Prevalence of amyloid deposition in mature healthy chickens in the flock that previously had outbreaks of vaccine-associated amyloidosis

Avian amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is commonly observed in adult birds with chronic inflammation, such as that caused by bacterial infection. We previously described vaccine-associated AA amyloidosis in juvenile chickens. In this study, the prevalence of amyloid deposition was measured in mature healthy chickens that survived a previous outbreak of avian AA amyloidosis while they were juveniles. Herein, we analyzed the amyloid deposition in mature chickens and compared the prevalence of amyloid deposition with juvenile chickens obtained in our previous study (Murakami et al., 2013). We found that: 1) amyloid deposition in the liver was absent in mature chickens, while juvenile chickens had a rate of 24%; 2) amyloid deposition in the spleen was observed in 36% of juvenile chickens and in 40% of mature chickens; 3) amyloid deposition in the pectoral muscle of mature chickens (43.75%) was approximately half that of juvenile chickens (88%). These results suggest that additional amyloid deposition in chickens previously exposed to AA amyloidosis may not worsen with age. Further, amyloid deposition in chickens may tend to regress when causative factors, such as vaccinations and/or chronic inflammation, are absent.     

Development of a programmable piggyback syringe pump and four-times-a-day injection regimen for superovulation in non-lactating Holstein cows

The objectives of the present study were to develop a programmable piggyback syringe pump for bovine superovulation and to evaluate the effects of a four-times-a-day injection regimen using the pump. Non-lactating Holstein cows were treated with a total of 30 armour units of porcine FSH by injection four times a day with the pump (study, n = 9) or injection twice a day manually (control, n = 9) for four consecutive days from D10 of the estrous cycle. The pump-driven program successfully induced superovulation in all cows tested. The numbers of small (3– < 5 mm in diameter) and large (≥ 10 mm in diameter) follicles were greater in the study group on D11-13 and D14, respectively. There were fewer unovulated follicles detected on D21 (7 days after estrus) in the study group than in the control group (1.2 ± 0.4 and 3.2 ± 0.6, respectively).     

Regeneration of protoplasts from hyphal strands ofVolvariella volvacea

A series of experiments on the preparation and regeneration of protoplasts from hyphal strands ofVolvariella volvacea (Bull. ex. Fr.) Singer were conducted with the aim of optimizing the conditions for its efficient regeneration. One commercial (Vvcl) and two wild (EAAC-0001 and EAAC-0002) strains ofV. volvacea from the Philippines were used and subjected to varying conditions to determine the most efficient means for regeneration of their protoplasts. The effects of age and type of strain, pH, type and concentration of osmotic stabilizer, enzymatic composition, treatment time, temperature, reciprocal frequency during enzymatic lysis of the cell wall, and centrifugation conditions were investigated. Results showed that the three strains ofV. volvacea had varying responses in terms of yield, size, and ability of their protoplasts to regenerate into the protoplast regeneration medium. Among the three strains, EAAC-0002 had the highest rate of regeneration. The 5-day-old culture ofV. volvacea, when subjected to a combination of 2% Novozyme 234 and 0.2% chitinase in 0.6M mannitol (pH 6.0) for 3 h at 30°C, 90 strokes/min and centrifuged at 1100 g for 10 min; produced an efficient yield of protoplasts with a relatively high regeneration rate.Part of this paper was presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, Japan, April 2–5, 1997     

Sinapyl alcohol-specific peroxidase isoenzyme catalyzes the formation of the dehydrogenative polymer from sinapyl alcohol

Two peroxidases, CWPO-A and CWPO-C, were isolated from the cell walls of poplar (Populus alba L.) callus culture. The cationic CWPO-C showed a strong preference for sinapyl alcohol over coniferyl alcohol as substrate. Thus, the monolignol utilization of CWPO-C is unique compared with other peroxidases, including anionic CWPO-A and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). CWPO-C polymerized oligomeric sinapyl alcohol (S-oligo) and sinapyl alcohol, producing a polymer of greater molecular weight. In contrast, HRP, which is specific to coniferyl alcohol, produced sinapyl alcohol dimers, rather than catalyzing polymerization. Adding coniferyl alcohol as a radical mediator in the HRP-mediated reaction did not result in S-oligo polymerization. This report shows that CWPO-C is an isoenzyme specific to sinapyl alcohol that polymerizes oligomeric lignols. Its catalytic activity toward oligomeric lignols may be related to the lignification of angiosperm woody plant cell walls.Part of this study was presented at the 45th Lignin Symposium, Matsuyama, October 2000     

No Modifying Effect of Antioxidant N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine on Fenofibrate-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats

To clarify the modifying effect of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), which has antioxidative ability, on hepatocarcinogenesis promoted by fenofibrate (FF), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha agonist , male F344/N rats were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as an initiator followed by administration of a diet containing 3,000 ppm of FF for 16 weeks. Two-thirds partial hepatectomy was performed 1 week after the FF treatment. Additionally, NAC treatments for 14 weeks from 2 weeks after the FF treatment were performed. Although the expression level of tumor protein p53 (Tp53) mRNA decreased in the DEN+FF+NAC group as compared with that in the DEN+FF group, no significant differences between the DEN+FF and DEN+FF+NAC groups were observed in the number of hepatocellular altered foci and activities of hepatocellular proliferation. In addition, the results of an antioxidant enzyme assay and measurement of the amounts of total glutathione in the liver revealed no significant difference between the DEN+FF and DEN+FF+NAC groups; although no significant differences were observed in many genes between the DEN+FF and DEN+FF+NAC groups, only glutathione peroxidase 2 (Gpx2) mRNA increased in the DEN+FF+NAC group as compared with the DEN+FF group. The results under the present experimental conditions indicate no obvious modifying effect of NAC on liver tumor promotion by FF in rats.     

Change of K value and water state of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares meat stored in a wide temperature range (20°C to −84°C)

SUMMARY: The study on K value change at low temperature storage had been carried out down to a temperature of −40°C, however, there was no evidence about this reaction rate if the temperature were lowered below the storage temperature normally used especially for tuna meat (−60^oC). The rate of K value change ( k_f ) of yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ) meat was determined during storage at a wide temperature range (20°C to −84°C). The logarithm of K '(= 100 − K value) was used in this study and its plot against storage time yielded a straight line, which indicated an apparent first-order reaction for all temperature storage. Furthermore, physicochemical characterization of water in tuna muscle was carried out using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) at very low temperature. The temperature dependence of this reaction was analyzed by an Arrhenius's plot that resulted in two break points. The first break point occurring at freezing point might be due to the freeze effect. The second break point was at −10°C. The reaction rate change steeply declined at the temperature range of −70°C to −84°C, and was thought to be related to glass transition which may occur in the fish sample.     

Polyethylene degradation by manganese peroxidase in the absence of hydrogen peroxide

A possible role of Tween 80 in the polyethylene degradation by manganese peroxidase (MnP) and the basis of the MnP action in the absence of hydrogen peroxide were investigated. The MnP activity in the system was retained its maximum level for 6 days in the presence of Tween 80. Tween 20 and CHAPSO stabilized MnP in the system similarly to Tween 80, and these surfactants also promote the polyethylene degradation. The system containing malonate buffer, Mn(II), and MnP produced Mn(III) in the absence of hydrogen peroxide, but the effect of Tween 80 addition on Mn(III) production in the absence of hydrogen peroxide was small. The results show that Mn(III) is generated by the MnP action initiated and amplified by the decomposition of malonate by Mn(III) and that a surfactant such as Tween 80 is required to stabilize MnP in the system.This study was presented in part at the 42nd lignin symposium, Sapporo, October 1997 and the 43rd lignin symposium, Fuchu, Tokyo, October 1998