Quantitative studies of the optic nerve fiber layer in the chicken retina.

The optic nerve fiber layer (NFL) of the chicken retina was studied quantitatively and morphologically at 17 positions along seven radially arranged bands from the dorsal tip of the pecten oculi using electron microscopy. The number of nerve fibers was counted in areas 6 microm in width x the full thickness of the NFL. Myelinated nerve fibers in the NFL were also identified immunohistochemically using anti-myelin basic protein serum. The dorsal area (dorsal, dorso-temporal and dorso-nasal bands) in the retina had thin NFL and contained the largest number of nerve fibers, which were mainly thin and unmyelinated. The ventral area (ventral and ventro-temporal bands) had a thick NFL and contained a relatively small number of nerve fibers, many of which were myelinated. The nasal band had the thickest NFL and contained as many nerve fibers as the dorsal area, with the temporal band showing a high ratio of myelinated fibers. The band had a thick NFL and contained many nerve fibers with a relatively low ratio of myelinated fibers. The relationship between the number and composition of nerve fibers in the NFL to the chicken visual characteristics was discussed. Although the myelin in the chicken retina was loose type, the myelin-forming cells were similar in appearance to dense oligodendrocytes. retina, morphometry, myelinated fiber, nerve fiber layer.     

Production of triploid eastern little tuna,Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849)

Herein, we developed a triploidization method using spawned eggs collected immediately after spawning of eastern little tuna (ELT), Euthynnus affinis. ELT broodstock induced the spawning by hormonal treatment in the tank, with the resulting spawned eggs being used for the triploidy induction. Under optimal conditions, the mean ± SEM triploidization and hatching rates were 97.2 ± 2.8% and 84.5 ± 10.3%, respectively. Although triploid ELT showed growth performance equivalent to that of diploids, the triploids died at a higher rate than the diploids during 2–4 weeks post‐hatching when triploids and diploids were reared in the same tank. Therefore, we propose that it would be necessary in a practical operation to use triploid‐only ELT seedlings to avoid selective cannibalism by the diploids. The ELT triploids exhibited an all‐female phenotype. Because previous studies have reported that female triploids show a greater probability of sterility than male triploids, this characteristic could be a major advantage. Since this triploidization method, using spawned eggs, can be performed without handling the broodstock, it is possible to avoid the physical damage caused by the process of artificial insemination, making it possible to repeatedly produce triploid populations without valuable broodstock loss. Thus, we have developed an efficient method to produce ELT triploids, although further study is essential to evaluate sterility of the triploid ELT.     

Colonization,proliferation, and survival of intraperitoneally transplanted yellowtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola quinqueradiata</Emphasis> spermatogonia in nibe croaker <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nibea mitsukurii</Emphasis> recipient

Recently, we developed an intraspecies spermatogonial transplantation technique in a pelagic egg spawning marine teleost, nibe croaker Nibea mitsukurii. Nibe croaker is an ideal candidate recipient for spermatogonial transplantation since it has a short generation time and small body size. In the present study, yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata spermatogonia were transplanted into nibe croaker larvae, and the behavior of transplanted spermatogonia in recipient gonads was observed. Three weeks post-transplantation, yellowtail spermatogonia were incorporated into the gonads of 72 out of 88 recipients. An antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen was detected in incorporated yellowtail spermatogonia, suggesting that the xenogenic germ cells were proliferating in recipient gonads. Yellowtail vasa-positive spermatogonia survived for 11 months after transplantation in the gonads of recipient fish. Thus, we showed that the microenvironment in nibe croaker gonads can support the colonization, proliferation, and survival of germ cells derived from a different taxonomic family.     

Photochemical Formation of Hydroxyl Radicals in Red Soil-Polluted Seawater on the North of Okinawa Island, Japan

Land development has caused runoff of red soil into the ocean on the north side of Okinawa Island, Japan. In an attempt to clarify the impacts of this “red soil pollution” on the oxidizing power of seawater, we studied the formation of hydroxyl radical (?OH), the most potent oxidant in the environment, in red soil-polluted waters using a 313-nm monochromatic light. ?OH was photochemically formed in the red soil-polluted water samples, and the formation rates of ?OH decreased as salinity increased, i.e., as red soil-polluted river water gets mixed with seawater. The photo-formation rates of ?OH showed good correlations with dissolved Fe concentrations (R ²?=?0.96) and [NO₂ ^?]?+?[NO₃ ^?] concentrations (R ²?=?0.87), while a negative and weak correlation was found with dissolved organic carbon concentrations (R?=??0.78). Theoretical calculation showed that direct photolysis of NO₃ ^?, Fe(OH)²⁺, and hydrogen peroxide all together accounted for less than 10% of the observed ?OH formation in the red soil-polluted waters. Comparison between filtered and unfiltered samples showed that red soil particles were not the main sources of ?OH, and the photolysis of NO₂ ^? could account for at most 78% of the observed ?OH formation rates. We found that the Fenton’s reaction (a reaction between Fe(II) and H₂O₂) could possibly account for the observed formation of ?OH in the red soil-polluted waters.     

Annual periodicity of fruiting in temperate forests in Yakushima,Japan

Fruiting phenology, assessed by seed fall, in five warm-and cool-temperate forests on Yakushima Island, southern Japan, was studied for two years in one 50 m × 50 m plot and for four years in four 100 m × 50 m plots. The elevation of the plots ranged between 170 and 1200 m a.s.l. Seed fall phenology showed annual periodicity in all five plots. This was clear when assessed by the number of species but became less clear when assessed by the biomass of seed litter. Community-level annual periodicity was based on the prevalence of population-level annual periodicity and interspecific synchronization of the fruiting peak from autumn to winter. Fleshy fruits had peaks of seed fall in a wider range of months than non-fleshy fruits, since it is sometimes beneficial to bear fruit outside the community-level fruiting peaks in order to avoid interspecific competition for animal seed dispersers. No consistent effect of climatic factors on seed fall phenology was detected.     

Constitution of the ependyma in the chicken telencephalon

The constitution of ependyma derived from the ventricular zone is different from that derived from other regions of the central nervous system. In the mammalian cerebrum, the ependyma is varied by the regions to cortex or basal ganglia (BG). In the avian telencephalon (Tc), previous studies about the constitution of the ependyma have not revealed clear findings. In the present study, we performed immunostaining of ependymal cells in the chicken Tc to confirm differences in the ependyma of various regions. As a result, 4 patterns of ependyma were defined in the outer side of the lateral ventricle. In the base of the lamina pallio-subpallialis (LPS), ependyma consisted of vimentin/glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) double-positive cells, whereas in the base of the lamina frontalis superior, it consisted primarily of vimentin-positive cells and a small number of vimentin/GFAP double-positive cells. With the exception of the above, the pallial ependyma was a single layer containing vimentin single-positive cells. Lastly, the ependyma of the BG was rich in vimentin single-positive cells. The constitutional differences of the ependyma of the pallium and BG concerned differences in ependymal morphology and cell characteristics. These finding suggest that the bounder between pallium and BG is LPS at the point of ependyma.     

赤霉素涂抹法对葡萄果实的无核化及果实膨大的影响

本试验用羊毛脂制成的糊状赤霉素涂抹处理里扎马特、巨峰和先锋葡萄的果梗进行无核化研究 ,试验结果表明 :赤霉素涂抹葡萄果梗后可使葡萄果实无核化并使果实膨大 ,尤其是先锋葡萄可通过一次处理达到较好的无核效果 ,获得的无核果实较对照果实大并且品质优良。涂抹法较水溶液处理法简单、方便 ,有利于在生产上应用。本试验的结果浓度在 10 0～ 30 0 0mg·L-1范围内均有较好的效果     

A dinuclear Ni(mu-H)Ru complex derived from H2

Models of the active site in [NiFe]hydrogenase enzymes have proven challenging to prepare. We isolated a paramagnetic dinuclear nickel-ruthenium complex with a bridging hydrido ligand from the heterolytic cleavage of H2 by a dinuclear NiRu aqua complex in water under ambient conditions (20 degrees C and 1 atmosphere pressure). The structure of the hexacoordinate Ni(mu-H)Ru complex was unequivocally determined by neutron diffraction analysis, and it comes closest to an effective analog for the core structure of the proposed active form of the enzyme.     

Identification and evaluation of antioxidant activities of bamboo extracts

The antioxidant activity of solvent extracts from two main bamboo species, moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and madake bamboo (P bambusoides) in Japan, was first evaluated by scavenging free radical of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the inhibition activity for peroxidation of linoleic acid, and the reduction power. The methanol-extracts of moso bamboo culms and madake bamboo leaves presented stronger antioxidant activity compared with DPPH scavenging activity. Methanol-extract of moso bamboo culms was further fractionated by different solvents and n-butanol soluble fraction exhibited the most significant activity in the DPPH scavenging assay. The fractionation of n-butanol soluble extract was isolated by silica gel column with gradient mixture solvent of chloroform and methanol. The isolated fractions were directed by the antioxidant activity measured by scavenging the stable DPPH free radical. It was observed that most of the eluted fractions showed the antioxidative activity. Fractions acquired from elution with the mixture solvent of chloroform and methanol (10:1-5:1) showed stronger antioxidant activity than the other fractions.