Response of enzyme activities and metabolic intermediate concentrations to epinephrine administration in hepatopancreas and muscle of carp

SUMMARY: Common carp Cyprinus carpio were administered intraperitoneally with 10 μmol epinephrine per 100 g bodyweight, and enzyme activities and metabolic intermediate concentrations were determined in the hepatopancreas and muscle. Glycogen phosphorylase a (GPase a) activity together with cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration was increased, and glycogen content was decreased in the hepatopancreas and muscle at 2 h after the administration. The epinephrine administration also increased hepatopancreatic glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-biphosphatase activities as well as serum glucose, lactate, and free amino acid concentrations. Furthermore, its administration increased phosphofructokinase activity together with lactate, fructose-6-phosphate, adenosine-5'-monophosphate, and adenosine-5'-diphosphate concentrations and decreased citrate concentration in the muscle. Thereafter, almost all parameter concentrations in the hepatopancreas and muscle recovered to the pre-administered levels during 24 h after the administration. These results suggest that epinephrine administration enhanced glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the hepatopancreas, and released glucose into the bloodstream to supply it to the muscle. The blood glucose together with muscle glycogen seems to be metabolized through enhanced glycolysis in the muscle.     

Fire resistance of sugi covering materials for structural steel

Glued laminated timbers (glulam) or planks 50mm thick were added to structural steel columns and beams as covering materials. The wood used in the glulam was sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) laminated with resorcinol resin adhesive between woods and epoxy resin adhesive between wood and steel. The 50mm thick planks of sugi around the steel were fixed with spirally threaded nails (screws), and 25mm long wood plugs were used to cover the tops of the nails. The 50mm thick glulam showed 1h of fire resistance. The temperatures of the flanges and webs of steel were 100°C at 1h and 200°C after 4h. The epoxy resin used to bond the wood and steel was an appropriate adhesive from a recycling perspective because it is easy to separate or peel from the steel.     

Mineral Composition of Clay Fractions and Oxygen Vacancies in Silt-Sized Quartz in Soils on the Ka-Etsu Plateau, Fukui, Central Japan—Possibility of Eolian Dust Brought from Northern Asia as Parent Material of Soils

Fine- to medium-textured soils are distributed on the Early Pliocene rocks and Pleistocene sandy sediments in the Ka-Etsu plateau. The Jingaoka (JIN) soil was classified into Aluandic Andosols by WRB, and Low-humic Non-allophanic Kuroboku soils by the Fourth Committee for Soil Classification and Nomenclature of the Japanese Society of Pedology, although it was similar morphologically to Yellow-Brown Forest soils. On the other hand, the Tomitsu (TMI) and Yamamuro (YAM) soils were classified into Hyperdystri-Chromic Cambisols by WRB, and Typic Yellow-Brown Forest soils by the Fourth Committee for Soil Classification and Nomenclature based on the morphological, physical and chemical properties. These soils were influenced considerably by the Akahoya tephra, especially the JIN soil. Based on the results of clay-mineralogical analysis and the measurement of the ESR-signal intensity associated with the oxygen vacancies in fine quartz, a large part of parent materials in the soils distributed on the Ka-Etsu plateau was derived from the eolian dust which was brought with the NW winter monsoon from the Precambrian sediments in the northern part of the Asian continent during MIS 2 (24–11 thousand years ago) at the Last Glacial Maximum. The parent materials of the fine-textured JIN soil located on the highest terrace near the rocky coastline were mostly composed of eolian dust, although the influenced of the Akahoya tephra was recognized. The parent materials of the TMI soil were admixed with a small amount of autochthonous materials from the sandy coast located windward. In the YAM soil which was located on the side of a hilly area distant from the coastline, the ESR-signal intensity in fine quartz was considerably low, and the admixture of autochthonous materials was also considered since the texture of this soil was coarser than that of the JIN and TMI soils.     

Anti-hyperglycemic effect of diacylated anthocyanin derived from Ipomoea batatas cultivar Ayamurasaki can be achieved through the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory action

To clarify a postprandial glucose suppression effect of diacylated anthocyanin with alpha-glucosidase (AGH) inhibitory activity, a single oral administration study of it in male 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats was performed. The diacylated anthocyanin used in this study was peonidin 3-O-[2-O-(6-O-E-feruloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-E-caffeoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside]-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside isolated from storage roots of the purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv. Ayamurasaki), which showed a potent maltase inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 200 microM preferable to sucrase inhibition. When the diacylated anthocyanin (100 mg/kg) was administered following maltose (2 g/kg), a maximal blood glucose level (BGL) at 30 min was significantly decreased by 16.5% (P < 0.01) compared to vehicle. A minimum 10 mg/kg dose of the anthocyanin was necessary for the suppression of glycemic rise, and the ED(20) (69 mg/kg) was estimated to be approximately 30-fold lower than that of the therapeutic drug acarbose (ED(20) = 2.2 mg/kg). A reduction of serum insulin secretion was also observed corresponding to the decrease in BGL. No significant change in BGL was observed when sucrose or glucose was ingested, suggesting that the anti-hyperglycemic effect of the anthocyanin was achieved by maltase inhibition, not by sucrase or glucose transport inhibition at the intestinal membrane.     

Effects of dietary phospholipid level and fraction on the feed intake of non‐fish meal diet in yellowtail,Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel, 1845

Three feeding studies were conducted to investigate whether dietary soybean lecithin (SBL) enhanced feed intake of non‐fish meal, SPC‐based diet, in yellowtail, and also to clarify which fraction of phospholipid (PL) was effective to enhance feed intake. In experiments 1 and 2, fish were fed SBL level at 0%–5%, and it was revealed that the daily feeding rate (DFR) of fish was significantly higher for SBL 2% than for SBL 0%, while a further increase of SBL in the diet did not additionally increase the DFR. Moreover, the DFR of fish fed a diet without feeding stimulants (FS) was the lowest among the dietary treatments, indicating that the SBL does not have an effect of enhancing feed intake in yellowtail. In experiment 3, fish were fed a diet with several products containing PL at 2%. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol concentrations in these products positively correlated to the DFR of fish. This result revealed that these two fractions in the SBL are effective for enhancing feed intake of yellowtail when FS is present in the diet.     

Evaluation of blood adiponectin levels as an index for subacute ruminal acidosis in cows: a preliminary study

The objective of this study was to evaluate blood levels of various hormones and compounds related to energy metabolism in cows with subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). We investigated 11 lactating cows presumed to have SARA based on duration of ruminal pH <5.6 and reticulum pH <6.3 in 2015–2016. Kraft pulp (KP) was used to supplement feed of 7 of the cows studied in an effort to reduce SARA. We continuously monitored ruminal pH and measured blood concentrations of hormones and metabolites related to energy metabolism. Blood measurements included glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA), insulin, adiponectin (ADN), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Additionally, we analyzed milk data (milk yield, milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, milk urea nitrogen, and protein fat ratio) and reproduction data. The results demonstrated that ADN levels at 4 weeks post-parturition correlated with the total amount of time that the ruminal or reticulum fluid pH was under the threshold during 1 week post-parturition, as well as the numbers of days the cows were diagnosed with SARA (SARA-positive days) up to 30 days post-parturition. SARA-positive days in 2016 were higher than those in 2015. In both years, numbers of SARA-positive days for cows supplemented with KP were lower than those for cows without KP. Increased ADN levels may be a compensatory reaction to frequent SARA which modulates the inflammatory response against high LPS levels and improves insulin resistance caused by LPS. ADN may serve as an estimative index for SARA.

     

Molecular screening of canine GM1 gangliosidosis using blood smear specimens after prolonged storage: detection of carriers among shiba dogs in northern Japan

Molecular screening of GM1 gangliosidosis in Shiba dogs was carried out in northern Japan using blood smear specimens after prolonged storage. Of 125 specimens obtained from 3 veterinary teaching hospitals for this screening, 68 specimens (54%) were adequate for direct amplification in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA test, and the percentage of adequacy was different at each hospital (34%, 73%, and 100%), suggesting that the amount of blood on the smear and the storage condition of specimens may affect adequacy. Of the 68 dogs examined, 2 dogs (2.9%) were heterozygous carriers for this disease and the other dogs were all genotypically normal. The results suggest blood smear specimens can be useful for PCR testing after prolonged storage provided specimens contain a generous amount of blood and have been adequately stored. The study also suggests that GM1 gangliosidosis may be widely prevalent in the Shiba dog population in northern Japan.     

The effects of protein sources supplemented with urea-treated potato pulp (PP) silage and feeding levels of the PP silage-based concentrate on feed intake, digestibility and ruminal fermentation in beef steers

Six Japanese Black (Wagyu) steers (average initial weight 467 ± 45 kg) fitted with a ruminal cannula were used in a split‐plot design experiment comprising a 3 × 3 Latin square design (whole‐plot) and a randomized block design (subplot). The whole‐plot treatments were three different feeding levels of urea‐treated potato pulp (PP) silage‐based concentrate: 1.00%, 1.75% and 2.50% of body weight (BW) (on a dry matter (DM) basis). The subplot treatments consisted of the concentrate formulated to contain either soybean meal (SBM) as a rapidly rumen‐degraded protein source or corn gluten meal (CGM) as a slowly degraded protein source. Dry matter intake tended to be lower (P = 0.071) for CGM (8.9 kg/day) than for SBM (9.4 kg/day). Protein sources had no significant effect on digestibility and in situ degradation. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃‐N) was lower (P = 0.033) for CGM (7.5 mg/dL) than for SBM (9.5 mg/dL). Protein sources did not affect ruminal pH and the total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations. The molar proportions of ruminal acetate and valerate were higher (P = 0.032) for CGM than for SBM. The maximum daily intake of the PP silage‐based concentrate expressed as a percentage of BW was approximately 1.4% of BW. Dry matter intake was higher (P = 0.046) for steers fed at 1.0% of BW of the PP silage‐based concentrate than for steers fed at 1.75% or 2.5% of BW of the concentrate. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate had no effect on DM and nutrients digestibility, except for crude protein (CP) digestibility. CP digestibility tended to be lower (P = 0.071) for steers fed at 1.75% of BW of the PP silage‐based concentrate than for steers fed at 1.0% or 2.5% of BW of the concentrate. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate also did not affect the in situ degradation parameter of hay and PP silage. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate did not affect ruminal pH, NH₃‐N and total VFA concentrations. The molar proportion of acetate was highest for steers fed at 1.0% of BW of the concentrate. In conclusion, in the urea‐treated PP silage‐based concentrate, CGM seems to be more effective than SBM for stabilizing the ruminal NH₃‐N concentration and to be advantageous for fiber digestion in the rumen. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate did not change the amount of VFA production in the rumen and the DM digestibility.     

Effects of pretension in bolts on hysteretic responses of moment-carrying timber joints

The adoption of a concept similar to the prestressing technique used in laminated wood decks of bridge structures might increase the initial stiffness or ultimate resistance of dowel-type timber joints by applying pretension to their bolts. This study investigated the effect of pretension in bolts on hysteretic responses and ultimate properties of moment-carrying timber joints with steel side plates. A pretension of 20 kN that yielded a prestress level of 1600 kPa or about 90% of the allowable long-term end-bearing strength of spruce species was applied to the bolts of prestressed joints. The superiority of the prestressed joint over the non-pre-stressed joint was proved by very high hysteretic damping, equivalent viscous damping ratio, and cyclic stiffness. At any given rotation level, hysteretic damping reduction and moment resistance decrement due to continuously reversed loads were found to be small because bolt pretensioning minimized the pinching effect. This study showed that the hysteresis loop of the prestressed joint can be obtained by adding the frictional hysteresis loop due to pretension force into the hysteresis loop of the non-pre-stressed joint. Despite a great increase of initial stiffness, only slight increments in ductility coefficient and ultimate moment resistance were found in the prestressed joint.