Carbon source and trophic position of pelagic fish in coastal waters of south-eastern Izu Peninsula,Japan, identified by stable isotope analysis

ABSTRACT:   It is important to clarify trophic dynamics in marine ecosystems for management of the fishing ground. Organic carbon sources and trophic position of pelagic fishes in the coastal waters of the south-eastern Izu Peninsula, Japan, were examined on the basis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope distributions. The δ¹³C of the fishes was mostly distributed from −19 to −16‰ for nektonic fishes (13 species of adults and immatures) and planktonic fishes (10 species of larvae and juveniles), close to the δ¹³C values of particulate organic matter and planktonic decapods. These δ¹³C signatures for the inhabitants of the water column were in contrast with the high δ¹³C values (mainly −16 to −13‰) for demersal fishes of Scorpaeniformes and benthic polychaetes collected in the surf zone. These results indicate that nektonic and planktonic fishes depend on phytoplankton for carbon supply. The δ¹⁵N signatures suggest that the trophic position ranged 3.1–4.5 for the nektonic fishes and 2.9–3.7 for the planktonic fishes, premised on trophic level 3 for larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus . Thus, planktivorous fishes should be mainly assigned to trophic levels 3 and 4 in this area.     

Protection from pseudorabies virus challenge in mice by a combination of purified gII, gIII and gVI antigens.

The antigens gII, gIII and gVI were purified from the lysates of the pseudorabies virus (PRV) -infected HmLu-1 cells using Sepharose 4 B coupled with MAbs against these antigens. Mice immunized with either gII, gIII, gVI antigen or a mixture of them were challenged intraperitoneally with 8.5 x 10(3) plaque forming units of PRV. All the mice immunized with 1.5 and 4.5 micrograms of the mixture and 4.5 micrograms of the gIII antigen survived. The sera of mice immunized with the mixture had virus neutralizing activity which was independent of complement, hemagglutination inhibition activity, and recognized major (93 kilodaltons) and minor (129, 74, 68 and 50 kilodaltons) PRV proteins under reducing conditions in western blotting. The serological activity levels in the lower survival group were not different from those in the complete survival. These results indicate that the mixture of each glycoprotein is more effective for eliciting of protective immunities in mice and that serological activity do not always correlate with protection.     

Fluid accumulation in the ligated intestinal loop and histopathological changes of the intestinal mucosa caused by Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin in the pheasant and chicken

Fluid accumulation was induced in ligated intestinal loops of both pheasants and chickens injected with crude Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin. Necrosis of the epithelium and lamina propria of the duodenum and jejunum occurred in both species of bird after intraduodenal administration of crude C2 toxin. The severity of such reactions depended upon the dose and the period after administration of C2 toxin up to eight hours, and such reactions were suppressed specifically with rabbit anti-C2 toxin. These results confirm that C2 toxin is one of the causes of diarrhoea in avian botulism.     

Watercore in Japanese pear. III. Changes in the activities of some enzymes relating to the degradation of cell walls and the accumulation of sugar

The relationship between cellular breakdown and the activities of some cell-wall degrading enzymes (endocellulase, exocellulase, polygalacturonase, pectin methylesterase and β-galactosidase) was investigated in the watercored tissue of Japanese pear fruit, Pyrus serotina Rehder var. ‘Culta’ Rehder, cultivar ‘93-3’. In watercored tissue at an early stage, endocellulase activity, especially neutral form, was higher than that in healthy tissue. As the symptom of the watercore developed, polygalacturonase and β-galactosidase activities in the watercored tissue increased compared with those in healthy tissue. This indicated that in tissues at an early stage of watercore, these cell-wall degrading enzymes were activated, and operative in the breakdown of the cell wall. However, exocellulase and pectin methylesterase were not activated in the watercored tissue. The breakdown of cellular tissue was also supported by the fact that the DNA and protein contents decreased in the watercored tissue. Invertase activity decreased in the watercored tissue, compared with healthy tissue, and it was suggested that its decrease could be one of the causes of sucrose accumulation in the watercored tissue.     

Expression of nerve growth factor in itchy skins of atopic NC/NgaTnd mice

Although the possible involvement of neurotrophic factors in itchy skins of atopic dermatitis has been predicted, the exact mechanism by which itch is induced remains unclear. Since nerve growth factor (NGF) has crucial effects on development and functions of sensory nerves, we determined production of NGF and extension of nerve fibers in skins of NC/NgaTnd mice with or without atopic dermatitis. NC/NgaTnd mice spontaneously develop atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions when they are raised in air-unregulated conventional circumstances. We quantified scratching behavior of NC/NgaTnd mice during the development of dermatitis using a novel analytical system and compared to clinical skin severity scores. A significant correlation between the severity of dermatitis and the increase in the number of scratches was identified, indicating that scratching behavior may associate with clinical skin conditions. NGF contents in the skin lesions of conventional NC/NgaTnd mice were significantly higher than those in SPF mice. Positive reactions for NGF were observed in keratinocytes and fibroblasts in affected skins of conventional NC/NgaTnd mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the extension of protein gene product 9.5-positive nerve fibers from the dermis toward the epidermis at the skin lesions. These results suggest that sensory nerves induced by NGF may contribute to development of itch, and that NGF produced at the affected site may provide abnormal skin sensitivity in atopic dermatitis.