Effects of estrogen and progesterone on the development of the mammary gland and the associated blood vessels in ovariectomized mice.

Effects of estrogen and progesterone on the first abdomino-inguinal mammary gland and the associated blood vessels in ovariectomized mice were investigated morphometrically, and light and electron microscopically. Although there were no significant differences in the area of the fat pad of the mammary gland among the experimental groups, the area of the mammary parenchyma and diameters of the blood vessels supplying the mammary gland, i.e., A. et V. circumflexa ilium profunda and A. et V. epigastrica caudalis superficialis, reached the maximal value in ovariectomized mice treated with estradiol (E) + progesterone (P). Similarly, the blood capillaries around buds and ducts of the mammary gland were most densely distributed in E + P treated mice. In the adipose tissues of the mammary stroma in intact mice, fat cells were of multilocular type in the peripheral regions around the main vessel, and of unilocular type in the other part. In E and E + P treated mice, however, fat cells were mostly of unilocular type. These findings suggest that the formation of mammary fat tissues may occur in advance of that of the mammary parenchyma. By TEM, epithelial cells of the mammary parenchyma contained a large number of mitochondria and ribosomes, well-developed Golgi apparatus and rER, and large lipid droplets. Endothelial cells of blood capillaries displayed numerous pinocytotic vesicles, longer marginal folds and microvillous processes. Each organelle in these two cell types increased in number or developed to a greater degree in E + P treated mice than the other experimental groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Restriction of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) growth in non-permissive cells beyond the expression of immediate early genes

Mouse BALB/3T3-A31-1-1 (A31) cells are non-permissive to bovine herpes virus-1 (BHV-1) but permissive to pseudorabies virus (PrV). The promoter activity of the immediate early gene of BHV-1 (BICP4) was very weak when compared with that of PrV in A31 cells. Infectious BHV-1 genomic DNA co-transfected into A31 cells with plasmids expressing BICP4 and BICP0 by a strong promoter failed to yield any progeny virus. Growth of BHV-1 in non-permissible A31 cells is restricted in many phases of the growth. The fact that expression of BICP4 and/or BICP0 in A31 cells does not improve the yield of progeny virus from infectious BHV-1 genomic DNA suggests that some more growth restrictions exist beyond the expression of BHV-1 immediate early proteins.     

An outbreak of congenital hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia among calves in South Kyushu, Japan: a pathological study

An outbreak of congenital hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia occurred between November 1985 and May 1986 in Miyazaki, South Kyushu, Japan. Seventy-three calves had nervous signs of varying severity such as inability to stand, locomotor difficulties, defective vision and difficulty in sucking. At necropsy, 62 calves had macroscopic lesions in the central nervous system: hydranencephaly accompanied by cerebellar hypoplasia in 47; hydranencephaly alone in eight; and dilatation of the lateral ventricle in seven; none had arthrogryposis. Microscopically, all 62 cases involved various degrees of hypoplasia of neural components, such as total or partial thinning of the cerebral or cerebellar laminae. Heterotopia, such as abnormal islands of granule cells or Purkinje cells was also observed. Fourteen of these animals had other lesions such as non-purulent encephalitis, focal gliosis, neuronal degeneration, calcification or pseudocalcification, and cholesterol deposits, activation of vascular endothelial cells and haemorrhage. From the findings, these cases were considered to represent mainly hypoplasia of nerve tissue due to infection with a virus different from Akabane virus.     

Identification of genes for two major sialoglycoproteins, glycophorin A and glycophorin C in canine red cell membranes

Glycophorins are the major sialoglycoproteins in red blood cell membranes, possessing various physiological and pathological roles. We examined membrane glycoproteins in canine red cells and cloned cDNAs for two major glycophorins, glycophorins A (GPA) and C (GPC) from bone marrow cells. Periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunoblotting analyses showed that canine red cell membranes contained several glycoproteins immunoreactive to an anti-bovine GPC antibody, whereas the most abundant sialoglycoproteins, the candidates for GPA, did not react with an anti-human GPA antibody. The amino acid sequences of the extracellular domains of GPA and GPC had no significant homology to those from other mammalian species, including humans, and had O-linked and/or N-linked glycosylation sites. On the other hand, the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain and/or the transmembrane helices of GPA and GPC were conserved among species, indicating some functional significance of those regions in red cell membranes that include dimerization of GPA in the membrane-spanning region, and association of GPC with membrane skeletal proteins through binding with protein 4.1 and p55 in the cytoplasmic domain. These findings provide insights for clinical studies to evaluate the involvement of GPA and GPC in the pathogenesis of red cell diseases.     

Development of semidwarf breeding line with shattering resistance and preharvest-sprouting resistant in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)

An important breeding issue in buckwheat is to increase its resistance to lodging, which can result in the loss of yield and quality of buckwheat foods. We developed the semidwarf buckwheat ‘Kyukei 50’, which has a short plant height and a strong lodging resistance. The internode length of ‘Kyukei 50’ was shorter than that of the summer-sown standard variety ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’. Progeny analysis revealed that the semidwarf trait was dominated by at least one recessive gene. Compared with ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’, in ‘Kyukei 50’, the time of maturation was earlier, and the pre-harvest sprouting resistance was the same, indicating that ‘Kyukei 50’ is suitable for sowing in both spring and summer. ‘Kyukei 50’ exhibits the ‘green flower type’ shattering resistance trait and, therefore, has a thick pedicel; breaking tensile strength is approximately two-fold stronger than that of ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’. The yield of ‘Kyukei 50’ is the same as that of ‘HITACHIAKISOBA’. In addition, the lowest seed height of ‘Kyukei 50’ was >17 cm. These results indicate that the ‘Kyukei 50’ is a promising breeding line for lodging resistance and loss of harvesting machinery.     

Cryoprotective effects of shrimp head protein hydrolysate on gel forming ability and protein denaturation of lizardfish surimi during frozen storage

ABSTRACT:   The effects of shrimp head protein hydrolysate (SHPH) from three species of shrimp (northern pink shrimp [ Pandalus eous ], endeavour shrimp [ Metapenaeus endeavouri ], black tiger shrimp [ Penaeus monodon ]) on gel forming ability and protein denaturation of lizardfish surimi during frozen storage at −25°C were evaluated. The quality of lizardfish surimi with 5% (dried matter) of any of the three SHPH or sodium glutamate (Na-Glu) was examined in terms of gel strength, whiteness, Ca-ATPase activity and the amount of unfrozen water, comparing with those of surimi without additive as the control. The residual Ca-ATPase activity and gel strength of surimi with SHPH were higher than those of the control throughout 180 days of frozen storage, regardless of shrimp species. The highest effect was found in surimi with Na-Glu. The gel strength and Ca-ATPase activity found a high positive correlation. The addition of SHPH to surimi also increased the amount of unfrozen water by approximately 1.29–1.36 fold higher than the control, however kamaboko gels of the control was significantly whiter. From these results, freeze-induced denaturation of lizardfish muscle protein could be lessened by the addition of SHPH, resulting in a high gel strength and Ca-ATPase activity.     

Comparison of the growth inhibitory effects of canine IFN-alpha, -beta and -gamma on canine cells infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites

The growth inhibitory effects of recombinant canine interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), beta (IFN-beta) and gamma (IFN-gamma) were examined on Madin-Darby canine kidney cells infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites. The parasite growth was inhibited by all IFNs in a dose-dependent manner. IFN-gamma inhibited the parasite growth with greater efficacy than IFN-alpha or IFN-beta. Moreover, the effect of IFNs on N. caninum growth associated with the suppression of the host cell viability. The present study indicates IFN-alpha and -beta, besides IFN-gamma, play a crucial role for N. caninum growth in host cells.     

Identifying a new locus that regulates the development of rete ovarian cysts in MRL/MpJ mice

MRL/MpJ (MRL) is a mouse model for autoimmune disease and develops ovarian cysts with age. The ovarian cysts originate from the rete ovarii, which is considered to be the remnant of fetal mesonephric tubules. In a previous study, we analyzed the genetic background of ovarian cysts by using backcross progenies between MRL and C57BL/6N (B6) mice. By interval mapping, suggestive linkages were detected on several chromosomes (Chrs), and a significant linkage on Chr 14 was designated as MRL Rete Ovarian Cyst (mroc). In the present study, which evaluated 113 F2 intercross progenies, a significant linkage appeared on Chr 6 at the marker position D6Mit188 (likelihood ratio statistic = 18.5). In particular, the peak regions of Chrs 6 and 14, which contain major causative loci by backcross analysis, showed close reverse interaction. From these results, a locus on Chr 6 was identified as mroc2, the second major locus associated with ovarian cyst formation in MRL mice.     

Effect of cellulase supplementation in low-crude protein diets on performance, nitrogen excretion, fat deposition, hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity in broilers

1. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary enzyme supplementation of a low-protein diet on performance, nitrogen excretion, fat deposition, hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity in 7-21- (Experiment 1) and 21-42-d-old (Experiment 2) male broiler chicks. 2. Chicks were given diets containing 210 g (Experiment 1) or 170 g (Experiment 2) crude protein (CP)/kg (Control), amino acid-fortified diets 190 g (Experiment 1) and 150 g (Experiment 2) CP/kg (Low-protein), and a low-protein diet supplemented with 1000 U/kg of cellulase. 3. In Experiment 1, growth performance and abdominal fat deposition were not affected by dietary treatments, and birds given low-protein diets excreted less nitrogen. The activities of hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzymes were not different among the three dietary groups. 4. In Experiment 2, the dietary treatment did not affect growth performance or abdominal fat weight. Nitrogen excretion was significantly lower in chicks given the 150 g/kg CP diet than those on the 170 g/kg CP diet; however, nitrogen retention was no different among the treatments. Dietary CP and enzyme supplementation did not significantly affect hepatic enzyme activities. 5. These results suggest that CP content in the broiler diet can be reduced by 20 g/kg without lowering performance by the supplementation of crystalline amino acids, and can reduce nitrogen excretion by about 25%. Cellulase supplementation of a low-CP diet slightly lowered abdominal fat deposition; however, it did not significantly affect hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity.