Histological studies on the ontogeny of bovine palatine and pharyngeal tonsil: germinal center formation, IgG, and IgA mRNA expression

The development and distribution of lymphocyte subsets in calf palatine and pharyngeal tonsil were examined. During prenatal development, B cells were distributed in the subepithelial area, and T cells and MHC class II⁺ cells were found in the deep layer of B-cell area, respectively, in both tonsils. At neonatal stage, lymphoid follicle containing a few CD4⁺ cells have been formed in both tonsils. IgG⁺ and IgA⁺ cells were found in the parafollicular and epithelial area. At 3 months old, many germinal centers were recognized in both tonsils. CD4⁺ cells and IgG mRNA expression were detected in light zone of germinal centers. Many IgG, and IgA mRNA expressions also could be detected in the parafollicular and subepithelial area of both tonsils. The data suggest that both tonsils have an important role of local immune defense against invading antigen after birth. The comparison of the histological characteristics of tonsil and Peyer's patch during ontogeny is also discussed.     

Isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility of Plesiomonas shigelloides from great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) in Gifu and Shiga Prefectures,Japan

Plesiomonas shigelloides is a causal agent of gastroenteritis, sepsis and meningitis in humans. We examined the prevalence of P. shigelloides among great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae) in Japan and the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates. P. shigelloides was isolated from 33 (47.8%) of 69 fecal samples from great cormorants in 2014. All 33 isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using broth microdilution methods, which showed resistance to ampicillin (31 isolates, 93.9%), tetracycline (two isolates, 6.1%) and trimethoprim (one isolate, 3.0%). The high prevalence of P. shigelloides in the great cormorants implicates the possible microbiological risk to public health.     

Avian predation on wild and cultured sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Strongylocentrotus intermedius</Emphasis> in a rocky shore habitat

ABSTRACT:   The present study reports the annual variation in consumption of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius by avian predators on a rocky shore where the culture of sea urchins has been conducted. Carrion crow and a few gull species were the most abundant avian predators and consumed a large number of sea urchins. Crows consumed mostly natural sea urchins, approximately 36 kg ww/ha per year on the intertidal rocky bench, but the gull species consumed mostly cultured sea urchins, approximately 100 kg ww/ha per year in the culture area. The seasonal variation in the amount of sea urchins consumed by crows was higher than that by the gull species, presumably because of the difference in foraging behavior in association with the seasonal tidal cycle. The natural sea urchins consumed are an allochthonous input from the subtidal to the intertidal habitat, and thus, crow predation may not affect the natural and the cultured populations of the sea urchin. The gull species consumed much of the cultured sea urchin, and thus, may be regarded as an effective predator causing damage to sea urchin culture. The results suggest that further studies are needed to determine why the gull species selectively feed on cultured sea urchins.     

Transfer of radiocesium from hydroponic medium to potherb mustard and tomato plants

Abstract

Potherb mustard (Brassica rapa var. nipposinica) and tomato plants (scion, ‘CF Momotaro haruka’; rootstock, ‘Dokutar K’; Solanum lycopersicum) were cultured in hydroponic medium containing cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) at three different concentrations (0.03, 0.13 and 1.03 Bq L^?1), and uptake of ¹³⁷C into the plants was determined. When the ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration in the medium was 1.03 Bq L^?1, the ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentrations in the edible portions of the plants were 4.80 Bq kg^?1 fresh weight for the potherb mustard plants and 3.60 Bq kg^?1 fresh weight for the tomato plants. In both species, the ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration in the edible portions decreased with decreasing ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration in the culture medium. When the ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration in the medium was 0.03 Bq L^?1, a concentration observed in many streams and in tap water in Fukushima Prefecture after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentrations in the edible portions of the plants were 0.50 and 0.15 Bq kg^?1 fresh weight for potherb mustard and tomato plants, respectively. These values are less than the Japanese allowable limit for radiocesium in food. For both species, the transfer factors for ¹³⁷Cs uptake from the culture media to the edible portions and the average transfer rates over the cultivation period were calculated.     

Estimation of the carcass composition from a cross-section of the rib-loin from crossbred Japanese Black × Limousin F2 cattle by computer image analysis

The carcass composition of crossbred Japanese Black × Limousin F2 cattle was examined in order to find an accurate carcass composition equation. The test animals included 17 steers and 17 heifers. The 28 image measurements from the area encircling the vertical line to the thoracic vertebra and the line from the thoracic vertebra between the sixth and seventh rib‐bones were measured by computer image analysis. The relationships between the 29 parameters that added the carcass left side weight of the animal and the carcass composition were suggested. The carcass composition included muscle weight, muscle ratio, fat weight and fat ratio. The carcass composition from steers was estimated by an equation composed of these three or four parameters (R² = 90.80%, 79.30%, 90.75% and 73.70%, respectively). The selected parameters were measured without cutting the thoracic vertebra. The carcass composition from heifers was estimated by an equation composed of two to four parameters (R² = 96.15%, 90.98%, 93.60% and 88.22%, respectively). The parameters for the estimation of the muscle and fat weight, and muscle and fat ratio are very similar. Furthermore, the equations using the parameters could estimate the carcass composition from the Japanese Black × Limousin cattle resource population.     

Identification of RFLP markers linked with heading date and its heterosis in hexaploid wheat

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between hexaploid wheat (T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (CS) and T. spelta (Sp)) were used for RFLP analysis of heading date and heterosis. Fourteen RFLP markers linking with heading date were identified; two were localized on chromosome 1A, one on 2A, three on 2B, one on 2D, four on 5A, two on 7A and one unlinked but reported to be on group 2. All of these markers may be attributable to genes for earliness per se. However, the markers in the chromosomes of 1A and 7A are new to this study. RILs were crossed with (tim)-CS, the alloplasmic CS with T. timopheevi cytoplasm, and the heterosis from earlier-parent and mid-parents were calculated for the F₁s to examine the heterotic effect toward earliness on heading date. Five and two RFLP markers were associated with heterosis from the earlier-parent and mid-parents, respectively. They were distributed on the chromosomes of homoeologous groups 1 and 2. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Purification and characterization of feline ghrelin and its possible role

Ghrelin, a novel 28-amino acid peptide with an n-octanoyl modification at Ser3, has been isolated from rat and human stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Here, we purified feline ghrelin and examined its possible physiological role in cats. The major active form of feline ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide octanoylated (C8:0) at Ser3; except for one amino acid residue replacement, this structure is identical to those of rat and human ghrelins. However, much structural divergence in peptide length and fatty acid modification was observed in feline ghrelin: peptides consisting of 27 or 26 amino acids lacking Gln14 and/or Arg28 were found, and the third serine residue was modified by octanoic acid (C8:0), decanoic acid (10:0), or unsaturated fatty acids (C8:1, C10:1 and C10:2). In agreement with the structural divergence, two kinds of cDNA with different lengths were isolated. Administration of synthetic rat ghrelin increased plasma growth hormone levels in cats, with a potency similar to that in rat or human. Plasma levels of ghrelin in cats increased approximately 2.5-fold after fasting. The present study indicates the existence of structural divergence in feline ghrelin and suggests that, as in other animals, ghrelin may play important roles in GH release and feeding in cats.     

Enzymatic dehydrogenative polymerization of urushiols in fresh exudates from the lacquer tree, Rhus vernicifera DC

Fresh exudates from the lacquer tree, Rhus vernicifera DC, were extracted with acetone and the solution was chromatographed to isolate monomer, dimer, trimer, and oligomer fractions of urushiols. Constituents of the monomeric and dimeric fractions were then identified by two-dimensional (2D) 1H-13C heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond coherence (HMBC) NMR spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that the monomeric fraction contained 3-[8'Z,11'E,13'Z-pentadecatrienyl]catechol (1), 3-[8'Z,11'Z,14'-pentadecatrienyl]catechol (2), and 3-pentadecanyl]catechol (3), which was verified by HPLC analysis. The dimeric fraction contained 8'-(3' ',4' '-dihydroxy-5' '-alkenyl)phenyl-3-[9'E,11'E,13'Z-pentadecatrienyl]catechol (4), 14'-(3' ',4' '-dihydroxy-5' '-alkenyl)phenyl-3-[8'Z,10'E,12'E-pentadecatrienyl]catechol (5), 2-hydroxyl-3- or -6-alkenylphenyl ethyl ether (6), 14'-(3' ',4' '-dihydroxy-2' '-alkenyl)phenyl-3-[8'Z,10'E,12'E-pentadeca-trienyl]catechol (7), 15'-(2' '-hydroxy-3' '- or -6' '-alkenyl)phenyloxy-3-[8'Z,11'Z,13'E)-pentadecatrienyl]catechol (8), 14'-(2' ',3' '-dihydroxy-4' '-alkenyl)phenyl-3-[8'Z,10'E,12'E-pentadecantrienyl]catechol (9), 1,1',2,2'-tetrahydroxy-6,6'-dialkenyl-4,3'-biphenyl (10), 1,1',2,2'-tetrahydroxy-6,6'-dialkenyl-4,4'-biphenyl (11), 1,1',2,2'-tetrahydroxy-6,6'-dialkenyl-5,4'-biphenyl (12), and 1,2,1'-trihydroxy-6,6'-dialkenyldibenzofuran (13) as constituents. In addition, dimeric ethers and peroxides, such as compounds 14 and 15, were produced by autoxidation of monomeric urushiols in atmospheric air. The possible reaction mechanisms for the dehydrogenative polymerization of urushiols by Rhus laccase present in the fresh raw exudates under the atmospheric oxygen are discussed on the basis of structures identified. This is of primary importance because the use of the urushi exudates as coating materials does not involve organic solvents and is an environmentally friendly process.