In situ hybridization for the demonstration of bovine leukemia virus transcripts in lymphosarcoma cells using biotinylated probes.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) RNA was demonstrated in peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin from a BLV-infected ox, and in lymphosarcoma cells cultured without mitogen from an enzootic bovine leukosis cow by in situ hybridization using biotinylated DNA probes.     

The cellular differentiation of M cells from crypt undifferentiated epithelial cells into microvillous epithelial cells in follicle-associated epithelia of chicken cecal tonsils

To clarify the cellular origin and the fate of M cells, detailed distributions of the epithelial cells were investigated scanning electron microscopically on the follicle-associated epithelia (FAE) of chicken cecal tonsils. The distribution of M cells was closely related with the situation of the crypt orifices in chicken cecal tonsils. In undeveloped cecal tonsils, the intestinal crypts were localized at the periphery of the FAE. In these tonsils, M cells without microvilli (M(0)) were predominantly populated in the basal region of the FAE, whereas goblet cells and microvillous epithelial cells (MV) were more distributed in the middle to the apical region of the FAE. A few M cells with short microvilli were dispersed throughout the FAE. Significantly shrunk MV (MVs) clustered together in transitional portions from the lateral face to the roof of the FAE. In well-developed cecal tonsils, the crypts also opened at the lateral surface in addition to the periphery of the FAE. In these tonsils, the M(0) accumulated densely in the small areas around the crypt orifices exclusively. No sign of exfoliation of apoptotic epithelial cells was found in the M(0)-accumulated areas and at their peripheral boundaries. The MVs were often clustered in the central regions among the crypt orifices in addition to the roof of the FAE. These findings suggest that M cells are directly derived from the undifferentiated crypt epithelial cells, not fall into apoptotic cell death and further differentiate into MV in the FAE of chicken cecal tonsils.     

Efficacy of intravaginal progesterone administration as an additional treatment on two types of timed AI protocols in a commercial herd of Holstein heifers

Reproductive performance of two types of timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols with or without intravaginal progesterone insert (CIDR) was investigated in a commercial herd of Holstein heifers. A total of seventy-four heifers with 14.4 months of age were allocated to two groups; Ovsynch (n=44) and estradiol benzoate (EB) used Heatsynch (EB-Heatsynch, n=30), and each group was additionally divided into two subgroups with CIDR insertion from day 0 to 7 (n=36) and without CIDR group (n=38). Blood was collected for progesterone (P4) analysis and ovarian finding was monitored with ultrasonography. Heifers in CIDR-treated group resulted in higher pregnancy rate as compared to No-CIDR-treated group (63.9% vs 21.1%, P<0.01). Heifers with functional corpus luteum (CL) on day 0 resulted in significantly higher pregnancy rate in CIDR-treated group than No-CIDR-treated group (day 0: 67.9% vs 13.0%, P<0.01). CIDR insertion suppressed the intermediate ovulation during the first 7 days and the period from the second GnRH or EB administration to TAI as compared to No-CIDR-treated group (first 7 days: 33.3% vs. 52.6%; P<0.05, before TAI: 11.1% vs. 37.0%; P<0.05). In conclusion, the selected TAI protocols with CIDR provided acceptable pregnancy rate and contributed to the economical improvement by shortening the average age of first calving approximately for 2.5 months as compared to the previous management without TAI protocols.     

The effects of protein sources supplemented with urea-treated potato pulp (PP) silage and feeding levels of the PP silage-based concentrate on feed intake, digestibility and ruminal fermentation in beef steers

Six Japanese Black (Wagyu) steers (average initial weight 467 ± 45 kg) fitted with a ruminal cannula were used in a split‐plot design experiment comprising a 3 × 3 Latin square design (whole‐plot) and a randomized block design (subplot). The whole‐plot treatments were three different feeding levels of urea‐treated potato pulp (PP) silage‐based concentrate: 1.00%, 1.75% and 2.50% of body weight (BW) (on a dry matter (DM) basis). The subplot treatments consisted of the concentrate formulated to contain either soybean meal (SBM) as a rapidly rumen‐degraded protein source or corn gluten meal (CGM) as a slowly degraded protein source. Dry matter intake tended to be lower (P = 0.071) for CGM (8.9 kg/day) than for SBM (9.4 kg/day). Protein sources had no significant effect on digestibility and in situ degradation. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃‐N) was lower (P = 0.033) for CGM (7.5 mg/dL) than for SBM (9.5 mg/dL). Protein sources did not affect ruminal pH and the total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations. The molar proportions of ruminal acetate and valerate were higher (P = 0.032) for CGM than for SBM. The maximum daily intake of the PP silage‐based concentrate expressed as a percentage of BW was approximately 1.4% of BW. Dry matter intake was higher (P = 0.046) for steers fed at 1.0% of BW of the PP silage‐based concentrate than for steers fed at 1.75% or 2.5% of BW of the concentrate. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate had no effect on DM and nutrients digestibility, except for crude protein (CP) digestibility. CP digestibility tended to be lower (P = 0.071) for steers fed at 1.75% of BW of the PP silage‐based concentrate than for steers fed at 1.0% or 2.5% of BW of the concentrate. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate also did not affect the in situ degradation parameter of hay and PP silage. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate did not affect ruminal pH, NH₃‐N and total VFA concentrations. The molar proportion of acetate was highest for steers fed at 1.0% of BW of the concentrate. In conclusion, in the urea‐treated PP silage‐based concentrate, CGM seems to be more effective than SBM for stabilizing the ruminal NH₃‐N concentration and to be advantageous for fiber digestion in the rumen. The feeding levels of the PP silage‐based concentrate did not change the amount of VFA production in the rumen and the DM digestibility.     

The effects of urea‐treated potato pulp (PP) ensiled with beet pulp or wheat bran pellets to reduce moisture of PP and flake density of corn grain supplemented with the PP silage on digestibility and ruminal fermentation in beef steers

The effects of adding beet pulp or wheat bran to urea‐treated potato pulp (PP) in order to reduce moisture of PP silage and flake density of corn grain on digestibility and ruminal fermentation in beef steers were studied in a split‐plot design experiment. The whole‐plot treatments were PP silage mixed with 0% added pellets (CON), 9% (as‐fed basis) beet pulp pellets (BP) or 9% (as‐fed basis) wheat bran pellets (WB) as water‐absorbing materials. The subplot treatments consisted of supplements formulated to contain either high‐density corn (HDC) or low‐density corn (LDC). BP steers consumed more (BP vs WB, P = 0.011) concentrate than did WB steers, whereas hay intake did not differ between the treatments. Dry matter (BP vs WB, P = 0.023) and organic matter (BP vs WB, P = 0.029) digestibility were higher for BP steers than for WB steers. Starch digestibility was higher (P = 0.006) for LDC than for HDC. There were no differences in the concentration of ruminal ammonia nitrogen among the treatments. Molar proportions of ruminal acetate were higher for BP steers than for WB steers (BP vs WB, P = 0.030). Conversely, molar proportions of propionate were lower for BP steers than for WB steers (BP vs WB, P = 0.044). Flake density of corn did not affect ruminal characteristics. In conclusion, from the viewpoint of feed intake and digestibility, BP is superior to WB as a moisture control material for urea‐treated PP silage, and flake density of corn supplemented with urea‐treated PP silage does not alter ruminal fermentation.     

Thermal stability of myosin and protective effect of F-actin on myosin affect the thermal inactivation of calcium-ATPase in unstable kuruma prawn myofibrils

Fisheries Science - The thermal stability of myosin and the protective effect of F-actin on myosin in kuruma prawn myofibrils were investigated from the thermal inactivation rates at...     

Impact of paralarvae and juveniles feeding environment on the neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) winter–spring cohort stock

In this study, we found that there were significant positive correlations between the catch per unit effort (CPUE, a squid abundance index) for the neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) winter–spring cohort and the satellite‐derived chlorophyll a concentrations in their spawning grounds located at 140–160°E where 21°C < sea surface temperature < 25°C from February to May. The spawning grounds of the winter–spring cohort are located in a quiet stream region, and a particle tracking experiment, based on the velocity field obtained from an ocean data assimilation system, showed that paralarvae and juveniles aged <90 days remained in their spawning grounds and the chlorophyll a concentration in their habitat had a significant positive correlation with the CPUE. A backward particle tracking experiment also showed that the chlorophyll a concentration in the spawning grounds had a significant positive correlation with the autumn–winter mixed layer depth. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the CPUE interannual variability is caused by variations in the feeding environment of the paralarvae and juveniles, which may be linked to autumn–winter mixed layer depth variations.     

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides derived from wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and their antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Seven kinds of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides were isolated from the hydrolysates of wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by Protease S "Amano" (from Bacillus stearothermophilus) by using three-step high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reverse-phase column. These peptides were identified by amino acid composition analysis, sequence analysis, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), as Val-Tyr (IC(50) = 35.2 microM), Ile-Tyr (6.1 microM), Ala-Trp (18.8 microM), Phe-Tyr (42.3 microM), Val-Trp (3.3 microM), Ile-Trp (1.5 microM), and Leu-Trp (23.6 microM). These peptides have resistance against gastrointestinal proteases in vitro. Each peptide was determined to have an antihypertensive effect after a single oral administration in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Among them, the blood pressure significantly decreased by Val-Tyr, Ile-Tyr, Phe-Tyr, and Ile-Trp in a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight (BW). The present study showed that antihypertensive effect in the hydrolysates of wakame by Protease S "Amano" was attributed to these peptides.