Assemblages of vertical migratory mesopelagic fish in the transitional region of the western North Pacific

Assemblages of vertical migratory mesopelagic fish are described for the nighttime upper 20 m layer of the transitional and adjacent waters in the western North Pacific. Twenty-three mesopelagic fish species belonging to six families and 16 genera were collected during June 1996. Family Myctophidae was most speciose, represented by 17 species, followed by Sternoptychidae (two spp.) and Bathylagidae (one spp.). Six assemblages are recognized based on their species composition: Subarctic, Northern Transition, Southern Transition, Subtropical, Slope Water and Seamount Assemblages. These assemblages are also characterized by size composition and biomass of the catches. The distributions of the Subarctic, Northern Transition, Southern Transition and Subtropical Assemblages are approximately defined by the Kuroshio and Oyashio fronts and the Subarctic Boundary. Slope Water and Seamount Assemblages are closely related to the slope water around the shelf edge off Japan and waters around the Shatsky Rise and the Emperor Seamount chain, respectively. The importance of the Southern Transition Assemblage area between the Kuroshio front and Subarctic Boundary as spawning and nursery grounds of many subarctic, transitional and subtropical fishes is elucidated, based on the geographical distribution patterns of their larvae and juveniles.     

Nephrocalcinosis formation by soy isoflavones in male rats

Isoflavones (IFs), found in the form of both aglycones and glucosides in soybean foods, induce weak estrogenic activities. Although IFs have a number of health benefits, it was previously reported that IFs cause nephrocalcinosis (NC) in the kidney of male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The present study aims to elucidate the safety of IFs by focusing on IF-induced NC formation in rats. Fermented soybean extract (FSE) containing 420 mg/g isoflavone aglycones was orally administered to male F344 and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 28 days. FSE induced NC formation in the kidney of F344 rats, but not in SD rats. However, absorption of IFs did not differ between F344 and SD rats. NC formation and its severity of FSE were histologically compared with those of soybean extract (SE) containing 518 mg/g isoflavone glucosides in F344 rats. There were no differences in the number of NC formations and the extent of calcium deposit between FSE and SE groups. To examine the dose effect of FSE on NC formation, doses of 20, 140, or 1000 mg/kg FSE were administered to F344 rats for 90 days. NC formation was observed in the 140 and 1000 mg/kg groups. These results indicated that a high dose of oral administration of IFs induced NC formation depending on the strain of rat.     

Structural identification of anthocyanins and analysis of concentrations during growth and flowering in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) petals

The anthocyanin profiles and variety/breeding-line differences of anthocyanin concentrations in petals of common buckwheat flowers have been studied. Four anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin 3-O-rhamnoside, and cyanidin 3-O-galactosyl-rhamnoside were isolated from the petals of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), separated using high performance liquid chromatography and identified using reversed-phase liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry techniques. In every variety/breeding line tested, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside was detected as the major anthocyanin and the next is cyanidin 3-O-glucoside whereas cyanidin 3-O-rhamnoside and cyanidin 3-O-galactosyl-rhamnoside were trace or not detectable in white and pink flowered buckwheat. Of all the varieties/breeding lines tested, Gan-Chao, a Chinese variety, contained the highest amount of anthocyanins. The largest part of cyanidin moiety was presented as a proanthocyanidin form (PAs-Cy). Anthocyanins and PAs-Cy in petals were increased along with increase of flower development stages. Therefore, fully developed petals of red flowered buckwheat, especially Gan-Chao, are promising as a new anthocyanin-rich material for food processing.     

Bovine abortion and necrotic placentitis by Aspergillus terreus

A 31-month-old Japanese Black cow (Bos taurus) aborted at 5 months of gestation with no clinical symptoms. Histopathological examination of the placenta and fetus revealed severe necrotic placentitis associated with numerous irregular degenerative fungi and inflammatory cells. Regular filamentous fungi were also detected, without inflammatory response in the fetal digestive and respiratory organs. Both fungi had aleurioconidia and septa in the placenta and fetal organs and immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against Aspergillus spp. Aspergillus terreus was isolated from the fetal lung and abomasal contents as confirmed using mycological and molecular methods. This is the first immunohistochemical, morphological, and molecular identification of A. terreus in bovine placenta and aborted fetuses.     

Variations in the proximate composition of muscle in cultured yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata at different anatomical portions

In this study, we examined differences in the proximate composition of five major muscles of the yellowtail, as well as the relation between seasonal variations in the levels of crude lipids and texture of these muscles. The differences in content among these muscles and the variations in each muscle were greater for crude lipid and moisture content than for crude protein content. The crude lipid content of Musculus latero-dorsalis correlated with that of M. carinatus dorsalis, M. latero-ventralis, M. carinatus ventralis, and red muscle. In M. latero-dorsalis, the crude lipid content started to increase in October, remained high from November to January, started to decrease in March, and was low from April to June. The firmness of M. latero-dorsalis increased from October to November and started to decrease in March. Firmness decreased concurrently with decreases in crude lipid content and increased concurrently with increases in crude lipid content. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to predict the proximate compositions of other yellowtail muscles from the proximate composition of M. latero-dorsalis. Seasonal variation in crude lipid content of the M. latero-dorsalis was found, and variations in crude lipid tended to parallel those in firmness.     

Effects of alcohol extract of defatted soybean meal on growth performance and digestive physiology of yellowtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola quinqueradiata</Emphasis>

The effects of alcohol extract of soybean meal on growth performance, digestibility, and pancreatic enzyme and bile acid status of yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata were studied. Fish were fed one of the following for 8 weeks: a fish meal (FM) control diet (FMD), a defatted soybean meal diet (SBMD), an alcohol-extracted SBM diet (ExSBMD), an ExSBMD with alcohol-extract diet (ExSBM + ExtD), and an FMD with alcohol-extract diet (FM + ExtD). Growth performance was significantly inferior in fish fed with SBM, ExSBM + ExtD, and FM + ExtD compared to FMD- or ExSBMD-fed fish. Total bile acid levels, and trypsin and lipase activities in the anterior intestine were significantly lower in fish fed with SBM, ExSBM + ExtD, and FM + ExtD than in fish fed with ExSBMD and FMD, despite similar values in gallbladder or pyloric caeca. Cholecystokinin mRNA levels of the former diet-fed fish were significantly lower than those of FMD- or ExSBMD-fed fish. Lipid and protein digestibility of fish fed with SBMD, ExSBM + ExtD, and FM + ExtD was significantly reduced in comparison with that of fish fed with FMD or ExSBMD. These findings indicate that the alcohol extract of soybean meal inhibited the secretion of bile acids and pancreatic enzymes by a decrease of cholecystokinin stimulation. This inhibition seemed to be responsible for a low growth performance through impairment of the assimilation of lipid and protein.     

Number of nitrate- and nitrite-reducing Selenomonas ruminantium in the rumen, and possible factors affecting its growth

The cell number of Selenomonas ruminantium (S. ruminantium) that reduces nitrate and nitrite in the rumen was usually 8–10% of the total number of S. ruminantium (an order of 10⁶/mL). The percentage was not affected by the roughage/concentrate ratio or nitrate content of the diet in 2 weeks. However, feeding a high‐nitrate diet for 12 weeks increased the percentage. The percentage of lactate‐using S. ruminantium, such as the ssp. lactilytica, was less than 1% of the total number of S. ruminantium. No S. ruminantium was found that used formate as an electron donor for nitrate and nitrite reduction. Lactate and H₂ appeared to be important for nitrate and nitrite reduction by S. ruminantium. Nitrate reduction by S. ruminantium was enhanced by the coexistence of amylolytic bacteria in a medium containing starch, and as a result, nitrite accumulation increased. Coexistence of cellulolytic bacteria facilitated the growth of S. ruminantium in a medium containing cellulose, and consequently increased nitrite reduction. In order to suppress nitrite accumulation in the rumen, it may be important to enhance fiber digestion.     

Two cases of feline malignant craniopharyngioma

Tumors at the cranial base in 2 cats (a 9 1/2-year-old, castrated male Chinchilla and a 7-year-old, castrated male American Shorthair) were diagnosed as malignant craniopharyngioma. The tumor lesion was histopathologically divided into four parts: 1) a small acinus part, in which relatively large cells with a pale cytoplasm composed small acini; 2) a duct part, in which small cuboidal cells composed ducts; 3) a cyst part, in which there were large cysts lined with flat cells; and 4) a pavement part, in which large multi-angular-shaped cells proliferated in a pavement pattern. The epithelial cells of some parts were positive for keratin by immunohistochemistry. Histopathologic findings of the present feline cases were identical to those of malignant craniopharyngioma in other animal species.