Phospholipase Cζ (PLCζ) versus postacrosomal sheath WW domain‐binding protein (PAWP): Which molecule will survive as a sperm factor?

During mammalian fertilization, sperm is fused with the oocyte's membrane, triggering the resumption of meiosis from the metaphase II arrest, the extrusion of the second polar body, and the exocytosis of cortical granules; these events are collectively called 'oocyte activation.' In all species studied to date, the transient rise in the cytosolic level of calcium (in particular, the repeated calcium increases called 'calcium oscillations' in mammals) is required for these events. Researchers have focused on identifying the factor(s) that can induce calcium oscillations during fertilization. Sperm‐specific phospholipase C, i.e., PLC zeta (PLCζ), is a strong candidate of the factor(s), and several research groups using different species obtained evidence that PLCζ is a sperm factor that can induce calcium oscillations during fertilization. However, postacrosomal sheath Tryptophan‐Tryptophan (WW)—domain‐binding protein (PAWP) was recently shown to have a pivotal role in inducing calcium oscillations in some species. In this review, we focus on PLCζ and PAWP as sperm factors, and we discuss this controversy: Which of these two molecules survives as a sperm factor?     

Satellite Analysis of Volcanic Clouds and Transport of Acidic Substances from Mt. Aso and Mt. Sakurajima

The satellite images of volcanic clouds in Kyushu, Japan during September–November 1989 were studied in connection with the mountain site measurement of atmospheric qualities at Unzen-Nodake and the SO₂ concentration data at Aso Volcano Museum. The images strongly indicate that many high concentration events of SO₂ were the results of the long-range transport of volcanic gas from Mt. Aso and Mt. Sakurajima to these stations. Brief comments on the 2000 eruption of Miyake-jima volcano are added.     

Determination of spherosomes from lees materials

To evaluate the effectiveness in adsorbing organochlorine compounds such as chloroform, dichloromethane, or benzene by lees materials, the determination of spherosomes from different lees materials was established by using a hemacytometer under an optical microscope. Rice bran, wheat bran, rapeseed, linseed, okara, and sakekasu were used for this investigation, and activated carbon was also used as a standard adsorbent material. The number of spherosomes varied from 1.82 x 10(10) particles/g for sakekasu to 4.95 x 10(10) particles/g for wheat bran. There was a high correlation between the removal efficiency in adsorbing organochlorine compounds such as chloroform, dichloromethane, or benzene by lees materials and the number of spherosomes from different lees materials.     

Mutation of the GABA receptor associated with fipronil resistance in the whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera

We found the A2′N mutation (index number for M2 membrane spanning region) in the GABA receptor subunit of fipronil-resistant Sogatella furcifera, by analyzing DNA sequences amplified from fipronil-resistant and -susceptible S. furcifera. In order to confirm the role of A2′N mutation in the fipronil resistance, we expressed the wild-type and A2′N mutant Drosophila GABA receptors in Drosophila Mel-2 cells stably. Amino acid sequences of three membrane spanning regions (M1-M3), which are important for binding of fipronil, are conserved between Drosophila and S. furcifera. So the results of A2′N mutant Drosophila GABA receptor suggest the role of A2′N mutation in fipronil-resistant S. furcifera. The membrane potential assay showed that the A2′N mutant Drosophila GABA receptor was not inhibited by fipronil at all, while the IC₅₀ value of fipronil for wild-type Drosophila GABA receptor was 172 nM. These results suggest that A2′N mutation confers the resistance of fipronil in S. furcifera.     

Acute vascular and interstitial rejection following renal allograft transplantation in dogs

Renal allograft transplantation was performed in four beagles. Immunosuppressive treatment using cyclosporine, mizoribin and prednisolone was continued from Day 5 pre- until Day 20 post-transplantation. Between Days 28 and 32 post-transplantation, an abrupt elevation of the serum creatinine values followed by the development of uremia was seen in all recipients. Histopathology of the allografts examined between Days 28 and 37 revealed edema, necrosis, hemorrhage and severe diffuse interstitial cellular infiltration as well as tubulitis. Glomerular changes notably included swelling of the tufts due to hypercellularity, which was consistent with transplant glomerulitis. The intrarenal arteries exhibited fibrinoid necrosis of the walls and intimal or transmural cellular infiltration. These renal lesions were consistent with those of acute vascular and interstitial rejection in humans.     

In situ measurement of wood moisture content in high-temperature steam

Changes in moisture content of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood during high-temperature saturated and superheated steam treatments were investigated. A system for in situ weighing of specimens was used, and the reduction of wood substance by heating was taken into consideration. At 160°C the loss of wood substance due to heating was significant and influenced the moisture content values, but it was almost negligible at 120°C. Treatment time and temperature affected the moisture content in saturated steam but not in superheated steam. Excess water in a saturated closed system appears to promote the decomposition of wood and condensation in or on specimens.Parts of this work was presented at the 49th, 50th, and 52nd Annual Meetings of the Japan Wood Research Society in Tokyo, April 1999; Kyoto, April 2000; and Gifu, April 2002     

White root rot disease of the lacquer tree <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxicodendron vernicifluum</Emphasis> caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosellinia necatrix</Emphasis>

In early August 2010, lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) severely damaged by a root rot disease were found on plantations in Iwate, Japan. The causal agent was a fungus identified as Rosellinia necatrix, based on morphology and the sequence of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region. The fungus was clearly pathogenic on T. vernicifluum root plantings. This report is the first of white root rot on T. vernicifluum.     

Structures and antioxidant activity of anthocyanins in many accessions of eggplant and its related species

Anthocyanins were detected in extracts from the peels of 123 accessions of eggplant (Solanum melongena) and its related species. Their anthocyanin profiles were classified into four types, including known Japanese eggplant type (type 1) and non-Japanese eggplant type (type 2). Although most of the eggplant accessions had one of the two known profiles, one accession had a novel profile (type 3). Two accessions of related species showed another novel profile (type 4). The major anthocyanins were identified as delphinidin 3-(p-coumaroylrutinoside)-5-glucoside (nasunin) (type 1), delphinidin 3-rutinoside (type 2), delphinidin 3-glucoside (type 3), and petunidin 3-(p-coumaroylrutinoside)-5-glucoside (petunidin 3RGc5G) (type 4). Delphinidin 3-caffeoylrutinoside-5-glucoside (delphinidin 3RGcaf5G) was isolated from the hybrid (F1) plants of a type 1 cultivar and a type 3 germplasm. Among the five purified anthocyanins, delphinidin 3RGcaf5G showed the highest radical-scavenging activities toward both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and linoleic acid radical, followed in order by nasunin and petunidin 3RGc5G.     

Food variations and ontogenetic dietary shift of the starspotted-dogfish Mustelus manazo at five locations in Japan and Taiwan

SUMMARY: Stomach contents were examined from 936 individuals of Mustelus manazo , collected by trawl at five locations: Aomori, Tokyo Bay, Maizuru and Shimonoseki in Japan, and one location off Taiwan. The vacuity index was relatively low (0–6.1%). Based on three indices ( %W , %F , RI ), the major dietary component was crustaceans at all locations. The most important prey category was crabs in Aomori, Shimonosei and Taiwan, mantis shrimps in Tokyo Bay, and shrimps in Maizuru. Fishes were a minor food category for M. manazo in most locations, except in Maizuru where fishes were second in importance in the diet. Dietary overlap revealed a medium degree of overlap between Tokyo Bay and Aomori, and between Tokyo Bay and Shimonoseki. The other locations showed a high degree of overlap with each other. Significant ontogenetic dietary shifts were found in Tokyo Bay, Maizuru and Taiwan, and prey diversity showed a trend being relatively low in larger size classes. The feeding habit of M. manazo was unique in Tokyo Bay, where crustaceans in the muddy substrata were taken in preference to the most abundant benthic prey item available, such as a southern rough shrimp, Trachypenaeus curvirostris . Mustelus manazo appears to use two feeding strategies based upon stomach contents. One, in Tokyo Bay, involved the digging up or removing of burrowing invertebrates from muddy substrata without crushing them. The other, at the other four locations, involved the crushing of prey on the substrata surface.     

Vacuolar degeneration of skeletal muscle in transgenic mice overexpressing ORP150

ORP150 is a hypoxic stress-induced protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Transgenic mice overexpressing ORP150 (ORP-Tg) exhibit vacuolar degeneration in the heart. To determine whether vacuolization is present in skeletal muscle, we pathologically examined ORP-Tg mice. After 60 days of age, severe vacuolization was found in the soleus muscles of the hind legs of the ORP-Tg mice. Immunohistochemical staining of ORP150 revealed co-localization of ORP150 and vacuolization in the affected cells. Electron microscopy revealed a marked increase in the number of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticula (rER) and distention of the cisterna. These findings suggest that overexpression of ORP150 causes accumulation of ORP150 in the rER, resulting in vacuolar degeneration in the skeletal muscle of ORP-Tg mice.