Effect of postactivation treatment with latrunculin a on in vitro and in vivo development of cloned embryos derived from kidney fibroblasts of an aged clawn miniature boar

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of postactivation treatment with latrunculin A (LatA), an actin polymerization inhibitor, on in vitro and in vivo development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos derived from kidney fibroblasts of an aged Clawn miniature boar (12 years old). After electric activation, SCNT embryos were treated with 0, 0.5 or 1 μM LatA and cultured in vitro. The rate of blastocyst formation was significantly higher (P<0.05) in SCNT embryos treated with 0.5 μM LatA (38%) than those in control (14%). When cloned embryos treated with 0.5 μM LatA were transferred into the oviducts of two recipient miniature gilts to assess their development in vivo, both recipients became pregnant; one maintained pregnancy to term, and a live piglet (weighing 220 g) was delivered by Caesarean section. The results of this study indicated that the postactivation treatment with LatA was effective in improving in vitro developmental capacity of SCNT miniature pig embryos derived from kidney fibroblasts of an aged animal and that miniature pig cloned embryos treated with LatA had the ability to develop to term.     

Successful treatment of two dogs with allergic dermatitis by anti-allergic peptides (MS-antigen)

The effects of non-specific immunotherapy with anti-allergic peptides extracted from the urine of human allergic patients (MS-antigen), in two dogs with allergic dermatitis (AD) have been described. Clinically, severe pruritus accompanied by secondary bacterial pyoderma did not respond to conventional therapy with systemic antibiotics. The first clinical change appeared as a significant reduction in pruritus within 3 months, around the time of the 15th injection in both cases. The clinical condition was stabilized after 5 months, allowing the gradual withdrawal of concurrent therapies and an increase of injection intervals. The correlation between the results of intradermal skin tests before and after treatment and the improvement of clinical signs was not obvious.     

Variation in understory structure and plant species diversity influenced by silvicultural treatments among 21- to 26-year-old Picea glehnii plantations

We investigated effects of silvicultural treatments (planting and subsequent treatments) on understory structure and plant species diversity in managed Picea glehnii plantations (21–26 years old) in northern Japan. We evaluated the importance of each treatment (machinery site preparation, planting, weeding, and thinning) in 19 plantations, with considerable variation among treatments overall. The understory had 98 vascular plant species; the most dominant species was a dwarf bamboo Sasa senanensis, followed by tree species Abies sachalinensis and Betula ermanii. Multiple regression analyses showed that thinning negatively influenced plant species diversity. Planting density showed a strong positive correlation with density of seedlings (height <20 cm), but few independent variables were correlated with density of saplings (height ≥20 cm and diameter at breast height <1 cm). The negative effect of thinning and the positive effect of planting density seem to be related to the existence or reinitiation of dense cover of Sasa senanensis. We present possible mechanisms of response to treatments to generalize the results. We then suggest ways to improve current treatments to meet the goals of wood production and biodiversity conservation in the region.     

From a single-band metal to a high-temperature superconductor via two thermal phase transitions

The nature of the pseudogap phase of cuprate high-temperature superconductors is a major unsolved problem in condensed matter physics. We studied the commencement of the pseudogap state at temperature T* using three different techniques (angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, polar Kerr effect, and time-resolved reflectivity) on the same optimally doped Bi2201 crystals. We observed the coincident, abrupt onset at T* of a particle-hole asymmetric antinodal gap in the electronic spectrum, a Kerr rotation in the reflected light polarization, and a change in the ultrafast relaxational dynamics, consistent with a phase transition. Upon further cooling, spectroscopic signatures of superconductivity begin to grow close to the superconducting transition temperature (T(c)), entangled in an energy-momentum-dependent manner with the preexisting pseudogap features, ushering in a ground state with coexisting orders.     

Translation of double-stranded RNA segments 1 and 2 of Chuzan virus in rabbit reticulocyte lysates.

Coding assignments of genome segments 1 and 2 of Chuzan virus strain K-47 were studied in vitro by using rabbit reticulocyte lysates. The double-stranded RNA segment was extracted from sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels by a modified crushing and eluting technique. Translation products labeled with [35S]methionine were resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the products from RNA segments 1 and 2 were estimated to be 98 and 95 kilodaltons, respectively.     

Electrophoretic studies on serum proteins in cows with traumatic pericarditis.

Diagnostic significance of electrophoretic findings of serum protein in cows with traumatic pericarditis was evaluated. Affected cows were classified into 3 groups according to autoptical findings: fibrinous, sero-fibrinous, and purulent types. Slight hypoprotenemia, moderate hypo-albuminemia, slight hyper-alpha globulinemia and tendency of hyper-beta globulinemia were commonly observed in the affected cows. The level of gamma globulin tended to be lower in the cows with fibrinous or sero-fibrinous, and higher in purulent pericarditis, than the level in healthy cows. In the serum protein electropherograms of the cows with fibrinous or sero-fibrinous pericarditis, there was pathognostic pattern composed of slender albumin, acute shape of alpha globulin with a broad rising accompanied by double peaks and with main peak migrating toward the albumin side, tendency of rising beta globulin fraction, and large indentation between beta and gamma fractions. These findings except for the slender albumin fraction, however, was not or poorly observed in purulent pericarditis. Electrophoretic findings were subacute inflammatory pattern with non-selective serum protein losing in fibrinous or sero-fibrinous, and chronic inflammatory pattern in purulent pericarditis.     

An aspermia rat mutant (as/as) with spermatogenic failure at meiosis.

A newly identified aspermia rat mutant was investigated on testicular histology and mode of inheritance of the defect. Average testis weight of mutants was about one-third of that of phenotypically normal males. Spermatogenesis was interrupted at meiosis. Pachytene spermatocytes significantly decreased in number. Secondary spermatocytes and few round spermatids were seen, but no elongated spermatids and sperms were observed. A large basophilic inclusion-like body existed in the cytoplasm of late pachytene spermatocytes. Genetic analysis revealed an autosomal recessive transmission of the defect. Aspermia (As) was designated for the locus.     

N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I activity of bovine oviduct epithelial cells: stimulation by luteinizing hormone, vascular endothelial growth factor and tumor necrosis factor alpha

N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GnT I; EC 2.4.1.101), which catalyzes the first step in the conversion of oligomannose to complex or hybrid N-glycans of glycoproteins, was found in media cultured with bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC) obtained from non-pregnant cows during the follicular phase. Combined treatment with specific hormones increased GnT I release from BOEC. Luteinizing hormone (LH; 10 ng/ml) alone slightly, but together with 17beta-estradiol (E2; 1 ng/ml), synergistically increased GnT I activity. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, which have been shown to have their highest activities in the bovine oviduct during the periovulatory period, also increased in GnT I activity. This study provides the first evidence of an increase of GnT I release from BOEC in vitro, and shows that endocrine as well as local factors such as LH, VEGF and TNFalpha increase this activity. The results suggest that GnT I activity in the bovine oviduct may contribute to the induction of glycosylation and thereby contributing to the provision of the optimal microenvironment for fertilization and early development of the embryos.     

Antigenic analysis of avian Chlamydia psittaci using monoclonal antibodies to the major outer membrane protein.

Monoclonal antibodies to the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia psittaci derived from a parrot were established for antigenic analysis of avian C. psittaci. With 17 monoclonal antibodies to MOMP, 17 reactivity patterns were identified on 112 strains of C. psittaci, C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis, which were isolated from birds, mammals and humans in Japan, U.S.A., Canada and Taiwan, from 1938 to 1987. Immunological reactivity of budgerigar-derived strains to the monoclonal antibodies was different from that of pigeon-derived strains. Imported bird-derived strains were distinguishable from domestic bird-derived strains by the reactivity to the monoclonal antibodies. A close relationship between the subtypes and geographic origins was indicated on budgerigar-derived strains. On the contrary, various reactivity patterns were shown in pigeon-derived strains isolated in a narrow area. The monoclonal antibodies established in the present work may be useful probes for ecological study of avian C. psittaci.