Organotypic slice culture of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of rat

Organotypic slice cultures have been developed as an alternative to acute brain slices because the neuronal viability and synaptic connectivity in these cultures can be preserved well for a prolonged period of time. This study evaluated a stationary organotypic slice culture developed for the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rat. The results showed that the slice cultures maintain the typical shape of the nucleus, the immunocytochemical signals for oxytocin, vasopressin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone, and the electrophysiological properties of PVN neurons for up to 3 weeks in vitro. The PVN neurons in the culture expressed the green fluorescent protein gene that had been delivered by the adenoviral vectors. The results indicate that the cultured slices preserve the properties of the PVN neurons, and can be used in longterm studies on these neurons in vitro.     

Evaluation of antixenosis in soybean against Spodoptera litura by dual-choice assay aided by a statistical analysis model: Discovery of a novel antixenosis in Peking

The method for evaluating soybean (Glycine max) antixenosis against the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura) was developed based on a dual-choice assay aided by a statistical analysis model. This model was constructed from the results of a dual-choice assay in which Enrei, a soybean cultivar susceptible to S. litura, was used as both a standard and a test leaf disc for 2nd–5th instar larvae. The statistical criterion created by this model enabled the evaluation of the presence of antixenosis. This method was applied to four soybean varieties, including Tamahomare (susceptible), Himeshirazu (resistant), IAC100 (resistant), and Peking (unknown), as well as Enrei. Subsequently, the degrees of antixenosis were also compared by F-test, followed by maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). According to the results, the antixenosis of Tamahomare, Himeshirazu, and IAC100 was statistically reevaluated and Peking exhibited a novel antixenosis, which was stronger for 3rd–5th instar larvae than for 2nd instar.     

Patterns in disease progress and the influence of single and multiple viral infections on pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) growth

The patterns and progress of disease caused by multiple infections of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) and their effects on growth of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) were investigated in this study. Each virus induced distinct symptoms, but more severe symptoms, including reduced growth rates, were observed when pepper plants were simultaneously infected by more than one virus. When CMV was included in multiple viral inoculations, co-inoculations and sequential inoculations, PepMoV and PMMoV symptoms were observed but the symptoms characteristic of CMV were not masked, even though CMV titre did not increase greatly. In multiple viral infections, PepMoV titre and CMV did not increase significantly, but PMMoV titre gradually increased in most cases. Growth rates of pepper plants were greatly reduced during the 30 to 40-day post-inoculation period under both single-infection and multiple-infection conditions, but multiple viral infections of CMV pre-inoculated peppers were affected to a greater extent. A significant reduction in fruit size and fruit number was observed in single and multiple viral inoculations, and fruit malformation rates were high in CMV single-infection and multiple viral infections with CMV.     

Effects and neuro-toxic mechanisms of 2, 2', 4, 4', 5, 5'-hexachlorobiphenyl and endosulfan in neuronal stem cells.

Endocrine disrupters are exogenous compounds thought to mimic the action of estrogen or other hormones and influence endocrine activity in the body (Juberg, 2000). These chemicals have adverse effects not only in the reproductive system but also in the central nervous system during development and throughout life. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of environmentally persistent and widespread halogenated hydrocarbons. It has been reported that PCBs are potential neurotoxicants. Endosulfan is an organochlorine insecticide that is extensively used to control pests in vegetables, cotton, and fruits. To determine the effect of 2, 2', 4, 4', 5, 5',-hexachlorobiphenyl(2, 4, 5-HCB) and endosulfan on embryo nervous system, we isolated neural stem cells from rat brain at embryonic day 17. Isolated neural stem cells showed pluripotenty. Stem cells could differentiate into neurons and glia. Neurite formation in endosulfan and 2, 4, 5-HCB treated cells. And it appeared to be decreased as compared with that in untreated cells. In order to know the neuro-toxic mechanisms of 2, 4, 5-HCB and endosulfan in neuronal stem cells, we investigated mitogen-activated protein kinase activity (MAPK) and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Endosulfan decreased the MAPK activity in dose dependent manner. Endosulfan and 2, 4, 5-HCB inhibited GJIC compared to the untreated cell by scrape loading dye transfer (SL/DT). 2, 4, 5-HCB and endosulfan decreased the expression of connexin 43 in dose dependent manner. These results indicated that 2, 4, 5-HCB and endosulfan may inhibit differentiation and proliferation of neural stem cells and gap junctional intercellular communication which play a crucial role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.     

Age and growth of threeline grunt <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parapristipoma trilineatum</Emphasis> along the south-western coast of Kii Peninsula,Japan

Age and growth were determined for threeline grunt Parapristipoma trilineatum based on otolith readings of 1043 specimens collected along the south-western coast of Kii Peninsula, Japan. Observations of the otolith margin, together with comparisons of ring mark counts with age in artificially reared specimens, verified that such marks were produced once a year. The formation period corresponded approximately to the main spawning season (May–June). Both surface and cross-section methods were used for age determination; the surface method often resulted in underestimations of age for fish older than 2 years. Discrepancies between the two methods became greater with fish growth. The von Bertalanffy growth curve, based on ages inferred from the cross-section method, was FL _t=331×{1−exp[−0.283×(t+1.45)]}. No substantial difference was detected between male and female growth parameters. The oldest maximum ages inferred from the cross-section method were 15 and 21 years for females and males, respectively. It seems likely that P. trilineatum grows more slowly and lives longer than previously thought, and the difference is attributed primarily to differences in aging methods used in the present and previous studies.     

Chlorogenic acid in coffee can prevent the formation of dinitrogen trioxide by scavenging nitrogen dioxide generated in the human oral cavity

Coffee contains antioxidants like chlorogenic acid and its isomers. In this report, effects of coffee on the nitrite-induced N2O3 formation were studied using whole saliva and bacterial fraction prepared from the saliva. The formation of N2O3 was measured by fluorescence increase due to the transformation of 4,5-diaminofluorescein to triazolfluorescein. Coffee inhibited the nitrite-induced fluorescence increase, and 50% inhibition was observed at several microg of coffee/mL in bacterial fraction of saliva as well as whole saliva. During the inhibition of the fluorescence increase, concentration of chlorogenic acid and its isomers decreased. It is discussed that the reduction of NO2 by chlorogenic acid and its isomers contributed to the coffee-dependent inhibition of the fluorescence increase as N2O3 is formed from NO and NO2. When coffee was added to whole saliva, chlorogenic acid and its isomers bound to cells in the saliva. The rate of the fluorescence increase in bacterial fraction, which was prepared at defined periods after the ingestion of coffee, was increased to the rate before the ingestion of coffee with a half-time of about 1 h. This result suggests that chlorogenic acid and its isomers remained in the oral cavity for a few hours after ingestion of coffee. The significance of coffee drinking and rinsing of the mouth with coffee for the health of the oral cavity is proposed.     

Genetic analysis of bovine viral diarrhea virus in pre-weaned native Korean calves

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a prominent viral pathogen worldwide, causes substantial economic losses in the cattle industry. BVDV comprises two...     

Dexamethasone reduces infectious bursal disease mortality in chickens

Very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) causes high mortality in chickens but measures to reduce the mortality have not been explored. Chickens (8–9 weeks) were treated with 3 agents before and during vvIBDV inoculation. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the mortality of infected chickens (40.7% vs. 3.7%; p < 0.001), but treatment with aspirin or vitamin E plus selenium did not affect the mortality. The bursa of Fabricius appeared to have shrunk in both dead and surviving chickens (p < 0.01). The results indicate that dexamethasone can reduce mortality in vvIBDV-infected chickens and may provide therapeutic clues for saving individual birds infected by the virus.