Change in river water chemistry as affected by the confluence of forest drainage water in dairy farming area on Hokkaido Island, Northern Japan

We evaluated i) the difference in river water chemistry between a watershed mainly consisting of pasture and a watershed mainly consisting of forest, and ii) how the chemistry of river draining the pasture is influenced by that of the river draining the forest. We selected one river (designated as the T-river) draining the pasture (3,587 ha), and two rivers draining a forest (738 and 879 ha) in eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan. During higher river flow due to precipitation and thawing, the concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Fe, and Al increased, suggesting the relative importance of the shallow soil layer as their source. On the other hand, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Si decreased, suggesting the relative importance of the source in a deep soil layer. The concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , Cl⁻, SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Fe were higher in the T-river than in the forest drainage waters, suggesting the contribution of the excretion components from the milk cows. The Si concentration exhibited the opposite pattern. The concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , Cl⁻, SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ (p<0.001), and Fe (p<0.05) in the T-river decreased after the confluence of the forest drainage waters, while Si concentration increased (p<0.001). The reason for the change in river chemistry was the confluence of the forest drainage waters. These findings suggested the environmental role of the forest in the dilution of the polluted river. Prof. S. Ohata, and Prof. H. Takeda, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, facilitated this study. Prof. T. Sakai, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, offered this study some convenience. Dr. M. Sakimoto, and Dr. M. Katsuyama, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, offered useful advise.     

Rumen ciliate protozoal fauna of reindeer in Inner Mongolia, China

Rumen ciliate species and composition were surveyed on the reindeer kept in Inner Mongolia, China. As a result of survey, all the reindeer had the same 18 species of 8 genera of the ciliates in their rumen. Appearance of Entodinium parvum is the first record in this host species. Of the species detected, 15 species including Entodinium anteronucleatum, E. bicornutum, Enoploplastron confluens and Epidinium gigas which have been detected only from reindeer were common with those in the reindeer kept in the other areas, such as Alaska, Russia and Finland, indicating that every rumen ciliate faunae in reindeer has high similarity to each other, and suggesting that these hosts have been isolated from the other ruminants for long time and established characteristic ciliate fauna. The ciliate density was estimated as 1.1-2.5 x 10 (6)/ml, which value was fairly higher than those in domestic ruminants. Surface structures of characteristic species were observed by SEM.     

Effect of tributyltin oxide exposure on the F<Subscript>0</Subscript> and F<Subscript>1</Subscript> generations of a marine teleost,the mummichog <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fundulus heteroclitus</Emphasis>

The effects of organotin compounds on marine organisms, especially on their reproduction, are a continuing source of concern. We performed full-life-cycle exposure tests of tributyltin oxide (TBTO) at sub-lethal concentrations (0.13, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 μg/l) using a marine fish, the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus, and studied the toxic effects of exposure to TBTO at various life-cycle stages of the fish. The effect of TBTO was initially studied on sex differentiation and then on spermatogenesis in maturing fish. A mating experiment was performed to determine the effects of exposure on the fecundity of female fish, fertilization success, and the hatch of the F₁ generation. In all experimental groups, TBTO exposure resulted in a tendency toward a male-biased sex ratio and caused a significant increase in the frequency at which apoptotic cells appeared in the testes. Exposure to 1.0 μg/l TBTO resulted in a significant decrease in fecundity, but no significant effect was found on the fertilization ratio. Time to hatch and hatchability of the F₁ generation were markedly affected in some exposure groups. These results indicate that long-term exposure of the mummichog to TBTO affects not only gonadal sex differentiation and spermatogenesis but also spawning and egg quality.     

Preventive effect of Kaempferia parviflora ethyl acetate extract and its major components polymethoxyflavonoid on metabolic diseases

Previously, we reported that rhizome powder of Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex. Baker prevented obesity and a range of metabolic diseases. In this study, to clarify which molecular mechanisms and active ingredients of K. parviflora have an anti-obesity effect, we investigated the effect of ethyl acetate extract of K. parviflora (KPE) on TSOD mice, a spontaneously obese Type II diabetes model, and on pancreatic lipase. In the TSOD groups, KPE showed a suppressive effect on body weight increase and visceral fat accumulation and also showed preventive effects on symptoms related to insulin resistance, hypertension and fatty liver. In addition, KPE also suppressed body weight increase and food intake in TSNO mice groups, which served as reference animals, at an early stage of administration. Searching for the ingredients in KPE revealed that KPE contains at least 12 kinds of polymethoxyflavonoid (PMF). Furthermore, KPE and its component PMFs showed an inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase. The above results suggest that KPE has a preventive effect on obesity and various metabolic diseases. The mechanisms of action probably involve inhibition of pancreatic lipase by the PMFs in KPE.     

Relationship between pH and Temperature in the Ruminal Fluid of Cows, Based on a Radio-Transmission pH-Measurement System

To assess the relationship between pH and temperature in the ruminal bottom fluid, circadian changes were monitored using cows fed a control diet (C diet) or a rumen acidosis-inducing diet (RAI diet) by using a wireless radio-transmission pH- measurement system. These two parameters were measured simultaneously at 10-min intervals on day 14 after commencement of feeding. Compared to the mean ruminal pH for 60 min immediately after the morning feeding (0 hr), significantly lower pH was noted 3-13 hr later (P<0.05) and 4-19 hr later (P<0.01) in cows fed the C and RAI diets, respectively, although the reduction in the latter was much higher than that in the former. In contrast, significantly higher ruminal temperature was found at 8 and 12-14 hr later (P<0.05) and 6, 8, and 10-19 hr later (P<0.01) in cows fed the C and RAI diets, respectively. A significant negative correlation was observed between the lowest ruminal pH and its corresponding ruminal temperature in cows fed the C and RAI diets (r=-0.722 and -0.650, P<0.01, respectively), suggesting active fermentation and volatile fatty acid production in the rumen. However, ruminal pH profiles may not be predictable by measuring only ruminal temperature because decreases in ruminal pH were preceded by increases in ruminal temperature, and circadian changes in pH and temperature were associated with ruminal fermentation.     

Characterization of new monoclonal antibodies against porcine lymphocytes: molecular characterization of clone 7G3, an antibody reactive with the constant region of the T-cell receptor delta-chains

A battery of mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with porcine peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes was generated. Among the mAbs, 6F10 was found to react probably with cluster of differentiation (CD)8 alpha-chain, while 7G3 and 3E12 were found to recognize gammadelta T-cells, as revealed by two-color flow cytometric and immunoprecipitation studies. 7G3 was shown to react with the constant (C) region of the T-cell receptor (TCR) delta-chain by the following facts: (1) 7G3 immunoprecipitated full-length TCR delta-chain protein fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST) produced by Esherichia coli and (2) 7G3 reacted with TCR delta-chain expressing Cos-7 cells transfected with either full-length or N-terminal deleted mutant cDNA, but did not react with Cos-7 cells transfected with C-terminal deleted mutant TCR delta-chain cDNA. All three mAbs produced high-quality immunostaining results on frozen sections, revealing a distinct distribution of gammadelta T-cells and CD8(+) cells. This report precisely characterizes mAbs against porcine TCR for the first time, facilitating molecular biological investigations of the porcine immune system.     

Defense responses of Arabidopsis thaliana inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci wild type and defective mutants for flagellin (ΔfliC) and flagellin-glycosylation (Δorf1)

Flagellin, an essential component of the bacterial flagellar filament, is capable of inducing a hypersensitive response (HR), including cell death, in a nonhost plant. A flagellin-defective mutant (ΔfliC) of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci lacks both the flagellar filament and motility, whereas a flagellin-glycosylation-defective mutant (Δorf1) retains the flagellar filament but lacks the glycosyl modification of flagellin protein. To investigate the role of flagellin protein and its glycosylation in the interaction with its nonhost Arabidopsis thaliana, we analyzed plant responses after inoculation with these bacteria. Inoculation with wild-type P. syringae pv. tabaci induced HR, with the generation of reactive oxygen species and cell death. In contrast, inoculation with either ΔfliC or Δorf1 mutant induced a low level of HR, and inoculated leaves developed a disease-like yellowing. These mutant bacteria multiplied better than the wild-type bacteria in A. thaliana. These results indicate that A. thaliana expresses a defense reaction in response to the bacterial flagellin with its glycosyl structure.     

Monoclonal antibodies preventing invasion of Neospora caninum tachyzoites into host cells

Twelve monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Neospora caninum tachyzoites were produced to specify the antigens related to the invasion of tachyzoites into host cells. In the assay to evaluate the inhibition activity, all these MAbs prevented the cultured Vero cells from the invading by the tachyzoites. These MAbs recognized approximately a 73 kDa antigen in Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence assay and immune electron microscopy revealed that this 73 kDa antigen is a part of the surface antigens of N. caninum tachyzoite, and that the tachyzoite antigen identified plays an important role for invasion of host cells.     

The first record of sucking louse, Neohaematopinus callosciuri, infesting pallas squirrels in Japan

A species of sucking louse, Neohaematopinus callosciuri, was found for the first time in Japan. The species was found on an invasive species of squirrel, Pallas squirrel, Callosciurus erythraeus, in the Kamakura district, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. A total of 52 lice were obtained from 22 of 104 squirrels captured. The lice were about three times more prevalent in male squirrels than in females and were detected most frequently in the winter. As N. callosciuri has never been reported on wild animals in Japan, this species probably was introduced into Japan along with their host, Pallas squirrels.