A new taxonomic treatment for some wild relatives of mungbean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis> (L.) Wilcz.) based on their molecular phylogenetic relationships and morphological variations

Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilcz.) is an important leguminous crop cultivated mainly in Asia. Its wild relatives are considered useful genetic resources for mungbean breeding. However, the taxonomic history of mungbean and its wild relatives is complicated and some confusion is still present in recent publications. In this study, we examined the rDNA-ITS sequences and morphological characteristics of 83 gene bank accessions closely related to mungbean. As a result, we classified the 83 accessions into five species and one unclassified accession. The proper taxon name for each species was determined (Vigna grandiflora (Prain) Tateishi et Maxted, Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper, V. radiata, Vigna subramaniana (Babu ex Raizada) Raizada, and Vigna trinervia (Heyne ex Wight et Arn.) Tateishi et Maxted) based on a review of their taxonomic history and morphological comparisons between gene bank accessions and type specimens. A new taxonomic treatment is proposed and a morphological key has been prepared. In this treatment, Vigna radiata (L.) Wilcz. var. setulosa (Dalz.) Ohwi et Ohashi is treated as a synonym of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilcz. var. sublobata (Roxb.) Verdc., and Vigna hainiana Babu, Gopinathan et Sharma is a synonym of V. subramaniana. Accession ‘NI1135’ was revealed to be most closely related to, but is considerably differentiated from, mungbean (V. radiata) based on its rDNA-ITS sequences. It also has distinguishing morphological characters. Plants with similar morphologies and DNA profiles might be distributed in the Indian Himalaya. However, since only one accession is available at present, the taxonomic classification of ‘NI1135’ needs to be reconsidered in the future.     

Spatially heterogeneous impacts on rangeland after social system change in Mongolia

After the social system in Mongolia changed from socialism to capitalism in the early 1990s, the cooperative system called negdel , which helped to disperse the grazing pressure, collapsed. As a consequence of the collapse, scientists warned that grazing pressure would become concentrated and fixed at particular locations, resulting in land degradation. However, no quantitative studies of such potential local concentration have been performed in Mongolia. In this study, using satellite images and large‐scale thematic maps, we analysed the local vegetation change in relation to possible control factors, including open water, roads and settlements. Individual factors had significant impacts on the local vegetation change: particularly prominent were a beltlike decrease in plant density along the main roads and decreases around densely populated areas. In addition, the interaction between these factors negatively affected vegetation, as seen by a decrease around roads and open water near settlements. This interactive effect is likely a consequence of the basic requirements of the nomadic pastoralists, namely quality grassland, water sources and the services provided by settlements. In our study area in Mongolia, the local pattern of vegetation change was determined by the complex process of pastoralists' decision‐making. A comprehensive understanding of this process is essential for devising management plans to counteract this vegetation degradation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Smooth muscle cell proliferation in the ductus arteriosus and the descending aorta, and effects of enalapril on SMC proliferation in perinatal rats

This study was carried out to determine the proliferation profile of the smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the media of the ductus arteriosus (DA) and the descending aorta (Ao), and to examine the effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril on the proliferation of these cells in perinatal rats. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index of the DA peaked in 19-day-old fetuses at 75%, and the index significantly declined in 20-day-old fetuses. The PCNA index of the Ao showed a similar profile until pups reached 1 day of age; however, the index of the Ao then increased in 3-day-old pups. The PCNA indices of the DA and Ao decreased significantly after maternal oral treatment with enalapril (10 mg/kg for 7 days), with a more marked decline in the DA than in the Ao. The PCNA indices of these vessels in 20-day-old fetuses were not altered by maternal treatment with enalapril. These results indicate that the SMC proliferation rate in the DA was similar to that in the Ao until pups reached the age of 1 day, and that the inhibitory effect of enalapril on the SMC proliferation was age-dependent and more prominent in the DA than in the Ao.     

Aberrant branch of the bronchoesophageal artery resembling patent ductus arteriosus in a dog

An anomalous shunt between the bronchoesophageal artery and pulmonary artery was diagnosed in a 1-year- old, 3.5 kg female Miniature Dachshund by selective contrast angiography. A cardiac murmur had been observed in the dog during examination at another hospital. The machinery murmur was auscultated at the left side of the base of the heart. Although thoracic radiography revealed mild cardiomegaly, the characteristic findings of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), including as aortic arch enlargement and pulmonary artery enlargement were not observed. Echocardiography demonstrated shunting of blood flow presumably from the arterial duct at the pulmonary artery carina. Based on the above findings the case was diagnosed as PDA. Angiocardiography was performed to confirm the diagnosis in preparation for surgical treatment, but later we confirmed that the shunt vessel was not PDA, but apparently a branch of the bronchoesophageal artery. The shunt vessel was branching in a complicated manner and shunted to the pulmonary artery.     

A novel NF-κB inhibitor improves glucocorticoid sensitivity of canine neoplastic lymphoid cells by up-regulating expression of glucocorticoid receptors

Lymphoid neoplasms including lymphoma and leukemia are one of the most life-threatening disorders in dogs. Many lymphoid malignancies are well-treated with glucocorticoid (GC); however, GC resistance sometimes develops and its mechanism remains uncertain. Since constitutive activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) has been reported to play roles in lymphoid malignancies, we examined whether inhibition of NF-κB activity with a synthetic inhibitor IMD-0354 affected GC sensitivity of canine neoplastic lymphoid cells, CL-1 and GL-1. Dexamethasone failed to inhibit proliferation of these cells, in which low expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) was identified. In the presence of IMD-0354, GR expressions in CL-1 and GL-1 were increased, consequently dexamethasone inhibited their proliferation. These results indicated that GR expression might be down-regulated by spontaneous activation of NF-κB, resulting in GC resistance. Taken together, interference of NF-κB activity may have the synergistic effect in combination chemotherapy with GC for treatment against lymphoid malignancies.     

Experimental studies on the oxygen tension in the myocardium and changes of cardiac function in hypoxia

Using adult mongrel dogs, experiments were performed to elucidate the relationship between the changes in the myocardial oxygen tension (PmO2) in anoxia and disturbances of cardiac function. Dogs, forced to inspire 100% N2, suffered from a respiratory arrest after 5 min, and developed acute anoxia. However, by 100% O2 inhalation 2 min after the onset of the respiratory arrest, the anoxia rapidly resolved. The arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), left intra ventricular oxygen tension (PLVO2) and PmO2 showed the most pronounced fall 2 min after the respiratory arrest induced by N2 inhalation. The arterial carbon deoxide tension (PaCO2) decreased until the respiratory arrest, after which it started to rise. When inhalation of 100% O2 was initiated at the anoxia, the PaO2, PLVO2 and PmO2 recovered within 1 min followed by a rise beyond the baseline value. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left atrial mean pressure (LAm), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), aortic mean pressure (Aom), maximum rate of force development by left ventricle (LVmax.dp/dt), total peripheral resistance (TPR), cardiac output (CO) and heart rate (HR) were measured. At the onset of anoxia, these parameters decreased sharply. When inhalation of 100% O2 was initiated within 2 min of the respiratory arrest, these disturbances of cardiac function recovered rapidly. The fall of PmO2 plays an important role in the impairment of cardiac function.     

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.     

Measurement of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in canine lung after alkaline decomposition

An alkaline decomposition method employing a KOH/alcohol solution was studied, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in particles remaining in canine lung were measured. As a result, BaA, BkF, BaP, and BghiP were found. By this method, PAHs extracted from the lungs of 32 dogs were 13.0-166.0 ng (mean, 63.0 ng) for BaA, 6.6-90.2 ng (mean, 27.4 ng) for BkF, 9.8-167.4 ng (mean 47.2 ng) for BaP, and 10.8-206.0 ng (mean, 61.8 ng) for BghiP. The results showed no correlation between the age and the concentration of PAHs in the lung, but some correlation was found between the age and the lung weight (p<0.01). There were significant correlations among the concentrations of the compounds in the lung (p<0.01). These results suggest that dogs, like humans, are affected by automobile exhaust and other common generation sources of such substances.