Lupane-type saponins from leaves of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus and their inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase

Three known saponins, chiisanoside, 11-deoxyisochiisanoside, and isochiisanoside, and one novel saponin, 3,4-seco-4(23),20(29)-lupadiene-3,28-dioic acid 28-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl (1-->6)-beta-d-glucopyranoside, referred to as sessiloside, were isolated from a hot water extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus leaves. All of these saponins were lupane-type triterpene triglycosides, and their concentrations were 4.1, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.4% (w/w) of the total extract, respectively. Sessiloside and chiisanoside inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro, and addition of the saponin-rich fraction to a high-fat diet suppressed the body weight gain of mice. The possibility of application of the lupane-type saponins from A. sessiliflorus leaves to the treatment of obesity is discussed.     

Effects of fertilization, crop year, variety, and provenance factors on mineral concentrations in onions

Mineral concentrations of onions (Allium cepa L.) grown under various conditions, including factors (fertilization, crop year, variety, and provenance), were investigated to clarify how much each factor contributes to the variation of their concentrations. This was because the mineral concentrations might be affected by various factors. The ultimate goal of this study was to develop a technique to determine the geographic origins of onions by mineral composition. Samples were onions grown under various conditions at 52 fields in 18 farms in Hokkaido, Japan. Twenty-six elements (Li, Na, Mg, Al, P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Gd, W, and Tl) in these samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Fertilization conditions and crop years of onions caused variations of P, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs, and Tl concentrations in onions; different onion varieties also showed variations in numerous element concentrations. However, the variations of mineral compositions of onions by these factors were smaller than the differences between production places with a few exceptions. Furthermore, Na, Rb, and Cs in group IA of the periodic table, Ca, Sr, and Ba in group IIA, and Zn and Cd in group IIB showed similar concentration patterns by group; this result demonstrated that elements in the same periodic groups behaved similarly in terms of their absorption in onions.     

Age-related change and allometry of skull and canine of sea otters,Enhydra lutris

Skulls and canines of 460 sea otters from Lopatka Cape, Kamchatka, were examined to assess development patterns, individual variation and sexual differences. An allometric formula was applied to morphometrical data, and the relative growth of each character to total length of skull was analyzed. In both sexes, most morphometrical characters ceased growth at about 2 years of age. Canine root length increased rapidly during the first year of life, while crown length decreased due to remarkable wear. There was large individual variation in the feeding and breathing/sniffing apparatus, while there was little variation in braincase size. There were sexual differences in most characteristics, although males and females showed similar growth patterns. The coronoid process of the mandible showed positive allometry in both sexes, and we attributed this finding to feeding habits. The fact that only male mastoids showed positive allometry may be due to the need for male otters to maintain a passing territory.     

Pi34-AVRPi34: a new gene-for-gene interaction for partial resistance in rice to blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea

The japonica rice (Oryza sativa) cultivar Chubu 32 has a high level of partial resistance to blast, which is mainly controlled by a dominant resistance gene located on chromosome 11. The partial resistance to the rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe grisea) in Chubu 32 has isolate specificity; isolate IBOS8-1-1 is more aggressive on Chubu 32 than are other isolates. We hypothesized that the gene-for-gene relationship fits this case of a partial resistance gene in Chubu 32 against the avirulence gene in the pathogen. The partial resistance gene in Chubu 32 was mapped between DNA markers C1172 (and three other co-segregated markers) and E2021 and was designated Pi34. In the 32 F₃ lines from the cross between a chromosome segment substitution line (Pi34⁻) from Koshihikari/Kasalath and Chubu 32, the lines with high levels of partial resistance to the M. grisea isolate Y93-245c-2 corresponded to the presence of Pi34 estimated by graphic genotyping. This indicated that Pi34 has partial resistance to isolate Y93-245c-2 in compatible interactions. The 69 blast isolates from the F₁ progeny produced by the cross between Y93-245c-2 and IBOS8-1-1 were tested for aggressiveness on Chubu 32 and rice cultivar Koshihikari (Pi34⁻). The progeny segregated at a 1 : 1 ratio for strong to weak aggressiveness on Chubu 32. The results suggested that Y93-245c-2 has one gene encoding avirulence to Pi34 (AVRPi34), and IBOS8-1-1 is extremely aggressive on Chubu 32 because of the absence of AVRPi34. This is the first report of a gene-for-gene relationship between a fungal disease resistance gene associated with severity of disease and pathogen aggressiveness.     

Effects of preinoculation with an avirulent isolate of Pyricularia grisea on infection and development of leaf blast lesions caused by virulent isolates on near-isogenic lines of Sasanishiki rice

Eight near-isogenic Sasanishiki rice lines with different genes for complete resistance to rice blast were inoculated with an avirulent isolate 72 h before inoculation with a virulent isolate of Pyricularia grisea to clarify the mechanisms of induced resistance in the leaf blades. Subsequent lesions on the leaf blades were classified as brown spots (b type), as observed on Sasanishiki BL no. 8 with resistance gene Pii, or no symptoms (HR type), as observed on Sasanishiki BL no. 4 with the gene Piz-t and on the six other lines. Lesion expansion was significantly reduced in Sasanishiki BL no. 8 compared with that in Sasanishiki BL no. 4 when the leaf blades were preinoculated with a high concentration of a conidial suspension of the avirulent isolate. Moreover, after preinoculation with the conidial suspension of the avirulent isolate in silicon rings on the leaf blades, induced resistance was expressed only in areas close to the inoculation sites. These resistant areas were larger in Sasanishiki BL no. 8 than in BL no. 4. Hyphal growth was markedly inhibited in the epidermal cells of Sasanishiki BL no. 8, whereas inhibition was weak in those of Sasanishiki BL no. 4. In the epidermal cells of leaf blades of Sasanishiki BL no. 8 preinoculated with the avirulent isolate, the frequency of hyphal penetration of the virulent isolate in the presence of host cell browning decreased, as did the frequency of invading hyphae after inoculation with virulent isolates. The results indicate that induced resistance may play a role in the suppression of lesion development in the Sasanishiki near-isogenic lines and that the lines differ in the extent of suppression.     

Decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase in the kidneys of hereditary nephrotic (ICGN) mice

Matrix metalloporoteinases (MMPs), which are dominantly regulated by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs), play important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and are involved in the progression of kidney diseases. In glomeruli and tubulointerstitum of hereditary nephrotic (ICR-derived glomerulonephritis: ICGN) mouse kidneys, hyper-accumulation of ECM components occurred, and MMP activity decreased. In the present study, because lower levels of MMP activity may contribute to the progression of renal fibrosis in ICGN mice, Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemical staining for MMPs and TIMPs were performed to verify the expression levels of these proteins. Levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, MT1-MMP, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the kidneys were decreased in ICGN mice in comparison with normal ICR mice. These results indicate that small amounts and low levels of activity of MMPs cause the progression of renal fibrosis in ICGN mice.     

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.     

Effect of fat content on sensory characteristics of marbled beef from Japanese Black steers

To analyze the sensory characteristics of meat samples with a crude fat content between 23.8% and 48.6% taken from 34 Japanese Black steers, we grilled the meat and subjected it to analytical sensory evaluation. We also measured the amounts of moisture, protein, nucleic acid and glutamic acid. An increase in crude fat content increased the tenderness, juiciness, and fattiness in the meat quality evaluation. An increase in crude fat content reduced the crude protein and moisture contents; it also slightly reduced the nucleic acid and glutamic acid contents, although when the reductions in these umami components were assessed relative to the moisture content they changed little. Increasing the fat content up to a certain point greatly enhanced the umami intensity and beef flavor intensity in the meat quality evaluation and raised the overall evaluation score; the peak of the appropriate crude fat content for these purposes was about 36%.     

Effects of tramadol and o‐desmethyltramadol on canine innate immune system function

ObjectiveTramadol is a commonly used opioid analgesic in dogs, particularly in dogs with a compromised immune system. An opioid may be selected for its immunomodulatory effects. Consequently, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of tramadol on immune system function by evaluating the effect of tramadol and o-desmethyltramadol (M1) on the function of canine leukocytes in vitro. The hypothesis was that tramadol and M1 would not alter polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) phagocytosis, PMN oxidative burst, or stimulated leukocyte cytokine production capacity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10.Study designIn vitro pharmacodynamic study.AnimalsSix healthy dogs.MethodsBlood from six dogs was obtained and incubated with various concentrations of tramadol and M1. Phagocytosis and oxidative burst were assessed using flow cytometry, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and peptidoglycan (PG)-stimulated leukocyte production of TNF, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured using a canine specific multiplex assay.ResultsNo differences were detected in phagocytosis or oxidative burst with any drug concentration. Tramadol did not alter leukocyte cytokine production, however, M1 significantly blunted IL-10 production.ConclusionsTramadol and its metabolite M1 were sparing to PMN phagocytosis and oxidative burst in dogs in vitro. Tramadol did not alter leukocyte cytokine production, however, M1 blunted IL-10 production at clinically achievable concentrations suggesting that M1 may promote a proinflammatory shift.Clinical relevanceThese data suggest that tramadol has minimal effect on phagocytosis and oxidative burst, and may promote a proinflammatory shift. Therefore, tramadol may be an ideal opioid analgesic in dogs at high risk of infection. Further investigation in vivo is warranted.