Intraocular peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a dog

A tumor within the right globe in a 9-year-old Shetland sheepdog was examined pathologically. The tumor was composed of spindle or oval cells arranged in interwoven bundles with intervening collagenous or mucinous matrices. Immunohistochemically, the tumor bound antibody directed to S-100 protein and vimentin, but not to desmin, actin smooth muscle, or neurofilament. Electron microscopy revealed that the tumor cells had poorly developed cytoplasmic processes, desmosomes between closely contiguous cells, and a discontinuous basement membrane-like material. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) histologically. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of intraocular PNST in dogs.     

Malignant basal cell tumor in a Djungarian hamster

A malignant basal cell tumor was found in the skin of the abdomen of a female Djungarian hamster of unknown age and weighing 40 g. Histologically, the tumor mass was composed of cells resembling the basal cells of the epidermis, and these cells exhibited solid type proliferation. In the tumor tissue and necrotic foci, horn cysts were observed. Immunohistochemically, cytokeratin was present in the tumor cells and horncysts. By electron microscopic examination, the tumor cells had scanty cell organelles and a few desmozomes. This paper describes a rare malignant basal cell tumor in a Djungarian hamster.     

Effects of heat stress on production,somatic cell score and conception rate in Holsteins

We examined the effects of heat stress (HS) on production traits, somatic cell score (SCS) and conception rate at first insemination (CR) in Holsteins in Japan. We used a total of 228 242 records of milk, fat and protein yields, and SCS for the first three lactations, as well as of CR in heifers and in first‐ and second‐lactation cows that had calved for the first time between 2000 and 2012. Records from 47 prefectural weather stations throughout Japan were used to calculate the temperature–humidity index (THI); areas were categorized into three regional groups: no HS (THI < 72), mild HS (72 ≤ THI < 79), and moderate HS (THI ≥ 79). Trait records from the three HS‐region groups were treated as three different traits and trivariate animal models were used. The genetic correlations between milk yields from different HS groups were very high (0.91 to 0.99). Summer calving caused the greatest increase in SCS, and in the first and second lactations this increase became greater as THI increased. In cows, CR was affected by the interaction between HS group and insemination month: with summer and early autumn insemination, there was a reduction in CR, and it was much larger in the mild‐ and moderate‐HS groups than in the no‐HS group.     

Investigation of genetic diversity and inbreeding in a Japanese native horse breed for suggestions on its conservation

Because native breeds can serve as genetic resources for adapting to environment changes, their conservation is important for future agroecosystems. Using pedigree analysis, we investigated genetic diversity and inbreeding in Japanese Hokkaido native horses, which have adapted to a cold climate and roughage diet. Genetic diversity was measured as the number of founders and the effective number of founders, ancestors and genomes. All metrics imply a decrease in genetic diversity. A comparison of these metrics suggested that pedigree bottlenecks contributed more than did random gene losses to the reduction of genetic diversity. Estimates of marginal contributions of ancestors suggest that the bottlenecks arose mainly because related stallions had been used for breeding. A tendency for an increase in inbreeding coefficients was observed. F‐statistics revealed that a small effective population size majorly contributed to this increase, although non‐random mating in particular regions also contributed. Because the bottlenecks are thought to have reduced the effective population size, our results imply that mitigation of bottlenecks is important for conservation. To this end, breeding should involve genetically diverse stallions. In addition, to prevent non‐random mating observed in particular regions, efforts should be made to plan mating with consideration of kinships.     

Assessing the usefulness of otolith elemental compositions for evaluating the population structure of the Pacific herring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clupea pallasii</Emphasis> in northern Japan

The present study examined whether the elemental compositions of whole otoliths and chronological transect profiles of otoliths covering the complete life history are useful for evaluating the population structure of Pacific herring. Eight elemental ratios, Li:Ca, Na:Ca, Mg:Ca, K:Ca, Mn:Ca, Cu:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca, were measured in whole otoliths and in a series of ablations across the life-history transects by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We studied fish from three sample groups collected from Lake Obuchinuma, Miyako Bay, and Akkeshi Bay of northern Japan from March to May 2008. Significant differences were found in the Na:Ca, Mg:Ca, P:Ca, K:Ca, Mn:Ca, and Ba:Ca ratios of the whole otoliths and in the Li:Ca, Na:Ca, K:Ca, Mn:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca ratios of the otolith core among the three sample groups. Therefore, the present study showed clear differences in elemental composition among the three sample groups from different locations, suggesting that otolith elemental compositions reflect the habitats experienced by individual fish.     

N,N'-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea (BCNU)-induced Apoptosis of Neural Progenitor Cells in the Developing Fetal Rat Brain

N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea (BCNU) is one of the major drugs used in chemotherapy against malignant gliomas due to its effects, such as induction of bifunctional alkylation of DNA and formation of interstrand DNA cross-linkages, and induces cortical malformations in the fetal and neonatal rat brain. In this study, pregnant rats were treated with 7.5 mg/kg of BCNU on gestational day 13 (GD 13), and their fetuses were collected from 12 to 72 hours after BCNU treatment in order to examine the timecourses of morphological and immunohistochemical changes in neural progenitor cells in the developing brain. The number of pyknotic cells in the telencephalon peaked at 24 h and then gradually decreased until 72 h. The majority of these pyknotic cells were positive for cleaved caspase-3, a key executioner of apoptosis. The pyknotic cells showed the ultrastructural characteristics of apoptosis. The number of p53-positive cells began to increase prior to the appearance of apoptotic cells and p21-positive cells. The number of phosphorylated-histone H3-positive cells (mitotic cells) decreased from 24 to 36 h. The number of Iba1-positive cells (microglial cells) in the telencephalon increased from 12 to 48 h. These results suggest that BCNU induces p53-dependent apoptosis and reduces proliferative activity, resulting in reduction of the weight of the telencephalon and the thickness of the telencephalic wall in the fetal brain. This study will help to clarify the mechanisms of BCNU-induced fetal brain toxicity.     

Promoting Effects of Streptozotocin-induced Diabetes on Induction of Hepatic Preneoplastic Lesions by Diethylnitrosamine in Rats

The effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on induction of hepatic preneoplastic lesions by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) were investigated in male Fischer rats. A single dose of STZ was injected intravenously either 2 weeks before or after initiation with DEN. The blood glucose levels were significantly elevated from 1 week after STZ-injection until autopsy. The numbers of GST-P positive foci at 1 week after DEN administration in the STZ-injected rats were similar to those in the non-diabetic rats. In contrast, both the numbers and areas of GST-P positive foci > 2 mm in diameter 8 weeks after DEN administration were increased significantly in the rats treated with STZ after DEN exposure compared with the non-diabetic control rats. The results suggest that hepatic preneoplastic lesions initiated with DEN are promoted by STZ treatment-inducing diabetes.     

Sound generated by a payao and comparison with auditory sensitivity of jack mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachurus japonicus</Emphasis>

Sound generated by a payao, an anchored bamboo fish aggregating device, is believed to be attractive to fish; but until now, there is no available record of payao-generated sound. This study presents payao-generated sound recorded by a hydrophone at water depths of 5, 10 and 15 m from a fixed distance of 3 m relative to the payao, and compares the sound with the auditory sensitivity of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus measured at discrete frequencies from 100 to 2000 Hz using the auditory brainstem response protocol. A consistent peak appeared in the sound spectrum at 49 Hz and showed an increasing sound pressure level with depth, which suggests that payao sound may come from the anchor rope. However, the contribution of the bamboo raft can not yet be discounted. The hearing threshold curve indicated that the most sensitive frequency range in jack mackerel is from 92.1 dB at 800 Hz to 111.0 dB at 200 Hz. These results show that the dominant frequency range of payao sound does not correspond with the high sensitivity frequency range of fish hearing.     

One-solvent extraction of astaxanthin from lactic acid fermented shrimp wastes

Free astaxanthin one-solvent extractions with ethanol, acetone, and liquid 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane from raw and lactic acid fermented (ensilaged) shrimp residues were investigated. The total carotenoid recovery from ensilaged shrimp wastes was higher than that from non-ensilaged ones as assessed by HPLC analyses. Acetone gave the highest extraction yields of free astaxanthin with up to 115 microg/g of material. Moreover, liquid tetrafluoroethane is reported for the first time in a successful one-solvent extraction of carotenoids from shrimp.