using 34-year-old trees planted in Indonesia in an attempt to promote the establishment of plantation of this species. The trees in the test plot were categorized as fast, middle, or slow growing according to the mean stem diameter and standard deviation in the plot. Five trees were selected from each category to investigate the effects of the growth rate on the wood properties [basic density (BD) and compressive strength parallel to the grain in a 5-mm-diameter core sample (CS)]. No significant correlation was recognized between the stem diameter and the stress wave velocity of trees. Clearly lower values of BD and CS were found in slow-growing trees than in fast- and middle-growing trees. The BD of xylem near the pith was reduced by extraction with organic solvent. BD after extraction and CS gradually increased from pith to bark. The results obtained in this study clarified that an early selection of trees with high BD is possible by using the BD after extraction at 4 cm from the pith.     

Efficient digestion and structural characteristics of cell walls of coffee beans

Screening of effective food-processing cellulase for digestion of cell walls of coffee beans was carried out, and the cellulase from Trichoderma sp. was selected. The digestion of the cell walls of green and roasted coffee beans was carried out by sequential procedures of alkali boiling (0.1 M Na2CO3 buffer, pH 10, and 0.1 M NaOH), cellulase digestion, autoclaving with 0.1 M NaOH, and cellulase redigestion. The total digestion yields were >95 and >96%, respectively. The cell walls became thin, and the final residues of the cell walls were easily broken into small pieces. The neutral sugar analysis of the digestion or the extract and the residues and the microscopy observations with staining with toluidine blue O, Yariv reagent, and calcofluor for the residue in each step were investigated. Four structures, the galactomannan-cellulose (center part), the membrane of the arabinogalactan protein, the cellulose-rich galactomannan layer, and the arabinogalactan protein-rich layers (outer part), were found in the cell walls.     

Functional insulin‐like factor 3 (INSL3) hormone‐receptor system in the testes and spermatozoa of domestic ruminants and its potential as a predictor of sire fertility

Insulin‐like factor 3 (INSL3) is essential for fetal testis descent, and has been implicated in the testicular and sperm functions in adult males; however, similar functions in domestic ruminants remain largely unknown. This study investigated the functional INSL3 hormone‐receptor system in adult ruminant testes and spermatozoa, and explored its potential to diagnose the fertility of sires. Testes and spermatozoa were obtained from fertile bulls, rams and he‐goats, whereas subfertile testes and spermatozoa were obtained only from bulls. As expected, INSL3 was visualized in Leydig cells, while we clearly demonstrated that the functional receptor, relaxin family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2), enabling INSL3 to bind was identified in testicular germ cells and in the sperm equatorial segment of bulls, rams and he‐goats. In comparison to fertile bulls, the percentage of INSL3‐ and RXFP2‐expressing cells and their expression levels per cell were significantly reduced in the testes of subfertile bulls. In addition, the population of INSL3‐binding spermatozoa was also significantly reduced in the semen of subfertile bulls. These results provide evidence for a functional INSL3 hormone‐receptor system operating in ruminant testes and spermatozoa, and its potential to predict subfertility in sires.     

Genetic relationships between temperament of calves at auction and carcass traits in Japanese Black cattle

Correlations of calves’ temperament with carcass traits were estimated to clarify the genetic relationships between them in Japanese Black cattle. The temperament records for 3128 calves during auction at a calf market were scored on a scale of 1 (calm) to 5 (nervous) as temperament score (TS ), and the TS were divided into two groups (TSG ): TS 1 and 2 comprised TSG 1, and 3 to 5 constituted TSG 2. Carcass data were obtained from 33 552 fattened cattle. A threshold animal model was used for analyzing the underlying liability for TSG , whereas a linear one was used for TS and carcass traits. The heritability estimates for TS and TSG were 0.12 and 0.11, respectively. On the other hand, moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained for carcass traits (0.40 to 0.68). The temperament scores were negatively correlated with carcass weight, rib thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness (?0.13 to ?0.59). In contrast, weak to moderate positive correlations were found between the temperament scores and rib eye area or yield estimate (0.16 to 0.45). The temperament scores and beef marbling score had no correlation. These results showed that it is possible to improve temperament and carcass traits simultaneously.     

Failure to gulp surface air induces swim bladder adenomas in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

In order to elucidate the effects of swim bladder inflation failure on swim bladder carcinogenesis, we investigated the sequential histopathological changes of swim bladders at 13, 24, 35, and 53 days post-hatch (dph) in medakas with an uninflated swim bladder, which was experimentally induced by denying access to the air–water interface between 0 and 6 dph. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured at 24 dph. An uninflated swim bladder was induced in 47.3% of the fish denied access to the air–water interface (the denied group). The total incidence of swim bladder adenoma was 54.1% in the denied group; however, these tumors were observed in all fish with an uninflated swim bladder. In fact, these tumors were observed from 13 dph and onwards. The TBARS levels of the juveniles showed a 2.6-fold increase in fish with an uninflated swim bladder in the denied group compared to that in the control group. It is speculated that swim bladder inflation failure has some effects on the gas gland to produce ROS, leading to DNA damage in the gas glandular epithelium, which develops into swim bladder adenomas. Consequently, it is concluded that denying access to the air-water interface between 0 and 6 dph in medaka is an easy method of inducing swim bladder tumors in a short-term period, and is a useful method for producing tumor-bearing fish.