Comparison between old-growth stands and secondary stands regenerating after clear-felling in warm-temperate forests of Yakushima, southern Japan

In order to infer successional changes in structure, species composition and diversity of warm-temperate forest, we compared secondary stands regenerating after clear-felling (41–64-years old) with old-growth stands at altitudes between 300 and 800 m on Yakushima Island, southern Japan. Stem density and maximum stem diameter differed between secondary and old-growth stands, but basal area and aboveground biomass did not. At lower altitudes, the dominant species in old-growth stands with a strong sprouting capacity (Castanopsis cuspidata) also dominated secondary stands, and species composition of secondary and old-growth stands was similar. At higher altitudes, by contrast, the dominant species in old-growth stands (Distylium racemosum) had little sprouting capacity and was poorly represented in diverse secondary stands, which were dominated by Castanopsis or other less abundant species. Secondary stands had greater species diversity (Shannon–Wiener index) than old-growth stands, particularly at higher altitudes. This was due to greater species richness resulting from higher stem density per area, but not to greater evenness. We grouped the component species that share ecologically similar traits into four guilds (fagaceous, primary evergreen, secondary evergreen and deciduous species). Secondary stands were characterized by greater numbers of deciduous and secondary evergreen species. We concluded that different sprouting capacities of dominant species and different regeneration traits among guilds are responsible for the change in species composition and diversity during succession.     

Changes in the expression of toll-like receptor mRNAs during follicular growth and in response to lipopolysaccharide in the ovarian follicles of laying hens

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in hen ovarian follicles during follicular growth and in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). White follicles and the fifth largest to largest follicles (WF and F(5)-F(1), respectively) were collected from laying hens. To examine the effects of LPS, the laying hens were treated intravenously with LPS (1 mg/kg BW) 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h before examination. Expressions of TLRs and IL-1beta in the theca and granulosa layers were examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry was performed to identify immunoreactive TLR-4. The theca layer expressed TLR-2, TLR-4, TLR-5 and TLR-7, whereas the granulosa layer expressed only TLR-4 and TLR-5. The expression of TLR-4 and TLR-5 in the theca layer increased significantly during follicular growth. In the granulosa layer, the expression of TLR-5 increased, but that of TLR-4 was unchanged. Expression of TLR-4 increased significantly during the period of 6 to 12 h of LPS treatment in the theca layer and during the period of 12 to 24 h in the granulosa layer of F(3). Immunoreaction products for TLR-4 were observed in theca interna and granulosa layers of WF and F(5)-F(1), with the greater amount observed in the theca interna. LPS treatment significantly increased expression of IL-1beta in the theca layer after 3 h and in the granulosa layer during the period of 12 to 24 h. These results suggest that TLRs are expressed in ovarian follicles and that TLR-4 and TLR-5 expression increase with the growth of follicles. Enhanced expression of TLR-4 and IL-1beta by LPS in the theca and granulosa layers suggests possible roles of TLR in recognition of microorganisms.     

Central injection of ketone body suppresses luteinizing hormone release via the catecholaminergic pathway in female rats

Ketosis is found in various pathophysiological conditions, including diabetes and starvation, that are accompanied by suppression of gonadal activity. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of ketone body in the brain in regulating pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in female rats. Injection of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), a ketone body, into the fourth cerebroventricle (4V) induced suppression of pulsatile LH secretion in a dose-dependent manner in ovariectomized (OVX) rats with an estradiol (E2) implant producing diestrus plasma E2 levels. Plasma glucose and corticosterone levels increased immediately after the 4V 3HB injection, suggesting that the treatment caused a hunger response. The 3HB-induced suppression of LH pulses might be mediated by noradrenergic inputs to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) because a local injection of α-methyl- p-tyrosine, a catecholamine synthesis inhibitor, into the PVN blocked 3HB-induced suppression of LH pulses and PVN noradrenaline release was increased by 4V 3HB injection in E2-primed OVX rats. These results suggest that ketone body sensed by a central energy sensor in the hindbrain may suppress gonadotropin release via noradrenergic inputs to the PVN under ketosis.     

Evaluation of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair System? in Surgery for Laryngeal Hemiplegia in Heavy Draft Horses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the canine cranial cruciate ligament repair system on laryngeal hemiplegia in heavy draft horses. Twenty-four heavy draft horses diagnosed with grade 4 laryngeal hemiplegia were allocated to either the prosthetic laryngoplasty (PL) group (n=14) or a canine cranial cruciate ligament repair system (CCCLRS) group (n=10). Right to left angle quotients (RLQs) of abductions of the arytenoid cartilages were endoscopically evaluated before and after surgery. Post-operative RLQs in the CCCLRS group were significantly lower than those of the PL group (P<0.01). The canine cranial cruciate ligament repair system was revealed to be a good surgical procedure for laryngeal hemiplegia in heavy draft horses.     

Regression tree analysis of the relationship between the concentrations of antimicrobial components and the microbiota of normal milk from dairy cows

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of antimicrobial components (immunoglobulin A (IgA), lactoferrin (LF), lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), and S100A7) in normal milk and their relation to host factors (Age, somatic cell count (SCC), days in milk, richness, and alpha diversity of the milk microbiota) in dairy cows using multivariate regression tree analyses, and to clarify how the milk microbiota is related to the obtained results. Thirty normal milk samples were collected from a commercial dairy farm in June 2020. The thresholds that predicted the concentration of each antimicrobial component in milk were obtained by regression tree analysis, and the beta-diversity of the milk microbiota composition between groups divided according to each threshold was compared by an analysis of similarities test. The IgA and LF concentrations were mainly predicted by the SCC (177,500 and 70,000 cells/ml, respectively), and the LAP and S100A7 concentrations were predicted by Age (29.667 and 40.3 months, respectively). No relationship was observed between the concentration of IgA, LAP, or S100A7 and the milk microbiota composition between the groups divided by the threshold for prediction, but the milk microbiota composition was significantly different between the groups divided by the threshold for predicting the LF concentration. Our results indicated that the LF concentration in normal milk may be associated with the milk microbiota composition.     

Effects of body condition score in cows peripartum on the onset of postpartum ovarian cyclicity and conception rates after ovulation synchronization/fixed-time artificial insemination

The aim of this study was to examine whether the nutritional state of cows peripartum was associated with the recovery of ovarian function and conception rates after synchronization of ovulation and fixed-time artificial insemination (OVSYNCH/TAI). The effect of the interval in days from calving to the first ovulation on conception rates after OVSYNCH/TAI was also investigated. Conception rates of cows after OVSYNCH/TAI (n=39) were 43.6%. The conception rates of cows with a body condition score (BCS) of 2.75-3.25 at 30 d postpartum and on the day of OVSYNCH treatment were significantly higher than in cows with a BCS < or =2.5 (P<0.05). The percentage of cows establishing ovarian cyclicity before 55 d postpartum in cows with a BCS of 2.75-3.25 at 30 d postpartum and on the day of OVSYNCH treatment were significantly higher than in cows with a BCS < or =2.5 (P<0.05). The conception rates after OVSYNCH/TAI in cows which recovered ovarian cyclicity within 34 d postpartum were significantly higher than in cows with first ovulation > or =56 d (P<0.05). These results indicated that the nutritional state in cows peripartum influenced the conception rates after OVSYNCH/TAI and the postpartum ovarian cyclicity and also suggested that the conception rates after OVSYNCH/TAI decreased in cows with delayed recovery of ovarian cyclicity.