Accumulation of Zinc and Copper in an Arable Field after Animal Manure Application

An experiment was conducted to examine the accumulation and mobility of heavy metals (Zn and Cu) at different depths in three types of arable soils (Brown Lowland soil, Andosol, and Brown Forest soil) amended with cattle and pig farmyard manures for 5 years. Nitric-perchloric acid digestion was performed for the determination of the total amounts of heavy metals, and 0.1 M hydrochloric acid extraction was performed for the determination of the amounts of soluble heavy metals. Results of the soil analysis indicated that pig farmyard manure application resulted in serious contamination of arable soils with Zn and potentially Cu. Especially, the Brown Forest soil displayed a high ability to accumulate heavy metals on the soil surface. Total-Zn concentration in surface soils was considerably affected by the holding capacity of soluble-Zn traction. Although the Andosol amended with pig farmyard manure showed higher concentrations of heavy metals related to the higher ability of retention on a weight basis, the soil did not contribute to high heavy metal accumulation because of its low bulk density. Heavy metals were easily leached in sandy soils such as Brown Lowland soil, and Cu was potentially stable compared with Zn. We suggest that long-term pig farmyard manure application to the Brown Lowland soil and Andosol with a light soil texture is associated with a higher risk of groundwater pollution than the application to the Brown Forest soil.     

Inhibitory profile of nonapeptide derived from porcine troponin C against angiotensin I-converting enzyme

A novel angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide (RMLGQTPTK; 9mer) from porcine skeletal troponin C was investigated for its inhibitory profile. This peptide was noncompetitive and as hydrophobic as the known ACE inhibitory peptides. Aminopeptidase M quickly hydrolyzed 9mer, resulting in production of MLGQTPTK and LGQTPTK with inhibitory activities similar to those of 9mer. The main hydrolysis product of 9mer with carboxypeptidase A and B was RMLGQTPT showing very weak activity. Most products derived from 9mer hydrolysis by ACE, aminopeptidase, or carboxypeptidase showed weak but definite ACE inhibitory activities. Thus, 9mer was estimated to be a wholly efficient inhibitor with these fragment peptides.     

Sequence variability in the mitochondrial DNA control region of five Sebastes species

ABSTRACT: Sequence variability of the control region of mitochondrial DNA in five Sebastes species ( S. thompsoni , S. joyneri , S. inermis , S. schlegeli and S. owstoni ) was investigated. Of 324 nucleotide sites in the control region of S. thompsoni , 56 sites (17.3%) varied, and all 20 individuals had different haplotypes. The other four species had between five and 17 sites (1.5–5.9%), which was fewer than that observed in S. thompsoni . The nucleotide diversity of S. thompsoni was highest (3.45%) among the five species, and that of S. schlegeli was the lowest (0.19%). The results demonstrated that sequence variability exists in the control region of the five Sebastes fishes investigated, and that sequence data in the control region may be suitable for stock structure analysis. Also, the extent of genetic variablitiy in the control region differed among these species. In particular, the mitochondrial DNA control region in S. thompsoni was characterized by high sequence variability, which may indicate a large effective population size.     

Histological evidence of lunar-synchronized ovarian development and spawning in the spiny rabbitfish Siganus spinus (Linnaeus) around the Ryukyus

ABSTRACT: This study clarifies the annual reproductive cycle and the lunar-synchronized spawning of the spiny rabbitfish ( Siganus spinus ) that inhabit the Okinawan waters. Annual and weekly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the histological features of the ovaries were checked. Gonadosomatic index was high during the months of May to July, and yolk-laden oocytes were observed in the ovaries from March to July. Some of the ovaries collected during June and July contained oocytes at maturation stage or ovulatory follicles. These results suggest that the spiny rabbitfish undergo active vitellogenesis and spawning from May to July. During the reproductive season (May to July), collection of fish according to the lunar phase revealed that a high GSI occurred around the time of the new moon. Cyclic oocyte development with peaks around the time of the same moon phase was also observed, suggesting that, in Okinawan waters, this species is a lunar-synchronized spawner and spawns three times.     

Is there a relationship between the intrinsic rate of propagation and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in-vitro</Emphasis> migration and virulence of the pinewood nematode, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</Emphasis>?

We investigated if rates of propagation and migration were related with the level of virulence in the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using 17 offspring lines from the F₂ crosses between virulent and avirulent isolates. Virulence was tested by inoculating seedlings of Pinus thunbergii with the nematodes. The proportion of dead seedlings ranged from 13.3% to 77.8%, 20 weeks after inoculation. Migration rate of the nematodes was estimated by measuring their migration distance per unit time in an artificial substrate that imitated pathways in pine trees. Migration rate varied from 0.85 to 3.53 mm min⁻¹. Propagation rate was determined based on population growth on the fungus Botrytis cinerea, and it ranged between 10^3.88 and 10^4.99 per 12 days. Statistical analyses revealed that virulence was not correlated with migration rate, but was negatively correlated with propagation rate on Botrytis cinerea, suggesting that the nematodes paid some cost for virulence. Also, there was no relationship between rates of migration and propagation. Cluster analysis showed that the biological parameters varied between crossbred lines, with no kinship bias, suggesting the absence of sex-linked inheritance in virulence and rates of propagation and migration.     

Effect of winter-flooding on methanogenic archaeal community structure in paddy field under organic farming

Paddy field is a major emission source of methane. Methane is the terminal product of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter and generated by methanogenic archaea under flooded conditions in paddy fields. This study aimed to reveal the effect of winter flooding on methanogenic archaeal community structure in paddy fields of Andosols under organic farming. Soil samples were collected from experimental paddy fields in the Field Science Center, Tohoku University, for two years. They were under flooding conditions during winter with organic farming, under non-flooding conditions during winter with organic farming and under non-flooding conditions during winter with conventional farming (non-organic farming). Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis of methanogenic archaeal 16S rRNA gene revealed that the DGGE patterns were nearly the same irrespective of the treatment and sampling times. Twenty-three bands were observed from each treatment and 4, 13 and 6 sequences were closely related to Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales and Methanocellales, respectively. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis indicated that the abundance of methanogenic archaeal 16S rRNA gene and mcrA gene, encoding α subunit of methyl-coenzyme M reductase, was not significantly different among the paddy fields. This study first revealed a methanogenic archaeal community in an Andosol paddy field and showed that the community was not affected by winter flooding under organic farming.     

Measurement of Carbonic Anhydrase I and II Isozymes in Feces as a Marker of Occult Blood in Horses with Intestinal Tract Bleeding

Although endoscopy is the definitive diagnostic method for the detection of colonic ulcers, the equipment required for performing the test is costly and difficult to use. Therefore, a simple cost-effective and reliable screening test for intestinal tract bleeding is needed. To this end, we measured carbonic anhydrase isozymes (CA-I and CA-II) originating from erythrocytes by ELISA in order to determine if they could be used as markers of occult blood in feces. For fecal extract preparation, 2 g of feces were mixed with 4 ml of 0.01 M Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) containing 0.01% thimerosal. The concentrations of CA-I and CA-II in the fecal samples of 13 clinically normal racehorses were found to be 30.0 ± 10.0 and 34.0 ± 13.0 ng/ml, respectively. Increased concentrations of CA-I were detected in the fecal samples of 5 horses after blood administration; however, no increase was observed in CA-II. The concentrations of CA-I and CA-II in the fecal samples of 88 racehorses with clinical signs of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) were 115.3 ± 79.0 and 41.0 ± 42.0 ng/ml, respectively. Thus, our results indicate that CA isozymes can be useful as markers of occult blood in the fecal samples of horses with intestinal tract bleeding.